Teraminos || Karfia (V2)

Instructions

=== Karfia === In the savannahs of Teraminos, it is almost impossible to not run into the Karfia. Living in large, communal herds, these fleet footed animals are relatively low in the savannah's food chain and are a primary source of food for a variety of predators such as the dreaded Baltas. However, this does not make the Karfia any less successful in its own right, with herds of these animals often dotting the landscape as far as the eye can see. As a result, they are often hailed as the 'cows of Teraminos'. === Description === The Karfia is one of the biggest members of its family. The largest bulls can grow up to a length of 3 metres, a height of 2 metres and weigh up to a ton. Meanwhile, the cows are slightly smaller. One of the most distinguishing features of the Karfia is its neck, which is covered with a heavy organization of 'coils' known as the 'collar'. Each coil is tipped with a multitude of spikes at their tip, making it difficult for predators to land potentially lethal bites to the neck without being severely wounded. Bulls have slightly larger spikes, and their collar is adorned with orange spots for display. The collar is often used by bulls as a weapon against competitors, although both bulls and cows aren't afraid to use it to defend themselves against predators. The final 'coil' of the collar is actually the creature's crest, which sits on a plate of armor that covers its face. At the tip of their nose, bulls have a small nose horn that is believed to be used as a display structure and isn't used for any other purpose, and their crest is slightly larger than that of females. The Karfia also has a long, slender beak that it uses to pluck and chop through vegetation with ease. The creature has a large hump lying at the front side of its torso. The hump is believed to serve as an anchor point for the neck's muscles, allowing for it to be swung and swivelled around with great force. To keep the creature balanced when swinging its neck, two of its forelimbs are equipped with small claws that allow it to grip the ground and maintain its stability. The final pair of forelimbs, meanwhile, each have a singular hoof that is used to aid in running. === Behaviour === Karfia are extremely gregarious creatures, often being found living in small herds. Most of these herds have a social hierarchy, often consisting of a single dominant bull, multiple cows and calves that are under a year of age. However, some young males may form bachelor groups for protection once they inevitably get evicted from their herd. The single dominant male of the herd takes up the role of protecting the herd from threats. Whilst the rest of the herd feeds on vegetation, he will act as a sentry, scanning the landscape in search of potential threats. Should the bull become wary and suspect that a danger is approaching, he will stamp the ground and snort, prompting the rest of the herd to look in the direction he is facing. Should the potential predator be smaller than the Karfia, the bull will often chase it off with loud hisses and stamps to protect his young. However, if it is a larger predator such as a Baltas, the herd will be quick to flee. Meanwhile, the cows act as caretakers for their offspring, only abandoning young males once they are old enough to take off on their own. If a calf's mother dies, it will often be 'adopted' by another female in the herd. === Diet === Herbivorous in diet, Karfia are both browsers and grazers that will feed on anything that they can reach. They often feed in clearings where they are less likely to be ambushed by predators, using their sharp beaks to pluck vegetation. Similarly to sauropods, Karfia are unable to chew their food, and instead opt to swallow small stones to help grind down the food in their stomach. Because of this, they also prefer to eat softer plants to further speed up their food's digestion. === Predators and defence === Due to their small size in comparison to the other creatures in the savannahs' ecosystem, Karfia are relatively low on the food chain and are a primary food source for a variety of predators. One of its most significant predators is the ferocious Baltas, but packs of smaller animals are often able to bring down even an adult bull. The Karfia's only method of defence is its speed; its strong, powerful legs allow it to run up to speeds of 30 km/h on average and at 40 km/h in short bursts. As well as this, the Karfia's neck is protected by its armored collar, which is also tipped with a multitude of spikes. This makes it hard for predators to land a potentially lethal blow on the neck of the creature. The Karfia can also defend itself using powerful kicks from its back legs. (CONTINUED IN NOTES AND CREDITS)