Species: Difference between revisions

Cervines are a species of bipedal cervid-like mammals that are native to northern Novaris. According to the Unified Bipedalism Theory, they are known as ''Cervis cervis''. Cervines are the only unguligrade sapient species on Urth - they possess hard hooves made of keratin. Similar growths also cover some cervine's fingertips. The species is able to rotate their ears in a wide range of motion. Most males of the species grow antlers, with some shedding every winter and others keeping them year-round. Male cervines can reach 7 ft 6 in (2.31 m) without antlers, while females average a height of 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m.) With antlers, males can average up to 9 ft (3 m) tall. It is customary in some cultures for cervines to trim their antlers to better use facilities and vehicles built for smaller species, but many traditionalist practices view this as taboo. Cervine fur varies in patterns and colors, with the most common being shades of brown and blonde. Red, black, white, and grey are also known to manifest. Cervine young possess small stripes or spots from birth in a lighter tone than the rest of their fur. These fade around 14 years of age. All cervines molt between winter and summer coats of fur. Cervines can live an average of 70 years for females and 68 years for males.

Cervines have an average of two children per pregnancy, which lasts six months in warmer climates and ten months in colder ones. The cervine species is made up of about 65% females and 35% males. To help with balance, cervines possess fur-covered tails of around three feet in length. Cervine nasal passages and speech organs are highly developed towards long-distance communication, and give their languages a unique aspect unpronouncable to other species. Dimorphism is prominent with males being much taller and muscular than females. Though females rarely grow antlers, their growth and size is linked to testosterone levels, influencable via horomone treatment or imbalance. Other species thus cannot be sure if a cervine with antlers is male or female.

Cervines became anatomically modern in the tundra and boreal forests of northwest Novaris between 500,000 and 550,000 years ago. Heavy glaciation and environment change led to their migration south according to archeological finds, though upon the glaciers receeding large portions of the population travelled back to their ancestral homelands. Contemporary cervine societies took their first steps around 50,000 years ago, and the oldest confirmed civilization existed around 7,000 BCE. Today the cervine population is smaller than most other species on Urth, existing primarily in the [[Kelamí League]] in Novaris and in lesser amounts elsewhere.