Tetrapi

Written by Cyborg Starfish

Tetrapi are a species of herd animals native to the Niluraia region. They are often tamed by the Elphin of Niluraia. Tamed tetrapi are used as beasts of burden and as a source of milk. As of 488 AG, it will still take a few generations before the tetrapi are fully domesticated.

Tetrapi means 'purr' in Chéai, referring to the animal's unique purring sound.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Tetrapi are hunched, bipedal creatures with small forearms and a long, thick tail. Their mouth is a long trunk from which a long, extremely strong tongue shoots out to grap its meals. Their bodies are covered in large scales. They have a large spiked ball on the tip of their tail, which they use to ward off predators.

Genetics and Reproduction

Young tetrapi are completely sexless. Their reproductive organs only develop when they come of age, at which point their population will be divided into male, female and hermaphrodite. During mating season, males and females compete with each other while the hermaphrodites mostly wait until the loser moves towards them. Because they have both sexual organs, the hermaphrodites have a much larger pool of potential mates, and as such they are less competitive, and less aggressive overall. Tetrapi mates stay together during the season to raise their young. After that, they part ways, and will find another partner next season.

Ecology and Habitats

Tetrapi are primarily found on the border between plains and forests. In these areas, there is enough room to roam around, but also enough sources of food.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Tetrapi are herbivores. They eat mainly mushrooms and fruits from medium-height trees. They grab their food with their tongue, which has a reach of about one meter. After that, they squeeze the food through their trunk. Tetrapi don't have teeth. Instead, the inside of their trunk is covered in glands that produce an acidic substance that melts most of the food before it enters the stomach. They can accelerate this process by squeezing their food while it is still in the trunk. A tetrapi tongue is strong enough to uproot a small bush, but tetrapi won't do that unless the bush fits through their trunk (which it almost never does).

Behaviour

Tetrapi are mostly peace-loving creatures unless it's mating season, in which they turn competitive. The hermaphrodites are the least competitive and the least aggressive, making them easier to tame.

Additional Information

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Tetrapi milk is used as a beverage, to create tetrapi cheese and as an ingredient for traditional Chéai dishes. When properly process the milk takes on a soft yellow hue. Tetrapi cheese starts out yellow as well, but takes on a more green hue the more mature it gets.

Tetrapi Sounds

Tetrapi produce their unique purring sound by vibrating their trunk while softly blowing through it. This basic concept can be used for a wide variety of different purrs used for communication between herd members. They can also produce a trumpet-like sound by blowing hard through their trunk without vibrating it. Different sounding trumpets are used as distress calls, mating calls and challenges.