Feral Tuskent
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Millions of years ago, the tripodician domesticated the genteel tuskent. Ultimately, the tripodician was doomed by the extinction event at the end of the Bloodian period, and most of the genteel tuskents died as well. However, the genteel tuskent had been subjected to selective breeding, which included the creation of smaller breeds. They outlasted their owners, but in the face of a changing world and with their low genetic variation they became obscure, eventually becoming restricted to a single elusive population. The feral tuskent replaces its ancestor, however, finally expanding its range once more. It has taken on a white coloration well-suited to blending in with snow.
The feral tuskent shows very little signs of once having been domesticated, as its wild instincts have returned. Perhaps one notable holdover is that it is far more timid than the ancient imperial leathershelled tuskent. It retains the enhanced pack mentality, but this comes mainly in the form of social bonds and protection, rather than pack hunting. It retains the higher intelligence its ancestor gained, but instead of using it for group tactics it uses it to outsmart potential predators and prey and to help identify what's edible or not. Its cellulase bite can be used like venom to assist in killing plent prey, and it can be used as a defense against killcoats which inevitably attack it when it kills their babies.
Similar to its ancestors, as a consequence of spending time as marine creatures, the feral tuskent lacks any form of external ear. However, it can still sense vibrations using the wooden "bones" inside its head. Though it has a pair of crests in adulthood that resemble ears, they do not serve any hearing function. Another consequence of its aquatic ancestry is visible in its limbs. Each limb has six dewclaws running all the way up to its "elbows" and "knees". Indeed, its "elbows" are actually wrists and its "knees" are actually ankles, its real elbows and knees being fused and completely immobile. The excessive dewclaws keep the hand- and foot-derived forearms and lower leg segments stable during locomotion and can deter potential predators or rivals from biting them.
Feral tuskent social groups are matriarchal, though their female to male ratio has shifted back down to 1:1. They are monogamous and a female may have several pups at a time. The feral tuskent reaches sexual maturity at 2–3 years of age and can live for up to 20 years in ideal conditions.
Gallery
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Artwork by OviraptorFan
