Xue Yin (Sh • EW • eh / Y • in)
I want to adopt a cute pet in your world. What is it and how do I look after one?
Basic Information
Anatomy
Wings
The wing shape is long and thin, but shorter than the gliding wings. The back and the long pointed wings of the adult are usually a gradient similar if not the same as the coat coloring, the wingtips are usually black, navy blue, dark brown, or deep red. The white to cream underparts are barred with pale brown ombré.Horns
Xue Yins grow slender, lyre-shaped horns 89 - 136 centimetres (35–54 in) long. The horns, strongly ridged and divergent, are circular in section and hollow at the base. Their arch-like structure allows interlocking of horns, which helps a Xue Yin throw off his opponent during territorial or otherwise fights; horns also protect the skull from damage. Horns can also be used in Magick whether for sensing or as a medium to use Magick.Genetics and Reproduction
A pair mates for life and returns to the same nesting spot annually. The courtship flight includes a mix of aerial acrobatics, precise spirals, and steep dives. A pair is usually called a mated pair or mating pair depending on if the have cubs or not
During the breeding season, mating pairs are usually never more than 1 km (0.62 mi) apart, and only in circumstance for hunting or scavenging. The distance between nests or dens ensures sufficient food supply for pairs and their cubs. Within a breeding territory, a pair may have several nesting ledges or dens; the number used by a pair can vary from one or two up to seven in a 16-year period. The Xue Yin nests in a scrape, normally on cliff edges, or oasis tree branches or dens in mountain caves, and large tree hallows.
The average number of young is in a litter 1.5 due to the infertility complications within all Magicae living in Aonani, whether that be Magicae Creaturae or Magicae Vitae
The gestation of Xue Yins lasts between 64 and 67 days, with an average of 65 days. The date of which cubs are conceived and born varies according to locality, but is generally from February to March in the Northern Hemisphere, and from July to August in the Southern Hemisphere. Cubs are weaned at the age of about four months, and remain with their mother for up to fifteen years.
Ecology and Habitats
Xue Yins are a critically endangered species that is extremely social within its species. The less the Xue Yins there are in a territory the more congregated they are. Within such groups, one Xue Yin is usually dominant over the others, acting as a leader of sorts. Each Xue Yin in a clan holds a distinct territory, males having the largest territories, which are about 4 times larger than those of female Xue Yins and may overlap with several females' territories. These territories are marked special magic radiation that can be sensed through a Xue Yins’ horns. Between these territories are neutral areas where Xue Yin watch and greet one another without territorial conflicts. Outside these neutral areas, territory holders usually chase away stranger cats, at first by staring, hissing, and growling and, if that does not work, by short but noisy and semi violent attacks (normally not any more dangerous than play fighting yet held with a more serious manner). Despite this colonial organization, Xue Yin do not have a social survival strategy and always hunt alone. But they have a sort of pack mentality in that they will never betray or leave one another and will help in any way they can that does not include interference in hunting.
Additional Information
Uses, Products & Exploitation
Because of the Magickal properties of their horns they are often either killed for them or captured, their horns stolen and released back into the wild. Horns are used for wands and staffs and other Magickal things.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Xue Yins can climb trees very skillfully, often rest on tree branches and descend from trees headfirst. They can run at over 58 km/h (36 mph), leap over 6 m (20 ft) horizontally, and jump up to 3 m (9.8 ft) vertically.
Xue Yins inhabits foremost meadows and rainforest, and areas where grasslands, woodlands, and riverine forests remain largely undisturbed. Most commonly seen in then Lin Forest in the southern half of Zyndrahr, the
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Vision
Xue Yins have excellent night vision and can see at only one-sixth the light level required for human vision. This is partly the result of Xue Yin eyes having a tapetum lucidum, which reflects any light that passes through the retina back into the eye, thereby increasing the eye's sensitivity to dim light. Large pupils are an adaptation to dim light. The Xue Yin has slit pupils, which allow it to focus bright light without chromatic aberration. At low light, a Xue Yin's pupils expand to cover most of the exposed surface of its eyes. The Xue Yins can see more color than most, with 7 - 10 color cones, compared to the normal Magicae Vitae has 4 - 5 color cones.Hearing
Xue Yins hearing is most acute in the range of sound. It can hear a range of 10.5 octaves, while most Magicae Vitae and Magicae Canem can hear ranges of about 9 octaves. Its hearing sensitivity is enhanced by its large movable outer ears, the pinnae, which amplify sounds and help detect the location of a noise. It can detect ultrasound, which enables it to detect ultrasonic calls made by small prey. Recent research has shown that Xue Yins have socio-spatial cognitive abilities to create mental maps of locations based on hearing voices and sounds.Smell
Xue Yins have an acute sense of smell, due in part to their well-developed olfactory bulb and a large surface of olfactory mucosa, about 5.8 square centimetres (29⁄32 square inch) in area, which is about twice that of most Magicae Vitae. Xue Yins and many other Magicae Creaturae have a special organ in their mouths that is used in the behavioral process of flehmening. It allows them to sense certain aromas in a way that Magicae Vitae cannot.Balance
Most Xue Yins have a noted fondness for sitting in high places, or perching. A higher place may serve as a concealed site from which to hunt; Xue Yins strike prey by pouncing from a perch such as a tree branch. Another possible explanation is that height gives the Xue Yin a better observation point, allowing it to survey its territory. A Xue Yin falling from heights of up to 3 meters (9.8 ft) can right itself and land on its paws. Any higher and the Xue Yin reflexively opens their wings in order to regain balance and glide towards land. During a fall from a high place, a Xue Yin reflexively twists its body and rights itself to land on its feet using its acute sense of balance and flexibility. If falling from a larger height a Xue Yin agilely and swiftly spreads their wings in order to glide towards land or begin flying. This reflex is known as the Xue Yin righting reflex. A Xue Yin always rights itself in the same way during a fall, if it has enough time to do so, which is the case in falls of 90 cm (2 ft 11 in) or more.
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Scientific Name
Ales Cattus
Origin/Ancestry
Magicae Creaturae
Lifespan
467 to 480 years
Conservation Status
Critically Endangered
Average Weight
Males weigh about 30 kg (66 lb Females weigh around 20 kg (44 lb).
Average Length
Females are 160–192 cm (63–76 in) long including 67–79 cm (26–31 in) long tails; Males have a total length of 182–203 cm (72–80 in) including 77–85 cm (30–33 in) long tails
Average Physique
The body is similar to the body of a feline, agile with pointed ears and a long tail. Two draconic horns rest on its head, and great feathered wings.
The Xue Yin has a strong flexible body, quick reflexes, sharp teeth and retractable claws adapted to killing small prey. Its night vision and sense of smell are well developed. Xue Yin communication includes vocalizations like meowing, purring, trilling, hissing, and growling as well as Cattus Magicae-specific body language. A predator that is most active at dawn and dusk (crepuscular), the Xue Yin is a solitary hunter but a social species. It can hear sounds very faint and high in frequency, such as those made by mice and other small Magicae Creaturae.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
The Xue Yin's fur varies from Dark Brown to Chocolate, to Reds, and Goldens, Blondes and Cream to colors such as Fawn, Black, and Blue, to Silver, Ash, and White and is patterned with light gradient. Most commonly seen fading from a light to a darkened color in an ombré effect on the paws, tail tip, forehead and tips of the ears.
In response to the prompt I want to adopt a cute pet in your world. What is it and how do I look after one?
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