Black kolf
Known more commonly as just the kolf, these medium-sized predators stake out their claim on Fethil with their social behavior and sheer maneuverability. They face still competition primarily from beangoes, who are significantly larger but less social.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Kolves are lean quadrupedal animals, covered primarily in fur but with feathered parts, such as their long and somewhat forked tail, which they use for their graceful maneuvering. Their scaled feet lend protection from rough grounds, though they are covered in fur during the winter to keep them warm, and their sharply hooked front claws are especially essential in taking down prey.
Their long heads are armed with a curved beak, with large heavy teeth suited to breaking bone. To shred meat, they instead use the hook of their bill. Surprisingly, this species displays little to no dimorphism, with no visual difference and little to no size difference between male and female kolves.
Despite their name, black kolves are not actually black in color, though their undercoats are grayish to black. Instead, their colors are determined by their guard hairs, which form a more elaborate patterning. Kolves have pale heads, with white around the cheeks, chin, and throat, contrasting against the yellow of their cere and gape, as well as the black of the bill. They have a darker patch behind the eyes. The top of the head, the forehead, and the space underneath and between the eyes is reddish gray. From there, the neck is pale yellowish brown, transitioning into the paler yellowish brown of the underside of the body, including the inside of the limbs, the belly, and the groin. The sides are dirty yellowish brown, and the outer limbs are barred with dark, mirrored in their feathering. The scaled feet are yellow with black claws, but are in winter covered in dark fur, hiding their colors.
Geographic Distribution
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