Ravenxrose’s Comments (group member since May 12, 2013)

Ravenxrose’s comments from the Xion (Sci-Fi RP) group.

In Xion‘s northern hemisphere lies the flower-forests of Ninsaria. This is a vast area of fertile meadow, dotted with small copses. It is dominated by several species of flowering plant, including flowering shrubs, flowering trees, and low-growing leafy plants, and by several highly successful species of pollinating insect. Almost all plants in this 3000 kilometer square area produce purple flowers; purple being the best color to attract the pollinating insects that thrive there. Purple flowers are so abundant in Ninsaria that, during the summer months, the entire region appears purple when viewed from space.



It is in the purple flower-forests of Ninsaria that the purple spotted bird-lion lives. It has adapted to this environment by evolving a purple pigmentation in its wrinkled leathery skin, giving it perfect camouflage in the meadows and thickets.

Ninsaria is also home a number of small bird species. Some of these birds feed upon the nectar produced by the purple flowers, and some on the plentiful insect populations. It is on these birds that the purple spotted bird-lion preys. To catch its quick-witted flying prey, it has evolved quick reactions and powerful rear limbs capable of jumping several feet into the air.

In addition to small birds, the bird-lion also preys upon small mammals and marsupials.

The spots on the animal’s lower back add camouflage, while the wart-like structures at the back of the neck are scent glands used to attract mates.

Like many other creatures on Owen’s World, the purple spotted bird-lion is androgynous, possessing both male and female reproductive organs.

Other common names for the purple spotted bird-lion include the ‘Ninsarian griffin’ and the ‘hummingbird dog’.

Oblikalo are similar in many ways to the ungulates of Earth, most notably bovids. Oblikalo are ungulates with large cloven hooves. They are also ruminants. They make their home in the grasslands, scrub and deserts of Xion’s central continent where they live as grazing herd animals. There are several species of oblikalo on Xion, but the castle-backed oblikalo are by far the most remarkable.

The most prominent feature of the castle-backed oblikalo is the large horn-like structure mounted on the creatures back, from which it gets its name. This horny ‘armour’ is hollow and lightweight, but remarkably strong. As with all oblikalo species, the frontal horns are used for sexual displays, defense against predators, and rutting. The armour on the back of the castle-backed oblikalo, however, have evolved to defend against the large flying predators with which they share their habitat.

Within the dorsal structure of the armor is a hump-like organ that helps to keep the animal cool. With a large number of blood vessels located along slits in the dorsal armor, this hump radiates heat through the armor in much the same way as an elephant radiates heat from its ears. This allows the castle-backed oblikalo to venture into the hot inner-desert of the central continent.

Due to the weight of their armor, castle-backed oblikalo are slow, lumbering animals.

Naming
The giant land jockey was named for its impressive stature and for the fact that, unlike its cousin the common tree jockey, it spends most of its time on the ground. ‘Jockey’ refers to the hunched back and distinctive colored stripes common in all members of the caballarius (jockey) family. The fashion in which the smaller, tree-climbing caballarii grip trunks and branches with their hind legs was also a contributing factor in the naming of the group.

Physical Attributes.
Originally adapted to a life in the trees, the giant land jockey has since adapted to a life spent almost entirely on the ground in Xion‘s central plains and around the forests’ edge. Its long, powerful fore-limbs – once ideal for tree climbing – have since become largely fused, and the large opposable thumb found in other species of the genus has reduced in size. Nevertheless, the large claws of the giant ground jockey remain extremely powerful and prove to be extremely efficient at digging and breaking open large insect mounds in the search for food.

The giant land jockey’s long tail is one physical feature that still remains from its tree-dwelling ancestry, and this allows the animal to balance on its hind-legs for a period when rooting for food in trees and insect mounds.

Like other caballarii, the giant land jockey also has an extendable fourth finger, or barb, located within its wrist. The razor sharp barb secrets a paralyzing agent and is used as a defense against other large creatures. Protected inside a long slit along the underside of the fore-limb, this delicate instrument is extended only when needed, usually only for seconds at a time when the animal strikes an opponent. The land jockey is known to occasionally supplement its diet of insects with some small animals, and it has been theorized that the barb may also be used in the hunting of such prey (although this behavior has never been observed).

Another commonality between the giant land jockey and the common tree jockey is the colorful display found on its back and crest. This changes color according to the animals mood, acting as both a sexual and aggressive display.

Like many creatures on Xion, jockeys are ‘collarispirators’, breathing not through the mouth or nose but through vents at the top of the chest.

Behavioral Attributes
The giant land jockey exists on a diet of primarily insects and small invertebrates such as grubs and worms. The animal has several means of accessing these foods: by tearing open insect mounds with its large claws, by digging, and by extending its long tongue into crevices and beneath rotting tree bark. A small beak is also useful for chomping at bark and scooping up grubs.

Giant land jockeys have also been known to supplement their diet with small animals, although they are not generally predatory in nature.

While giant land jockeys cannot be described as a sapient species, they do exhibit signs of intelligent behavior, taking inventive approaches to their search for food and building elaborate shelters and nests.

Giant land jockeys have no vocal chords and (as far as is understood) no ability to detect sound. They are generally solitary creatures and, as such, have developed no means of communication beyond simple body language and their colored displays. When angered, these display lines turn red; when attracting a mate, they turn yellow.

Although they are generally docile creatures, giant land jockeys are extremely dangerous and often become aggressive when approached, particularly when startled.