Rabbox

About

Common Names

Rabbox

Classification

Mammal

Rabbox are herbivore megafauna that have been domesticated for use as beasts of burden, or for pulling wagons, carts, sledges, and plows in many regions.

Description

Size

1,600 - 2,400 kg (4,000 - 5,000 pounds), 1.8 - 2 metres (6 feet - 6 feet, 6 inches) at shoulder, 3.5 - 4.6 metres (11- 13 feet) total body length

Appearance

Large bulky quadrupeds with thick legs, and a tough grey nearly hairless hides. Their heels have bony spurs, Their large ovoid heads sport a pair of long ears, and are supported by thick short necks.

Sexual Dimorphism

Males of this species have a short knobby horn on their nose used for sparing and defense against potential predators.

Variance

A few subspecies of Rabbox exist, and vary in adaptions to their biomes.

Ecology

Habitat

Grasslands, Scrub, Savanna, and Forest from Tropical to Subarctic Latitudes

Diet

Rabbox are herbivores that eat a wide variety of plants, grasses, shrubs, mosses, and lichens.

Behaviour

Social Grouping

In the wild Rabbox will form family herds of up to thirty members. Young males will be driven off to find mates and form their own herds at the age of sexual maturity.

Temperament

Wary, Aggressive if defending young from a perceived threat.

Intelligence

Rabbox exhibit animal intelligence similar to most other herd animals.

Reproduction

Males will gather a harem of 3-6 females, fighting other males for access to breeding age females as necessary. Females gestate one or two young for a year and a half, and nurse them for about the same length of time, before re-entering estrus. By their second year young are fully independent. By the age of 5 years, they reach sexual maturity.

Defense

When a herd is threatened they tend to form a circle with adults facing outwards and young in the center. Males will occasionally charge outward to trample, and spur kick opponents, and are capable of reaching impressive speeds over short distances when provoked.

Sub-Species

Common Rabbox

The typical species of Rabbox found on Annexea throughout the Western interior prairie, plains and Waejiran savanna regions.

Forest Rabbox

A somewhat smaller variant of the common Rabbox, which is found in the forests of Northern Annexea. These animals are darker in colour, and only reach about 75% of the adult size of other sub-species.

Red Rabbox

A sub-species of Rabbox found in Corinthea. they are similar to the Rabbox on the Eastern side of the Darlom Mountains, but had a notable reddish tone to their hides.

Tundra Rabbox

A cold adapted sub-species which has a shaggy coat of wooly hair over most of their body. These animals are found in tundra and subarctic forest climates, and primarily eat a variety of evergreen shrubs and lichens, during the winter seasons.

Domestication

General

Domestication of Rabbox occurs in most cultures that have access to these beasts. They are used as pack animals, and due to their great strength are often employed pulling plows, sledges, or wagons.

Resources

Rabbox are a ready source of hides, meat, and tallow rich fats, but their utility as beast of burden supersedes use as food animals.

Cultural Note

The Waejiran elemental god of Earth and Agriculture, Qeinor is sometimes depicted accompanied by a large black bull rabbox.

Stories

Impossible (fifty word fantasy)