Boarusa

Kingdom:

The **boarusa** is an endothermic rhino-like animal native to Wakania and the nearby continent. It is well known of having two pairs of large tusks composed of enlarged canine teeth.

## Physical appearance

The boarusa has a head-and-body length of 2.5 meters (8.2 feet) and weigh from 220 to 453.5 kilograms (485 to 1,000 pounds). Being virtually hairless, the boarusa developed tough skin abut an inch thick. In males, the large upper canines emerge from the top of the snout and are curved forwards. The long lower canines emerge through the side of the mouth. The upper canines could grow in size depending on age, and it gives an advantage for old boarusas to fend off predators.

In females, the canines are far shorter and do not protrude. The boarusa has a greyish-purple skin with a tan underbelly, females have grey skin with a lighter shade of tan in their underbellies.

## Habitat

A boarusa's habitat are usually tropical forests near the shores of rivers and lakes. It's mostly hairless, greyish purple and tan hide provide it with a degree of camouflage. While they are least concerned, they are typically rare to find in the underbrush of tropical forests.

## Behaviour

Boarusas are social, intelligent, diurnal animals. During the mating season, males will fiercely battle with other males by headbutting and ramming eachother to impress the females. Boarusas live in groups called barriers. A barrier is usually led by a dominant female, and barriers also contain several males, and a large number of females with their young. A barrier occupies a home range of about 16 square kilometers (6.1 square miles) which is usually centred on a water hole. They mark sleeping and feeding areas and waterholes.

During the dry season, the dominant female of a barrier leads the group and they forage for grasses, leafy plants, flowers and fruit. The boarusa has specific warning grunts that alert the rest of the group to danger. They may freeze initially but then rely on their speed to escape. They are typically fast for a large animal, able to travel for short distances at 55 kilometers (34 miles) per hour as they run to the safety of the bushes.

## Domestication

Boarusa occupy a unique role in octoman history, having been domesticated since the early kaizoic era (the final era before the present day).
The boarusa were widely kept as livestock. Selective breeding has generated a wide variety of breeds, of which many are also kept as farm animals.

As livestock, boarusas are bred for their meat, hide, and as draft animals (most pull carts, plows and other implements). The earliest breeds were important sources of meat, and so became larger than wild individuals, but domestic boarusas in modern times range in size from small to large. The hide of boarusa are most notable for it's thickness, and can be found in a broad range of coat colors and patterns, as well as lengths. The "Ferdolt boarusa" breed is well known for its long, leathery coat which is often used for clothing. In Wakania, boarusas are hunted for their horn-like canines, which is illegal in North Alor. The "Wakaniter boarusa" breed is one of the boarusa breeds bred to farm its canines, which are thought to be medicine, but is know used for weapons.