Monday, January 27, 2014

Horned fox critters

Adult, probably about 4-5 yrs.
This one looks to be a bit tired,
likely after a run of some kind.
Been drawing these for a while. I don't really have a name for them, apart from "horned fox things" or "forest foxes". I referred to them as ferrins for a while, but realized that name had appeared in an online story as a name for a fairly different creature. Just in case it isn't clear, this creature springs entirely from my imagination.

Horns are unusually large here, but not entirely outside the range.
Colour is pretty well exactly standard.
Posture might be interpreted as relaxed, but vigilant.
The season (fall) is a likely contributor to the chubby state.
It's a fox, with curled horns, and sort of squirrel-like paws and climbing abilities, about the size of a border collie (or other midsize dog). Colour-wise, it greatly resembles a red fox, but has a deeper. more red colour and lacks the usual white markings around the face or stomach. Like red foxes, it sometimes has darker fur on its ears, but unlike them, its paws are often lighter than the rest of its body, rather than darker. Its tail has a more distinct point, which is coloured white in females and dark brown/black in males. Its eyes and the shape of its head contribute to making it appear constantly alert, which is not an entirely wrong impression.

Anyone with an idea what to call them, use the comment button! Your suggestions will (most likely) be cheerfully dismissed.

They live primarily in the lower heights of the trees, using their horns to scrape at the bark and thereby disguise their scent while warning off others of the same species. They are extremely intelligent, but usually live either alone or in packs of less than four, commonly a couple and any kits. They are carnivorous, going after mostly small game, but occasionally taking down large animals. One of the peculiarities of these creatures is that they will shred, dry, and store meat. They have a tendency to puff up and hiss when threatened, but only when they are solitary. They'll make a high-pitched keening noise if they have a pack to alert. As far as reaction to humans goes, they are not pets. They will not tolerate enclosed spaces of any kind. Mostly they stay out of the way of humans, seeing them as too dangerous to bother with hunting, These creatures store food too well to often get desperately hungry. Their life expectancy is 11-13 years, discounting fatalities within the first year. Kits have a tendency to be more curious than is wise for a creature that balances poorly still, and they often fall despite the best efforts of both parents. The dilemma in the first six months is that it is much more difficult to avoid larger predators on the ground, but much easier to fall.