Hippophant
Possibly the largest terrestrial herbivore on Itorah, it's the presence of the hippophant in Athana that allows Athanan dragons to grow larger than anywhere else... as long as they can survive this vicious prey when it fights back.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Hippophants are large, heavy-bodied animals. They walk on four pillar-like legs set vertically under a round barrel-like body. Their feet are large to spread the weight, with four large hoof-like nails. Despite their size and weight, a hippophant can run with speeds of up to 25 or even 30 km/h. They are also capable swimmers, using their large feet to propel themselves, but sink rather than float. They can hold their breath for roughly five minutes, and use their trunks to breathe rather than surface, though they can't hold it up while traveling underwater.
The most notable part of the hippophant are their large heads, with large teeth and a trunk. Their ears are large to aid in temperature regulation, and can be closed while underwater. So can the openings in their trunk, a prehensile elongation of nose and upper lip which they can use for all sorts of things, in part thanks to its muscular strength. Their eyes are small, and are protected underwater by a nictitating membrane. Their cheeks are large and floppy, caused by the massive underlying muscles, and they can open their mouths astonishingly far. Doing so displays their characteristic dentition in full: massive canines in both jaws, and incisors in the upper jaw, all of which grow constantly, and which are used primarily for combat. Their canines are long and curved, with the lower canines sharp due to their grinding against the upper canines. Their incisors point forward and curve out. Both the incisor tusks and lower canines are visible even with the mouth closed. The rest of their dentition consists of molars, used to grind their food.
Hippophants have thick gray skin with little hair on it, ranging to a pinkish color on the underside and around the eyes and ears. They grow more hair on the end of their short tails, forming a bristly tip. To protect their skin they secrete a natural sunscreen of sorts, though they also take regular mud baths to assist, especially if they stay out of the water for extended periods of time.
Ecology and Habitats
Hippophants are found in a variety of habitats in Athana, as long as they have access to enough freshwater to rest in during the hottest part of the day. Though they are characteristically found in Athana's tropical savannas, they can also be found in sub-tropical or even temperate forests and woodlands, as long as they are partially flooded or they have access to rivers or lakes.
Dietary Needs and Habits
As herbivores, hippophants feed on a variety of plant material, though it primarily consists of grasses and herbs. During dry seasons, when food grows short, they also feed on leaves, obtained with their trunks, and tree bark, obtained with their tusks.
Behaviour
Surprisingly, hippophants are a social species, and live in family units led by a matriarch. These units consists of several female hippophants, their daughters, and young sons. They don't maintain territories, however, and several family units may live in the same waters, as long as they don't compete for the same resources. Clashes are primarily solved via intimidation, open-mouthed threat displays, though in a scuffle they will fight with tusks and trunks.
Once they hit puberty, males separate from their groups. They wander alone or may join with an all-male group, where they are allowed to share territory with a dominant male as long as they defer to him. Eventually the young male will either strike out on his own, or challenge the dominant male to take control over the existing territory.
Lifespan
60 years
Average Height
Shoulder: 2.4 m (male), 2.0 m (female)
Average Weight
3.6 t (male), 2.3 t (female)
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Gray; pinkish underside
Geographic Distribution
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