Croators were flightless birds inhabiting the swampy and marshy regions of Wyndigal 2. These slender avians possessed elongated, double-jointed legs and small arms in place of wings. Equipped with webbed feet, front paws, and highly flexible joints, these limbs enabled them to either crouch low within the water or extend their limbs for rapid terrestrial locomotion. Croators were characterized by lengthy proboscises, which they employed to extract small fish, insects, and microorganisms from the muddy substrate.
A cape-like, feathered membrane adorned their backs, accompanied by a similar hood positioned over their heads. The coloration of these capes and hoods was a striking white and blue, exhibiting high reflectivity. This reflective property aided in their survival against the intense ultraviolet radiation emitted by their home planet's sun. During the morning hours, the cape and hood would hang loosely as the croator moved. As the day progressed and the light intensified, they would enshroud their bodies and heads, remaining stationary to forage. Spacers unfortunate enough to become marooned on Wyndigal 2 occasionally resorted to killing croators to acquire these membranes, utilizing them as protective coverings.
Croators existed in ephemeral groups consisting of three to five individuals, which dispersed upon the exhaustion of their feeding territories. Reproduction occurred asexually, with egg-laying taking place annually following a gestation period of three months. Upon hatching, young croators were immediately self-sufficient, possessing the capability to independently seek sustenance. These juvenile croators often fell prey to predators such as the nyantolo, yet sufficient numbers survived to ensure the overall prosperity of the species.