Samaan Gull
| Samaan Gull | |
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| Fauna | |
| Official Name | Samaan Gull |
| Common Nicknames | Elf Gull, Crested Seagull, Silent Gull |
| Classification | Bird |
| Habitat | Various |
| Domesticated | Yes |
| Current Status | Common |
The Samaan Gull is one of the signature pets of the Fin’ullen and has been since the dawn of their naval-focused civilization. Fully domesticated, and trained to only emit cries when desired, this species of naval bird is also unique for being entirely white, with a pale beak and feet to match. They have evolved to serve as a symbol of the Fin’ullen given their age-old bond, and can be found among every population of the nautical Elves across Aloria.
History
The history of the Samaan Gull is ancient, likely being as old as the Fin’ullen themselves. However, it is difficult to track given their minor role in the grand scheme of ancient Elven civilization. Many now believe that the species was bred into being from a local species of seagull over centuries or millennia, perhaps even before the formation of the Allorn Empire, within territory belonging to the Fin’ullen. This is thought because, in the many myths of Talea’s mission to unify the Elven world, the Fin’ullen stories often mention their possession of white birds that helped guide them at sea, and who could also serve as beloved companions, a state of affairs the Teledden found bizarre. Thus, the Samaan Gull was present from this very early era and continued to exist for millennia afterward, through the rise and gradual fall of the Allorn Empire, accompanying many sea voyages, military campaigns, and slaving expeditions with their Fin’ullen owners, and finally, most recently, in voyages over to Corontium where the Fin’ullen have established themselves for many decades. These animals have become a symbol of the Fin’ullen in Regalian maritime circles, and while their role has been greatly reduced since ancient days, these pets remain a respected and common sight across Fin’ullen populations.
Physical Appearance
Samaan Gulls are sleek, compact birds, that stand at just over a foot long, with a wingspan of nearly three feet, and weigh only a handful of pounds. Their head features a small, pale beige beak, a pair of alert eyes with colors ranging from grays to blues and seafoam greens (sometimes called the sea eye spectrum), and a small crest of feathers at the top of their otherwise smooth form. A short neck links the Samaan Gull to their body, which has a narrow, sleek form without a puffed chest or other similar features. Their wings feature a notable bend to them, which helps give the bird a silhouette different from that of other white birds, and they stand on a pair of webbed pale beige feet. Their tail feathers are short, and match the hue of the rest of the animal: white. The Samaan Gull has been bred by its caretakers to only have white feathers, and pale beaks and feet.
===Diversity===
Samaan Gulls tend to be extremely uniform, lacking sexual dimorphism, and have no other characteristics to distinguish between genders. It is known that their population slightly favors males of the species, as they are the ones to make their distinctive cries the most, and have been more valued in past millennia for this gift.
Lifespan and Development
Samaan Gulls are born in white eggs with yellow speckles on the larger, bottom end, and are laid in groups of two to four. Upon emerging, they are white fluffy balls of soft down feathers with what are, at the moment, oversized feet and a large beak. However, within a matter of weeks, their first proper flight feathers come in, and they are up and soaring as adolescents. After a year of further development, they are considered adults. Samaan Gulls can live for up to twenty years.
Mental Overview
Samaan Gulls have several particular mental traits that mark the species as unique. The first is the lack of a predator instinct. Wild Samaan Gulls are virtually unheard of, with even the flocks that fly in Fin’ullen ports all coming from large nests specially built for their kind and tended to by Fin’ullen and others. As a result, while they can dive and attack animals such as crabs, they can rarely ever actually kill them, instead simply playing with them a bit, and then leaving, somewhat bored. They are fed on a diet of ground raw meat from such animals instead, and the odd insect they scavenge. The next is their lack of a cry. Samaan Gulls were once trained to control their vocalizations to release them to indicate different things, but have now been further domesticated to the point that they have to be coaxed into creating sounds. They are often silent, sitting on their perches, not adding to the sounds made by other local seabirds often so close at hand to a Fin’ullen residence. They are incredibly comfortable with the Fin’ullen and many Elves as well, their sitting flocks clearing a path for people, but rarely taking off into flight at such disturbances unlike urban pigeons and the like.
Territory and Groupings
Samaan Gulls have been fully domesticated by the Fin’ullen to the point that even flocks that fly in and around Fin’ullen cities each have their housing to return to in the form of large birdhouses built for the purpose. They are supplied food by the locals. There are also Gulls that live inside of Fin’ullen homes as pets, brought in as chicks and adapting to the environment they will likely live in for many years to come. As a result of these two facets, the Samaan Gull can generally be found wherever there are Fin’ullen populations, and even individual Fin’ullen in foreign environments will sometimes have Samaan Gulls in their care.
Trivia
- Samaan Gulls get along well with domesticated cats, unlike other species of bird. They have enough size and fight to largely fend off the attentions of some truly feather-loving feline.
- The remains of Samaan Gull feathers have been found in some ancient Fin’ullen sites in Altaleï, where they exist as part of beautiful headpieces and fashion items likely worn in the distant past.
- Samaan Gull cries, while distinct, lack the same factor of annoyance or startling as the cries of other species of gull.
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