I need help identifying the creature on the cover of "The Vulcan Academy Murders" perched on a large rock. Throughout the book the only animals mentioned that correlate with the story are the sehlats and the le-matya, both of which have previously been illustrated as mammals while the animal in question is somewhat reptilian. From the extensive research I've done it has to be a shatarr or a nightclaw if it's native to Vulcan. It may be a non-canon creature and whoever had drawn the cover was given the artistic license to add his or her own imaginary beasts. I plan on getting said creature tattooed so before I do I'd like to know more about it.
As mentioned in a different thread, cover artist Boris Vallejo took considerable license with his Trek character artwork. Pretty sure it's meant to be a le-matya. Perhaps a juvenile (maybe they lose their dorsal fin as they mature?).