Qaluran

Qaluran - Caluran

*Mammuthus Calsunariai*

Animal, Mammal, Proboscidea

* Largest Recorded Height: 6 metres

* Average Length: 7 metres

* Largest Recorded Length: 8.7 metres
* Average Width: 3.5 metres
* Largest Recorded Width: 4.3 metres

* Average Life Expectancy: 60 years

* Longest Recorded Lifespan: 80 years

## Description

The Qaluran is the largest land animal on the planet, the most iconic result of Western Gigantism, and the only surviving member of the genus Mammuthus. It is endemic to Calsunaria and Calparnia, being more common in the latter due to much of their natural range in Calsunaria being overrun by Human expansion. Their skin is light brown, similar to the colour of the sand and dirt they live amongst. Compared to the size of their body, they have slightly larger eyes and far larger tusks than modern elephants. They have a nictitating membrane or "third eyelid", like camels, to keep out dust and sand, as well as long eyelashes that serve the same purpose.

Qalurans roam the wild in herds. They are generally peaceful unless they perceive their young to be threatened. They do not see people as predators, but easily can - and will - kill a person in seconds if they get close to either young Qalurans or pregnant female Qalurans, which are typically on the inside of the herd, protected by a ring of males. However, people that are known to be friendly and trustworthy are often allowed inside herds, and although it is likely a myth that Qalurans never forget a face, they can certainly remember people for a long time.

Qalurans have several methods of attack. Their huge tusks are devastating enough with a simple swing, able to shatter a person's bones with a single strike, but if a Qaluran charges they are capable of impaling their target on their tusks, or crushing them to death by stampeding over them. Qalurans also have a strong kick, and they can not only deliver strong punches with their prehensile tusks but also grab large sticks or even small tree trunks with them, which they can then use to bash their targets with. The more intelligent Qalurans have even been taught how to use spears. These methods combined made them very effective and popular weapons of war amongst the Calsunarians. Their usage declined with the proliferation of gunpowder weapons, but they continued to be used long after they were made obsolete. The last battle featuring Qalurans was fought in 1844 in the Civil War, in which the force of Qaluran-riders was obliterated by artillery.

## As Food

Qaluran meat is similar to elephant meat, which is tough, coarse, dry and with little taste. According to the locals, the meat is "only eaten by starving men". Its poor taste and the Qaluran's sacred status in Calsunaria mean that it is almost never eaten.

## Conservation

Qalurans were once extensively used as war animals, however they became obsolete and fell out of use in the mid-1600s. Since Nakkalism only permits killing Qalurans when they are used against you in battle, and prohibits their consumption, this means that Qaluran populations typically thrive since they no longer have natural predators. Poachers of Qalurans normally hunt the animals for their massive tusks and not for their subpar meat.