Species Information
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Avians are large, bi-pedal animals with bird-like heads and bodies built like theropod dinosaurs. Their size often makes them somewhat slow and clumsy but make no mistake, they are far from gentle giants. Armed with long claws and sharp beaks, avians are dangerous... even to other avians.
Fearsome as they are, the psittacine group of avians are mostly herbivorous- using their beaks to open nuts and cut through tough fruits, and their claws to dig for roots and fungi. They need large amounts of food to survive, so it's often that you'll find them foraging- either alone or in groups. Like the birds they represent, avians may be social, and stick together when traveling or foraging for food. Individuals may bond with others and form very strong relationships with members of their flock. Friendly avians may be seen preening one another, sharing meals, or keeping close to one another. That being said, not all avians get along! Fights for food, mates, dominance over the flock, or other things aren't entirely uncommon. They're generally quite intelligent, able to form complex relationships with others of their kind, and solve problems where they happen... but they're still quite primitive and nowhere near human intellect. |
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Types of Avian:
There are currently two known groups of avians; the parrot-like psittacine avians, and the long-beaked picine avians. Both groups are distinct from one another in appearance, lifestyle, and diet- but both are comprised of four subspecies unique from all others.
Ara avians are the largest of the psittacine group and resemble the massive therizinosaurus.... with the head of a macaw. The claws on aras are longer than other avians- but are mostly used for self defense. Aras prefer diets of nuts and seeds, as they're one of the only types with beaks strong enough to break tough shells. They may occasionally eat fruits, but won't go out of their way for them. Cacat avians are just a bit smaller than aras... but not by much. They stand more upright, making them seem quite tall, but they're at least half the weight of their larger counterparts. Like aras, cacats typically eat nuts and seeds, with fruit and fungi being secondary snacks to them. Cacats are not as intelligent as other avians, but they more than make up for this in personality! Pion avians are smaller and more slender than aras and cacats, but are the most intelligent of the psittacine avians; perhaps even of any avian group. Their small size makes them quick on their feet, and they're very active compared to the other avians. To keep up with their active lifestyle, pions need to eat near constantly, and they're always foraging for food. Being small, they often get into large flocks- and thus, are more prone to fighting with one another. Melo avians are the smallest of the group, though they're not as quick or intelligent as pions. Melos form large flocks and travel in family groups for many years. They seem to form the most complex relationships of all the avians, but fight less than other social groups. They eat fruits and fungi, mostly, as their smaller claws make for good digging tools, but will indulge in picking fallen seeds around the base of trees! Rampha avians rival the size and weight of the psittacine ara avians, but boast a massive, toucan-like beak and a more muscular body. Though they are omnivorous, and can eat plant matter like the psittacine avians... these seem to prefer a diet of meat. Their claws may not be as long as the therizinosaur-like psittacine avians, but they are more suited for ripping through flesh. Prasin avians are similar to the rampha subspecies... but much smaller! While they may not be as small or rounded as the melo avians; they are still quite cute compared to other picine avians. Like ramphas, the prasin avians are omnivores; with a bit more lean towards vegetation; specifically nuts and fruits... but most will hunt smaller animals in conjunction with their non-animal foods. Corvo avians are scavengers, for the most part. they, like the rampha and bucero avians, are huge- and eat meat. This particular subspecies is strictly carnivorous and will scavenge for dead or dying animals to eat. They are rather intelligent compared to other picine avians, and tend to be on the more social side- which makes them interesting and more enticing to study. Bucero avians are one of the most bizarre that has been found thus far. They are a bit heavier than corvos, but with massive, crested beaks. They are active hunters; and can bring down large prey items unlucky enough to catch their interest. This is one avian to be wary of while out in the field- researchers are advised to avoid places in which buceros tend to hunt; as they have been known to hunt humans, too. It's not uncommon for avians of different types to flock together, though they aren't likely to get along with one another. Avians of different types may also breed with one another, but often with little success in producing offspring. Of course; what we know of this remarkable species comes from just these two groups, and the researchers of the Lost Isle are certain that other groups exist on the island, just waiting to be discovered! |
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Size and Weight:
Avians are fairly large animals, with sturdy bodies and strong limbs. Although there are some minor differences in height and weight between individuals of the same type, each type of avian has its own range for height and weight!
Ara Avians: 9-10 meters long, weighs almost 3,000 kilograms. Cacat Avians: 4-5 meters long, weighs around 800 kilograms. Pion Avians: 4-5 meters long, weights around 100 kilograms. Melo Avians: 2-3 meters long, weighs just below 100 kilograms. Rampha Avians: 11 meters long, weighs close to 5,500 kilograms. Prasin Avians: 5-6 meters long, weighs around 600 kilograms. Corvo Avians: 11 meters long, weighs around 5,000 kilograms. Bucero Avians: 11 meters long, weighs around 5,700 kilograms. Despite the vast difference in sizes, avians are able to reproduce with other avians of another subspecies; even those from other groups... though with less success as a pair from the same type. |
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Avian Coloration:
Avians are tropical forest dwellers and often have bright colored plumage to attract the attention of other avians. Because they have no natural predators, aside from other avians and the newly arrived humans, their patterns are often striking and only used for display... though it seems that avians are intelligent enough to recognize individuals just from their distinct colors and patterns; so it could also be that its a way for avians to distinguish themselves from their groups!
Wild avians are typically very plain, but captive breeding programs have produced more colorful, high-marked indviduals- with several new mutations popping up as time goes on! Although avians have only recently been discovered, they still come in a surprising array of patterns, with many different markings and even a few naturally occurring mutations! As time goes on and more captive bred avians are hatched, new markings and mutations are sure to become established. |