Cebuc

Mountain Cebuc - "Sebastian Romu" © 2019

About

Cebuc are a common wild herd mammal throughout Annexea.

Names

Cebuc

Description

Size

The average adult cebuc is between 75-100 kg (165-220 pounds), and stands about 1 meter (40 inches) high, at the hump.

Appearance

They are squat quadrupeds with cleft hooves, and a humped back. Their long necks start low on their body, and their heads are adorned with a pair of ridged horns.

Sexual dimorphism

Both males and females have horns, although males tend to more pronounced adornment.

Variance

The most apparent variation between sub-species, beside colouration, is in the pattern of horn growth.

Ecology

Habitat

Cebuc are found in nearly every climate and terrain.

Diet

Cebuc are precocious herbivores eating nearly anything plant based, including bark, thorns, and other plant material generally avoided by most other species.

Behaviour

Herds

Cebuc herds number 12-36 members, with half that being adults.

Temperament

Cebuc tend to be wary, and will flee from sudden movement or loud noise.

Mating

Females will generally mate every other autumn, with 1-2 young born in the spring following and calves are sexually mature at 3 years of age. Males will compete for breeding rights amongst each other, and more established powerful males will often have a harem of females which they jealously defend from others.

Notable Sub-Species

Cleft-horn Cebuc

This species of Cebuc has a split in their horns near the base, making it appear to have four horns, two that arc forward, and two that arc backwards. These animals tend to darker hair colours. Cleft-horn cebuc are most often found in arid scrub lands, and savanna

Common Cebuc

The common cebuc is medium sized creature found in mixed terrain. They are precocious eaters of plants not normally targeted by other herbivores, having little or no trouble with thorns, and spines on fleshy nettles and thistles. This species has the typical rear curving horns which in mature adults can reach over 1 meter in length.

Curled Cebuc

The curled cebuc differs from the common cebuc neck length and horn growth. Their necks are much shorter and of more girth, while their horns form a curl, spiralling outward to the sides of the head. Curled cebuc are found in hilly or mountainous terrains, and are exceptionally agile, able to navigate near vertical slopes with ease.

Least Cedbuc

Least cebuc are diminutive compared to their cousins. They average less than a meter in height, and weight less than 50 kg. Their horns often do not exceed 30 cm in length. They can be distinguished further by the double stripe along each flank. This is usually in a lighter shade than their main hair, but also the hair growth pattern is reversed. Least cebuc are commonly found in grassy areas with few, or widely spaced trees.

Domestication

General

Cebuc, most notably the common cebuc, are fairly easy to domesticate, and large herds are present in most agrarian communities.

Resources

Cebuc are raised for their meat, leather, horns, and sometimes milk, although the latter tends to pick up flavours from whatever the cebuc is eating making it less desirable compared to milk other species.