Thylinx

A species which prefers forested environments, thylinxes are found in Fethil's northern taiga and some montane forests, where they are the largest predators bar dragons. In warmer environments, they face competition from beangos, which are larger and stronger, restricting their spread.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Thylinxes are quadrupedal mammalian animals, though they are capable of balancing on their hind legs for brief periods of time. Their legs are relatively long, ending in large webbed and furred paws, which spread their weight on soft ground. Their claws are sharply hooked and retractable, used mostly to hunt and to climb.
Their heads are triangular in shape, with long muzzles and a wide face due to the long ruff growing on their cheeks. Their ears are erect and pointed, ending in a black tuft of hair. They can open their jaws extraordinarily far, displaying their carnivorous dentition, but while their jaws are muscular, they are only moderately powerful. Thylinxes also possess long whiskers on their faces. Their tails are short and stiff.
Thylinxes have soft but relatively short coats, though they become significantly thicker during winter, and the color shifts to become more grayish and dull. During summer, their coats are brown, with a pale creamy white underside, neck, and chin. Most characteristic are their patterns, dark brown stripes across forehead, back, rump, and the base of the tail, and spots on the rest of the body. The tufts of their ears and the tip of their tails are also dark.

Ecology and Habitats

Thylinxes prefer woodlands, especially in rugged terrain, and is mostly found in boreal and montane forests. Its spread into the more common temperate forests is mostly hampered by competition with larger predators, but also by the less suitable nature of the often-flooded temperate forests.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Thylinxes are exclusively carnivorous in diet, and hunt a large variety of prey, in a wide range of sizes. Though they prefer medium to large prey, especially during winter when smaller prey becomes less abundant, they are not above catching and eating smaller animals.
They hunt in one of two methods, depending on circumstances. If the terrain is suitable, they will hunt from ambush. If this is not the case, they will typically stalk prey, before taking them out by jumping on them. They will consume as much food as possible, distending their stomach so they can compensate for lean times or unsuccessful hunts.

Behaviour

Primarily nocturnal and crepuscular, thylinxes spend the day resting in concealment, hidden in dense thickets, small caves, and other such places. If food is scarce, they may hunt during the day, but this is rare.
They are secretive and tend to avoid people. They are mostly solitary, but females may be found in family groups with immature young.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Though they possess all expected senses, thylinxes rely primarily on sight and hearing to hunt. Their sense of smell is poor, despite resemblance to other animals with similarly shaped faces. They possess a tapetum lucidum, giving them reflective eyes and good vision even when light dims.

Base animals

Thylacine (Thylacinus cynocephalus) & Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx)

Lifespan

14 years

Average Weight

12 - 27 kg, males slightly larger

Average Length

88 - 118 cm (male), 84 - 115 cm (female), 21 - 36 cm tail

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Brown, creamy white underside, dark brown markings (summer)
Grayish brown, pale underside, dark markings (winter)

Geographic Distribution

• Fethil