The forests of Mesogea are much like those of Arunia, with similar plant life and found primarily near the eastern, windward coast. However, since forests are more isolated on Xenosulia, there is more difference in the fauna than you’d usually find in the grasslands of these continents. Much of the forest-dwelling fauna that developed in Arunia was unable to migrate across the vast open savannas separating the two forested regions. Still, there are similarities, and many of the same taxa can be found in both places. Some species are similar enough to the ones in Arunia that they don’t need to be covered here, but the more noteworthy wildlife is discussed here.
There are some environmental differences; the forests here tend to be colder, and since they’re further from the sub-stellar point, they receive less sunlight. The forests here tend not to be as dense as a result. The terrain is also generally flatter in this part of Mesogea, so the forests here can get swampy in some places.
Hump-sailed
Wormdeer
Size: Males; 1.3 – 1.6 meters up to the tip of the hump. Females; 1.6 – 2.0 meters to the tip of the hump
Diet: leaves, seeds
Habitat: temperate forests
Reproduction: protandrous
sequential hermaphroditism, with females much larger than males, young hatch as
undeveloped larvae
The hump-sailed wormdeer is much more similar to fin-backed
taruses than other polycuphid species, convergently developing a similar social
structure. Herds consist of a single dominant female, much larger than the
others, and numerous males, although herds do tend to be smaller than those of
fin-backed tarus species.
The flap of skin between their oral proboscis and back is
used for display, and is only present in males. Their large hump serves to
raise this flap and likely reached its current size due to sexual selection.
Unlike taruses, this hump isn’t to accommodate their hydraulic pump, which is
no larger than that of other polycuphids.
They share other features common to polycuphids in general,
such as the five balancing tentacles, shortened body compared to other
tariforms, and the positioning of the oral proboscis higher on the head. In
addition, they have digestive systems well adapted for processing the leaves of
cardiophytes.
Taxonomic classification
Tree: Xenosulivitae
Domain: Rhytocaryota
Kingdom: Xenosulizoa
Phylum: Hydratozoa
Superclass: Tripoda
Clade: Sucodermata
Class: Spinoptilita
Order: Tariformes
Family: Polycuphidae
Genus: Kumatu
Species: K.
fulakat
Staghorn
(Lanucerus hippoelaphus)
Size: Males; 1.2 – 1.6 meters high (not including hump or
spines). Females; 1.6 – 2 meters high
Diet: leaves, seeds, iculophyte vegetation
Habitat: open woodland, forest outskirts
Reproduction: protandrous sequential hermaphroditism, young
hatch as undeveloped larvae
While most members of the family Cavidae are primarily grassland-dwelling
grazers, there are some groups that have evolved to take advantage of other
niches, such as the forest dwelling staghorn.
Although their primary hydraulic pump isn’t as well
developed as that of Tilusu species, they are still relatively fast and
agile runners. One of their main defining features is the nose horn’s branching
structure; this horn, present only in mature males, is used primarily for
display purposes. They have a similar social structure to other related
taruses, with groups consisting of a large dominant female and multiple males.
Their diet primarily consists of browsing low vegetation
from trees and bushes, as well as occasionally grass. Iculophyte grass and
bushes are very different to the leaves of cardiophyte trees, and require a
different set of adaptations to digest, so the transition from focusing on one
to the other is difficult. Because of this, the larger iculophytes that grow in
the forests make up a large portion of their diet.
Taxonomic classification
Tree: Xenosulivitae
Domain: Rhytocaryota
Kingdom: Xenosulizoa
Phylum: Hydratozoa
Superclass: Tripoda
Clade: Sucodermata
Class: Spinoptilita
Order: Tariformes
Family: Cavidae
Genus: Lanucerus
Species: L. hippoelaphus
Mesogean
Whiteflower Buzzer
(Albifloriphilus
nudirinus)
Size: 7 – 9 cm long
Diet: nectar
Habitat: temperate forests
Reproduction: sequential hermaphrodites with temporary
seasonal “maleing”
One of the most prevalent, and perhaps most diverse, groups
of entomopterites found in the mainland forests are members of the clade Leptoglossidae,
known colloquially as buzzers. They consist of a large range of specialised nectivores,
which play an major role in the reproduction of many plants. Their importance in
this regard is second only to the tripterans, which aren’t as common in the
colder parts of Mesogea, reducing competition.
Their wings beat rapidly, allowing them to hover for long
periods of time; as a result of spending so much time in the air, they are much
less adapted for walking than other bugbirds, and they have lost the soft
walking pads on their wings. They have a very high metabolic rate, since flying
this much requires a lot of energy, which is obtained from the energy-rich
nectar they feed on. Their diet is very inflexible, and most species, like Albifloriphilus
nudirinus, rely on specific tree species for food.
Taxonomic classification
Tree: Xenosulivitae
Domain: Rhytocaryota
Kingdom: Xenosulizoa
Phylum: Hydratozoa
Superclass: Tripoda
Clade: Sucodermata
Class: Entomopterita
Order: Dimutliformes
Family: Leptoglossidae
Genus: Albifloriphilus
Species: A. nudirinus
Wetland
Slug
(Molaratus bulu)
Size: 60 – 80 cm long main body, 110 – 150 cm length
including tail
Diet: small tripodans, fish
Habitat: temperate forests
Reproduction: hermaphroditic
The order Vyrmiformes is a diverse one, consisting not just
of the large leopardsnakes but also smaller carnivores too, including molaratids
like Molaratus bulu. Colloquially known as slugs (salac in Occasian Gontanic),
due to their resemblance to their namesakes on Earth, molaratids have similar
sit-and-wait hunting tactics as other vyrmiforms. Their smaller size and the
forested environment they inhabit serve them well, affording them better
opportunities to hide. They spend a lot of their time resting between meals or
roaming the forest floor in search of food.
Molaratids have a number of anatomical features that set
them apart from other vyrmiformes. One obvious distinction is the presence of a
muscular, lubricant-secreting foot under their body, which is used in
locomotion rather than the wave like movements leoserpentids engage in. This
means they usually move quite slowly, but their leaping bladders are well
developed, allowing them to quickly lunge at prey when necessary.
A particularly significant adaptation in this family is the
presence of carnassial molars along their mandibles, developed from a hardened
and ossified edge of the limb. These assist in their meat eating, making them
especially well-suited to carnivory compared to the often jawless wildlife of
Xenosulia.
Molaratids are intelligent compared to other vyrmiforms, and
especially so when compared to trignathites in general. Since the genus Molaratus
is more sociable than other molaratids, who tend to be solitary, they were relatively
easy to domesticate. As a result, they are popular pets, owning in large part
to their similar behaviour to that of cats, in spite of their radically
different appearance.
Taxonomic classification
Tree: Xenosulivitae
Domain: Rhytocaryota
Kingdom: Xenosulizoa
Phylum: Hydratozoa
Superclass: Tripoda
Clade: Sucodermata
Class: Trignathita
Order: Vyrmiformes
Family: Molaratidae
Genus: Molaratus
Species: M. bulu
Zebra Tusk-dog
(Zebracyon
striatus)
Size: 100 – 130 cm in height, 120 – 150 cm long
Diet: medium-sized herbivores
Habitat: temperate forests
Reproduction: become male or female upon reaching sexual
maturity, undeveloped larvae hatch from eggs
While this is perhaps the most common feeding strategy, not
all tusk-dogs are scavengers. The group consists of very few fast-moving
pursuit predators, but there is still some variety in how they obtain their
meat.
Zebracyon striatus sits in wait, their striped body
providing them plenty of camouflage against the off-white exoskeleton of the
surrounding trees, striking when their prey come near. Lacking the molars and cheeks
of the osteovorids, they do a bad job of grinding the harder parts of their
kills, leaving plenty of remains behind for the numerous scavengers that also
inhabit the forests. Flesh is primarily cut up with their claws, with their
teeth mainly used for taking down prey. Like other tusk-dogs, they use the horn
at the end of their oral probiscis for spearing smaller targets.
They are territorial animals, and in addition to marking their
territory by placing the inedible remains of their prey out in the open – something that also has the side effect of
making things easier for scavengers – they mark their territory with scent. The
tentacles at the backs of each leg secrete a liquid that drips down onto the
ground as they walk, and they can often be seen intentionally rubbing them on
things. Other tusk-dogs will smell this and avoid the area. They tend to place prey
remains around the perimeter of their range, so they’re not left too close to
where they hunt and alert prey, arranging them in an almost artistic manner.
Kiran Ypsop
H. telmatus
Size: 2.3 – 2.9 meters in height, females tend to be a bit bigger
on average
Diet: aquatic iculophytes
Habitat: rivers or lakes in forested swamps and wetlands
Reproduction: protandrous, undeveloped larvae hatch from
eggs
These animals belong to a group of large-bodied,
semi-aquatic tariforms called hypsopids. The Kiran ypsop can be found
throughout the wetlands of Mesogea, feeding on aquatic plants as well as some
surface vegetation. One of their most notable features is their compound eye
splitting in four, with the upper pair raised on stalks to see above water, and
the lower pair positioned to allow them to see underwater when wading through rivers
and lakes. The common name, ypsop, comes from the pronunciation of the genus in
Occasian Gontanic, with “Kiran” referring to the Kira River where many can be
found.
Taxonomic classification
Tree: Xenosulivitae
Domain: Rhytocaryota
Kingdom: Xenosulizoa
Phylum: Hydratozoa
Superclass: Tripoda
Clade: Sucodermata
Class: Spinoptilita
Order: Tariformes
Family: Hypsopidae
Genus: Hypsops
Species: H. telmatus
Mesogean
Forest Knucker
(Helophus kirensis)
Size: 2 – 3 meters in length
Diet: entomopterite bugbirds, fish, occasionally larger
animals
Habitat: bodies of freshwater in forested wetlands
Reproduction: hermaphroditic
Helophus kirensis belongs to a group of aquatic
trignathites called Nuceriformes, characterised by the presence of long fins on
either side of their body as well as a rigid and hardened, toothy beak. They
live near lakes and rivers, but are able to move on both land and underwater,
moving across land in the legless snake-like manner of other trignathites.
They spend long periods of time lying in wait partially
submerged, with their second and third eye pair raised above water to watch for
prey. With only their eyes and breathing spiracles above the water, they are
difficult to spot, especially with their red colouration allowing them to blend
in with the surrounding aquatic iculophyte species. When an animal comes near to
drink, they are able to jump out at alarming speed, biting them with their
powerful beaks. Their biting strength is incredibly strong, supported by a
series of anchor points inside their head, with the brain moved further back to
facilitate this.
While this hunting strategy is typical of nuceriforms,
different species go after different prey, with the shape of the beak
facilitating this. The elongated beak of the Mesogean forest knucker is well
suited for catching bugbirds and fish.
Taxonomic
classification
Tree: Xenosulivitae
Domain: Rhytocaryota
Kingdom: Xenosulizoa
Phylum: Hydratozoa
Clade: Sucodermata
Class: Trignathita
Order:
Nuceriformes
Family:
Helophidae
Genus:
Helophus
Species:
H. kirensis
Blue
Tree Lyndworm
(Fituli
maximus)
Size: 40 – 70 cm in length
Diet: gyrinozoans (tiny tadpole-like animals), aquatic
plants, seeds, spherozoans
Habitat: ponds, lakes, and rivers in heavily forested areas,
trees
Reproduction: hermaphroditic, release gametozoans into water
Like laminites, polypalites belong to a separate branch of
tripodans than the sucoderms. This third major branch is primarily
characterised by the presence of multiple digits both on the front limbs and
rear foot or tail, which tend to be webbed. These digits developed from the fin
supports of their fish-like ancestors, which weren’t retained in other tripodan
lineages. Having multiple webbed fingers aids in swimming, and polypalites are
Xenosulia’s closest equivalent to the amphibians of Earth.
While it isn’t particularly big by the standards of some
other groups, the blue tree lyndworm is larger in size than many other
laminites, inhabiting the rivers and lakes of the forested wetlands of Mesogea.
For safety, they often climb trees, using the opposable thumbs of their front
limbs and hand-like rear foot to aid them. Another tactic to avoid predators is
the presence of toxins in their blood, with bright colours serving as a
warning.
Rather than mating directly, most polypalites reproduce by
releasing gametozoans into bodies of water. Their gametozoans have one extended,
tail-like arm that allows them to swim effectively and search for a mate, after
which they’ll burrow into the earth to give the polypalite larvae a chance to
grow. Larvae are small and worm-like, and usually fully aquatic.
Taxonomic classification
Tree: Xenosulivitae
Domain: Rhytocaryota
Kingdom: Xenosulizoa
Phylum: Hydratozoa
Superclass: Tripoda
Class: Polypalita
Order: Phylluriformes
Family: Fitulidae
Genus: Fituli
Species: F.
maximus
Common
Drill-rabbit
Size: 25 – 30 cm in height
Diet: soft tissue of cardiophytes, mycozoan fungi,
iculophytes
Habitat: forests
Reproduction: hermaphroditic
In contrast to Earth, where trees are supported by trunks
made of fibrous wood, the trees on Xenosulia are soft on the inside, surrounded
by a harder exoskeleton. The inner flesh is a rich source of nutrients,
although since it’s hard to get to few animals make use of this food source. Among
those that feed on this tissue is the common drill-rabbit from a group of
polylutiforms called dendrovorids.
These small herbivores use their drill like tooth to make a
hole in the exoskeleton of trees, at which point they will begin pulling the
softer tissue out with their front claws for consumption. Although the noise
this produces can make hiding difficult, as polylutiforms they have ear pinnae
which gives them good hearing for avoiding predators. Their primarily hydraulic
pump is enlarged similarly to many taruses, which aids in the hopping
locomotion they favour, another means of quickly evading predation.
Taxonomic classification
Tree: Xenosulivitae
Domain: Rhytocaryota
Kingdom: Xenosulizoa
Phylum: Hydratozoa
Superclass: Tripoda
Clade: Sucodermata
Class: Spinoptilita
Order: Polylutiformes
Family: Dendrovoridae
Genus: Dendrovorus
Species: D. usu
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