Three Tusk Tuverophant
| Three Tusk Tuverophant | |
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| Fauna | |
| Official Name | Three Tusk Tuverophant |
| Common Nicknames | Trass’zzan Losossonanva, Sendrassian Tri-Tuskers |
| Classification | Mammal |
| Habitat | Sendras |
| Domesticated | Yes. |
| Current Status | Common |
The Three Tusk Tuverophant hails from the warmer climates on the border of Sendras. Covered in a shaggy coat of reddish-brown hair that hides their thick skin, these mammals boast an impressive stature. They were once a labor animal for the Allar, but the Sendrassian Civil War saw to the decline of their use. Now, many thousands live free in the jungles while some others are domesticated, and a few rare specimen exist in the odd corners of Aloria with other exotic beasts.
History
The Three Tusk Tuverophant was first discovered by Elven Empire scouts on mission to Sendras in the year 1202 BC. The scouts saw these beasts as a potential asset for the future and investigated further how to claim the beasts. However, the Elven Empire soon learned of the other dangers prowling Sendras and were forced to withdraw from the continent. With the formation of the Serass State, the animal was re-discovered by the Allar who tamed it for a working animal to haul materials through the jungle.
During the Sendrassian Civil War, the Tuverophant was used as a war mount of the Al-Allar and Sa-Allar but also as a beast of burden. However, with the exodus of the remaining Allar races from Sendras, many Three Tusk Tuverophants were left behind by the fleeing Allar. Some were brought to Hadar where they quickly became exotic animals in the menageries of the rich and the species in Hadar are all domesticated. Today, the Tuverophant is sought after by the quirky or wealthy for entertainment and the sheer wonder of owning such an odd creature.
Physical Appearance
The Three Tusk Tuverophant is a large animal, with heights ranging from 12 to 18 feet from the foot to the top of their spine. Despite their body being heavier set, they possess four powerful legs and a short tail at the rear used to keep flies away from their backside. Three large tusks that range between four to five feet long protrude from their face, two curved tusks protrude from the corners of the mouth, and one smaller tusk hidden beneath the trunk that is used along with the trunk to crush food. Their hide is leathery and grey, and act as a shield that predators struggle to pierce when attempting to bring down the elephant. However, this hide is obscured by an equally thick coat of reddish-brown hair. The hair helps to trap moisture and gradually releases it over time to help cool the Tuverophant. This also results in patches of moss growing on their hair. Once they reach old age, after 70 years, the hair becomes a silver-grey color and begins to fall out in patches.
Diversity
The Three Tusk Tuverophant has equal gender numbers. Telling male and female Tuverophants apart is relatively easy as males are on average larger than female and females will always be in and around the youth.
Life Span and Development
Three Tusk Tuverophant offspring are always brought into the world through a live birth, after a pregnancy period of eleven months. Tuverophant calves are born four feet tall and hairless as their hides have not grown in yet. They also only have two tusks at the time, the third growing in after three years. Tuverophants are not seen as mature until they reach the age of seventeen, at which point they have grown a long, heavy coat of hair which protects them from the sun’s harsh light. They are raised throughout this period by their mother until they are old enough to leave and fend for themselves in a herd of their own at the age of 20. Tuverophants can live up to one hundred years old.
Mental Overview
Wild Tuverophant are seen as hostile creatures; if someone or something comes too close to a Tuverophant herd they are likely to attack in defense of their young. When left alone or observed at a large distance, the Tuverophant act in a rather civil manner; following one alpha Tuverophant (typically the strongest male). The youngest among the Tuverophant herd are looked after by their mothers and other females if needed. They are often kept close to the nearest source of water to keep them hydrated.
Tuverophants are easily tamed, though it usually takes a display of strength to show them that a new alpha is to be leading them. Once tamed, Tuverophants are a peaceful creature unless their owner sets them about attacking someone or something. It isn’t rare to see Tuverophants in captivity behaving extremely well with children, often playing well with them and seeming to understand what the children are saying. A female Tuverophant who comes into contact with the child of any race during breeding season can even become protective of the child.
Territory and Groupings
Tuverophants travel in herds, keeping close to the Alpha Tuverophant at all times with the children remaining close to their parents. Due to their water-retaining hair, the Tuverophants can go for weeks without water, as they travel for large amounts of time without stopping.
When a tamed Tuverophant is introduced back into the wild, the animal in question almost always dies quickly; as they have no real knowledge of surviving in the wild. If, however a tamed Tuverophant is introduced into a herd; the Tuverophant is usually accepted into the small, travelling society and is made to learn with the children until it is prepared to fend for itself.
Trivia
- The Tuverophant are hunted and killed by the Mu-Allar for their thick hides which can be valuable in creating effective armor.
- The Mu-Allar do not use the Three Tusk Tuverophant for physical labor as much as the other Allar species did. They prefer more reptilian creatures and some extremists see the pachyderm as tainted by the weaker Allar races.
- The oldest recorded Tuverophant to ever live belonged to the Serene Doge Afonso V de Lobo of Lusits. “Ella” reached the ripe old age of one hundred and three years old before dying peacefully in her sleep in 301 AC.
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