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Xha’Ruun

Ruun 18: Xa-Vokh Ak — Fauna

"Class Thermochromadae — hexapodal, 3-eyed, 2-hearted, thermochromic. Xha'ruun-mor rass sha-el." — Institute of Zoology, +3 100 E.U.

Ruun-ak rass: → rhu [Ruun 04, "Xa-Ven Khal-Vex"], → rhu [Ruun 05, "Xha'Ruun Sha-Mor"], → rhu [Ruun 11, "Xa-The Xa-Vokh"], → rhu [Ruun 13, "The-Xar-Ak"], → rhu [Ruun 17, "Xa-The Ak"] Mor-ven: Dominant class Thermochromadae (~24 000 vertebrate species). Hexapodal, 3-eye, 2-heart, thermochromic skin, egg-laying, 6-nucleotide genetic code. Insect hexapod ~1.5 M. Largest predator Tor-Mor 545–727 kh; largest herbivore Khar-Moss ≤3 333 kh; largest marine Thal-Shark 4.9–8.5 sha. Kharru was domesticated in the early settlement period.

A herd on the Kharak plains
A herd on the Kharak plains

18.1 Class Thermochromadae — Dominant

18.1.1 Key Traits

Trait Description Function
Hexapodaly 6 limb (2 fore, 2 mid, 2 hind) Locomotion + manipulation
Exo-endoskeleton Chitin outer + bone internal Protection + support
Double circulation 2 heart (thoracic + abdominal) Respiratory / systemic separation
Thermochromatism Cutaneous pigment T-regulation Heating cold / cooling hot
Trinocular 3 eye (higher form) Depth + wide angle
Egg-laying Calcareous shell clutch Reproduction
6-letter code 6-nucleotide genetic code Coding capacity and redundancy

18.1.2 Paleontological Chronology

Event Sha
1st Thermochromadae Vertebrate split
Prototheria / Neothermia split Basal radiation
Double circulation Warm-blooded
1st Predatoria Trophic-level form
Hexapodal radiation All terrestrial niche
Thermochromatism Cutaneous T-regulation
Social intelligence Xha'ri ancestor
Xa-ruunidae differentiation Kharru + Xha'ri ancestor
Kharru domestication 1st domesticated

18.2 Predators (Predatoria)

18.2.1 Large Predator

Species Size Mass Range Strategy
Shar-Ghar (Red Tiger) 4.3 × 2.2 sha 364–485 kh Kharak plain Ambush, pack 3–6
Tor-Mor (Mountain Killer) 5.1 × 2.6 sha 545–727 kh Khar-Tor range Solitary ambush
Rhu-Ven (Night Hunter) 3.4 × 1.7 sha 182–273 kh Rhuval forest Nocturnal, pack 8–15
Vex-Thorn (Thorny Ambusher) 2.7 × 1.0 sha 73–109 kh Vexar Si tail spike

18.2.2 Medium/Small Predator

Species Size Range Sha
Thal-Jumper 1.0 sha Coast Fish, jumps ≤7.3 sha
Rhu-Viper 1.8 sha Desert H₂S-channel paralytic venom
Khal-Flyer 0.7 sha, wingspan 2.7 sha Forest Gliding between tree
Shar-Hound 1.5 sha Shan Desert Endurance 12.2 mo/h × 4.1 mo

18.3 Herbivores (Herbirostra)

18.3.1 Large Herbivore

Species Height Mass Range Status
Ghal-Shar (Plains Runner) 3.9 sha 1 091–1 515 kh Kharak savanna Herd 10–40
Mor-Koss (Heavyhorn) 2.6 sha 1 818–2 727 kh Vexar forest Herd 5–15
Thal-Horn (Armored Rhino) 2.2 sha 1 515–2 121 kh Rhuval Solitary, armored
Khar-Moss (Shaggy Giant) 4.6 sha 2 424–3 333 kh N taiga Long fur, herd 8–20

18.3.2 Small Herbivore

Species Size Range Role
Vex-Squeaker 0.2 sha Vexar forest Seed dispersal
Rhu-Hopper 0.5 sha Savanna Scavenger and omnivore
Khal-Burrower 0.4 sha Soil (all) Aeration, detritivore
Shan-Scale 0.7 sha Shan Desert H₂O balance, moisture store

18.4 Kharru Group (Xa-ruunidae)

18.4.1 Relatives and Familiar Animals

Species Size Intelligence Status Range
Kharra (kharru dom.) 1.5 sha High Domesticated ~8 000 y Everywhere
Thal-Ghex (forest jumper) 1.8 sha Moderate Wild Vexar forest
Vokh'elling (reef loach) 0.5 sha Medium Wild Ocean
Ghal-Shar (plains runner) 2.4 sha Very low Wild Kharak savanna

18.4.2 Kharru — Best Companion

Kharru is a domesticated six-limbed companion, about 1.5 sha long and 48–73 kh in mass. It has three eyes, four ears and thick golden-red fur. Omnivorous but mainly plant-eating, it assists in herding, finding water and searching rubble; it also lives with families as a companion. Lifespan: 20–30 local years.

18.5 Marine Fauna

18.5.1 Ocean Thalas (N)

Species Size Range Sha
Shal-Mor (Silver Arrow) 0.7 sha Surface Migration ≤609.8 mo
Thal-Shark 4.9–8.5 sha Shelf, open Apex, 3-row teeth
Khal-Ray 2.4–4.9 sha wingspan Bottom ≤0.1 mo Electroreception, 200 V
Rhu-Crab 1.0 sha carapace Littoral Si carapace

18.5.2 Deep-Sea

Species Sha
Thermal-Worm Tube-dweller at vent
Deep-Glow Bioluminescence (purple)
Abyss-Jelly Dome ≤3.7 sha, tentacle ≤36.6 sha
Thash-Gulper Expandable stomach (≥2× body)

18.5.3 Invertebrates

Group Species Role Sha
Hexapod (insect) ~1.5 M Pollination, detritivore 6 leg, 4 wing
Arachnid ~80 000 Predator, parasite 8 leg, Si thread
Crustacean (Thalas) ~45 000 Filter, scavenger Si carapace
Mollusk ~120 000 Filter, predator CaCO₃ + SiO₂ shell

18.6 Fauna by Continent

18.6.1 Kharak — Plain + Savanna

Ecosystem Dominant Endemism
Savanna Ghal-Shar, Shar-Ghar, Shar-Hound 18%
Shan Desert Sun-Lizard, Shan-Scale 35%
Taiga Khar-Moss, Needle-Horn 22%
Khar-Tor Mts Tor-Mor, Rock-Jumper 40%

18.6.2 Rhuval — Forest + Highland

Ecosystem Dominant Endemism
Tropical forest Rhu-Ven, Rhu-Crab 24%
Raal Plateau High-Goat, Crystal-Wing 48%
Coast Thal-Jumper, Shore-Crab 12%

18.6.3 Vexar — Isolated Forest

Ecosystem Dominant Endemism
Broadleaf forest Vex-Thorn, Vex-Squeaker 42%
Mountain forest Tree-Jumper, Moss-Glide 52%
Mangrove Shore-Wader, Mud-Crab 28%

18.7 Seasonal Migrations

Species Distance Route Period Number
Ghal-Shar ≤304.9 mo C Kharak → S pasture Dry season 2–4 M
Shal-Mor ≤609.8 mo Thalas → Kharak spawn Tor-Ven 500 M
Khar-Moss ≤304.9 mo Taiga → N pasture Summer 200 000
Thal-Shark ≤813.0 mo Thalas → Gharra → Thalas 2-y cycle 50 000

Great Migration of Ghal-Shar — twice/y, Central Kharak crossing following seasonal rain. Predator (Shar-Ghar) + scavenger (Rhu-Hopper) follow.

Ruun Ven

  1. Class Thermochromadae — dominant vertebrate (~24 000 species).
  2. Hexapodaly, 2-heart, 3-eye, thermochromatism, egg-laying, 6-letter code.
  3. Largest predator Tor-Mor 545–727 kh.
  4. Largest herbivore Khar-Moss ≤3 333 kh.
  5. Kharru — domesticated in the early settlement period, closest Xha'Ruun relative.
  6. Vexar endemism 38% (mountain 52%).
  7. Hexapod insect ~1.5 M species, 4-winged.
  8. Thash Trench unique chemosynth ecosystem.
  9. Great Ghal-Shar Migration (304.9 mo) — largest herbivore migration on planet.