Gigil (gee-gill)

Gigils are solitary creatures who rule at the top of the food chain in the mountains where they live. While they may appear brutish and simple, they are anything but, as gigils have many strange behaviours that almost appear to suggest some sort of culture among themselves. While they spend most of their time alone, every so often they come together at night to gather sticks in a big pile and observe the starry sky. They also have the uncanny ability to appear in places right before a natural disaster strikes, leading many to believe that they are a bad omen.

Basic Information

Anatomy

The gigil's large feline-like body is covered in thick black fur to protect against the harsh elements on the mountains. They have six limbs, two hind legs and four front legs. Their paws each have five fingers and long non-retractable claws with brown paw-pads. The fluffy tail is nearly as long as the rest of the body and usually ends in a white tip.
Gigils have cat-like faces with powerful jaws, and the fur around the cheeks and neck is longer than the rest of the head. The muzzle, eyebrows and ear rim are all white. The ears are round and short and have very long black tufts at the ends. The eye-color is usually blue and can range from icy white to deep navy. The gums and tongue are also blue. Long, white whiskers decorate the muzzle and eyebrows.

Genetics and Reproduction

Gigils mate every 3-5 years. When a male and a female encounter each other they stick together for a short while before they go their separate ways. Female gigils raises her cubs on her own and tend to get 1-2 cubs at a time.

Growth Rate & Stages

Gigil cubs stay with their mother for about a year before they are able to survive on their own. They are born blind and deaf but grow up quickly.

Ecology and Habitats

Gigils are adapted to live in on snowy mountains. Their thick fur protects them against the cold, and their six clawed paws helps them climb, dig and navigate the rocky ground. Their black and white coat gives them excellent camouflage against the rocky mountains, snow, and dark night sky.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Gigils are strict carnivores and hunt large animals. They prefer to eat the organs of their prey rather than the tissue, so a gutted carcass is a good indication that a gigil has feasted on it.

Behaviour

Gigils have unusual behaviors for a solitary animal. While they spend a lot of their time alone, they will sometimes gather in groups to socialize in an almost ritual-like manner. They can often be seen gathering sticks and dried plants, swiping their claws at rock-pillars, or staring longingly at the stars at night.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Gigils have excellent sight as they are nocturnal and see very well in the dark. Their sense of smell is equally well developed. Gigils also have the unique ability to sense the planet's magnetic field. Their paw-pads are very sensetive to vibrations in the ground, which gives them the foresight to tell when natural disasters are approaching.

Name Origin & Meaning

The name "gigil" comes from the varan words "gigu"=to guard, and "lalil"=moon.

Lifespan

10 - 15 years

Average Height

1 - 1.5 meters (at the shoulder)

Average Weight

400 - 500 kg.

Average Length

4 - 5 meters (including tail)

Geographic Distribution

• The breathing ridge

Terminology

• A male gigil is called a male.
• A female gigil is called a female.
• A juvenile gigil is called a cub.
• A group of gigils is called an omen.
• The plural of gigil is gigils.