Day, desert dogs

desert dog

plural: dayaa

Dayaa are mammiles that wander the shrublands, hills, and sand dunes between the Paban and Kugma mountain ranges. They have four digitigrade legs, wide mouths with sharp teeth, and tough scales on their backs that form a small shell. During the hot days, they burrow underground to escape the sun's harsh rays.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Dayaa have short orange fur over most of their body except for a large patch of hardened scales that cover their spines. They have flat faces with wide mouths with many sharp teeth. They have four long legs with flat feed and webbed toes to better dig their burrows or run away on hot sand. Their large floppy round ears allows them to dispel heat.

Genetics and Reproduction

Dayaa live in groups. An egg-laying day will mate with multiple dayaa over the course of a single period. The eggs are then laid in small clutches of 4-6 inside burrows, where they hatch after several months.

Growth Rate & Stages

When first hatched, a day will be able to see and walk on their own but will be dependent on their pack for survival. It takes about four years for them to grow to their final adult size.

Ecology and Habitats

Their range extends from the foothills of the Paban Mountains to the deserts just north of Kugma. While they can adapt to low levels of water, they do still require more than might be expected of a desert animal. Luckily they are adept at finding water sources with their feet.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Dayaa live in large packs with no central leader. Pups are raised in groups and have no particular affinity for their siblings vs. other pups. Some pups may elect to follow one day more closely than another, resembling a more one to one familial relationship, but this is rare.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Dayaa were domesticated by Rarites and Ildoar separately. The Raron dayaa, as they came to be known, were smaller and leaner and used mostly as pets. Ildoar used dayaa as working animals, relying on their water-tracking ability near the base of the Kugma Mountains.

Average Intelligence

The average day is fairly intelligent and is capable of being trained to perform small tasks, such as snuffing lanterns or serving as a short-distance carrier.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Their flat feet allow them to feel the tiniest currents of water underneath the ground, allowing them to stay hydrated. Their large ears, while used to control their internal temperature, are also capable of hearing over great distances.

Conservation Status

Least concern

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

While most dayaa are tan or orange, there is a wide range of colors from white to black.