Chuma
A venomous hare-like creature native to Amol-Kalit. Abtati and Kaliti rely on them as a source of food.
Appearance
The chuma has a face much like a traditional rabbit or hare, but has four ears instead of two (one set faces forward, and one set backward).
Its body is covered in short fur nearly the same color as Amol-Kalit's sands (though some attempts at other color variations have been bred.) On its belly are fine silvery scales to protect it from hot sand during the day.
Long spurs extend off its hocks. These spurs are hollow and pointed, and connect to venom sacks within the chuma's back legs. The venom is not strong enough to kill a healthy humanoid adult, but it will make one regret getting hit by it.
Its body is covered in short fur nearly the same color as Amol-Kalit's sands (though some attempts at other color variations have been bred.) On its belly are fine silvery scales to protect it from hot sand during the day.
Long spurs extend off its hocks. These spurs are hollow and pointed, and connect to venom sacks within the chuma's back legs. The venom is not strong enough to kill a healthy humanoid adult, but it will make one regret getting hit by it.
Habitat
The chuma prefers warm and arid habitats, but is highly adaptable and can be found anywhere that is not extremely cold or extremely wet.
Traits
They tend to be tan and light brown in color, though some specimens of albino or leucistic coloration have been observed, and even more rarely some of dark brown or black fur.
Their eyes are usually yellow or brown.
Chuma tend to live solitary, but still within a larger habitat where many chuma live. They are not, by any means, a herd creature. They do not share dens.
The sex of a chuma is not immediately visible without dissection. Testicles are contained within the abdomen, to protect them from the burning desert sands.
Chuma reproductive cycles are frequent, only stopping entirely during seasons of heavy rain, as it is impossible to prevent nests from flooding. A female can raise upwards of six litters per year, and litters can range in size from 2-8 young, known as chams. Gestation is about 5 weeks.
Chams are born blind, furless, and without their venomous talons. Before their eyes even begin to open, though, the talons begin to grow. Life in the desert is dangerous, and the chuma has evolved to allow the chams to protect themselves as early as possible.
Chuma and chams are immune to the venom of all chuma.
Chams reach full-size in about 6-7 weeks, and sexual maturity by 10 weeks of age. Mother chuma kick their young out of the nest by the time they are 5 weeks old.
Chuma are edible, so long as a predator knows to avoid the venomous spurs. Most Abtati simply cut off the back legs of the chuma before gutting and skinning the animal.
The most common way to consume a chuma is simply to roast it.
Their eyes are usually yellow or brown.
Chuma tend to live solitary, but still within a larger habitat where many chuma live. They are not, by any means, a herd creature. They do not share dens.
The sex of a chuma is not immediately visible without dissection. Testicles are contained within the abdomen, to protect them from the burning desert sands.
Chuma reproductive cycles are frequent, only stopping entirely during seasons of heavy rain, as it is impossible to prevent nests from flooding. A female can raise upwards of six litters per year, and litters can range in size from 2-8 young, known as chams. Gestation is about 5 weeks.
Chams are born blind, furless, and without their venomous talons. Before their eyes even begin to open, though, the talons begin to grow. Life in the desert is dangerous, and the chuma has evolved to allow the chams to protect themselves as early as possible.
Chuma and chams are immune to the venom of all chuma.
Chams reach full-size in about 6-7 weeks, and sexual maturity by 10 weeks of age. Mother chuma kick their young out of the nest by the time they are 5 weeks old.
Chuma are edible, so long as a predator knows to avoid the venomous spurs. Most Abtati simply cut off the back legs of the chuma before gutting and skinning the animal.
The most common way to consume a chuma is simply to roast it.
References
Private Tales - Shifting Sands
Seteta smiled, laughing softly, skipping ahead of him on the road, looking around as well. Vulpesen's answer was... adequate. Definitely a beginner's answer. She took in the same scenery around him, cataloguing what she saw in comparison to his answer. "You are not wrong," she spoke at last...