Paseok

The paseok is a large herbivorous reptile that prefers to live in certian areas close to the Yeongseon. They seem to have developed a preternatural ability to detect these areas that most animals avoid. Their willingness to live in these areas effected by the yeongseon seems to have developed into a seeming lack of fear or aggressive reaction toward other animals or people.
As a result, paseok have become a domesticated species. They are most often used as beasts of burden. They are not very fast, but have high endurance from migrating up and down the Yeongseon. They are usually used to pulling vehicles like the Unseon or in various forms of farm labor. They are not large enough to be ridden and normally resist attempts to place heavy loads directly on their backs.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Paseok are primarily bipedal, but have are facultative quadrupeds when climbing or pulling a heavy weight. Their front claws have the ability of crude manipulation. They have a bony skull with a small bony frill on the back of the head, partly concealing the neck. They have a beak with several tooth-like protrusions along the edge to best grasp broad-leafed plants and ferns. A row of long display quills run along the tail of male paseok, while both males and female have soft, featherlike hairs over much of their bodies. Finally, both genders possess cheek horns.

Biological Traits

Males and Females are roughly the same body size. They can be differentiated by males having sharper angles in the face and quills running along the top of the tail. Coloration changes when a juvenile reaches adulthood and again when a female lays eggs.

Genetics and Reproduction

The paseok for mated pairs for reproduction. They lay eggs once every 1-2 years so that their eggs hatch mainly in mid to late spring depending on the local climate. The eggs are normally laid in clutches of 5-7. Males normally hatch in a 1:3 ratio with females.

Growth Rate & Stages

The paseok take about 3-4 years to reach sexual maturity, but do not become full adults until they are ~6 years old. At this time paseok change from their juvenile coloration to their adult coloration. Females change again to a display coloration again when they first lay eggs. This is normally a sign that they have been paired to males and are left alone.

Ecology and Habitats

The paseok prefer to live in the lush greens that surround the yeongseon, as they historically used these areas as a refuge. They are migratory. Today though, most paseok live in populated areas.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Paseok feed on the leaves and tender branches of ferns, shrubs and trees, though they have been observed feeding on broad-leaved grasses in times of need.

Biological Cycle

Eggs are laid so that they hatch in mid to late spring, with reproductive mating occurring in the previous early fall. The fertilized zygotes are kept in a form of stasis over the winter months and have been known to be kept in such a state for an additional year in cases of low resources or overcrowding.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Paseok famously pair-bond until the death of their partner. They will form small herds in the wild of mated pairs and 1-3 generations of their offspring. After between 3-5 years, the juveniles will move on with the males going alone of maybe in pairs and females moving on in small groups of 3-4. Occasionally, a pair of brothers will stay together after pairing making a double-pair herd.
Unpaired females will not seek to reproduce and will instead care for the young unless another male arrives. When an unpaired male arrives, a group of the herd's unparied females take turns engaging in mock combat with the male. If they are satisfied, then one of them will mate with the male. They will winter with the herd and depart the following spring to form their own herd. If they are not satisfied, then the females of the herd will attack the male to force him to flee.
Mating-like has been observed between the paired female and her female herd-mates shortly after mating season or between members of the herd in times of hardship. This may be done to relieve group stress, as small groups of females will sometimes leave in herds where this activity does not occur.
In domesticated life, males are moved on to other herds as the fathers will not tolerate their sons staying around beyond maturity. However, mated pairs have come to tolerate living in close proximity to one another.

Domestication

The domestication of paseok has made appeared to have lengthened and strengthened their front limbs, though they retain their manipulative claws. The rare example of pure-breed wild paseok show shorter front limbs and almost obligate bipedal behavior.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Paseok are mainly raised for hauling, though it some areas they can be raised for meat, skin/leather goods, and bone and quills for traditional crafts.

Facial characteristics

A large beak with tooth-like protrusions, a bony frill close to the neck, and cheek horns in males.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

They live in a verity of temperate and tropical climates, mainly along the yeongseon or in places of human habitation.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

They have the ability to sense the Yeongseon, though how is not understood.

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Lifespan

wild: 20 years / domesticated: 25-30 years

Average Height

~1 meter tall

Average Length

~3 meters long from beak to tail tip