Tlahatl's Fauna

Tlahatl's Fauna is a zoological guide to the island of Cuiciloa. It was written by Juan Coyo and published under the People's Publishing Company.

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Wild Animals Of The Island Tlahatl (The Golden Land) And It's Surrounds.

AVIANS

INSECTIVOROUS

The Cuiczalli (Flute-song) Finch, or Hopping Finch is a small flightless bird which feeds on crop-eating insects and Acacia fruit. As they mature, their feathers turn from emerald green to dark olive or brown. As the Cuiczalli has several predators on Cuiciloa, they rely on their short stature and plain colors as camouflage. In fact, it is often difficult for Cuiczallis to find each other through sight alone, and as a workaround for this, have developed their ubiquitous melodic calls to alert potential mates to their presence.

PISCIVOROUS

The Mihuicolli (Burrowing Bird), or Western Tropical Booby, is a medium-sized piscivorous bird native to the western isles of Rathnir and tropical coasts of Alteniqua. During laying season, females build their nests on tall, smooth rocks along the coast to keep their clutch from the dangers of the ground while minimizing the distance between the ocean and the nest, as Mihuicolli have relatively small beaks for piscivores, which necessitates more trips from the nest. They also feed on the eggs of animals which bury their clutches in the sand, such as the Acamtemicti.

CRUSTACEANS

The Acamtemicti (Murderer Crab) is a heavily armored land-dwelling crab which is the apex predator of Cuiciloa. It uses its large, serrated claws to catch and masticate its prey, and sharp anterior legs to pierce the shells of eggs. Adults can reach the size of a small cat, and have been known to sever fingers, hands and toes with ease. Even though they are not herbivorous, Acamtemicti have a tendency to smash growing pumpkins (possibly due to their superficial resemblance to other Murderer Crabs) and are treated as a pest by the locals. Their meat is used in many Huitca dishes.

MAMMALS

HERBIVOROUS

The Cuahuacapra (Goat-cow) is a native species of Water Buffalo which is now a staple of Huitca agriculture. Due to the isolation of Cuiciloa from the mainland, Cuahuacapra s have shrunk down to the size of goats due to island dwarfism. While small, it has a strong temperament, resulting in the practice of shaving down their ram-like horns.

Cauallo Xoalcotle (Xoalcotl's Steed) is a mysterious creature which most resembles a skeletal horse, and appears on stormy days. While there is no formal explanation for what they are or where they come from, the Huitca link them to their God of the South, who is known in Huitca folklore for riding on a skeletal steed, believing that Xoalcotl sends them from the underworld as tokens of his gratitude. Due to this, it is recognized officially as Tlahatl's National Animal.

CARNIVOROUS

The Natlas Wolf is an introduced species of semi-domesticated wolves most closely related to the Knossian Hunting Wolf. Huitca religious texts claim that they were given as a parting gift from the inhabitants of what is now Neos Knossos, but others believe Natlas Wolves migrated across the Unmarnu-Alteniqua ice bridge during the last ice age.