Vastallosi fauna

Vastallos is one of the most diverse places in Rathnir in regard to its biomes, flora, fauna, and cultures. Having 5 recognized terrestrial biomes makes Vastallos a biodiverse continent that offers various ecological niches for wildlife to exploit, and indeed the continent has diverse array of creatures found in its forests and hills.

Spruce forests & Mountainous regions
Though technically two separate biomes, the relatively similar climate and floral assemblage allows animals to live in both regions with relative ease, and they form contiguous populations crossing the two zones.


 * Vastallosi White Wolf (Canis lupus vastallosus)
 * Black-Tailed Hawk (Buteo vastallosus)
 * Pygmy Sheep (Ovis aceras minor)
 * Mougar's Cow (Bos mougarii)
 * Vastallosi Llama (Lama major)
 * Giant Red Fox (Vulpes rufus)
 * Vastallosi Mountain Goat (Oreamnos vastallosus)
 * Wild highcat (Leopardus catus signatus)
 * High horse (Equus mougar)
 * Pygmy camel (Camelus pygmeus)
 * Dracadian Highland Drake "Cliodrake" (Microdracus cliovus)
 * Galínian Roc (Galinavis gigaraptor)
 * Gray Runninghawk (Pennacanthus microraptor)
 * Northern Fluffbat (Corynorhinus anthosus)

Oak-Birch forest
The deciduous forests share many fauna in common with the Dark Oak forests, though the faunal assemblage here includes few endemic species. It has recently become home to a population of invasive Maerun Falcons, which compete with the Black-Tailed Hawk for food resources.


 * Forest Bat (Silviopteryx communis)
 * Caiori's Pig (Sus caiorii)
 * Lesser Forest Hen (Nanogallus querciphilus)
 * Messenger Pigeon (Columba niedenensis mercuricus)
 * Black-Tailed Hawk (Buteo vastallosus)
 * Asturcian Frog (Lithobates asturcus)

Tropical Rainforest
This is the most biodiverse area in all of Vastallos, both in regards to its flora and fauna. The jungle has a species of berry bushes (Mamaccinium spinifer) which was introduced by the Mamaco people into the jungle at the time of their arrival in the continent.


 * Common Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis)
 * Forest Sheep (Ovis aceras occidens)
 * Jungle Hare (Lepus kawalapuensis)
 * Jungle Stag (Odocoileus vastallosus)
 * Mico Fowl (Gallus micoa)
 * Short River Squid (Rotostomateuthis breviriparus)
 * Vastallosi Panda (Ailuropoda vastallosica)
 * Vastallosi River Dolphin (Platanista essendae)
 * Western Tropical Booby (Sula occidens)
 * Titan bee (Apis maior)
 * Vastallosi Wyvern (Wyvernis vastallosus)
 * Kamigawan Sky Serpent (Amphithera camigae)

Dark Oak Forests
These forests are a large part of Vastallos's wilderness, second only in land area to rainforests. Despite this, they are not as well studied compared to the other biomes on the continent.


 * Black Pygmy Bat (Lophostoma negrisilva)
 * Forest Bat (Silviopteryx communis)
 * Orange Giant Fox (Vulpes megaluteus)
 * Black-Tailed Hawk (Buteo vastallosus)
 * Vastallosi Bison (Bison angustus)
 * Silver Giant Eagle (Haliaeetus megaargenti)
 * Trollgardic Dreadgull Wyvern (Wyvernis tyrannus)

Grasslands
The grasslands in Vastallos are considerably small, being smallest biome currently. It is also the most destroyed biome, with almost 70% being already developed. There are 2 different types of grasslands in Vastallos, the tropical grasslands of Astana or a more commonly used term, savanah, and the temperate grasslands of western Vastallos. Due to the geographical barrier separating both grasslands, most species have undergone allopatric or peripatric speciation

Tropical

 * Brown hare (Lepus Macro)
 * Dryland's sheep (Ovis drylandii)
 * Long tailed savanah cat (Leopardus Mariorii)
 * Pygmy fowl (Gallus mallus)

Temperate

 * Lowland bison (Bos angustius)
 * Short legged cat (Leopardus prionail)
 * Jumping parrot (Anodorhynchus pigmeus)
 * Field horse (Equus minor)
 * Field fox (Vulpes arvensis)

Northern Coastline
The Northern Coastline of Vastallos is a hotspot for a diverse range of species due to it's warm shallow waters. The northern coast is far more protected and natural than the southern coast due to it's thick jungle barrier separating it from most of the Vastallosi civilizations.


 * Spotted Coral Crab (Corallius maculatus)
 * Vastallos Murder Crab (Megaluca vastallosi)
 * Silt Shrimp (Squillus veridonis)
 * Waahi Coast Shrimp (Squillus kuwaquis)
 * Black Snapper (Lutjanus maurisca)
 * Large River Worm (Fluvermis aboranus)

Ombra Gulf
Vastallos, while a sub-continent, is also a peninsula. On the southern side of Vastallos is the Ombra Gulf, home to various saltwater species. One of the most notable being the Ombran Shark, the dark gray apex predator of the gulf.


 * Ombran Shark (Coelodon ombrus)
 * Kelp Leviathan (Thalattophis chloris)



Extinct
Vastallos was once home to several animals that are now extinct, but still nonetheless part of the culture, legends, and traditions of the indigenous tribes. Many have been extinct for several thousands of years, but others have only recently disappeared due to human intervention.


 * Giant Ocelot (Leopardus maximus)
 * Giant River Parrot (Essendavis potamus)
 * Tree Fox (Procyon pseudovulpes)
 * Pygmy Llama (Lama minor)
 * Vastallosi Wild Ass (Equus hemionus vastallosus)
 * Fat capybara (Hydrochoerus maximus vastallosi)
 * Giant caiorii sloth (Megatherius caioriis)

Current Threats and Preservation
The two largest threats to the unique fauna of Vastallos are habitat destruction and overhunting. Between trophy hunting and the demand for meat and other animals resources by those unable to access farmed materials, the wildlife populations have dropped sharply in recent times. The expansion of new towns on the continent also destroys the habitat of many animals, driving them closer towards extinction.

Some efforts, albeit limited, have been made to preserve Vastallos's biodiversity. Some have suggested the creation of nature preserves, with at least one pre-existing reserve in Carvay.

See more of that in the: Environmental crisis of vastallos

Credits
Created by Caiorod001

Data gathered by CBERO, Dr Ishmael Baekry, and VERS

Edited by RaptorTheOne, Bakkerman, Janethebene, Destirius, Granaban, Vastallos Ecological Research Society