Major ANIMALS and CREATURES Within the Universe

Lifespan: 70-200 years, depending on the animal

Home Planet: A few various planets

Appearance:
Divine Beings are simply animals of immense proportions - monsters, as they have been called. They do not look any different than their regular animal counter-parts, besides being colossal.

Max Height: 70 feet/21.34 meters

Max Length: 120 feet/36.6 meters

Max Weight: 160,000 lbs/80 tons

Sexual Maturity:
Females: 5-10 years of age
Males: 9-13 years of age

Diet: Varies, depending on the animal

Habitat: Varies, depending on the animal

Population: Between 5-7 million in the universe, spread across at least 8 different planets

Activity Time: Varies, depending on the animal

Background:
They are very intelligent for beasts and possess the IQ of a regular human being, even capable of speech. However, for the most part, Divine Beings choose only to communicate with their own kind, and it is rare to hear them speaking to humans on Earth.

In the beginning of time on Earth, Divine Beings ruled the planet, but later, many of them were wiped out when a great meteor impacted the planet. Those that were left were forced to primitive lifestyles, retreating to the remains of their homes. With time, more and more Divine Beings began to rise up once again in hopes of reclaiming their planet. However, by that point, humans had began to evolve and were growing in strength, often times slaying many Divine Beings whose potential and strength had not fully developed yet.

Today, only a select few Divine Beings live in secluded places around the world, kept secret by some, feared by many, and legend to most. Some Divine Beings have been spotted in the past, such as the famous Big Foot. Most sensible Divine Beings know not to attempt to interact with human beings, for it always ends badly.

On other planets in the universe, Divine Beings are not so rare. In fact, on a number of planets, their kind rules at the top of the food chain. They are one of the most well known creatures throughout the galaxies. In some cases, superior beings will often times call upon Divine Beings as guardians, using them as a security force to keep a specific thing safe. Diving Beings outside of Earth typically coexists with the other species on their planets harmoniously, many times even befriending their bipedal inhabitants. Not all Divine Beings are so friendly in nature though. Some are quite well known for their short tempers and powerful outbursts of fury and wrath.

They are known as Divine Beings, since some races in the universe hailed them as gods and kept them as pets or guards. Some more religious people think of these massive animals as pets to the gods. On some planets, various races ride on the backs of some Divine Beings.

Lifespan: 150-200 years

Home Planet: Vaelzar & Zetar

Appearance:
Iuncturas are any creatures that consist of two or more animals combined. Notable Iuncturas include gryphons, mermaids, harpies, nagas, minotaurs, and centaurs. Iuncturas can have numerous different animal parts that make up their composition. There are thousands of different species and limitless combinations.

Max Height: 20 feet/6.1 meters

Max Length: 40 feet/12.2 meters

Max Weight: 6,000 lbs/3 tons

Sexual Maturity:
Females: 10-15 years of age
Males: 15-20 years of age

Diet: Varies, depending on the animal

Habitat: Varies, depending on the animal

Population: Between 7,000-8,000 in the universe

Activity Time: Varies, depending on the animal

Background:
The Iuncturas are highly intelligent beings, many times whose IQs could outmatch a human's. They speak vocally amongst each other in their own tongues, but also tend know the Provectus language and sometimes other languages.

The Iuncturas are very rare, as their numbers have increasingly dropped off over the many years. They, for the most part, tend to be social and affectionate creatures. However, centuries before the Provectus reached the levels of understanding and interest in the Iuncturas that they portray in the present day, these creatures were viewed with great suspicion and treated with the utmost caution. This was mainly due to Iuncturas acting as guardians to secret places that often hoarded artifacts of mysterious natures, as well as mounds of treasure. Explorers and sailors seeking to plunder such ancient tombs in the past would first have to answer a riddle directed to them by the Iunctura. Rumours quickly spread of these beasts and how if one answered the riddle wrong, the creature would swoop down and devour them. These were, of course, complete fallacies.

Whether the Iuncturas took it upon themselves to guard these places of value or whether they were commanded to do so by a higher authority is unknown and a secret that the Iuncturas themselves have never told. Some Provectus believe this is because they have in fact forgotten the reason for their ancient tasks of guardianship. It can be speculated that protecting items of value is merely a part of who the Iunctura are, a theory that can be backed by the fact that Iuncturas have now taken to being the guardians of Provectus.

The reason people now believe Iuncturas to be bringers of good fortune does in fact relate to the past: when travellers of old would venture the unexplored, stumbling upon one of these beautiful creatures would more often than not mean that a hidden chamber containing much gold and precious metals or jewels was close by.

Iuncturas temperaments vary, but most are known to be very social and friendly creatures. They've even shown compassion to others, risking their own lives to save people in need. Some Iuncturas have even allowed themselves to be used as mounts, most commonly the gryphon.

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Lifespan: 60-80 years

Home Planet: Earth

Appearance:
Hergrunts look like a cross between a herbivore dinosaur, a camel, and a deer. They have round bellies and camel toes. The males of the species have small horn-like antlers on their heads. Their skin is usually a natural color, typically between brown, tan, orange, and yellow. They have a powerful weapon on the tip of their tail which possess lethal spikes on three of its sides.

Max Height: 13 feet/3.96 meters

Max Length: 30 feet/9 meters (counting their tails)

Max Weight: 8,000 lbs/4 tons

Sexual Maturity:
Females: 4-8 years of age
Males: 5-12 years of age

Diet: Herbivores

Habitat: Deserts, grasslands

Population: Between 100-300 worldwide on Earth, and between 2,000-3,000 on Vaelzar

Activity Time: Diurnal

Background:
Hergrunts came around 10,000 years after the last dinosaurs died off. They typically live in warmer climates, as they can store water in their bellies for weeks. They are fairly intelligent beings, but cannot speak as humans can. Their numbers have diminished over the many years, but they still are widely used for beasts of burden, much like the camel. When threatened, if fleeing isn't effective, and before resulting to fighting, a Hergrunt's last resort is their powerful bellow of a cry. Its deafening sound it enough to not only stun but paralyze all creatures within a 50-foot radius.

In the era of knights in shinning armour on Earth, when power hungry warlords led their great legions on crusades across horizon-hugging savannahs, the Hergrunts were greatly used and abused. Their capabilities and advantages over the camel and horse were quickly recognized, and Kings would make it a priority to round up as many as possible before embarking across deserts. Apart from their capacity to carry more than a camel and endure longer than a horse, these beasts had a far more valuable attribute. Beings of cruel disposition, self acclaimed men of science never went amiss in legions, and their twisted experiments and tortures upon the bodies of fallen or crippled Hergrunts soon discovered the water stored in their swollen bellies. This discovery reached the ears of commanders hand-in-hand with a twisted proposition.

Those medieval scholars and scientists experimenting upon the beasts had seen a malign potential within the Hergrunts greater than heavy lifting - they proposed to use these internal water supplies to nourish their parched soldiers on the long march across the deserts of the eastern lands. Naturally, the idea was accepted by kings and commanders, men in that age caring little for the bestial races. They merely asked how it could be done. Prototype experiments had already been conducted, and great leaders of men were brought before Hergrunts with hollowed bamboo tubes protruding from a piercing in their stomachs. These tubes were connected to filtering sacs that, in turn, linked to taps of sorts for soldiers to refill their drinking sacs from. The flow of water was controlled via a system of valves, a primitive design compared to what could be done today, but it worked well (despite certain cases where infections contaminated the water supplies, often leading to plague amongst entire legions on the move).

Naturally this crucial advantage for the crusading legions attracted the attentions of the indigenous populations, and they began a great purge of all Hergrunts in their regions, hoping to lessen the chances of their enemies getting their hands on them. When the native armies assaulted the crusaders, they would often strike quickly, destroying food and water stocks, which included the Hergrunts. Often assassins would be sent under the cloak of night to slaughter these beasts while the legions slept, effectively destroying their primary water supplies. (This is the main explanation for such a plummet in the Hergrunt population over the ages.) On one such occasion, the Hergrunts awoke and stunned the offending assassins with deafening roars before battering them down with their powerful tails. After this, they made sure to clog their ears with wool before attacking Hergrunts. That tactic has carried on to the present day, where those dealing with Hergrunts will rarely be seen without their protective ear-wear. However, using the water from these creatures is a practice no longer carried out.

Most Hergrunts today live on the planet Vaelzar, where the Provectus have taken them, too curious about the animals to let them go extinct.

Lifespan: 60-70 years

Home Planet: Bellua

Appearance:
Vargs resemble Maglaertas, since they are like giant lizards. They can walk on both of their two hind legs, or on all four, though they typically run on four. They have bat-like wings, and their wingspan is twice the length of their body. Their tails are long and powerful. Vargs have two deadly and thick horns on top of their heads. They look very much like dragons from Earth's legends. Their skin and scale colors vary between species, ranging from dull earthy tones to more vibrant ones. The less colorful Vargs are typically the larger and more powerful ones. Vargs have muscular bodies that are not serpentine, but more dinosaur-like. Some species even have evolved to grow deadly spikes on the tails or one long blade at the end. Their wings are extremely thick and cannot be penetrated easily. They're so strong, in fact, that they can even shield a Varg from the harsh weather.

Max Height: 25 feet/8 meters

Max Length: 55 feet/17 meters (counting their tails)

Max Weight: 20,000 lbs/10 tons

Sexual Maturity:
Females: 8-12 years of age
Males: 10-15 years of age

Diet: Carnivores

Habitat: The blistering hot deserts and wastelands of the half of the planet trapped in sunlight

Population: Between 80,000-100,000 worldwide

Activity Time: Diurnal

Background:
Vargs call the hottest areas of Bellua home, but a few of them were transported to Earth in the past for an experiment by the Provectus. They did not thrive as well on Earth, and eventually went extinct completely. Though fully capable of living in temperatures nearing freezing, Vargs greatly prefer hot or warm climates. They are capable of breathing fire by means of combining two chemicals in two different glands in their throats, the chemicals being hydrogen and carbon monoxide. Fire-breathing serves multiple purposes, the main one being to incubate their eggs. Varg young, before they've hatched, require extremely hot temperatures in order to survive and develop. Usually, the heat on Bellua where they live is not enough, as the eggs need temperatures of up to 1,000 degree Fahrenheit or 538 degrees Celsius, which even the hottest parts of the planet do not get to (unless you are speaking about the molten lava itself, which is far too hot). Other purposes for breathing fire are to ward off egg-thieves or other predators, or to have fire-displays to attract mates. Some Vargs have even used their fire as a sign that they are in trouble and need help.

Vargs are dangerous wild animals that, despite the best efforts of many, cannot be truly tamed. They are about as intelligent as Earth's dogs and capable of learning through trial and error, but they are not trusting or unguarded. It takes many long years, coupled with lots of hard work to earn a Varg's trust enough to let a person approach unscathed. Despite this, there are legends on multiple planets of dragon riders. The Provectus, having personally invented the Neural Behavior Modification Chip, are one of the only ones today that have complete and synthetic control over the Vargs, though they have no such need to ride them. Because of their fabled legends, Vargs are highly desired around the universe. Though they come from Bellua, poachers, exotic creature handlers, traders, bounty hunters, and others will often try their luck with stealing Varg eggs and selling them for large amounts of money (ACE). Owning a Varg is illegal on most planets though, and many times the customers will find they do not have the proper means to care for a Varg and may end up becoming its next meal. A select few though are famous for having personally trained and tamed Vargs and having ridden them.

Vargs themselves live in small families of clans, usually between 2-15 other Vargs. Some just prefer to live with a mate, but others prefer the protection that others bring. Vargs mate for life and typically produce between 50-70 eggs a year, with usually only 10-20 of the hatchlings ever truly making it past adolescence.

Lifespan: 50-60 years

Home Planet: Zetar & Licentia

Appearance:
Vesperteros are basically giant bats. They stand taller than any human, and their wingspan is massive. They have various coat colors and patterns, and their eyes are pitch black. They have large ears and noses and long talons. Vesperteros are powerful, despite being light weight for their sizes, and are even capable of supporting a rider, though they would not allow such things, being completely unpredictable and stubborn, not to mention proud creatures.

Max Height: 8 feet/2.4 meters

Max Wingspan: 30 feet/9.1 meters

Max Weight: 300 lbs

Sexual Maturity:
Females: 1-3 years of age
Males: 2-4 years of age

Diet: Carnivore

Habitat: Jungles, rainforests, swamps, rural countrysides, urban cities, mountains, deserts

Population: Between 200,000-300,000 worldwide

Activity Time: Nocturnal

Background:
On Zetar and Licentia, the Vesperteros are known as the "masters of the skies," as they can live in almost any habitat. Because of their large sizes, they have been known for reeking havoc on public buildings wherever they may roost, often destroying the architecture. They are typically considered pests by the Zetans, though the Volucris view them as a sign of good fortune and strength and endurance. The Volucris will often fly alongside the Vesperteros as equals, sometimes even competing for the same meals. Vesperteros get along fine with the Volucris and do not seem to mind their presence, even in their own caves and homes. Since the Vesperteros are so large and capable, they do not scare as easily as Earth's bats, and are usually the ones feasting on other animals and creatures, thus they do not flee often. On the contrary - they prefer to attack and defend themselves if they feel they are being threatened.

Vesperteros lives in massive colonies, similar to the bats on Earth. Most Vesperteros do migrate too, though not all. Unlike Earth's bats though, Vesperteros do not hibernate. By emitting high-pitched sounds and listening to the echoes, also known as sonar, Vesperteros locate prey and other nearby objects. This is the process of echolocation, an ability they share with dolphins and whales. Although the eyes of most Vespertero species are small and poorly developed, leading to poor visual acuity, it is incorrect to assume that they are nearly blind. Vision is used as an aid in navigation especially at long distances, beyond the range of echolocation. It has even been discovered that some species are able to detect ultraviolet light. Their senses of smell and hearing are excellent. While other mammals have one-way valves only in their veins to prevent the blood from flowing backwards, Vesperteros also have the same mechanism in their arteries.
The finger bones of Vesperteros are much more flexible than those of other mammals. One reason is that the cartilage in their fingers lacks calcium and other minerals nearer the tips, increasing their ability to bend without splintering. The skin on their wing membranes is a lot more elastic and can stretch much more than is usually seen among mammals. Because their wings are much thinner than those of birds, Vesperteros can maneuver more quickly and more precisely than birds. The surface of their wings is also equipped with touch-sensitive receptors on small bumps called Merkel cells, found in most mammals, including humans. But these sensitive areas are different in Vesperteros, as each bump has a tiny hair in the center, making it even more sensitive, and allowing the Vespertero to detect and collect information about the air flowing over its wings.

Most Vesperteros have a breeding season, which is in the spring for species living in a temperate climate. Vesperteros may have one to three litters in a season, depending on the species and on environmental conditions, such as the availability of food and roost sites. Females generally have one offspring at a time; this is probably a result of the mother's need to fly to feed while pregnant. Female Vesperteros nurse their youngster until it has grown nearly to adult size; this is because a young Vespertero cannot forage on its own until its wings have assumed adult dimensions.

Lifespan: 100-120 years

Home Planet: Atrum

Appearance: Velopes are gazelle-like creatures, though much larger and more robust, similar to a moose. The males have long and powerful gazelle horns that stretch for 4 feet (1.2 meters). Their fur is pure white to help them better blend in with their snowy environment. Velopes have lots of thick, heavy fur to better store heat in the cold. They have tiny, little puffs for a tail and solid hooves, which are covered with fur. The ears of a Velope are long and furry. They are rather fit creatures, possessing very little body fat, despite living in colder environments, and can be exceptionally muscular and more powerful than some may anticipate.

Max Height: 8 feet/2.4 meters

Max Length: 10 feet/3 meters

Max Weight: 1,500 lbs

Sexual Maturity:
Females: 5-8 years of age
Males: 7-10 years of age

Diet: Herbivore

Habitat: Tundra

Population: Between 700,000-800,000 worldwide

Activity Time: Diurnal

Background:
Though Velopes are native to tundra biomes, they can easily adjust to more milder temperatures, as their fur is capable of shedding to prevent overheating. They are adapt creatures that travel in small to large herds, living in almost every corner of Atrum. Velopes are mild-tempered creatures that are surprisingly intelligent for a herbivore. They seem to possess good memories and never forget faces, be them of another animal or of a Migrus or person.

Becauase of their gentle personalities and compliant attitudes, the Velopes are a very common form of transportation for the Migrus when venturing around above ground. Velopes are capable of speeds of up to 50 miles per hour and do not tire easily. The endurance of a Velope is incredible. In comparison to Earth's horses, Velopes easily take the gold cup. The Migrus have used them as mounts for hundreds of years. As such, there are numerous Migrus breeders and trainers.

Velopes have been historically hunted for their priceless horns, which are used for multiple purposes, sometimes just for rather expensive trophies, other times for making musical instruments or jewelry, and in some cases for weapons. In addition to their horns, Velope meat is considered one of the most delicious delicacies on the planet Atrum. There was a period in the Migrus' past, where many of their kind hunted the Velopes, bringing their population down tremendously. Not being fools, the Migrus outlawed all Velope hunting for many years, until the Velopes roamed the world in great herds once again. Today, hunting is no longer illegal, but it is kept to a minimum.

A doe generally has one or two fawns at a time (triplets, while not unknown, are uncommon). The gestation period is anywhere up to ten months for Velopes. Fawns are born pure white, like the coats of an adult. In the first twenty minutes of a fawn's life, the fawn begins to take its first steps. Its mother licks it clean until it is almost free of scent, so predators will not find it. The fawn stays hidden in the grass for one week until it is strong enough to walk with its mother. The fawn and its mother stay together for about one year. A male usually never sees his mother again, but females sometimes come back with their own fawns and form small herds.

Lifespan: Between 60-70 years

Home Planet: Pax

Appearance: Equornu are what humans refer to as unicorns. They have the bodies of a horse, but with a single horn on their heads. This horn can be of varying lengths, though usually longer in males, and can be pointed and straight, twisted, or angular. Equornu have many different breeds and exhibit a diverse array of coat colors and distinctive markings, described with a specialized vocabulary. Often, a Equornu is classified first by its coat color, before breed or sex. Flashy or unusual colors are sometimes very popular, as are Equornu with particularly attractive markings. Equornu of the same color may be distinguished from one another by their markings.

Max Height: 6 feet/1.8 meters

Max Length: 7 feet/2.1 meters

Max Weight: 1,400 lbs

Sexual Maturity:
Females: 4-6 years of age
Males: 5-7 years of age

Diet: Herbivore

Habitat: Countrysides, forests

Population: Between 5,000-6,000 worldwide

Activity Time: Diurnal

Background:
Equornu are anatomically designed to use speed to escape predators, and have a well-developed sense of balance and a strong fight-or-flight instinct. Related to this need to flee from predators in the wild is an unusual trait: Equornu are able to sleep both standing up and lying down. If an Equornu chooses to fight, they will make full use of their horns, not taking any pity on their opponents, be them other Equornu or a predator, usually stabbing them and killing them. Female Equornu, called mares, carry their young for approximately 11 months, and a young Equornu, called a foal, can stand and run shortly following birth. Most domesticated Equornu begin training under saddle or in harness between the ages of two and four. They reach full adult development by age five.

The Equornu' senses are generally superior to those of a human. As prey animals, they must be aware of their surroundings at all times. They have the largest eyes of any land mammal, and because their eyes are positioned on the sides of their heads, Equornu have a range of vision of more than 350°, with approximately 65° of this being binocular (seen with both eyes) and the remaining 285° monocular (seen with only one eye). Equornu have excellent day and night vision, but studies indicate that they have two-color, or dichromatic vision; their color vision is somewhat like red-green color blindness in humans. This means that certain colors, especially red and related colors, appear more green.

Equornu have a great sense of balance, due partly to their ability to feel their footing and partly to highly developed proprioceptive abilities (the unconscious sense of where the body and limbs are at all times). An Equornu' sense of touch is well developed. The most sensitive areas are around the eyes, ears and nose. Via touch, Equornu perceive and respond immediately to changes in their environment, sensing contact as subtle as an insect landing anywhere on the body.

Typically faster animals than horses, Equornu have a galloping speed averaging at about 55 miles per hour, and a short-distance sprinting speed of about 70 miles per hour.

Studies have assessed Equornu intelligence in the realms of problem solving, learning speed, and knowledge retention . Results show that they excel at simple learning, but also are able to solve advanced cognitive challenges that involve categorization and concept learning. They respond to and learn from both positive and negative reinforcement. Domesticated Equornu tend to face greater mental challenges than wild Equornu, due to living in artificial environments that stifle instinctual behavior while learning tasks that are not natural.

Equornu numbers are dwindling, due to the many floods on the planet Pax where they live. Most of the surviving Equornu are domesticated, and thus kept safe from drowning. Attempts have been made by the Allurel to bring their population up, but the thugs and exotic animal traders that visit their planet do little to help, often times poaching hundreds of Equornu at a time when they discover a herd, and transporting them to a different planet to sell on the black market. Equornu have even made their way to Earth in years past, but all have died off.

Lifespan: 30-40 years

Home Planet: Zetar

Appearance: Whowls are large canines that look almost identical to wolves, but larger in size. Whowls are extremely powerful and dangerous predators, as their sheer size is threatening to many other predators and competitors. One other notable difference between a Whowl and a wolf is the single horn on the Whoels' heads. Their horns, like the horns of an Equornus, can be straight, curvy, or even jagged, and they also vary in length. Whoels are built for stamina, possessing features ideal for long-distance travel. Their narrow chests and powerful backs and legs facilitate efficient locomotion. Whowl paws are able to tread easily on a wide variety of terrains, especially deserts. There is a slight webbing between each toe, which allows them to move over sand more easily. Whowls are digitigrade, which, with the relative largeness of their feet, helps them to distribute their weight well on sandy surfaces. The front paws are larger than the hind paws, and have a fifth digit, the dewclaw, that is absent on hind paws. The Whowl possesses a thin coat, unlike a wolf, since many Whowls live in deserts or jungles or forests, where the temperatures are warm to hot. Fur coloration varies much more greatly than Earth's wolves as well. Their coats range from white to black, to brown and grey, and even more unusual colors like reds and slate-blues. Aging Whowls acquire a grayish tint to their furs. At birth, Whowl pups tend to have darker fur and blue irises that will change to a yellow-gold or an orange color when the pups are between 8 and 16 weeks old.

Max Height: 6 feet/1.8 meters

Max Length: 8 feet/2.4 meters (counting their tails)

Max Weight: 300 lbs

Sexual Maturity:
Females: 3-5 years of age
Males: 4-8 years of age

Diet: Carnivore

Habitat: Deserts, mountains, flat lands, forests, countrysides

Population: Between 150,000-200,000 in the universe

Activity Time: Nocturnal

Background:
Whowls are one of Zetar's most deadly and fearsome nightly predators. They are highly intelligent, capable of learning and understanding (though not physically being about to speak) any language. Though they can be fierce and aggressive, many Whowls are kept as pets around the universe and are also used as mounts, because of their unmatched stamina, able to walk and trot for many days without rest. Their running speed can reach up to 50 miles per hour, though they usually only reach such speeds in desperate chases for prey. One of the major places Whowls are kept is Pax.

Whowls live in packs made up of as few as four Whowls or as many as thirty, though eight to ten is average. Occasionally, single Whowls are found in the wild, though packs are more common. Lone Whowls are typically old specimens driven from their pack or young adults in search of new territory. A pack usually produces a single litter, unless the breeding male mates with one or more subordinate females. During the mating season, breeding Whowls become very affectionate with one another in anticipation of the female's ovulation cycle. The pack tension rises as each mature Whowl feels urged to mate. During this time, the breeding pair may be forced to prevent other Whowls from mating with one another.

Whowls are territorial animals. Studies have shown that the average size of a Whowl's pack's territory is close to 200 square miles long. Whowl packs travel constantly in search of prey, covering roughly 10% of their territory per day. Prey density tends to be much higher in the territory's surrounding areas. Despite this higher abundance of prey, Whowls tend to avoid hunting in the borders of their territory unless desperate, due to the possibility of fatal encounters with neighboring packs. Established Whowl packs rarely accept strangers into their territories. In rare cases in which a stranger is accepted into the pack, the animal itself is almost invariably a young Whowl of 1-3 years of age, while the majority of killed Whowls are adults.

Whowl howls, which can last from 0.5-11 seconds, typically have a frequency of 150-780 Hz. Howling helps pack members keep in touch, allowing them to communicate effectively in thickly forested areas or over great distances. Howling also helps to call pack members to a specific location. Howling can also serve as a declaration of territory, as shown in a dominant Whowl's tendency to respond to a rival Whowl in an area the Whowl considers its own. This behavior is stimulated when a pack has something to protect, such as a fresh kill. As a rule of thumb, large packs will more readily draw attention to themselves than will smaller packs. Adjacent packs may respond to each others' howls, which can mean trouble for the smaller of the two. Whowls therefore tend to howl with great care. Whowls will also howl for communal reasons.

When confronting other predators or threats, Whowls lower their heads, threateningly displaying their long, sharp horns. If the other animal does not respond by backing off, a Whowl will charge, stabbing the other creature in hopes of killing it. Even when fighting over females, male Whowls will joust and fight one another with their horns. Often times, both competitors come out of these confrontations with wounds and injuries, sometimes even fatal ones. Therefore, Whowls of the same pack usually avoid fighting with their horns.

Lifespan: 5-7 years

Home Planet: Hundreds of various planets

Appearance: Celervol are tiny little rodents with round but flexible bodies, very much like that of a chipmunk's. They are dwarfed by their long ears though, which help to radiate their body's heat. Celervol have five-digit hands and feet. They have exceptionally long tails for their bodies, which have tufts of fur on the ends of them. In addition to all these striking features, the Celervol also has a red stripe going down their spines, which is surrounded by a white stripe. Their fur is usually brown or brown-grey. Finally, their last unique physical highlight are their wings. Unlike many mammals, Celervol are capable of flight. They own a pair of small bird wings and are quick on their toes, hopping and fluttering about to their food source or to escape danger. Like many rodents, Celervol are also capable of storing food in their cheeks, so their cheeks are large and capable of expanding.

Max Height: 5 inches

Max Length: 10 inches (including tails)

Max Weight: 5 ounces

Sexual Maturity:
Females: 3-4 months of age
Males: 4-6 months of age

Diet: Omnivores

Habitat: Almost anywhere with temperatures above freezing

Population: Between 10-20 billion in the universe

Activity Time: Diurnal

Background:
No one's certain where the Celervol originated from, though it is believed they were from a doomed planet, whose sun died out. Because of the many animal traders in the universe, along with billions of ships docking on various planets, its believable that the critters were able to survive and call so many different places today home, either by being forcibly carried there or by finding their way on ships and transports.

Celervol produce four or five young up to three times each year. The young emerge from the burrow after about six weeks and strike out on their own within the next two weeks. Depending upon the location of where the Celervol has made their home, they will begin to store and hoarde nuts, grains, insects, and other food items in their burrows for when the seasons change. Celervol construct expansive burrows which can be more than 10 feet/3 meters in length with several well-concealed entrances. The sleeping quarters are kept extremely clean as shells and feces are stored in designated tunnels.

Prized as exotic pets, Celervol are kept in cages in many homes throughout the universe. In some societies, it is considered appropriate to present a Celervol as a gift to those who have lost a loved one, as, surprisingly, Celervol tend to make great companions, and their cuteness also helps to warm the hearts of those mourning. They aren't the most intelligent critters, but they are extremely friendly and rather quick to warm up to a person, especially if encouraged to by food. They are less nervous or panicky than other rodents, since not only to the Celervol have wings, but they also have the capability to release a sort of potent pheromone that dazes and confuses predators, altering their mental state to put them into a sort of blissful sedation, under which they no longer have the desire to attack or hunt, as those instincts and desires are suppressed. To humans (and other humanoid species), the Celervol's pheromone, called Euphoriss, has only a small effect, usually only causing the person to feel slightly lightheaded and happy, almost as if intoxicated. For this reason, Celervol are also hunted by a few in the galaxy, seeking to extract their Euphoriss pheromone in order to be used in drugs, especially of an illegal sort.

Lifespan: 30-50 years

Home Planet: Vaelzar

Appearance: Maglacerta are what humans know as dinosaurs. Their true name throughout the universe that every other developed species knows them as is Maglacerta. The appearance of a Maglacerta varies tremendously, as there are numerous species. To the Provectus, each species is referred to as M, dash, and a number, for instance: M-1, M-5, M-23. The lowest numbers are for small herbivores, then medium ones, then large herbivores. Higher numbers go into small, medium, and large carnivores.

Max Height: 120 feet/36.6 meters

Max Length: 180 feet/54.9 meters (counting their tails)

Max Weight: 200,000 lbs/100 tons

Sexual Maturity:
Females: 4-6 years of age
Males: 6-8 years of age

Diet: Varies, depending upon the Maglacerta

Habitat: Varies, depending upon the Maglacerta

Population: Between 100,000-200,000 worldwide

Activity Time: Varies, depending upon the Maglacerta

Background:
The Maglacerta originated long ago on the planet Vaelzar, around the same time the Provectus began developing into civilized societies. In those days the Provectus had technology similar to that of the Mayans, which was rather developed for their time, but also lacking in many areas. They also had not invented weapons yet, and thus when the Maglacerta attacked or raided their villages, the Provectus could do little to stop them. Instead, they had to either rebuild or relocate. As time went on, and the Provectus rapidly grew in the science department, they began to wonder how other species on other planets would react to and handle having Maglacerta on their world. Would they respond the same way the Provectus did - fight or flight? Or would they choose one or the other? Eventually, when the Provectus were able to travel through space, they began carrying countless Maglacerta to other planets on their massive ships, dropping them off to see how each planet would react to and handle the new presence. Of course, each Maglacerta had to be genetically modified first by the Provectus so that they could breathe properly in whatever atmosphere they were to inhabit. In a sense, the Maglacerta were the first experimental project for the Provectus.

Today, various species of the Maglacerta still populate the lands of Vaelzar and other various worlds, though their numbers are not as high as they once had been. In addition, the Maglacerta of today are vastly different than their ancient dinosaur counterparts. Today's Maglacerta are far more intelligent, and have evolved into greater beings, lessoning each of their flaws. A number of Maglacerta have even developed their own basic languages to speak amongst each other. Many herbivore Maglacerta can even coexist harmoniously alongside humanoids. In some cases, Maglacertas will even help with manual labor, especially with large jobs that are less difficult for them as opposed to smaller humanoids. Some species even ride on more mild-mannered Maglacertas.

Lifespan: 40-50 years

Home Planet: Bellua

Appearance: Gozmus resemble giant rats, only with a few key differences. A Gozmus has a long, furry, lion-like tail. They also have more varied colors in their fur, including dull reds, blues, greens, and yellows. The patterns in their fur is additionally more diverse. Their ears are also slightly larger in comparison to their bodies, like a mouse.

Max Height: 5 feet/1.5 meters

Max Length: 15 feet/4.6 (counting their tails)

Max Weight: 130 lbs

Sexual Maturity:
Females: 6-8 months of age
Males: 8-10 months of age

Diet: Omnivores

Habitat: Underground tunnels, the temperate portions of the planet

Population: Between 30-40 million worldwide

Activity Time: Crepuscular

Background:
In the early days, Gozmus were used as mounts for travel by the Crittals, since they were reliable, intelligent, friendly, loyal, and made great companions to have around. They also are fairly fast creatures, able to run up to 45 miles per hour, or travel long distances at a steady 25 mph. Crittals would even forge armor for the Gozmus to wear for long journeys to protect them from predators or for battle. Even in recent times, Gozmus are still being domesticated and being used to ride, especially in densely populated urban areas for traveling short distances quickly that are too hard for large vehicles to maneuver around in. Tamed Gozmus are generally friendly and can be taught to perform selected behaviors.

In the eyes of the Crittals, Gozmus are beautiful animals that make some of the best pets, despite their large sizes. Crittals have honored the Gozmus for thousands of years. Some Crittals have even insisted on being buried with their Gozmus. The Gozmus in turn have always been a friend to the Crittals, protecting them and allowing them a ride. It was tradition, back when the Crittals used to ride the Gozmus commonly, that every Crittal, once they reached an age of maturity, would receive their own Gozmus.

Gozmus are intelligent creatures who have many incredible sense. They use a series of high-pitched squeaks to communicate. They can hear up to 90 kHz, and their communication typically takes place above a human's range of hearing. A Gozmus lives in a galaxy of smells. Every object, every surface, every breath of air contains different smells and information for a Gozmus. His nose is unbelievably sensitive. A Gozmus perceives its immediate surroundings through its whiskers: long, sensitive hairs growing from the rat's cheeks, eyebrows, and chin, more sensitive than a human's fingertips. They rapidly whisk back and forth, brushing everything close to the Gozmus, detecting every tiny detail and irregularity. The Gozmus lives in a world of textures. He can navigate largely by touch. Unlike Earth's rats, Gozmus can see much more clearly than their blurry-visioned cousins. They can see in color as well, and their eyesight is just slightly worse than that of a human.

Gozmus live in packs anywhere between 5-500 Gozmus. They mainly live in underground tunnels and caves, and an entire pack can construct their own burrows that stretch for a couple of miles within just a few hours to a day. There is a strong hierarchy in their packs, with one governing ruler or alpha Gozmus. The ruling Gozmus is in a constant struggle to maintain his position as leader, since usually many other competitors will challenge him or her. Gozmus can be pretty inconsiderate to their own kind, and aren't afraid to steal and fight for their food.

Lifespan: 40-50 years

Home Planet: Pax

Appearance:
Purrls are large cats whose physical bodies resemble that of a tiger. They have longer ears, however, much like the fennec fox. Their tails, too, are longer in relation to their body size. Purrls have solid-colored black coats that are very thick to keep them warm in the cool climates they inhabit. Their fur is almost metallic-looking, since their guard hairs are black, while their undercoat is silvery in color. Their eyes appear to be pupil-less, and they glow orange. Purrls are exceptionally large and powerful beasts, capable of supporting the weight of a full-grown man.

Max Height: 5 feet/1.5 meters

Max Length: 10 feet/3 meters (counting their tails)

Max Weight: 1,200 lbs

Sexual Maturity:
Females: 5-8 years of age
Males: 7-10 years of age

Diet: Carnivore

Habitat: Mountains, forests

Population: Between 50- 70 million in the universe

Activity Time: Nocturnal

Background:
Purnls are extremely intelligent and even capable of speech. They have a very basic language that they speak to one another, and some Purrls have even learned to speak the basic, simplified versions of various human languages or languages from other species, either if they are taught or by simply listening and learning. Though Purrls are extremely dangerous and vicious if they want to be, most Purrls are less aggressive and impulsive than the large cats on Earth. They are not simply beasts, as Purrls are smart enough to speak, thus they have more of an understanding for many things most animals do not. They can be extremely territorial and protective of their young, but surprisingly many Purrls are trusting of humanoids and seem more curious than on their guard around them.

A great number of Purrls has been domesticated for many years now, and a lot of Allurel, especially those from wealthy families, own Purrls as pets and mounts. Since Purrls are not easily trained, being stubborn and independent creatures, the price for a tame Purrls is far from cheap. Therefore, if a person were to own one, it is quite common for them to show off their Purrl, many times riding them into town. Purrls also make excellent guard cats, as they usually form tight bonds with their owners, and would protect them with their lives. Many times, people of importance will own a Purrl just for that reason. Purrls are among the most popular pets in the universe, and as such, there are quite a deal of breeders and trainers located on the many planets, some respectable and well-established, others more questionable.

In the wild, Purrls live in prides between 4-15 others. They are social animals that need constant attention from other living beings, be them other Purrls, humanoids, or other animals. Female Purrls, sometimes called Purrless, are the key hunters in a pride, much like lions. Purrless capture their prey with precise and complex teamwork. Each Purrless develops specific skills for her role in the hunting techniques used by her pride and, generally, assumes that role during most hunts. Most prides typically have just one male, but two is also fairly common, especially if the second male is the son to the other.

Purrls spend much of their time resting and are inactive for about 20 hours per day. Although Purrls can be active at any time, their activity generally peaks after dusk with a period of socializing, grooming, and defecating. Intermittent bursts of activity follow through the night hours until dawn, when hunting most often takes place. They spend an average of two hours a day walking and 50 minutes eating.

Purrls do not mate at any specific time of year, and the females are polyestrous. The female gives birth to a litter of one to four cubs in a secluded den (which may be a thicket, a reed-bed, a cave, or some other sheltered area) usually away from the rest of the pride. She will often hunt by herself whilst the cubs are still helpless, staying relatively close to the thicket or den where the cubs are kept. The cubs themselves are born blind—their eyes do not open until roughly a week after birth. Usually, the mother does not integrate herself and her cubs back into the pride until the cubs are six to eight weeks old.

When resting, Purrl socialization occurs through a number of behaviors, and the animal's expressive movements are highly developed. The most common peaceful tactile gestures are head rubbing and social licking. Head rubbing—nuzzling one's forehead, face and neck against another Purrl—appears to be a form of greeting, as it is seen often after an animal has been apart from others, or after a fight or confrontation. Purrls have an array of facial expressions and body postures that serve as visual gestures. Their repertoire of vocalizations is also large; variations in intensity and pitch, rather than discrete signals, appear central to communication. Purrl sounds include snarling, purring, hissing, coughing, meowing, woofing and roaring. Purrls tend to roar in a very characteristic manner, starting with a few deep, long roars that trail off into a series of shorter ones. They most often roar at night; the sound, which can be heard from a distance of 5 miles (8 kilometres), is used to advertise the animal's presence. Purrls have the loudest roar of any big cat.