Feng (feŋg)

Basic Information

Anatomy

Head:

• Skull: Compact and rounded, with a strong jaw structure.
• Eyes: Small, providing adequate vision for both daylight and low-light conditions.
• Mouth: Equipped with flat, ridged teeth suitable for grinding plant material.
• Nasal Passages: Enhanced olfactory capabilities for detecting food sources.

Neck and Chest:

• Neck: Short and sturdy, supporting the relatively large head.
• Chest: Broad and robust, housing a powerful heart and lungs to support its metabolism and active foraging lifestyle.

Back and Fat Layer:

• Fat Layer: Thick, fatty tissue extending over the back and sides, regenerating every few months. This fat serves as a protective barrier against predators and assists in thermoregulation.
• Seasonal Changes: In summer, the fat layer can bloat and pop to shed excess weight and prevent overheating. In winter, the fat grows more rapidly, providing insulation against the cold.

Fur:

• Mane: Thin, grey fur covers the fat layer, providing additional insulation and helping to camouflage the Feng in its environment.
• Skin: Tough and resilient, protecting the underlying tissues and fat layer.

Limbs:

• Forelimbs: Short but strong, ending in clawed paws used for digging and foraging.
• Hindlimbs: Slightly longer and equally sturdy, providing stability and support during movement.
• Digits: Equipped with claws for digging and defense.

Tail:

• Length: About 0.3 to 0.4 meters (1 to 1.3 feet), tapering to a point.
• Function: Used for balance and additional protection, covered with the same grey fur as the body.

Internal Anatomy:

• Respiratory System: Efficient, supporting a high metabolism necessary for fat regeneration and active foraging.
• Circulatory System: Robust, with a strong heart to pump blood through the dense fatty tissues.
• Digestive System: Adapted for a herbivorous diet, with a specialized stomach and intestines for breaking down fibrous plant material.

Genetics and Reproduction

Feng are viviparous, with females giving birth to live young after a gestation period.
Feng have a breeding season aligned with the summer when they have popped and secreted most of their fat, giving birth to 1-3 offspring per cycle.

Growth Rate & Stages

Yunkin Stage:

• Duration: 0 to 2 years
• Characteristics: Rapid growth and development, high energy demands, learning essential survival and foraging skills from the mother. Yunkin are more vulnerable to predation due to their smaller size and less developed protective fat layer.

Adolescent Stage:

• Duration: 2 to 5 years
• Characteristics: Continued growth, further development of the fat layer, increased independence. During this stage, Fengs hone their foraging skills and begin to establish their territories.

Adult Stage:

• Duration: 5 to 15 years
• Characteristics: Peak physical condition, active in foraging and reproduction. Adults have a fully developed fat layer providing optimal protection and thermal regulation. This stage represents the majority of their lifespan, where they are most resilient to environmental challenges and predation.

Senior Stage:

• Duration: 15 to 20 years
• Characteristics: Gradual decline in physical abilities, slower regeneration of the fat layer. Seniors may become more sedentary and face higher risks from predators and environmental stressors.

Ecology and Habitats

The Feng are versatile, thriving in various environments including grasslands, forests, and savannas.

Dietary Needs and Habits

The Feng are herbivorous, primarily consuming grasses, legumes, alfalfa, clover, and hay.

Biological Cycle

The meat they hold on their back will tend to bloat and pop during the summer months, which sheds some of the weight which might cause the Feng to overheat. In the winter however, they will typically regrow this lost mass.

Behaviour

Having evolved as a domesticated animal, the Feng has grown used to the protection of their captors and are thus incapable of defending themselves against predators. For the most part, Feng will bundle together and hide beneath their fatty shells in times of crisis.

Additional Information

Domestication

Domesticated Feng are typically raised in captivity and are thus well adapted to their domestication, they are also generally numb to pain when their shell is attacked or torn and thus do not feel significant amounts of pain when meat is removed from their shell.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Given that they have a shell formed of fatty meat that regenerates over time, the Feng is an excellent and replenishing source of food. As a result, they are one of the most commonly domesticated animals in Vilia, providing a cheap source of meat and a good source of protein.

Civilization and Culture

History

The Feng were animals native to the eastern continent of Pauros. During the First Era, the Elves mutated the Feng and altered them to incorporate their fleshy regenerating shells as a recurring source of food. These animals were then distributed across Vilia as their Empire began to expand.

Lifespan

15-20 Years

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Average Height

Stands about 0.3 to 0.5 meters (1 to 1.6 feet) at the shoulder.

Average Weight

35-50 kg.

Average Length

Approximately 0.9 to 1.2 meters (3 to 4 feet) from nose to tail tip.

Geographic Distribution

• Lower Mastoria
• Pauros
• Upper Mastoria