Its name was originally short for "cockatrice" but I guessed it'd work well enough on its own. They're sort of a genetically-designed hunting dog that was a) too clever and b) not pretty enough, and has gone feral as a result.
The glowspots were so you could follow it more easily. The little feelers on its beak usually lay flat, it flares them up to flash its glowdots.
Zeno: *reaches to pet, gets biten* yeow!
*sigh* what part of 'feral' do you not understand?
Zeno: *whimper* am I going to need rabies shots now?
Actually... yeah. Might want to get that looked at. ^_^
Look at it this way Zeno...you'd be the first Sangheili Zombie
Zeno: ...*rushes to the medic*