Biota of Kejafros

The continent of Kejafros is unique biogeographically. Located in the southern hemisphere of Abexilas, its flora and fauna have been subject to their own unique evolutionary pressures, and as a result it and the other southern continents' wildlife are noticeably distinct from the northern ones. Some northern organisms have immigrated to the region on a geologically recent timescale, most notably humans, other sapient races, and their livestock and crops.
It is thought that Kejafros, Rozakkora, and possibly parts of Halinn were once part of their own separate continent in the ancient past; this is why many plant and animal clades common in the north are rare or absent in the south, and why the southern continents bear much similarity among each other with regards to endemic species.
== Seedless plants ==
===== Anque Horsetail (Uscha anqueas) =====
A siliceous, spore-bearing rush common in the bayous and freshwater inlets of Ischanor and Zilatra. It grows relatively fast, and grows up to a meter at maximum height. Occasionally harvested as a vegetable, but not preferred due to its high silicon content.
===== Mountain Horsetail (Uscha verkau) =====
A small herbaceous horsetail, consisting of at least one species that is only found on the mountain plateaus of Ischanor in humid, cool environments.
===== Tree Fern (Avartensel ed.) =====
There exists a number of arborescent ferns awaiting classification. Particularly in the temperate rainforests and swamplands they are abundant, though it is possible to cultivate them across the country. These ferns are tolerant of freezing so long as their stems remain intact; come spring, the dead fronds are shed & new ones grow.
== Gymnosperms ==
===== Thornstem (Fechlini ed.) =====
A conifer with long, spine- or lance-shaped leaves growing along most of the stem. Its name means "thorn-stem" in Ischanic. There are numerous forms, including large umbrella-like trees in temperate rainforests, and more commonly, hardy conical trees more reminiscent of pinopsid conifers. Bear massive seed cones, some the size of human heads. The seeds are edible and harvested by foragers.
===== Podocarp (Hwoknolik ed.) =====
These shrubs or small trees comprise much of the understory of the austral taiga, and likely contain several genera. They produce edible red arils which are mistaken for berries.
===== Great Santhal (Santhal arste) =====
Tall conical trees that bear whorl-like leaf arrangements, and tend to grow conical in shape, but have smaller cypress-like cones. Fire resistant, but grows mostly in the coastal rainforests.
===== Black Santhal (Santhal elere) =====
Similar to its coastal relative, but much hardier. Can resist strong freezes or dry climates, though it does not grow very tall in its natural state. The single most widespread conifer species in Kejafros.
===== Dwarf Santhal (Santhal lovviau) =====
A small santhal species, growing no more than 15 meters tall. It has greyish bark with resinous nodules, and can be used to extract resin for use as an adhesive. It grows mostly in alkaline soils in the south of Kejafros, and is thus very rare.
== Flowering plants ==
=== Dicots ===
==== Acacia (Fedhuser ed.) ====
Acacias tend to prefer warmer climates, though some are hardy into temperate zones. It is thought that ancestral dry-season-deciduous acacias were able to colonize colder forests; resultingly, the temperate forests will often have an understory of acacias which shed their leaves in winter. Their seeds are edible and eaten by many animals in the forests, including humans.
==== Anque Willow (Kolpfach anqueas) ====
A northern immigrant, the willow is another fast-growing plant that has recently naturalized, as far as evolution goes anyway. It is a resident of swamp forests, riparian zones, and other hydric environments. It is an immensely important tree, as its twigs are used for making wicker and wattle for crafts and construction, and its natural oils are useful for a myriad of folk-medicines.
===== Red Beech (Kaques hweltsa) =====
The most common hardwood tree on the continent, red beech is a highly adaptive species with a number of local ecotypes. Various species of southern beech make up the majority of the deciduous broadleaf forests of Kejafros, replacing what would otherwise be predominantly oak. It is able to survive in a variety of climates and soils. These beech trees are most valuable for lumber, though they do produce edible nuts. Roughly every half-decade, the trees go into a 'mast' phase where they drop more nuts than usual, which is a boon for foraging wildlife and peoples alike.
===== Black Beech (Kaques eler) =====
Similar in many ways to red beech, though it often has a girthier trunk; both its bark and wood are darker brown in color than the red beech, which gives this tree its name. It exists in riparian forests, swamps, and other humid zones throughout the continent. Like its relatives, it produces an edible reddish-brown nut in clusters of up to seven. 
===== Lynari Beech (Kaques fawr-wijrleth) =====
A rare deciduous coastal beech species native to the Mediterranean climates of the Ischanori west coast, however, the species are unable to effectively grow outside of the lynari peninsula. A particular giant individual, Fawr Wyrleth, grows in the city of Lynathorpe, nearly 100 meters tall or more. It is currently unknown why this individual is so large, but its name has been given to the species as a whole.
==== Eucalyptus (Kunjaneui ed.) ====
With peeling bark and glaucous leaves, many of the eucalypts superficially resemble birch, though their growth habits are less vertical and bark texture more patchy than strippy. Eucalypts tend to grow secondarily to beech, though may become dominant in floodplains or riparian forests. The leaves are toxic, but useful as incense or medicine. The trees are most importantly used for their lumber and resin, however.
==== Quemi (Quemi ed.) ====
Known to foreigners as "southern laurels", the world quemi describes a number of broad-leafed evergreens found throughout the continent, and is related to an ancient Aysar word for "teardrop" because of their leaves' shape. The trees have an aromatic wood and bark, which is ground into a fine powder and used as a spice for baked goods. The trees are rather sensitive to frost, and won't survive long deep freezes, and only grow to full size in warm regions.
==== Snowbark (Elvneui daljalorei) ====
A frost tolerant laurel, the snowbark or elvneuī is a small broad-leafed shrub with white flowers. It is an incredibly hardy shrub, growing in cold and dry areas as well as coastal forests. Its bark is useful as a remedy for scurvy.
==== Common tea tree (Jaquajenaler stalere) ====
Laurel shrub with purple flowers and short, pointy leaves that grows commonly in the forest understory. Its leaves are useful in making a sort of drinkable tea, which is said to bring many health benefits. It also bears an extractible oil with similar properties. It is again also useful in that it produces a particularly sweet honey, which is incredibly valuable. 
==== Prophet's bloom (Jaquajenaler draba) ====
There exists a special tea tree species whose oil is a potent psychoactive drug. Related to the more banal tea tree, the Prophet's bloom can only be grown in specific mesic soils of low acidity, but not too neutral or alkaline. The oil is not known to affect bees, but can induce hallucinations and is used both recreationally and to commune with higher powers among sophont cultures.
==== Redbark (Moltsaneui felis) ====
Shrub or small tree with smooth, orange-colored bark and glossy leaves. A common understory tree in the forests, it bears fragrant flowers that are favored by bees. The tree is also cultivated in parks and landscaping for its unique look and pleasant smell.
==== Vedanican Poppy (Vedas vedanicasch) ====
Common frost-tolerant wildflower found throughout Kejafros. It is weedy, growing very fast, and producing hundreds (if not thousands) of seeds per capsule. It is the only poppy native to the region, and it is likely a recent immigrant from the northern continents that has since become widespread. Though once a harmful invasive at one point, it is now integrated into the local environment as a key food for pollinating insects.
=== Monocots ===
==== Solid-stem Bamboo (Norikes norikes) ====
Whilst most bamboos are hollow, the complex of Kejafrosian bamboo species are mostly solid throughout. They are incredibly durable and used to make tool handles, wattle, and various other materials, and are widely cultivated in temperate regions due to their hardiness.
== Fish ==
=== Lobe-finned fish ===
===== Kejan Snakefish (Chovesokol stalei) =====
Long green or blue lungfish with long skinny fins, which can survive droughts and short freezes. It is native to most of the temperate and subtropical river systems of the continent. They are often mistaken for freshwater sea serpents or snakes; their name literally means "serpent-fish" in Ischanic.
===== Draconic lungfish (Chovesokol kozzorri) =====
A large lungfish with adaptations to surviving the cold winters of the southern continent; it is native to most of the anque wetlands of southern Ischanor and northern Zilatra. These are generalist omnivores that feed on anything from fish, invertebrates, amphibians, to plant matter. 
=== Ray-finned fish ===
===== Trumarsa Trout (Trumarsa thondeumin) =====
A common freshwater fish in the various rivers and streams of interior Kejafros. These trout historically were the primary food source for many prehistoric tribes, including those that eventually became the founders of Thondeum. The Thondean word for fly-fishing, trumzōlana, literally means "to trout". 
===== Dalar Salmon (Tyahet dalaraya) =====
Natively called the Tyahet in Baszku, this is a common migratory fish who are known to hatch spawn in freshwater bodies before migrating into the ocean. During adulthood, they spend most of their lives in the Akus Sea and other nearby seas, and migrate into the interior of Southern Kejafros during Summer, namely through the Dalar River Delta in Zilatra and parts of Southern Ischanor. 
===== Dalar Watercat (Denmali dalaraya) =====
The most numerous species of catfish (regionally called watercats) in Kejafros, it is found in river ecosystems across the continent. While most numerous in the South in the region of the Dalar River Delta, they can be found across the entire region, and even into Rozakkora. There are several subspecies of this group.
===== Kajden Watercat (Denmali kajdenya) =====
The largest species of catfish (regionally called watercats) in Kejafros, its range is highly selective, and therefore is a rare fish. They are generally found in very large warm bodies of freshwater, or in warm very slow moving rivers. Their range mostly exists in modern day Ischanor and Zilatra; where the fish is often called the Qumudenmali. It is reported that they can grow up to one and a half meters long.
They are sometimes considered an endangered species due to overhunting from humans, and for their prized taste.
== Amphibians ==
===== Copper Frog (Numiosach grok) =====
Common orange-colored frog native to the Sek Anque, along the border of Ischanor and Zilatra. Considered to be the best native frog for eating.
===== Qelusha (Sthorliarekefe queluscha) =====
A large amphibian with a spade-shaped head that grows to nearly three meters. It is able to hibernate in freezing weather, allowing it to occupy a similar niche to crocodilians in the cooler climates of the far South. It lives mostly in swamps, lakes, and slow-moving rivers, eating mostly fish and mollusks but is rumored to eat people and livestock as an ambush predator. The preferred habitat of the Qelusha is called an "anque", originated from the Baszku term "anqe". 
The name originates from the Baszku people, who call it the Qelusta.
== Dinosaurs ==
=== Elūmreans ===
===== Wooly Elūmre (Elumre janeach) =====
A small herbivorous biped, fleet of foot and up to two meters long at most. Resident of forested regions, it bears a white feathered coat in winter that sheds to a mottled grey. 
===== Freetailed Elūmre (Talhulehi auzza) =====
Unlike its relatives, the freetail bears a scaly tail, with a dark indigo coloration to it. The rest of the body is coated in a piebald pattern of brown shades. It is a resident of open woodlands and fields, but rarely seen in the open plains. It has a narrower beak than its cousins, and is somewhat omnivorous.
==== Mihanoi (Mihanoi quainepfoleroi) ====
Also known colloquially as a crackbeak. A small arboreal dinosaur with a large beak, used to break fechlin nuts. It is a resident of the conifer forests, and can rotate its ankles to climb trees with ease. 
===== Tubb (Fernalumre kunjaneuikioi) =====
A round-bodied relative of the Mihanoi about 70 cm long at full size, with a silvery feather coat. It is a slow moving specialist that has evolved to eat only eucalyptus foliage. Its flesh is toxic to the taste, as it builds up eucalyptus phytotoxins. It otherwise has few defenses against predators. 
=== Dragons ===
==== Wyverns ====
===== Lorenin Dragon (Thade kasthasasch) =====
Also known as the Lorenin Wyvern or Domestic Wyvern (the latter of which is the direct meaning of its scientific name), these dragons are bred in semi-captivity by the kobolds of Lorenis. They come in a variety of sizes and colors, being naturally variable in pattern; selective breeding has enhanced these differences.
===== Sky Cow (Thieduvis meresquarnach) =====
A herbivorous dragon of the tauropterygian or "wing-cow" clade. Found in the western Mediterranean-climate regions of Ischanor and the Coran'i peninsula. These dragons live in herds of roughly 30 individuals. They are hunted for their horns and have become locally extinct in some regions.
===== Green Tree Dragon (Enselthade arkanin) =====
A small, primitive wyvern that lives in forests in northern Kejafros, eating mostly rodents and pests. It is one of the few dragons known to hibernate in winter, though in the warmer parts of its range it may be active year-round.
==== Eudragons ====
===== Cave-carver (Kozzori quarsthorlioi) =====
A copper-colored, six-horned dragon; one of the largest dragon species known. It is known for creating large, cavernous dens, as well as being a dangerous apex predator that attacks even the largest mammals like elephants. Its dens can be made through exhaling intensely-heated gas or plasma, which can melt or even vaporize some stone types. Found across most of the continent.
==== Wingless dragons ====
===== Burrowing Basilisk (Siochs ischanorin) =====
A large drake native to the santhal forests of southern Ischanor. It constructs a burrow where it hibernates, stores food, and raises its eggs and young. Adults are very large, and capable of taking down large prey; they may compete with local bears for food.
=== Avians ===
==== Ratites ====
===== Pfearoi (Pfearoi pfearoi) =====
A large, flightless bird of the prairies and savannas. It bears a shaggy coat and sharp spurs on its wings. Both wing spurs and toe claws are used in self-defense, though it prefers to run than fight. The pfearoi is a generalist, eating seeds, fruit, sprouts, roots, and any small animals it may find. 
===== Tundrabird (Pfearoi anduaqet) =====
The largest of the flightless birds of Kejafros. A migratory bird with grey-brown shaggy down covering its body, which sheds into a white color in winter. It inhabits the coldest parts of southern Kejafros, primarily in Zilatra and the Sentaran islands. 
==== Fowl ====
===== Spurduck (Fithchus anqueri) =====
A common kind of waterfowl in the anque wetlands of Zilatra and southern Ischanor. They are not true ducks, being somewhat outside of that clade proper, but superficially resemble them in shape and lifestyle. Their chicks bear clawed fingers on their wingtips, which are used for climbing trees as they cannot fly as babies. Adults retain these claws as spurs on the wing, which are used as defensive weapons or for intraspecies conflict.
==== Neoaves ====
===== Vulture Eagle (Geras alfakefilor) =====
Large piebald eagle with a head bearing bare, black skin instead of feathers. This is thought to be an adaptation to eating the insides of corpses, as the bird is large enough to attack smaller livestock. It is also a scavenger, but not exclusively. The bird is used in heraldry in Ischanor, and is featured on crests and flags. 
===== White Sea Eagle (Maquageras lorei) =====
Small white bird of prey, nesting mostly along the coasts of western Ischanor and Coran'i. Its black wingtips and yellow beak distinguish it from the Nebskoslav eagle, of Rathnirian origin, as the flag of Beloslavia features the latter bird which is often confused with the white sea-eagle. 
===== Abusya's Eagle (Maquageras baszkuya) =====
A large eagle closely related to the White Sea Eagle, its body is largely brown in coloration before graduating into a tan, almost white, color at its neck and head. It has a pale white beak with dark, nearly black, wingtips and a banded tail. The feathers around its head are not sleak, instead having a rough and ruffled plumage. As other species of eagle are across Southern Kejafros, Abusya's Eagle has heavy mythical connotations as a symbol and in particular this species is closely associated with the Baszku peoples and can be found on heraldry and national emblems across the region of modern day Zilatra. 
The bird largely nests at the top of santhal trees near large bodies of water. Most populations reside in the warmer areas of the Dalar River Delta as opposed to its Southern basin which is frozen much of the year. They largely eat fish, amphibians, and small mammalian prey. As a consequence of their largely marine diet, they are known to have the largest talons of any bird of prey and are known for their exceptional eyesight. 
It is named after the ancient Baszku king (called a Sagun) Abusya si Tuqeli. 
===== Beech Woodscratcher (Torere kaquekufoi) =====
A common woodpecker species, being grey with cream-colored stripes and a small red tuft at the back of its head. It is particularly fond of beech forest, though it also is known to inhabit coniferous or mixed forest. 
===== Wiovie (Wiovie esverilons) =====
Large, green-colored woodpecker of the coniferous forests, specializing on ants. It is also known as a wika, as it produces a distinctive call that sounds like "wik-a, wik-a". 
== Mammals ==
===== Ischanic Elephant (Lorjen ischanorin) =====
The largest of the terrestrial fauna of the continent, the Ischanic elephant reaches about 2.5 meters (rarely 3) tall at the shoulders, and weighs at most 5 tons. They are hairier and stockier than other elephants, and bear cuspate teeth. Instead of grazing, these elephants are forest-dwelling browsers and prefer tree foliage, with a particular preference for acacia seed pods.
=== Carnivorans ===
===== Mountain Bear (Hwurau marisvalorin) =====
The largest mammalian predator of the continent, the Mountain bear is a large omnivorous animal known to reside in caves. There are at least two main subspecies. One, the Northern mountain bear, (Hwurau marisvalorin verkalor) in the northeastern mountains around Lorenis. The bear is featured on the flag of the kingdom of Lorenis itself. 
The Marisvalor bear (Hwurau marisvalorin marisvalorin) lives in the south of the continent, mostly along the Ischanor-Zilatra border. In its namesake country of Marisvalor it is incredibly rare, but it is known throughout the mountains and deep forests of the region. 
===== Budgewolf (Ori pfudvaprazzirein) =====
The only endemic mammal on the island of Budgeford, it differs from mainland wolves in both appearance and size, The Budgewolf is more comparable to a domesticated dog in size, but retains it's pointed features, unlike the mainland wolf Budgewolves have burrowed ears(clarification needed). The Budgewolf is a revered animal to the Budger inhabitants and even appears on the Coat of Arms of one of the nation's founding families, the Puddlebottoms.
===== Clothed Wolf (Ori dadanya) =====
Called the Dadanya Qabus by the Baszku people, this species of wolf is native to the mainland of Southwestern Kejafros. It is further split into two subspecies, the Marisvalorian Wolf (Ori dadanya murisaya) and the Dalarian Wolf (Ori dadanya dalaraya). It is believed that the Budgewolf descended from this species.
The Dalarian Wolf subspecies is slightly larger in size and prowled the large expanses of the Dalar Prefecture in modern day Zilatra. It is largely white or gray in coloration, with dark brown patterning around its feet. During the Summer, the entirety of the legs and underbelly may shed into a desaturated light brown coloration, especially in younger wolves. This patterning is where the name "Clothed Wolf" originated from, as they may have the appearance of wearing boots or pants.
The Marisvalorian Wolf is nearly extinct as a consequence of industrialization and urbanization in Southern Ischanor, though some have managed to persevere in the select natural expanses near the River Szal. It is largely gray to light brown in coloration, with dark brown spotting along its feet and the end of its tail. It is smaller than the Dalarian Wolf, but is said to be more aggressive towards humans.
=== Hoofed mammals ===
===== Bahal (Pfaha esverikarethas) =====
Also known as a pfaha. A tall but lithe representative of the native ungulates, the bahal superficially resembles a gazelle or llama, but is unrelated to both the cloven-hooved ungulates and horses. It dwells in herds on the plains and open woodlands of the continent. 
===== Kēges (Keges eduvis) =====
A stocky beast with a barrel-shaped body and squarish head, the keges is the largest native ungulate. It is a low-browser or grazer, and a generalist herbivore. They bear large tusk-like canines in their jaws up to six inches long, which are uses as defensive weapons and to fight among each other for herd dominance. They are, however, threatened by habitat loss due to competition with domestic cattle.
===== Sēdquis (Sedquis aysarasch) =====
The native horse species of Kejafros. These wild horses are hard to tame for riding, and the only ones used as mounts or draft animals are often interbred with domestic horses. Historically, these horses were domesticated as livestock, and in many regions of Ischanor horse meat is still seen as a delicacy. They are called Seqis by the Baszku people. Both it and S. syasazanya likely originated from an even more primitive ancestor that immigrated to Kejafros from elsewhere only a few million years ago at most.
===== Long-necked Sēdquis (Sedquis syasazanya) =====
Natively called the Syasazanya Seqis by the Baszku people, this is an extinct species of horse closely related to Sedquis aysarasch, which is more commonly found in Ischanor. This species had a more fatty frame adapted to frigid conditions and a longer neck which allowed it to forage from the various plants of the region. They went extinct at some point in the very early Traveler's Era.
It is believed that some of these may have interbred with feral domestic horse populations in the region of Hajamal, giving way to the Hajamalaya horse, which has since been domesticated completely and is the preferred horse for long-distance travel and drafting in parts of modern day Zilatra.
===== Wild Oxen (Abati schluas) =====
One of the most common animals of the Kejafrosian megafauna, these wild cattle were once followed by herds of human and elven hunters as they entered the continent thousands of years ago. They are still revered by the Lachawakans, the last hunter-gathers in the land. They are known to occasionally break into cowpens and breed with domestic cattle. 
===== White-bearded Deer (Stelsa rastkarethas) =====
The only deer species native to Kejafros. Both sexes in this herd-dwelling species bear horns, which may begin growing even as fauns. Males can be distinguished by their slightly larger size, as well as large white "beards" that run the length of their neck. These are the most common large-bodied herbivores in the forests of Kejafros, found throughout most of the continent. 
=== Marsupials ===
===== Common wombat (Thommoki thommoki) =====
Found throughout most of the temperate zone of the continent, this small herbivorous marsupial is one of the most common mid-sized mammals in Kejafros. They are burrowers, and their burrows can be home to a variety of other species. 
===== Golden Thylacine (Kojoti thinurethsa) =====
These large marsupials occupy the niche of solitary, mid-sized predators, eating smaller prey animals in many of the temperate and subarctic forests of the continent. They superficially resemble dogs, but have yellow-and-black striped coats to aid in camouflage among tall grasses. Certain early authors from foreign lands often mistranslated the Ischanic name for these animals as "coyotes". 
===== Zilatran Thylacine (Kojoti hadzamalin) =====
The largest marsupial predators of modern Kejafros, the Zilatran thylacine inhabits snowier regions in the south of the continent. It is somewhat long-jawed compared to its northern relatives, being specialized in catching fish and grabbing smaller animals out of their burrows in winter. They increase in range during the winter, bearing white fur during the austral winter and grey-brown fur in the short summers. Their species name comes from Hajamal prefecture, where their largest modern population resides.
=== Xenarthrans ===
===== Bebelo (Bebelo adrepfoleroi) =====
A wolf-sized armadillo with a voracious appetite; it is found mostly in wetlands and around water in the south of the continent. Unlike other xenarthrans, it is known to actively hunt large prey. Though often characterized as man-eaters, there are few verified reports of them attempting to eat people alive; they do occasionally dig up graves, and root through trash.
===== Plains armadillo (Pfeifeil celrasin) =====
This armadillo lives in the central plains of Ischanor northwards into Lenoria, where it digs for grubs and worms. They are skittish, and known to, as juveniles, rub themselves in cow dung to make themselves unappetizing to predators.
Category:Fauna
Category:Flora
Category:Kejafros