Fauna of Io

## General Overview

**Io**, the former capital of the **United Commonwealth of Planets** and later **Galactic Commonwealth** is a diverse world filled with tall mountains and colossal waterfalls. A generally alpine world, Io, also known as **"Arkhosia"** supports colder, more arctic conditions around the planets poles with dusty and dry canyons around the equator. This effect can be more pronounced then on **Earth** due to the main source of heat being **Tidal Heating** from the **Gas Giant** of **Arkhosia Prime**.

## Qwillhiss

A small but extremely dangerous creature, the **Qwillhiss** sleeps in the deep canyons of Io, such as the region known as **Cosmo Canyon**, just outside the capital city of **Ionus**. The Qwillhiss is responsible for the majority of wildlife related hospital admissions on Io due to its highly venomous **"qwills"**, which it will aggressively launch at any predator that disturbs it.

These qwills are similar to ones found on a **Terran Porcupine** and can be launched at over **30 Mph** at their target, carrying enough highly toxic neurotoxin capable of killing over 40 men. This fast acting venom induces paralysis in under **10 minutes** if not treated quickly with sufficient **antivenom**. As a result, **Normandy General Hospital** has issued **Emergency Transporter Relays** to emergency services in the region so that they can quickly treat any related Qwillhiss sting.

Qwillhiss will often burrow into the dry dirt of certain canyons to provide protection from heat and to make nests and can be difficult to spot for travellers into its territory, due to its small size of only about half a metre in length. It is extremely important that after an attack, a traveller catches the Qwillhiss as they will often attempt to flee, this is because there are over 2,000 varieties of Qwillhiss and administering the wrong antivenom by emergency services could result in death.

Despite their dangerous reputation, Qwillhiss are only known to become aggressive is one enters their territory and with continually shake their spines with a distinctive sign to warn away predators before attacking. Io citizens have been advised to slowly move away, arms outstretched as a submissive gesture when confronted with a Qwillhiss.

Qwillhiss generally lay their eggs underground and are surprisingly undefined as they have both reptilian and mammalian features, puzzling xenobiologists on Io. They are generally short-lived, with each individual Qwillhiss only living for about **5 years** and are extremely solitary, only flocking together one a year to mate.

## Arkelina

One of the most imposing species on Io, the **Arkelina** is a large bipedal species resembling a large **Terran Pig**. Growing to be over **7 feet** tall and despite its preference to move bipedally, common to most intelligent or sapient species, the Arkelina is actually no more intelligent then a common domestic pig. It has been theorized by **Commonwealth Xenobiologists** that the Arkelina evolved to walk on two legs because of its environment which consists of the mountainous and dry canyons common to Io, giving it greater reach and stability while climbing.

Despite its bulk, the Arkelina is impressively fast at climbing and is able to scale most rockfaces with ease while looking for **Arkkenuts**, their favourite food which are the seeds of vine-like plants that grown out of the sides of rockfaces and mountainous regions.

Socially, the Arkelina moves in herds and have been known to cause significant landslides when all of the herd, consisting of about 200 members are all climbing a rockface at once in such of food. When threatened, the Arkelina is able to use its impressive bulk to pummel a predator to death. However due to it's size, the Arkelina only has one natural predator on Io.

Despite their exceptional sense of smell, the Arkelina has very poor eyesight and can be easily started, with a tenancy to charge when feeling threatened. Tourists travelling to Io are advised to take images on the Arkelina only from a distance to avoid startling them. Due to their dislike of loud noises, the Arkelina will not venture near populated cities, preferring to stay in areas that are relatively quiet.

## Wywalla

Easily considered one of the most dangerous species on Io, the **Wywalla** is the only natural predator of the **Arkelina**, using its powerful wings to pluck them off the mountainside with ease. Travellers are advised to avoid Wywalla completely if one of seen but thankfully to many residences such reports of Wywalla are rare as many prefer the colder climates of the **Northern Hemisphere**.

The Wywalla is a powerful animal, somewhat resembling the people of the **Arkhosian Legion** themselves and as such has become the **National Symbol of Arkhosia**, as well as the animal depicted on **Arkhosian Consortium Credits**. The Wywalla has an extremely long lifespan and can hibernate for **20 Years** at a time, completely slowing its **metabolic rate** and slowing down **cellular decay**. As a result, several **Arkhosian Research Teams** have made a number of expeditions to Io's north to study this creature in its natural habit.

The Wywalla is extremely intelligent, with the same intelligence level as that of a **Terran Dolphin**, capable of understanding **Arkhosian Speech** as well as setting up rudimentary traps for ambush, such as digging a pit and leaving behind some scales to impale waiting prey.

Most curiously, the Wywalla swallows its prey whole, possessing the ability to detach its jaw much in the same way as a **Terran Anaconda**, signifying that it may have evolved from a smaller animal such as a **Snake** and at one time possessed with **Sepentine Features**. The Wywalla also possesses the uncanny ability to sense the time of day and has a set routine and flight path that it will adhere to on an almost daily basis, especially when caring for its young, known collectively as **"Whelps"**.

Despite its appearance, the Wywalla is actually not a dragon in the modern sense, but appears to share many features with both **Terran Lizards** and **Terran Snakes**, suggesting that it may have evolved from a large reptile that once existed on Io millions of years ago, similar to the **Titanoboa**. It will often use its long tail to **"constrict"** its prey before consuming it, further hinting at a possible serpentine past.