Subspecies (lions)

## Subspecies

> *Note: This list is a generalization of listed traits for subspecies. While there are certain aspects that must be had in order to be a subspecies (e.g. a Piet lion needing webbed feet and a paddle tail to be a Piet lion), this isn't a list that needs to be followed 100% and can have some variation.*
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In the TLK Kaiverse, there are different subspecies of lions that are specialized for certain regions. The known subspecies go as such:

* Grie (Grassland)
* Piet (Bog)
* Marozi (Jungle)
* Tsavo (Desert)
* Kwaro (Jungle)

## Grie

Grie lions are most found in grasslands (Like Ndona and Mbala), and are the more "default" lions. They have a range of different markings, from subtle striping/spotting/dorsal striping, to markings that mimic local herbivores. Their eyes usually have yellow-gold sclera's and iris colors are more commonly red or brown, but can come in all shades an hues. Their pelts range more natural, with shades of reds, oranges, browns, and yellows. Fluffy cheeks and ears are also common occurrence. The AMAB lions tend to have full manes of various shapes and sizes, while AFAB's tend to have less to no manes.

Grie lions have the longest legs of the subspecies, making them the fastest runners.

## Piet

Piet lions can be mostly found in forested wetlands. Given the delicate blend of water and land that makes swampland, well, swampland, Piet lions have adapted to be more like their local reptilian neighbors. With webbed paws and thick, paddle-like tails, Piet lions are more at home in the water than on land. Piet lions pelts are darker to help with marine camo, with more common markings being shaped like scales. Their teeth are larger and protrude from their mouths like a crocodilian, as well as having hooked claws to assist with underwater hunting. They tend to have wedge-shaped, bulky heads.

Their eyes have vertical pupils, and tend to have no visible iris, remaining a solid color that tend to be shades of red, orange or yellow. Other colors can occur, but aren't as common. Their manes are smaller compared to other species, as extra hair would just be a drag underwater, but not as small as the Tsavo.

## Marozi

Marozi lions are manly found in dense jungle areas with tall trees. With a love for climbing, Marozi lions can usually be found in trees. Because of this love, the Marozi have the most adapted paws, with a lemur-like "thumb" to help them grip better. They also have thicker tails and tail tufts, similar to a leopards. Their pelts and markings tend to be most contrasting out of the subspecies, with intense striping and spotting. Rosettes and "false eye" markings, tabby-like, and ticked markings are also very common. Their iris's are lighter than their sclera's, with the sclera being a much darker color than their iris. The most common eye colors are greens, blues, and other light colors.

Any mane grown stays on the spine/dorsal area only, almost similar to how a Piet lion's mane would grow.

Marozi also can possess elemental magic. Where it comes from and how they get it, no one knows~

## Tsavo

The Tsavo lions are mainly desert-dwelling lions, as well as tunnel-dwelling. Average Tsavo's are usually light and/or sandy in color, to camouflage themselves among the desert, except for the less common Night/Tunnel family lines. Night/Tunnel Tsavo's are much darker in color, but tend to have much lighter color eyes due to them almost exclusively staying in the tunnels. Otherwise, Tsavo's tend to have eyes colors with darker shades of reds, purples, browns, etc...with the sclera being a lighter shade of the same color. Their paws are thick and larger than other subspecies to act as "sandshoes" to walk easier across the sand dunes. AMAB's have reduced manes or even no mane at all, while AFAB's tend to have psuedo-manes, or just a big extra fluff.

The most common markings and traits are "sun collars", pointed "bat" ears, eye masks, freckles, "impala" markings (black stripe along sides). They also decorate themselves with items from their surroundings, such as glowing mushrooms and crystals from the tunnels, scorpion tails, and dried gourds to carry water.

## Kwaro

The Kwaro are a jungle-dwelling subspecies characterized by unique bug-inspired features. They have smaller statures, bug-like eyes, and long, fluffy ears that mimic antennae. These elongated ears serve both practical and ornamental purposes. They enhance the lions' ability to detect high-frequency sounds, providing them with an advantage in communication and hunting. Moreover, the fluffy appearance of their ears adds an endearing quality to their overall appearance, making them even more captivating to observers. Alongside their fluffy appearance, most have large, rounded bushy tails. Underneath their fur, the tail is more alike to a bobcat, or lynx tail, rather than the elongated tails of their cousins. A rare few have long tails, and if they do, they would be double-tailed, tails that split near the end and branching off into two tail tufts. It’s believed that those born with double tails are direct descendants of the gods.

Their fur displays intricate patterns reminiscent of aesthetically pleasing insects like butterflies and moths. As insectivores, the Kwaro primarily rely on bugs for their diet, such as Mopane worm, termites, grasshoppers, and other various grubs and caterpillars. If bugs are scarce, they’re second source of prey are smaller animals, like dik-diks, rodents, and lizards. The Kwaro will refuse to hunt from the local meerkat colonies, and will usually form bonds with them as they both benefit from hunting the same prey.

To read more on the extensive information of the Kwaro, check out this document!

## (Dis)Honorable Mention: Damu

Damu lions are like the persian cats of the Kaiverse subspecies. They breed for the most aesthetically beautiful traits, and that can include breeding projects with other subspecies like the Marozi (and for their magic too, even though they tried to wipe it out but y'know).

Originally mountain-dwelling, Damu lions tend to have multi-color, very high contrast pelts that come in all colors, but tend to be darker. Due to their massive takeover and following breeding trends, Damu lions have all sorts of things going on now, especially VERY high maintenence fluff and manes and an incredibly large body size. Their eyes tend to be very bright colors, like blues, golds, purples, magentas, and vertical pupils are common. Scleras are usually yellow-gold.

Typical markings can include hooked eye markings, pointed markings, freckling/sparse spotting. "Feathers" are also a common marking and trait. Markings are a lot more flexible due to, again, the amount of crazy breeding the Damu get up to.

## Canon Comic Character Examples:

Hami: Grie LionAsikari: Marozi Lion (Expressed through genetics, not full blooded)Igrask: Piet LionLord Thiqa: Damu LionSandstone: Tsavo LionNouraya: Kwaro
## Fan Character Examples:

Odera: Marozi Lion (Owned by 20mia08)Nefertiri: Tsavo Lion (Owned by TheMoonfallen)Chura: Piet Lion (Owned by Pyropell)Atbir: Damu Lion (Owned by Pyropell)Fana: Marozi Lion (To show off the thumbs more) Owned by TheMoonfallenSāsum: Kwaro Lion (Owned by Pyropell)
## Trivia

### Interesting Facts

* The Tsavo were one of the first subspecies to be thought out by Kaikree, going back to the late 2010's-Early 2020's. They are also based on a real life lion subspecies.
* The Kwaro originally started out as a fan-created subspecies, but were recently made canon!