Animals of Rathnir and Eldham

The Animals of Rathnir and Eldham (full title: Catalogue of the Animals of Rathnir and Eldham: A Worldwide Bestiary for Worldwide Use) is a compendium written by Dr. Tara Sauranis containing all known and referenced extant animal species of Rathnir and Eldham. Its first edition was initially published on February 9th, 2022.

Links are provided for all organisms that have wiki pages.

Introduction
Dear reader,

''It brings me great pleasure to see those across the world who take enjoyment in learning about wildlife. I have dedicated my life's work towards researching our natural world, often to the brink of death. Here, I hope that this book will transport you across the world from the safety of your home, library, or wherever else you prefer to read.''

''This book is organized phylum-by-phylum, with the exception of Phylum Chordata- the vertebrates and their kin. They're separated by class. The rest of the book is divided by "clades of convenience". While not properly scientific, they make the reading and writing much easier and more organized for the editors and casual readers. It's a necessary sacrifice, in my opinion. Some families, orders, and the like presented in this book are in effect in high-brow academia; others are simply folk taxonomies.''

''And now, without further ado, I present the animals of the world. Happy exploring!''

''-Dr. Tara Sauranis''

Poriferans
Porifera are the sponges of the world's oceans and freshwater. They are filter-feeding organisms, and the most primitive known to science.

Coelenterates
Cnidarians and Ctenophores, collectively known as Coelenterates, are gelatinous simple creatures with radial symmetry.

Platyhelminthes
Phylum Platyhelminthes, commonly known as "flatworms".

Nematodes
Phylum Nematoda, or "roundworms". Abundant but small organisms.

Annelids
Annelida is the "segmented worm" phylum, containing leeches, earthworms, bristleworms, and more.

Sand Worm (Arenavermis irritator)

A poorly-documented large sand worm from an unknown part of Rathnir.

Arthropods
The largest phylum; however, most species are undocumented. Contains many-limbed animals with exoskeletons.

Spiders
Light Eater (Phosophagus plagosus)

A tarantula species from Flower Island (OPTC) in Plagos.

Varnian Cave Spider (Theraphosa blondi)

Varn Torum-native spider that dwells in caves.

Crabs
Acamtemicti (Megaluca terrestris)

The "Murder Crab"; a large species of fiddler crab native to Cuiciloa, Huitca.

Remipedes
Parasitic Silverfish (Paralepisma montroigensis)

Crustacean that can hijack mammalian nervous systems. Responsible for the Montroig Silverfish Plague. Originally thought to have been an actual silverfish (Order Zygentoma) based on reports by medical doctors in Uldarash, but reports of the presence of Terminaline have caused zoologists to reclassify this arthropod. Termincrawler (Inanis capere)

Inhabitant of the deep sea; typically a filter-feeder, but can attack larger prey and even parasitize large vertebrates. Have similar anomalous properties to I. concitus. Produce a substance known as Terminaline to hijack nervous systems and can sometimes cause cancerous tumors from infection.

Voidcrawler (Inanis concitus)

Two-meter-long carnivorous remipede. Anomalous, highly intelligent, and widespread in every ocean basin worldwide. Has an extensive fossil record, and is possibly related to strong magic. Thought to have been extinct until discovery of eggs in the Phagosian Sea.

Insects
Gardener of the Isle (Hortulanus insulae)

Hoverfly native to Flower Island in Plagos. Larvae have glowing abdomens similar to fireflies; both organisms produce the bioluminescent compound luciferin. Adults are important pollinators. Murder Ant (Gigaponera horibillis)

Independent-living ant species with venom strong enough to paralyze dogs or children. Widely distributed, but regarded as a pest and hunted extensively. Now considered endangered.

Titan Bee (Apis major)

Large bumblebee native to Vastallos. Used for its honey by local Mamaco tribespeople and other inhabitants of the Vastallosi Rainforests.

Mallean Wasp (Vespaculex malleus)

Ectoparasitic wasp, similar to mosquitoes. Native to Varn Torum. Spreader of Botan's pox.

Mollusks
Shelled animals bearing a mantle, radula, foot, and head.

Octopus
Common Blue Octopus (Octopus caeruleans)

The most common cephalopod in Rathnir. Native to most of the Southern Ocean and the bodies that connect to it. Most commonly found along reefs and kelp forests, where it crawls in search of prey to ambush.

Squids
Eastern Kraken (Krake barbossa)

Large cephalopod known to inhabit the deeper waters of Eldham and the ocean to its east; revered by the pirates of Barbossa.

Phagosian Kraken (Krake phagosiensis)

One of the largest known mollusks. Despite being a voracious predator, it allegedly does not eat cats or catlike humanoids. Hunshui River Squid (Rotostomateuthis nirricus)

Squid native to the rivers and inlets of the Nir swamps, Aurlûnor.

Short River Squid (Rotostomateuthis breviriparus)

One of the only freshwater-dwelling cephalopods in the world. Native to the Essenda River basin in Vastallos.

Gastropods
Necusis brandaris

A cone snail native to the waters around Necua Hopolos in the Lothranis Sea.

Conus helemarconus

A brackish-water cone snail native the the Ha Anga Bayou and the rest of coastal Nir.

Velekrath gigas

A cone snail native to the cooler waters at the very northmost end of the Gulf of Heaven.

Ranka Snail A

An unnamed snail from the Ranka snail sanctuary.

Ranka Snail B

An unnamed snail from the Ranka snail sanctuary.

Ranka Snail C

An unnamed snail from the Ranka snail sanctuary.

Ranka Snail D

An unnamed snail from the Ranka snail sanctuary.

Lophotrochozoans
Phyla Bryozoa, Brachiopoda, and Phoronida are known collectively as the Lophotrochozoa. Mostly marine, sessile filter-feeders.

Echinoderms
The "spiny-skinned" creatures, with radial symmetry. All known species are marine.

Cartilaginous fishes
Phylum Chordata, class Chondrichthyes. Sharks, rays, skates, chimeras, and others.

Sharks
Common North Shark (Prionace borealis)

Common mid-sized shark found in the Osterium and Palagean seas, as well as most of Eldham's saltwater regions.

Bony Fish
Osteichthyes- the fish with true skeletons.

Saltwater Fish
Blue Snapper (Lutjanus caeruleans)

Commonly called Lûtjian by Aurlûnoren fishermen, this fish is the type species of the Lutjanus genus. It is a prized yet common shallow-water fish, commonly consumed by all classes and found readily in fish markets and the wild alike. Sand Grouper (Epiniphelus arenatus)

Another commonly-eaten fish. This grouper has a sandy gray color with red splotches present in males. They are protogynous sequential hermaphrodites; they are born female, and may transition to male after reaching adulthood. Generally found in deeper water, they eat mollusks and crustaceans.

Red Dolphinfish (Coryphaena erythra)

A pelagic predatory fish, the Red Dolphinfish only comes to the shallows to spawn. Its fry live in the mangroves and seagrass beds before maturing and moving to the open waters of the Lothranis Sea. Favored culinarily for having a taste more similar to land meat than most fish. Lothranic Puffer (Lagocephalus lothranicus)

Also known as the Rabbithead Puffer or Tutouhetun. Used by high-class chefs in making fugu for wealthier diners. In the wild, the pufferfish inhabits shallow waters and eats shellfish and crustaceans, including barnacles; they can be commonly seen around docks and even the bottoms of ships. Queen Angelfish (Holacanthus ciliaris)

A fish regarded as sacred by the Audaladae; it was one of the few creatures, and the only marine animal, to make the crossing from Jagdas to Rathnir. A blue and green reef fish inhabiting warm waters in the Sea of Pearls.

Pearl Angelfish (Holocanthus alteniquiensis)

A grey and white-striped angelfish similar to the Queen Angelfish. A native of the Sea of Pearls, and to Rathnir.

Brackish-water Fish
Nieden Salmon (Salmo folvas)

The most common species of salmon in the Rathnir region. Commonly found in both the Sea of Pearls and the Osterium and Palagean Seas as adults; they swim into freshwater rivers in Nieden, Helmia, and northern Sparwood to breed annually.

Freshwater Fish
Common Pike (Esox lucius)

Predatory fish native to most of eastern and northern Rathnir, from Sparwood to Syltör. Well-liked for its taste, but very bony. Has a mottled pattern similar to the appearance of tree bark.

Nieden Pike (Esox orientalis)

Similar to E. lucius, with a sympatric range restricted to eastern Nieden, particularly in Simulami and parts of eastern Escharia in the Osterium Sea watershed. Distinguished from Common Pike by its larger size, striped pattern, and red fins.

Nieden Common Carp (Cyprinius niedens)

A dark gold fish with large scales. A bottom-feeder, preferring plants and freshwater crustaceans. Native to most of Nieden, but introduced and invasive in Bardonia and Aurora.

Marshfish (Palustrichthys arxellensis)

A freshwater sculpin of the family Cottidae, inhabiting northern Sparwood and eastern Nieden, into Simulami. Favored for its taste by the Kartek peoples, of which it is their national dish. Prefers to live around submarine vegetation.

Amphibians
Tetrapods that metamorphose from aquatic tadpoles to terrestrial adults, with some exceptions.

Toads
Mossland Wolftoad (Bufo nelondensis)

Toad native to the swamps of central Helmia. Fond of crickets and millipedes.

Bjebža Deathtoad (Bufo rapoha)

Large toad native to the Bjebža wetlands of Gdanyc. It is not a threat to any animals larger than itself, except if eaten; its name is derived from its poisonous nature. The toad has large concentrations of bufotoxin in glands behind its ears.

Wolf Frog (Lupobatrachus orientalis)

Predatory, ground-dwelling large toad native to Nieden. Large enough to eat small rodents such as mice.

Frogs
Ashren's Bullfrog (Lithobates ashreni)

Large bullfrog native to Zamotz island. Bears webbing on its limbs, thought to be a vestigial gliding membrane. Ashren's Bullfrog generates a sticky substance it uses to climb trees.

Great Bullfrog (Lithobates grandis)

A large Nieden-native frog.

Varnian Bullfrog (Lithobates gigantis)

An enormous member of the Lithobates genus, reaching up to three meters tall. Native of Varn Torum.

Midnight frog (Ranitomeya gaelithox)

Poisonous frog used by ancient Illeryans to make poisoned arrows. Name is derived from the chirping sounds these frogs make in the late night.

Mirimi Tree Frog (Walkeschia mirimensis)

Tree frog native to the redwood forests of Nieden. Genus name derived from the Asteri word for frog, "Walkesch".

Salamanders
Common Axolotl (Ambystoma huitca)

A pinkish salamander with its gills present as an adult; however, chemicals can prompt the neotenous creature to become "fully" mature, losing its gills. Originally native to freshwater in northern Ummarnu, Its name is derived from the Huitcan language. Giant Ambush Axolotl (Ambystoma suchis)

Large, cave-dwelling, and carnivorous. Evolved convergently to crocodilians, to an extent.

Reptiles
Group containing tetrapods with scaly skin. Technically includes birds.

Freshwater Turtles
Wolf Turtle (Chelydra veriaza)

Large freshwater turtle found in eastern Nieden and Syltör. Bears a somewhat spiny shell, long tail, hooked beak, and a powerful bite.

Common Turtle (Emys familiaris)

Freshwater turtle with an almost worldwide distribution. Dark, with yellow spots on its face. Typically resides in freshwater, but can also be seen foraging miles from any body of water on land.

Woodland Turtle (Glyptemys silvensis)

Very small brown turtle native to the coniferous forests of central Nieden.

Sea Turtles
Western Hawk Turtle (Buteochelys occidens)

Sharp-billed green sea turtle native to the Phagosian and Lothranis Seas, and as far south as the coast of western Haven. Omnivorous, but eats mostly seagrass and kelp.

Niedena Sea Turtle (Caretta niedea)

A species of sea turtle with a large diet. Endemic to the Sea of Pearls.

Ostoda Turtle (Ostodochelys velox)

Sea turtle found around Ummarnu, noted to also dwell in freshwater. More carnivorous than the Western Hawk Turtle, thus avoiding competition as they share a range.

Najer Giant Hawk Turtle (Parabuteochelys najeri)

Large omnivorous turtle native to the Silver and Osterium Seas.

Tortoises
Varmerii Tortoise (Agrionemys varmerii)

Tortoise native to the plains of western Nieden and northern Alteniquia.

Lizards
Slender Desert Lizard (Alatosaurus naturalis)

A wild ancestor of the Winged Lizard. Native to Mirau's drier regions.

Winged Lizard (Alatosaurus morgrendi)

An artificially-created feral species of lizard, created from Slender Desert Lizards and Sandgrouse. Found in Mirau.

Snakes
Canebrake Viper (Agkistrodon striatus)

Also known as Woolmouths for their characteristic pale mouth, the Canebrake Viper is a deadly venomous snake found in the freshwater parts of the Nir swamps. It is venomous, and can easily kill a large humanoid. It eats mostly fish, as its genus name Agkistrodon means "fish-hook tooth". It is a dull grey-green color with stripes, and has a diamond-shaped head.

Crocodilians
Short-Nosed Alligator (Alligator brevirostris)

Alligator native to Nir, Tacua, and parts of Tamaka and Hampo provinces in the Aurlûnor Velande. Once kept as pets/livestock by the Yi'yen elite class on certain occasions; rumors state that they were once used similarly to hunting dogs.

True Dragons
Avalof Sawtail (Serratocauda avalofensis)

Large dragon native to central Eldham, namely the region of Avalof. Once featured on the flag of Druk Yul.

Bonsai Dragon (Parvidraco arborens)

Small purple dragon native to Beauridine, but introduced into Rathnir. Can sport a winter coat of downy feathers. Highly intelligent.

Chromatic Dragon (Chromodraco tetramorphus)

Dragon notable for coming in four different color variants- red, blue, white, and black. Wide range, from Plagos and most of eastern Eldham. Claimed to have magical properties pertaining to each respective color. Red Chromatic Dragons are connected to fire, blue dragons to electricity, white ones to ice, and black ones to toxins and destruction magic.

Gemstone Dragon (Mineralidraco crystallum)

Rare dragons native to the north of Eldham that seek out a particular gemstone or crystal. Emerald, Amethyst, Diamond, Lapis-Lazuli, Redstone, and Quartz variants have been reported.

Metal Dragon (Mineralidraco metallicum)

Dragons known to live around metal deposits- found almost worldwide in any areas where they are exposed. Can disintegrate metal ores and incorporate them into their integument. Gold, iron, and copper variants are most common; other transition metal variants such as silver may be found as well. Aluminum dragons are rumored, but not confirmed. Niedean Nightdragon (Noctidraco niedeae)

Jet-black nocturnal dragon, five meters long. A famous head of this dragon is on display at the Fornost Museum in Aurora. As its name suggests, it is native to Nieden; it also inhabits parts of Syltör and Alteniquia. Phoros Maned Dragon (Lophodraco phorosensis)

Large predatory dragon native to Phoros. Bears a large crest or mane on its neck and back composed of downy feathers.

Serrona Windrider (Euruvehor serronae)

Medium-sized (3 meters on average) dragon native to the Vulperium and the USSE. Unique in that fur-like feathers cover most of its body, not just parts of it like other dragons. This is an adaptation for the cold climate of Serrona. Silver Dragon (Lophodraco argyrus)

Large short-snouted dragon native to north-central Eldham. Bears silvery scales, hence its name; however, it is not to be confused with the rare silver variant of the Metal Dragon, Mineralidraco metallicum.

Onthukhan Imperator Dragon (Onthukhanax rex)

A large species of eudraconid native to Mirau and the rest of Onthukhan measuring up to five meters in both length and wingspan. One of the most feared predatory animals of central Eldham; however, they tend to live away from settlements, and prefer to eat fish, wild game, or livestock instead of people.

Wyverns
Umbra Pseudodragon (Pseudodraconis umbra)

Also known as a "darkdrake"; a small, black, Valle-native wyvern with powerful connections to magic, especially so for a dragon. Known to use illusion magic, and emit smoke when exposed to sunlight (however, this does not harm the creature). When tamed, they are kept as pets and familiars by wizards, however their long lives (up to 350 years) mean that they often outlive their caretaker.

Northern Kaladinian Bloodserpent (Sanguidraco kaladinensis)

A ferocious nocturnal wyvern native to Kaladinia. Known to harass and attack people. Identified by its blue color. Lesser Wyvern (Wyvernis communis)

Small but ubiquitous wyvern with a cosmopolitan distribution, though they prefer to congregate around open areas near fresh water and have a particular interest in eating freshwater turtles and clams. They use their fire breath to cook their prey alive and crack its shell. Also known for eating pests such as mice; however, they may overstay a farmer's welcome when they burn down a grain silo attempting to burn their prey.

Daelryan Wyvern (Wyvernis helmicus)

The largest extant wyvern species, native to western Helmia. Bears a black and red coloration on the belly and the wings. Living along the coast of the Sea of Petals, it eats a diet of mostly seabirds and fish. Despite influencing early Daelyrian culture and religion, it is critically endangered. Vastallosi Wyvern (Wyvernis vastallosus)

A small arboreal wyvern hailing from Astana and Kamigawa in the Vastallos subcontinent. Bears a large dewlap and longer claws than other members of its genus.

Lindworms and Sea Serpents
Andorn Lindworm (Ophidophysis borealis)

A large lindworm species that inhabits the forests of Andorn, Norfthorn, and Ryzan. It shares a habitat with the Syltör Tiger; however, they avoid direct competition as the Lindworm hunts by day and the tiger at night. It nests in rocky mountain regions, where they feed on minerals to help generate fire. As a result, the highest concentrations of Lindworms are around the Fornoisan Ranges, Wivamonties, and Drahalad Mountains. Aurlûnoren Lûn (Ophidophysis aurlunensis)

Large (up to six meters long) lindworm species native to the tropical jungles of Tacua Province in the Aurlûnor Velande, where it is the national animal. It is a predator of pigs and deer, and occasionally alligators. Juveniles inhabit trees, whereas adults live on the ground. Highly revered in the Twin Dragon faith. Unfortunately endangered due to poaching and habitat loss; participating in the trade of Lûn materials is punishable by death in the Velande and is highly taboo.

Common Wyrm (Virmus trogolodytes)

Eldham-native wingless dragon that dwells in caves. Particularly common in Varn Torum.

Great Western Sea Serpent (Eudeus occidens)

Large sea serpent found in the Endless Sea to the west. Known to attack ships, it is rarely seen off the coasts of Alda and Agnarian. Guojiang Weaseldragon (Paraophidophysis musteloides)

Small dragon superficially similar to juvenile Lûn. Found in tropical and temperate regions of Syltör. Inhabits sewers in the colder parts of its range in winter, keeping its eggs warm with its fire breath and eating trash. Otherwise a predator of small mammals and birds in the wild. Nebskoslavian Lindworm (Vermisaurus elongatus)

Lindworm native to Nebskoslavia and into the Volkoregrod region of Ryzan. Fond of holes it is almost too big to fit into, including man-made cisterns and wells. Has stubbier legs than other lindworms, and as such is an ambush predator when hunting terrestrial prey. Otherwise, its diet is mostly aquatic vertebrates like fish, turtles, and birds. Oceanum Sea Serpent (Eudeus maritimus)

Massive sea serpent native to Oceanum and the surrounding waters in Eldham.

Phagosian Sea Serpent (Thalattophis phagosus)

Small sea serpent native to the Phagosian Sea.

Tortugan Sea Serpent (Thalattophis tortugae)

Small sea serpent native to the Tortugan Sea and the Mare Caprichosa.

Class Aves
Birds.

Ratites
Falora (Rufornis falora)

Large flightless bird with red downy feathers. Found in Ataraxia, Vont and Sparwood. Endangered due to overhunting, but very robust.

Maasyr (Magnavis maasicum)

Large flightless bird of Helmia. Grey-light-brown coloration; long necks, small heads, a big roundish torso and long legs. Named after the Maas family that ruled Ravgaard for a long time. Vulnerable.

Fowl
Hafen's Chicken (Gallus hafencus)

Chicken species with a range from Blackrock to Hafenstadt. Pygmy fowl (Gallus mallus)

Common rainforest chicken found across Vastallos and Syltör. The two continents do not have a continuous population, however.

Lesser Forest Hen (Nanogallus querciphilus)

Small chicken species found in the oak forests of Vastallos.

Mico Fowl (Pavo micoa)

Relative of peafowl. Omnivorous bird native to the Vastallos rainforests.

Parrots
Jumping Parrot (Anodorhynchus pigmeus)

Parrot species native to the plains of southwestern Vastallos. As its name suggests, it can be frequently seen hopping around when not in flight or resting. Jeannes' Parrot (Septentripsitta jeanneum)

Incredibly large and long-lived parrot species from northwestern Eldham. Can reach heights of over a meter tall and live for over two centuries. Reportedly at the "Battle at the Crimson River", 34,000 parrots from 27 parrot tribes fought against an army of approximately 67,000 Qwe'tsn soldiers in the ancient past. Though the bird is very intelligent and powerful, moreso than any other known parrot, this cannot be substantiated with material records.

Raptors
Daelyrian Eagle (Aquila daelyricus)

Sea eagle native to the Sea of Petals region, with long black feathers and a reddish beak. Feeds on small terrestrial animals and fish alike.

Duskyan Eagle (Aquila duskyonensis)

Primarily inhabits eastern Helmia; breeds in Duskyon, and migrates annually to western Najer in winter. Black to dark brown, yellow beak; otherwise similar to the Daelyrian Eagle in appearance, diet, and habits. Icon of House Kaerfels. Escharian Eagle (Aquila escharia)

Known as the "Niede Aklei" in the Asteri language. As its name suggests, it is a native of Nieden.

Solarii Eagle (Aquila solarii)

Another large eagle native to Nieden. The "Eagle of Solaris", chief god of the Soleannen pantheon.

Kastollian Hawk (Buteo kastollis)

Native to Kastollia (where it is a significant cultural icon), Baykonia, and Domkuz. Bears gray feathers- the darkest spot being on the wings and the lightest at the belly.

King's Hawk (Buteo rex)

Called the Aqlei de Akerei in its native land of eastern Nieden. Inhabits most of the rest of eastern Rathnir as well.

Western Hawk (Buteo occidens)

Native to western Nieden, Syltör, Helmia, and Yulara. Similar to the King's Hawk; the two birds are closely related and share a close common ancestor, having developed separate ranges and diverged evolutionarily. Black-Tailed Hawk (Buteo vastallosus)

A species of hawk native to Vastallos and Aldovir. It preys on birds, small mammals, reptiles, lizards, fish, snakes, crabs, carrion, large insects, and poultry.

Crested Falcon (Falco cristatus)

Falcon native to Nieden. Has in recent years come into conflict with the introduced Maerun Falcon, which has encroached on its range. The two birds often compete for territory. Maerun Falcon (Falco maerunensis)

Common falcon once native to central Aurlûnor, but now has a cosmopolitan distribution in feral and domestic populations. Having hunted the Messenger Pigeon to endangerment across the world in the following of the Ferrymen War, they have thenceforth replaced the pigeon as the most common trained carrier birds by the Rathniri.

Silver Giant Eagle (Haliaeetus megaargenti)

Large eagle native to Vastallos, and the subcontinent's largest bird. Nests in the Dark-oak forests. Sandywood Eagle (Harpagornis harenolignensis)

Large eagle native to Sandywood National Park in Huitca. Has a two-meter wingspan as an adult, making it one of Ummarnu's largest birds.

Clifftonese Lord Eagle (Nisaetus cirrhatus)

Native to Helmia. Dark brown, with floppy crests over its eyes and long feathers on its tail and legs. The name "Lord Eagle" comes from its crest and the often upright posture, which appears like some sort of superior.

Black Osprey (Pandion atratus)

Found across Rathnir, but the Nir Swamps have some of the highest osprey population densities. Also found extensively in Nieden's swamps. The abundant fishes of the swamps allow these birds to exist in high numbers, and their calls can be heard from all corners of the wetlands.

Dragon-faced Owl (Phodilus draconum)

Relative of the barn owls, and native of Helmia. Mostly reddish colouration, black around the eyes, resembling a black dragon spreading his winds on a fiery background. Nocturnal predator of small mammals, mostly rodents. May have been an inspiration for many Daelyrian folk stories.

Ibean Raptor (Raptor Ibiens)

A small, highly intelligent raptor native to Yulara. The raptor commonly consumes desert and field mice for a diet, and sometimes even juvenile river serpents. Residents in the Ib region of Yulara use Ibean Raptors frequently as messenger birds due to the raptor's ability to reach high air speeds when diving. The raptor has a very strong sense of direction, making it a natural messenger bird. Ibean Raptors nest commonly in the branches of desert shrubs and in desert cliff crevices, where males partner for mates each year during mating season.

Seed-eating birds
Boulder Pigeon (Columba niedenensis feralis) Common pigeon native to Nieden. Wild ancestor of the domestic Messenger Pigeon.

Messenger Pigeon (Columba niedenensis mercuricus)

Domesticated and feral subspecies of pigeon. Once widely used to send messages over long distances, their populations became decimated by Maerun Falcons after their extensive use during the Ferrymen War aggravated many Rathnirians.

Flute-Song Finch (Cuiczalli saltator)

Also known by their Huitcan name, cuiczalli. Native to the island of Cuiciloa, as well as other islands in the Phagosian Sea and mainland Galinios. It feeds on crop-eating insects and acacia fruit. Its young are bright green, but turn golden brown as they mature. The bird uses its calls to communicate.

Bunch Sparrow (Passer fasciculum) Large, seed-eating bird with a worldwide distribution, in both Rathnir and Eldham. Has a particular relationship with the endangered Lumofungus of the Eldham caves.

Waterbirds
Golden Sea Swallow (Chrysornis maritimus)

A pelican species that appeared in Ostia (central Yulara) upon its independence from Bardonia in February 2022. May be connected with the old Holy Golden Seabird faith of Yimmu-Audal.

Speckled Ibis (Eudocimus canescens)

A common, long-billed bird with a diet of worms and subterranean arthropods native to southern Syltör, northern Ummarnu, and Vastallos. They can be seen in small groups, probing the sand and mud for their food. They have a splotched grey and white pattern, but juveniles are a distinct "woody" brown.

Northern Egret (Egretta Syltöra)

A small, white bird native to Syltör with a long neck. Its name comes from the Fornoisan word aigrette, a diminutive of aigron, "heron". It prefers to eat small fish, and hides in the mangroves away from larger birds. Guojiang Cormorant (Nannopterum littorum)

Diving bird native to the regions around the Lothranis and Phagosian Seas. Tamed by Yi'yen peoples in the past to assist in catching fish. Fishermen in some waterfront villages in rural Aurlûnor still use tamed cormorants to catch fish.

Heliodusic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax heliodusionensis)

A large diving bird with a long bill first discovered in the Heliodusion region of Yulara, along the estuaries of the Epipia river. Despite its name, the Heliodusic Cormorant is common along much of the Yularan coastline. Its diet consists primarily of coastal fish. Males have a more colorful plumage than the females in order to attract mates; both sexes mate for life. Common nests are found along beaches, where eggs are wrapped in seaweed and downy feathers for nests. The mother cormorant incubates the eggs for four months before hatching.

Red Spoonbill (Platalea rubra)

The spoonbill is a bird that specializes in eating small crustaceans in the water column. As such, the pigments of its prey turn its feathers a bright pink- on other diets, the bird turns a snowy white. Native to Nir Province and some of the oases of the Ashuran Desert.

Western Tropical Booby (Sula occidens)

Also known as the Mihuicolli in Huitca. A medium-sized piscivorous bird native to the western isles of Rathnir and tropical coasts of Alteniquia. Known to feed on the eggs of the Acamtemicti, and make burrows unlike other boobies. Revered by old Cardinalists, where an embalmed Mihuicolli mummy would guide a new convert's previous soul to the afterlife.

Mammals
Tetrapods that produce milk and have hair.

Bats
Black Pygmy Bat (Lophostoma negrisilva)

Small, endangered bat native to the dark oak forests of Vastallos.

Forest Bat (Silviopteryx communis)

The Forest Bat is Rathnir's most common microchiropteran, found in most temperate and subtropical forests. They feed on the abundant insects at night.

Bears
Vastallosi Panda (Ailuropoda vastallosica)

Large, black-and-white herbivorous bear native to the Vastallosi Jungle.

Maknerig Bear (Ursus arctos geonis)

Native to Helmia, Syltör, and western Nieden, and critically endangered. Also known as the Short-Snouted Bear, it has a shorter snout than the Helmiedene Brown Bear. It is omnivorous, but prefers vegetable matter. Named after a Daelyrian folklore character.

Helmiedene Brown Bear (Ursus arctos mostevski)

Native to Helmia, Khanji, Nieden, and Sparwood. Can be seen eating the Nieden Salmon when they come upriver to spawn. The subspecies name, mostevski, comes from the Korolian word for bear. Glazica (Ursus maritimus burgamerensis)

A white bear native to the snowy tundra of central Sparwood, and the largest known of all modern bear species. They are very good swimmers. According to local legends, they were tamed by humans to help hunt, and their fur was sheared to make clothing.

Foxes
Arctic Fox (Vulpes lagopus)

A white-colored fox that inhabits the Sparwood tundra and the snowy regions of Frostmarch. Its name is derived from the symbiotic relationship it has with bears; the two can be seen cooperating to take down prey together.

Talawan Fox (Vulpes lagopus talawaensis)

A distinct population of semi-domesticated Arctic foxes that are known to be kept as pets in Uldarash.

Field Fox (Vulpes malignos)

Fox native to the southwestern grasslands of Vastallos, eastern Ummarnu, and Aldovir.

Orange Giant Fox (Vulpes megaluteus)

Found in the dark oak forests of Vastallos. May be a subspecies of the Field Fox.

Hampo Fox (Vulpes rufus hampoensis)

The most common canid in the Nir swamps, the fox preys upon the abundant bird and rabbit population. As its name suggests, the fox's range extends far south into Hampo Province, as well as the rest of Nir and Tamaka.

Confuzzles Fox (Vulpes petaryni)

Named after Confuzzles Petaryn, Lord of Illerya. A red fox native to Helmia.

Wolves, Jackals, and Dogs
Escharian Dire Wolf (Aenocyon dirus eschariae)

Not necessarily a true wolf; the Dire Wolf is nonetheless one of Nieden's dominant predators. They are reddish in color, and have more robust upper bodies than true wolves. Known as the Hocii Okemi in the Asteri language of Escharia.

Upper Khaset Jackal (Canis khaseti)

A black-skinned jackal native to the Upper Khaset region, in and around the city of Zar'Roc. These animals are solitary hunters, mostly scavenging from animals that have passed away from the desert heat. Occassionally, if food is scarce, these animals are known to attack residents due to desperation, though attack reports are scarce. Historically, accounts have described Jackals leading lost travelers to the city of Zar'Roc, earning them a sort of mythological reputation in the region.

Silver Wolf (Canis lupus argentum)

A subspecies of wolf native to the former Sterling Crownlands/Silver Coalition, hence its name. Often found in deserts, its fur is slightly more of a sandy gray than other wolves.

Dune Wolf (Canis lupus isaverii)

Wolf native to the central desert of Alteniquia, though they occasionally encroach into southern Nieden.Natlas Wolf (Canis lupus natlas)

Wolf native to Cuiciloa; related to the Vastallosi White Wolf.

Niedena Wolf (Canis lupus niedenensis)

A true wolf native to Nieden; avoids direct competition with Dire Wolves by having different territories.

Ravgaardian Dwarf Wolf (Canis lupus parvus)

Small Helmian wolf that eats insects, small birds, and rodents.

Southern Forest Wolf (Canis lupus silvaustralis)

Wolf subspecies native to the forests of Suderen and northern Sparwood.

Royal Wolf (Canis lupus rex)The wolves of Varn Torum. Some ambitious dwarves in the distant past used these royal wolves as deadly mounts of war and legitimate companions for life. May have fur that is grey, wheat-yellow, or even greenish in appearance. Vastallosi White Wolf (Canis lupus vastallosus) Also known as the Knossian Hunting Wolf. A native of the mountainous regions of north-central Vastallos. Related to the Natlas Wolf.

Volandian Wolf (Canis lupus volandii)

A desert-dwelling cousin of the Natlas Wolf, native to Volandia. Highly endangered due to crossbreeding with other wolf populations.

Cats
Lesser Darakeen Cat (Felis darakeenis)

A species of domesticated cat native to the Abaton, Khaset, Ib and Heliodusion regions of Yulara. Commonly found in the wild alongside river valleys, and on occassion the desert. Hunters of mice and other small animals, they are tamed and kept as pets by the local Yularan peoples. Ummarnu Wildcat (Felis ummarnus)

An endangered species of wildcat living in central Ummarnu. They used to range from Farafin to Shania, but due to human activities are now only found in Sandywood National Park, some areas of Volandia, and Seaso.

Eastern Mountain Cat (Leopardus bashais)

Small wildcat native to the mountains of Helmia.

Wild Highcat (Leopardus catus signatus)

Small wildcat native to the mountains of Vastallos.

Long-tailed Savanah Cat (Leopardus mariorii)

Small cat native to the grasslands and deserts of Alteniquia.

Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis)

A small jungle-dwelling cat native to the jungles of Vastallos. Name comes from from the Huitcan word ocelotl.

Short-legged Cat (Leopardus prionail)

Small wildcat native to the temperate grasslands of western Vastallos.

Beauridine Snow Lynx (Lynx beauridinis)

Lynx native to Beauridine, Plagos, and Helmia.

Pard (Panthera leopardus)

A feline native to the forests of Eldham. It competes with wyverns and wolves for food.

Syltör Tiger (Panthera tigris boreoccidens)

The largest mammalian predator on the continent of Syltör. The Tiger is rare, but feared, and eats mostly deer and other large animals. Unlike most felids, it is quite at home in the water, and tigers often prey upon alligators.

Whales
Moon Whale (Kogia leviathus)

The Moon Whale inhabits the ocean between Eldham and Rathnir and sometimes swims into bordering seas. The whale produces a large amount of sperm during mating season. The term "Whale cum" is used to describe this phenomenon.Skjoldish White Whale (Apatocetus alba) Known as the Hvitur Hvalur in the Skjoldish language. It is a large baleen whale that convergently evolved with sperm whales to have a large blocky snout. Its oil is used in lamps and to power machinery.

Dolphins
Bottlenose Dolphin (Turisops truncatus)

Found in most warm waters of both Rathnir and Eldham. In the Ha Anga Bayou, dolphins occasionally use the shallow waters to hunt for fish and mollusks to eat. Some local pods have been seen using the inlets in the swamps to corral fish into a single spot for easy feeding.

Yellow-striped Dolphin (Turisops striatus)

A dolphin with white and dark blue skin, with a yellow line through the middle of the body. Found in the seas around Huitca. Vastallosi River Dolphin (Platanista essendae)

Known as Boto or Golfinho de Rio by the Mamaco peoples. Native to the Essenda River basin and the surrounding coastline, but it is highly endangered due to pollution.

Bovines
Vastallosi Bison (Bison angustus)

A small, narrow-bodied wood bison native to Vastallos.

Mougar's Cow (Bos mougarii)

Hairy wild bovine native to the mountains of Vastallos. Small-bodied and very rare.

Aurochs (Bos primigenius)

Large bovine that used to roam northern Rathnir and parts of Eldham; extinct in the wild, but its descendants live on in the form of the common domestic cow.

Domestic Cow (Bos taurus)

Common domestic cow. Found worldwide. Cuahuacapra (Bubalus sanctus)

A species of water buffalo native to the island of Cuiciloa in Huitca. Its name literally means "cow-goat". The species is smaller than other water buffalo, having evolved to be the size of a goat due to the phenomenon of insular dwarfism. Sacrificed to the Cardinalist goddess Cualitzin every 3rd of each month.

Camelids
Pygmy camel (Camelus pygmaeus)

Small camel native to the deserts and plains of Alteniquia, as well as an isolated population in the Vastallosi highlands.

Ocotlan Llama (Lama major ocotlanensis)

Llama subspecies native to the island of Ocotlan. Most domesticated llamas in the world are descendants of L. m. ocotlanensis. Vastallosi Llama (Lama major vastallosum)

Cohabitates with the Pygmy Camel in the highlands of Vastallos; however, they eat different plants and thus avoid direct competition.

Pygmy Llama (Lama minor)

Extinct llama species of the southwestern Vastallosi plains.

Deer
Nieden Moose (Alces alces niedenensis)

World's largest cervid. A browsing herbivore with massive antlers. Native to Nieden.

Red Deer (Cervus elaphus)

Medium-large deer native to eastern Nieden, Sparwood, and Cymru.

Nieden Common Elk (Cervus escharicus)

Large deer inhabiting the coniferous forests of Nieden. Not to be confused with the Escharian Moose.

Helmian Deer (Cervus helmiensis)

Relative of the elk and red deer, native to Helmia and Khanji.

White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus leuconurus)

Smaller deer native to Syltör and western Nieden. Larger in its northern range; a smaller subspecies can be found in the south of Syltör in the tropics.

Jungle Stag (Odocoileus vastallosus)

Small deer, native to the Vastallosi Jungle. Smallest member of the Odocoileus genus, only the size of a dog.

Black-tailed Deer (Odocoileus zarosavisa)

A small-medium sized inhabitant of the large redwood forests of Nieden.

Horse Deer (Odocoileus hemippus)

Also known as Mule Deer. Native to the mountains of central and eastern Nieden.

Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus)

Large deer native to the Palaris Tundra of Sparwood, and Frostmarch in Sørligste, as well as the neighboring regions in winter. The two populations are separate, and have been since the last ice age. Can be tamed and herded like cattle; both bucks and does bear antlers.

Caprids
Bernese Ram (Capra berna)

Large wild goat native to the Bernese Peninsula in Helmia, and other Helmian highlands.

Vastallosi Mountain Goat (Oreamnos vastallosus)

Smaller wild goat native to the highlands of Vastallos.

Dryland's sheep (Ovis drylandii)

Wild sheep native to the savannahs of eastern Vastallos and Alteniquia.Swamp Sheep (Ovis aceras hunshuiensis)

Subspecies of Hornless Sheep native to the swamps of Nir. Hunted to extinction.

Forest Sheep (Ovis aceras occidens)

Subspecies of Hornless Sheep native to the Vastallosi Jungle.

Moss Ram (Ovis bryophagus)

Sheep native to the redwood forests of eastern Nieden, as well as the wetlands of Simulami.

Equines
Donkey (Equus asinus)

Common donkey, found worldwide but native to Alteniquia's grasslands. An extinct subspecies, the Vastallosi Wild Ass, was known but recently went extinct.

Kelpie (Equus anura)

Native of Eldham. Aquatic, almost frog-like equine with strong connections to magic.

Eptaskia-Horse (Equus eptaskis)

Extinct species of horse that once roamed Helmia. Domestic Horse (Equus ferus)

Common domestic horse; found almost worldwide in captivity but rarely in the wild.

High horse (Equus mougar)

Small cliff-dwelling wild pony species native to Vastallos. Impossible to ride due to their small stature and independent nature, and thus the origin of the Traveler's Tongue phrase "get off your high horse".

Field horse (Equus minor)

Small wild horse native to the plains of southern Vastallos and parts of Aldovir. Extinct historical population in eastern Ummarnu.

Pigs
Noxnorri Boar (Choerus noxnorrensis)

Wild boar or warthog species native to Helmia.

Baykonian Pig (Sus baykonius)

A unique type of domestic pig bred specifically in Baykonia at one point. Often called "Walking Sausages". Now extinct.

Caiori's Pig (Sus caiorii)

A separate species of wild pig present in Vastallos. Little is known about it, but it is probably similar to S. quadra. Common pig (Sus quadra)

The species of pig most commonly domesticated around Rathnir and Eldham. They are eaten by some individuals as food, and can be used as beasts of burden when other large mammals are absent. Despite their domestic status, common pigs are actually rather intelligent creatures, on par with or even exceeding dogs.

Squonk (Sus turpis)

Pig species native to northern Huitca. Regarded as "one of the ugliest creatures in Rathnir."

Hoglin (Sus vermisilvensis)

Similar to feral common pigs, but less intelligent and much bigger. Hoglins are brutish creatures, and will attack if one approaches them.

Lagomorphs
Celume Jackrabbit (Lepus istihi)

An endangered hare native to Celume Province's deserts.

Jungle Hare (Lepus kawalapuensis)

A hare that inhabits the densely-forested tropical region of Kawalpua in Vastallos. Rarely seen hybridizing with the Brown Hare.

Brown hare (Lepus kastanus)

Another inhabitant of the Vastallosi tropics. Unlike its close relative the Jungle Hare, the Brown Hare prefers to inhabit grasslands as opposed to woodlands.

Nir Cottontail (Sylvilagus nirricus)

Common brown-coated rabbit found in the swamps of Nir, and the rest of temperate and subtropical Aurlûnor. Eats many of the grasses and forbs of the wetlands, and is often seen around water.

Marsupials
Kharakese Wallaby (Macropus ulkenayaq)

Also known as the Kücükguru. Hopping marsupial herbivore native to western Serrona, but introduced in Huitca.

Golden Wombat (Lasiorhinus chrysus)

Wombat from southern Kharakesestan measuring up to a meter long, with golden fur. Considered “sacred” by the Kharakeseler Tribe, which refers to the creature as the "Altınvombat". Dwells underground.

Pinnipeds
Stormtusk (Odobenus tempestas)

Large, crustacean-eating pinniped with large tusks and whiskers. Native of northern Helmia's coasts.

Primates
Old World Monkeys Alsu Baboon (Papio kauhus)

Desert-dwelling monkey with a wide range across most of Rathnir's deserts. Regarded as sacred by many Dune Elven tribes and the Najeri. Muda Baboon (Papio mudas)

Red-faced baboon native to Najer and southern Plagos. Males bear a large silver mane of hair on their neck and back.

Aquadorian Monkey (Hydropithecus ichthyophagus)

Large brown monkey native to Huitca. Lives in and around water much more so than other primates, and eats fish. Kenard's Swamp Monkey (Kenardopithecus angroviridis)

Swamp-dwelling monkey ranging from the Nir Swamps across to Nieden. Fond of mangrove propagules and shellfish.

Evank Monkey (Evankocebus quageroensis)

Carnivorous monkey native to southwestern Huitca, specifically around Quagero and Darinakua.

Rodents
Fox Squirrel (Setonix vulpes)

An arboreal, predatory rodent native to Varn Torum's forests.

Greater Capybara (Hydrochoerus maximus)

Large semiaquatic rodent with brown fur. Dwells in the subtropical and tropical regions of Aurlunor, mostly around water.

Yularan Desert Mouse (Mus solitudiens)

A common mouse found across both the Abaton and Khaset regions of Yulara. Their diet consists largely off of gnawing at the base of desert cacti. This diet provides basic nutrition including water and starch which the mouse can digest easily due to a very developed appendix. It is speculated that this enlarged organ developed due to the pressures of desert life and the frequent extreme heat in summer months. Desert mice are found to nest in the base of desert cliffs and in pockets of dunes in small burrows to escape heat, and during the winter nights, extreme cold. Occasionally eaten by Yularan natives as a delicacy, marinated in local spices and herbs.