Cambra

Cambra are sturdy quadropeds, the pack animals of Osnaveena, and lie in morphology somewhere between a cow and a horse, though somewhat bigger than both. The have the former's horns and multiple stomachs, but the speed and grace of the latter.
Cambra are ubiquitous in Osnaveena, and can be found as domesticated animals wherever the Saned thrive. In the burning north, variants tend to be skinny and sinewous with shorn forlocks, whilst in the freezing south their coats grow dense and fluffy, and their long manes are decorated with braids and bones.
Racing Cambra is common amongst the rich, though most people know them more as the draggers of ploughs, carriages or wagons. They have grown very common amongst the Sanwen, and the Gos use them for ease of transport and as beasts of burden above ground, where their traditional beasts of burden - the Naoset - quickly die. The Wenver eschew them as crude beasts, unsuited to tree-top environments.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Cambra are quadruped ungulates with multiple stomachs which "chew the cud". Centuries of domestication and selective breeding ahve led to significant differences between individual blood lines - some may be squat and stocky, bred for heavy work like ploughing, whilst others are lean, tall and graceful, bred for extreme speed but incapable of bearing a significant load.
Cambra have manes which extend all the way down their backs to the base of their spine. Such manes are often shorn when the cambra are expected to drag a weight or bear a saddle. Cambra have short, fleshy tails which continue the mane, and are usually no more than a cubit in length.
As vegetarians, Cambra have largely flat teeth ideal for grinding vegetation. They subsist largely on grasses, though they are perfectly capable of digesting most plant life if necessary. Their multiple stomachs ensure that they extract the most from their food.

Genetics and Reproduction

Following procreation, which usually occurs in the summer, a mare (female Cambra) who becomes pregnant will gestate for 10 months before giving birth, usually in the spring. Cambra are born without their horns and are mammals - they drink the milk of their mother for the first six months before transitioning to grasses.

Additional Information

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Cambra are bred across the world for transport and heavy work. Old Cambra are often tanned and used for meat and skins. The bones are exceptionally strong, and are often worked into tools or decorative items. Their horns are commonly seen as drinking horns, or furnishings in houses.
In some cultures, however, the Cambra beast becomes part of the family. They are viewed as semi-sapient souls, given funeral rites of whichever culture and religion the owners adhere to, and are believed to be reincarnated as sapient souls for their good service to Veena's grandchildren.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Ubiquitous

Average Intelligence

Cambra are relatively intelligent for animals, and can be trained to follow simple, single word commands and gestures.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Cambra have excellent noses and can smell fresh water. This makes them very desirable for travel in the desert.
Cambra can also see in low light vision, though they appear to be completely colour blind. Their eyes, set wide on their head, give them a huge field of vision.

Lifespan

25 years

Conservation Status

Domesticated, Common
Some large herds of Cambra are still to be found in the wild, those these are becoming a less common sight.

Average Height

2 metres

Average Length

3 metres

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Cambra vary in colour from black to light beige. They may be striped or spotted (marking which are highly prized among breeders), but more commonly have single colouring.