Onynx ((On-ninks))

Basic Information

Anatomy

Onynxes, depending on their age and the stage of growth they are in, have a variety of shapes and sizes. Kits are feline like, and have qualities that are comparable to panthers, despite their lack of a tail. They present quills on the back of their necks, or at times all around their neck to form a kind of mane with the quills. At advanced stages the Onynx with grow into a more badger like form. Though retaining many of the features it had when it was a kit, it will grow more quills along its back and the joints on its legs. When they grow to full adults most of their body will be covered in these quills, and their necks and body will have elongated to give the creature a more distinct, slinky look.

Genetics and Reproduction

Reproduction is the same as it is for many land mammals, and, due to the social nature of these creatures, they breed very quickly. Who breeds is mostly decided by strength, but at times in already established packs the right to breed belongs to the highest ranked among the pack that is currently not mated.

Growth Rate & Stages

Onynxes grow slowly, but have long life spans compared to most feline-esque species. They grow into a kit from birth, which mostly resembles a feline, despite their feet being more akin to a badger--their claws shaping themselves in a similar fashion. After a few years as a kit, around five, they develop into a young adult onynx. After another five to ten years they will fully grow into an adult onynx.

Ecology and Habitats

While these creatures tend to favor forests, and especially enjoy hunting in the night, they are neither exclusively forest dwelling nor are they nocturnal. As long as there is fauna to hunt, and the temperature of the environment remains stable between both extremes, then they will find little trouble existing within the habitat.

Dietary Needs and Habits

These carnivores rely specifically on pack tactics in order to hunt. They have no particular prey that they are unwilling to go after, due to the ability to stick prey with their quills in order to hunt later with a greater number of their kind should the target be a bit much to handle at the time. There are only a few predators that they will avoid, due to their capability to outmatch the overwhelming numbers onynxes can come in, regardless of pack tactics.

Biological Cycle

While during the winter they will grow a bit more fur, onynxes do not hibernate. Instead they are avid hunters, even during snowfall, provided the temperature is not so extreme that they freeze to death since their fur is short and pointy even when grown out.

Behaviour

These creatures are extremely social and playful with each other. Sometimes when they are young and are not starved, they can be playful with other species. They are, however, very territorial, which can cause them to be aggressive when stepping into the hunting grounds of a pack of onynxes. While they hunt mostly at night, they are not nocturnal creatures, and can be seen rough housing with each other in the forest foliage.

Additional Information

Social Structure

They have a somewhat complex social structure, due to the nature of how onynxes treat other packs, especially in regards to forming large packs and colonies. Nominally, they appear to have a simple structure based on the pack leader or who is the eldest of the group, which are typically the ones who maintain authority, however they do have a sub-group structures since packs tend to branch out into smaller packs that are more defined by their role and pre-existing authority in the overall pack and colony.

Domestication

t isn't impossible to domesticate an onynx, but they are seldom seen without their pack. Unlike some species, which either evolved into a domesticated species, or species that are simply more inclined to be tamed while having members that are wild, onynxes are particularly wild exotic creatures that only trust members of their own species. There are rare occurrences, but too few to really count.

Facial characteristics

Much like how their bodies tend to change shape overtime, so do the facial structures of onynxes. The structure of their skull becomes more narrow as time goes on, moving from a wolf-like head, to a badger-like head, to something almost monstrous. The same can be said for its maw, which grows in size relative to the facial structure. Regardless of age or stage of life, their beaming yellow eyes and razor sharp rows of teeth remain their defining facial features.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Generally, onynxes are not going to be found all that commonly outside of plains lands, jungles, or forests, however it has happened in the past. Their density on the planet increases at the median between the polar ice caps and the equator. They don't mind chilly or warm environments, but are avoidant of extreme weather conditions for either.

Average Intelligence

Utilizing pack tactics, these creatures sport some form of intelligence, but only enough to formulate a social structure and to identify how many of them are needed in order to hunt certain predators. They seem to have some mild capability to communicate with each other through their limited speech.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Onynxes have incredibly sharp vision and a strong sense of smell that they use to both track prey, and identify each other. Interestingly enough they are best at tracking their own scent, which allows them to stick fleeing prey with one of their quills in order to better track it down.

Lifespan

10-15 years

Average Height

3-12 ft

Average Length

5-8 ft

Average Physique

These creatures tend to be a bit bulky, and at times can be sturdy, but more often than not they are a bit fragile--relying on the pack in order to hunt large prey. They do have their quills to use as defense mechanisms in order to deter predators.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

This is what remains most consistent between the onynxes, and, in fact, is the reason they have the name that they do. Their fur is onyx black while the quills hidden in their fur is ash gray. Against the light they have a light purple sheen, while their face and head maintains the ash gray complexion their quills have.