Bokodu

Disclaimer: The Bokodu is a fictional animal from Keenan Taylor's Tales of Kaimere.

Video on the Topic: Last of the Wandering Gods: The Bokodu | Giant Entelodont of Kairul

## Desccription and Biology

Bokodu are large entelodonts which reside in Kairul, they are omnivorous generalists and scavengers, but occasionally hunt large game.

One of the most notable features of the Bokodu is its' wrinkly hide, which, although imposing, and indeed provides some protection, these wrinkles are primarily used for thermoregulation, with this increase of surface area being critical in their northern range. Their mantle of course hair, which perhaps counterintuitively is more pronounced in individuals living in warmer regions, also assists in shedding heat.

Bokodu live long lifespans, and have a similar lifespan to that of an Earth Human, being 60 to 100 years.

Although Bokodu do have regional variation across Kairul, they are all the same species, likely due to their efficient and long distance travel.

Although not officially recorded, their have been claims and accounts which tell of bokodu practicing voice and even word mimicry like their smaller cousins

## Habitat

Open Territory of Western Kairul, though they have a preference to sticking to the edge of the mosaic forests, as prairies often leave them vulnerable to attacks from Uktan.

## Sow

Female Bokodu, Known as Sow reside in the many mosaic forests, feeding on foliage and seasonal fruit, though they will range into wetlands to seek higher nutrient plants and also scavenge.

Having come from social ancestors, it is no surprise Bokodu are to some extent social animals, sows live in decentralized herds of related females. Each adult generally has and maintains a territory, but this territory overlaps with that of their sisters, mothers, and cousins. Pregnancy takes nearly three years, and though some mothers take a gap year between calves, especially when stressed, most are perpetually pregnant. Calves remain with their mother with exclusive attention for their first 3-4 years until a new calf is born. While their younger sibling gets exclusive attention, the first will still be granted protection from their mother, but they are weaned and on their own for food. Once the third calf is born, mom now can't afford any attention for her first calf, and she sees them off. If the calf is a female, she will wander around the territories of her relatives, scavenging and bulk feeding on whatever she can until she's large enough for her own territory. Usually she will live close to home, but some females wander hundreds if not thousands of miles to find new lands, which promotes genetic diversity.

Sows tend to weigh between 2 and 5 tons , though 6 ton sows are not uncommon, especially after they reach menopause.

Bokodu sow which reach menopause are referred to as 'Matriarchs', they roam the territories of their descendants, providing food and protection when needed, as they are no longer mothers themselves.

## Boars

Male Bokodu, known as boars, are far larger than females, with the average individual reaching 7-8 tons at maturity.

Boars during their adolescence, between 8 and 15 years of age, often gather in small bachelor herds of between 3 and 5 individuals, wandering about, practicing combat with other boars, fending off predators, learning efficient paths of travel, hunting any game they can catch, and learning where reliable food is.

Bokodu Boars reach maturity between 20 and 22 years of age, and become solitary nomads, traveling hundreds of miles in a day in search of food and mates. The largest and oldest boars, with their last sets of teeth, can weigh up to 13 tons, and at this size, have little fear of anything, even a pair of megaraptorans.

Boars take the generalist diet of their female counterparts to an extreme, and will take just about any calories they can get. In a week, a large boar can eat all the fruit in a grove, hunt down an aquatic rhino, gorge themselves for a month on foliage in a nearby wetland, then another 5 days subsisting on meat and marrow of a young titan carcass. Though not dedicated predators, with a bite strong enough to crack an Uktan's leg, they can eat about anything they can catch.

Boars have incredible endurance and speed, able to sprint at up to 35 mph, and maintain a steady pace of 6 mph for days at a time.

Boars prefer feats of strength over fighting when attracting potential mates, and this trait seems to be generally selected for by sow,

### Knights and Squires

Although most boars join a bachelor herd, occasionally one will join an adult boar in his travels. This usually only occurs with related individuals, such as a boar returning to a sow he mated with a decade prior, and taking his son along with him, though sometimes the two are unrelated, why this occurs is unknown. Dr. Kurt Baldwin described the relationship as a knight and squire during his initial report on the Bokodu over a century ago, and the name stuck. The Knight will chase off the squire before he reaches maturity, as to prevent competition for resources and mates. This relationship is entirely beneficial to the squire, as they get guaranteed protection from adult boars, and often reach sizes larger than their bachelor counterparts due to more reliable access to food, and practicing combat with an experienced knight can make them formidable opponents. Squires in general have a much higher survival rate. Knights do not benefit much from the relationship, but still will protect their squire when needed, especially if its' their own kin.

A Knight and his Squire- Keenan Taylor
## Ontogeny

Bokodu calves are born after a pregnancy of nearly three years, during the next year or two, they receive exclusive care from their mother, then another three while she is pregnant with the next calf. During this time, they have baby teeth, the first of seven sets they will grow throughout their lives. After the next calf is born, the first will remain with its' mother and she will provide protection, but weaning is stopped after the growth of their juvenile teeth, and must hunt for themselves. After a third calf is born, when the first calf grows their adolescent teeth at around 8 to 10 years old, they are then on their own. Females roam the territories of their relatives, and reach maturity at 15 years of age. During this time the adolescent female will often seek a matriarch.

Boars during their adolescence, between 8 and 15 years of age, often gather in small bachelor herds of between 3 and 5 individuals, wandering about, practicing combat with other boars, fending off predators, learning efficient paths of travel, hunting any game they can catch, and learning where reliable food is.

Mortality is highest for adolescent bokodu, as at this stage of being between 2 and 4 tons, they are prime targets for an experienced megaraptoran.

Bokodu Ontogeny and sow- Keenan Taylor
## Phylogeny

The Bokodu is a large entelodont in the kaimeran family carnopachydermidae, which evolved around 10mya as a result of the Dynastic Extinction leaving a macropredator niche on the prairie vacant. For several million years, the bokodu's place as apex predator remained unchanged, that was until the arrival of robust megaraptorans from Ni'Khar. As a result of this competition, ancestors of the Bokodu eventually became more omnivorous and scavenging

## Human Relations

Most Bokodu, due the risk of such encounters, do not engage in combat with megaraptorans, and when they do, it is often fatal, although those who excel in this task find their way into the legends and chronicles of the peoples of Kairul. There are legends of Witches and kings riding on the backs of Bokodu mounts, these are not substantiated, but considering how many people in the Northern prairie bond with and ride cursorial entelodonts, it is not completely impossible.

Fossils of the Bokodu have been found in the Known World, but in modern times, none have been found. The Shu have many legends of a Na'Hashet the size of a Ghlanos, and although many of the giant beasts in their stories are simply exaggeration, it is possible Bokodu island hopped to Ni'Khar.

Journal entry from Third Journal and Missing Report from Special Agent Henry Abernathy, Assembly Research Division, Protection Detail. Western Kairul, 1951

## Redesigns

The Bokodu has had one known redesign.

Original Bokodu design- Keenan Taylor