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Description
The Pugnax is a creature that is found in the arctic regions of the world, where land and ice meet the freezing seas. They are marine mammals that spend most of their lives in these frigid waters, only coming to dry land to rest or reproduce. If your ship has ever sailed through the arctic regions, you probably have spotted their huge colonies packed upon the floating ice and stony shores. When seen on land, you would probably wonder how such a beast survives in water. Their bodies are bulky and heavy, giving the impression that they would sink like a stone. Their limbs look malformed and useless, which is shown when they drag their weight around on the ice. While all this gives the impression of an awkward creature, they are surprisingly graceful in the water, and are hardy beasts that can easily survive in this cold, harsh world.

The Pugnax are creatures of the sea, and their anatomy shows that quite well. Their forelimbs have flattened out into flippers, while their hind limbs have fused to create something like the fluke of a whale. These are obviously used to propel themselves through the water, and the dexterity of their limbs allows them to pull off impressive maneuvers. They have precise control over their movements, which is critical when it comes to foraging for food and escaping predators. The other adaptation is the streamlined shape of their body. Though bulky, the body of the Pugnax is very smooth and rounded, making it so that they slice through the water rather than burrow through it. Their fur is extremely short and sparse, while their ears are reduced and stick close to their skulls. Speaking of their body and skin, the Pugnax have thick layers of insulating blubber that keep them warm in the frigid water. This is how they are able to survive in such an environment with little to no shelter. To further help their aquatic lifestyle is their respiratory system, which is specialized for long dives in the ocean. Large lungs allow them to hold a lot of air and their bodies are capable of functioning on very little of it at a time. The flesh around their nostrils can seal them shut to prevent seawater from getting in, and their thick flexible lips keep the same from happening to their mouths. So far it is believed that the Pugnax can remain underwater for as long as thirty minutes, which is important when it comes to finding food.

The diet of a Pugnax consists mainly of mollusks and crustaceans, which they hunt for during their long dives. This food is found on the sea floor, usually buried within the muck and sand. To dig out such treats, they use the famed tusks that jut from their lower mandibles. These long, lance-like tusks are actually incisors that have grown out of their jaws, with them actually emerging below the lips. Both the males and females of this species possess these tusks, as they are important for feeding. These two special teeth are grown close together to create one structure, and they are subtly curved upward to make something like a scoop. When foraging, the Pugnax will swim just above the ocean floor, using its keen senses and sensitive hairs to locate prey. When food is detected, they shall use their long tusks to rip up the muck and reveal the hiding morsel. With the scoop-like shape of their tusks, they can slide them under prey and lift them up to send them sliding down to their mouth. Prehensile lips allow them to suck up the crab or clam without letting much sea water get in, and these same lips can let them chew their food without breaking the waterproof seal. Inside their mouths are broad, flat teeth that can crush and grind tough shells, and the whole pulverized mess is swallowed. After eating all they can during their dive, the Pugnax shall return to dry land where it can rest up.

Due to its large size and layers of blubber, the Pugnax is a tempting meal for arctic predators. Many other animals out there would love to dine upon a rich store of fat, but the Pugnax is no easy target. While they are awkward and slow on land, they gather in large pods that can reach the hundreds. With sheer numbers like that, a predator could simply be crushed to death by their bulky bodies if they dared dive in for a bite. This rarely happens, as many would-be attackers are more worried about the two toothy lances jutting from their faces. While good for digging, these tusks can also jab and slash at foes. When the colony is approached by a predator, many Pugnax will point their tusks outward, creating a wall of ivory spears. In the water, the Pugnax are not so packed together and predators can more easily single out an individual. The problem they will encounter, though, is that the Pugnax are more graceful in water than on land. They can dodge charges and move away from bites, all while keeping their tusks trained on the attacker. In some cases, the Pugnax may even barrel towards opponents, looking to gore them with their teeth. If one wants to eat one of these beasts, then they must be quick and creative. Some predators are fast enough underwater to dart around these teeth and attack the exposed body, while others go for surprise tactics so that the Pugnax is doomed before it has a chance to fight back. Another group can focus on the Pugnax's need for air, mainly carnivores who sport gills and other water-breathing organs. They can antagonize the Pugnax and keep it from reaching the surface, slowly asphyxiating it as it tries desperately to escape. If the unfortunate victim tries to fight to the end, then it shall drown and the predator gets its meal. If they make a mad, last second dash to the surface waters, they expose themselves to attack and the predator won't waste such an advantage.

Another thing they do on dry land, other than rest, is mate. These large colonies will soon divide themselves up into harems, as the largest and strongest males lay claim to any female they can find. Other males may seek to challenge them, and this is when their tusks find another purpose. Like fencers in a duel, these males will clash with their tusks and try to stab the other challenger. At such times, you can even hear the clatter of their teeth from a ship, as they swipe and lunge at one another. These battles can get quite bloody, as the sharp teeth shred through skin. Thankfully, their blubber prevents these wounds from becoming serious, and many defeated opponents will crawl off with a fresh batch of scars. The hides of most Pugnax boast dozens of scars, either gained during battle or by close calls with predators. Once females give birth to their pups, they shall stick to dry land until their offspring grows strong enough to swim. During this time, the pup shall feed on her milk while the mother relies on her stores of fat to keep her going. Once the pup has gained its strength, the two shall head into the ocean, where she shall teach it to forage (with the added bonus of her finally getting something to eat).

As I mentioned before, the big, blubbery bodies of the Pugnax are tempting targets to many and that includes local folk. For coastal towns in the arctic, the Pugnax are a staple of their livelihoods. Their hide is good for leather, while the sheer amount of meat and fat is enough to sustain a village for quite some time. While the fishermen go out with their nets, hunters will head out with their spears to take down one of these beasts. The weapons of these hunters are often long, as they need to be able to score a hit without getting jabbed by the Pugnax's own weapons. Often hunters focus on a single creature, attacking from all sides and slowly taking it down with dozens of stabs. The carcass is then moved to a nearby spot and carved up, which is waaaaaay longer than the actual hunting part. In fact, hunters spend most of their time dressing and hauling their kills than actually taking them down! The other thing taken from the carcass is, of course, their tusks. Locals use these overgrown teeth in their tools and art, carving into the ivory to create breathtaking sculptures. It is only in these villages where I can truly appreciate this art, as I know that these tusks were taken from Pugnax that were hunted to sustain their families. In these cases, the tusks were an added bonus, while the animal was taken down mainly for food. Seeing these ivory sculptures in the homes of collectors and rich folk, though, is another story. Instead of seeing the beautiful craftmanship and the wonderful handiwork, I am reminded of the folk who butcher these creatures solely for their tusks. The ivory trade is a lucrative one, and there are those out there that will take down dozens of these beasts and leave their carcasses behind to rot. It is a disgusting practice, and one that causes a lot of damage.

In fact, I ran into a group of these butchers during my studies of the Pugnax, and boy were my leaves rustled! I was hunkered down on a far off hill when I spotted them, but at the time I thought they were regular hunters. When the six of them cut down three hefty beasts, I thought nothing of it. It was only when they sawed off the tusks and walked off with nothing else that I realized the species of jerkbag I was actually observing! I knew that they would be back for more, so I decided to do something about it. I used my amazing tracking and stealth skills to locate their camp without them spotting me. When night fell, I went down to the poor slain creatures and filled up some skins with blood. I then returned to the harvesters' camp and made sure they were all asleep. As they dozed, I crept in and dumped the blood all over their gear and tents. With my last skin of blood, I ventured inland and left a trail of it behind me. In practically no time I was located by a pack of Arctic Wolf Fleas, who caught wind of the tasty blood. I ditched the skin and put distance between me and the blood. Since they don't feed on sap, the fleas ignored me and went for the blood. They latched onto the trail I left and headed straight to the site that absolutely reeked with food. Imagine the screams and shock that came from that camp when eight Arctic Wolf Fleas tore through their tents! For such mighty "hunters" they sure screamed and ran like frightened saplings! I had a good laugh at that, and also succeeded in driving those butchers away from the Pugnax colony. Sure, those hunters did wind up discovering me and seeking revenge, but it was well worth it. Besides, I figured things out in the end and I dissuaded them from taking part in the ivory trade. At least I think so, as that kind of depends on if those four ever made it back to civilization...

Chlora Myron

Dryad Natural Historian

----------------------------------

Hey look, an upside down walrus! HOW CREATIVE. Well, they can't all be winners, and the world needs to have some mundane in it.

Description
The Pugnax is a creature that is found in the arctic regions of the world, where land and ice meet the freezing seas. They are marine mammals that spend most of their lives in these frigid waters, only coming to dry land to rest or reproduce. If your ship has ever sailed through the arctic regions, you probably have spotted their huge colonies packed upon the floating ice and stony shores. When seen on land, you would probably wonder how such a beast survives in water. Their bodies are bulky and heavy, giving the impression that they would sink like a stone. Their limbs look malformed and useless, which is shown when they drag their weight around on the ice. While all this gives the impression of an awkward creature, they are surprisingly graceful in the water, and are hardy beasts that can easily survive in this cold, harsh world.

The Pugnax are creatures of the sea, and their anatomy shows that quite well. Their forelimbs have flattened out into flippers, while their hind limbs have fused to create something like the fluke of a whale. These are obviously used to propel themselves through the water, and the dexterity of their limbs allows them to pull off impressive maneuvers. They have precise control over their movements, which is critical when it comes to foraging for food and escaping predators. The other adaptation is the streamlined shape of their body. Though bulky, the body of the Pugnax is very smooth and rounded, making it so that they slice through the water rather than burrow through it. Their fur is extremely short and sparse, while their ears are reduced and stick close to their skulls. Speaking of their body and skin, the Pugnax have thick layers of insulating blubber that keep them warm in the frigid water. This is how they are able to survive in such an environment with little to no shelter. To further help their aquatic lifestyle is their respiratory system, which is specialized for long dives in the ocean. Large lungs allow them to hold a lot of air and their bodies are capable of functioning on very little of it at a time. The flesh around their nostrils can seal them shut to prevent seawater from getting in, and their thick flexible lips keep the same from happening to their mouths. So far it is believed that the Pugnax can remain underwater for as long as thirty minutes, which is important when it comes to finding food.

The diet of a Pugnax consists mainly of mollusks and crustaceans, which they hunt for during their long dives. This food is found on the sea floor, usually buried within the muck and sand. To dig out such treats, they use the famed tusks that jut from their lower mandibles. These long, lance-like tusks are actually incisors that have grown out of their jaws, with them actually emerging below the lips. Both the males and females of this species possess these tusks, as they are important for feeding. These two special teeth are grown close together to create one structure, and they are subtly curved upward to make something like a scoop. When foraging, the Pugnax will swim just above the ocean floor, using its keen senses and sensitive hairs to locate prey. When food is detected, they shall use their long tusks to rip up the muck and reveal the hiding morsel. With the scoop-like shape of their tusks, they can slide them under prey and lift them up to send them sliding down to their mouth. Prehensile lips allow them to suck up the crab or clam without letting much sea water get in, and these same lips can let them chew their food without breaking the waterproof seal. Inside their mouths are broad, flat teeth that can crush and grind tough shells, and the whole pulverized mess is swallowed. After eating all they can during their dive, the Pugnax shall return to dry land where it can rest up.

Due to its large size and layers of blubber, the Pugnax is a tempting meal for arctic predators. Many other animals out there would love to dine upon a rich store of fat, but the Pugnax is no easy target. While they are awkward and slow on land, they gather in large pods that can reach the hundreds. With sheer numbers like that, a predator could simply be crushed to death by their bulky bodies if they dared dive in for a bite. This rarely happens, as many would-be attackers are more worried about the two toothy lances jutting from their faces. While good for digging, these tusks can also jab and slash at foes. When the colony is approached by a predator, many Pugnax will point their tusks outward, creating a wall of ivory spears. In the water, the Pugnax are not so packed together and predators can more easily single out an individual. The problem they will encounter, though, is that the Pugnax are more graceful in water than on land. They can dodge charges and move away from bites, all while keeping their tusks trained on the attacker. In some cases, the Pugnax may even barrel towards opponents, looking to gore them with their teeth. If one wants to eat one of these beasts, then they must be quick and creative. Some predators are fast enough underwater to dart around these teeth and attack the exposed body, while others go for surprise tactics so that the Pugnax is doomed before it has a chance to fight back. Another group can focus on the Pugnax's need for air, mainly carnivores who sport gills and other water-breathing organs. They can antagonize the Pugnax and keep it from reaching the surface, slowly asphyxiating it as it tries desperately to escape. If the unfortunate victim tries to fight to the end, then it shall drown and the predator gets its meal. If they make a mad, last second dash to the surface waters, they expose themselves to attack and the predator won't waste such an advantage.

Another thing they do on dry land, other than rest, is mate. These large colonies will soon divide themselves up into harems, as the largest and strongest males lay claim to any female they can find. Other males may seek to challenge them, and this is when their tusks find another purpose. Like fencers in a duel, these males will clash with their tusks and try to stab the other challenger. At such times, you can even hear the clatter of their teeth from a ship, as they swipe and lunge at one another. These battles can get quite bloody, as the sharp teeth shred through skin. Thankfully, their blubber prevents these wounds from becoming serious, and many defeated opponents will crawl off with a fresh batch of scars. The hides of most Pugnax boast dozens of scars, either gained during battle or by close calls with predators. Once females give birth to their pups, they shall stick to dry land until their offspring grows strong enough to swim. During this time, the pup shall feed on her milk while the mother relies on her stores of fat to keep her going. Once the pup has gained its strength, the two shall head into the ocean, where she shall teach it to forage (with the added bonus of her finally getting something to eat).

As I mentioned before, the big, blubbery bodies of the Pugnax are tempting targets to many and that includes local folk. For coastal towns in the arctic, the Pugnax are a staple of their livelihoods. Their hide is good for leather, while the sheer amount of meat and fat is enough to sustain a village for quite some time. While the fishermen go out with their nets, hunters will head out with their spears to take down one of these beasts. The weapons of these hunters are often long, as they need to be able to score a hit without getting jabbed by the Pugnax's own weapons. Often hunters focus on a single creature, attacking from all sides and slowly taking it down with dozens of stabs. The carcass is then moved to a nearby spot and carved up, which is waaaaaay longer than the actual hunting part. In fact, hunters spend most of their time dressing and hauling their kills than actually taking them down! The other thing taken from the carcass is, of course, their tusks. Locals use these overgrown teeth in their tools and art, carving into the ivory to create breathtaking sculptures. It is only in these villages where I can truly appreciate this art, as I know that these tusks were taken from Pugnax that were hunted to sustain their families. In these cases, the tusks were an added bonus, while the animal was taken down mainly for food. Seeing these ivory sculptures in the homes of collectors and rich folk, though, is another story. Instead of seeing the beautiful craftmanship and the wonderful handiwork, I am reminded of the folk who butcher these creatures solely for their tusks. The ivory trade is a lucrative one, and there are those out there that will take down dozens of these beasts and leave their carcasses behind to rot. It is a disgusting practice, and one that causes a lot of damage.

In fact, I ran into a group of these butchers during my studies of the Pugnax, and boy were my leaves rustled! I was hunkered down on a far off hill when I spotted them, but at the time I thought they were regular hunters. When the six of them cut down three hefty beasts, I thought nothing of it. It was only when they sawed off the tusks and walked off with nothing else that I realized the species of jerkbag I was actually observing! I knew that they would be back for more, so I decided to do something about it. I used my amazing tracking and stealth skills to locate their camp without them spotting me. When night fell, I went down to the poor slain creatures and filled up some skins with blood. I then returned to the harvesters' camp and made sure they were all asleep. As they dozed, I crept in and dumped the blood all over their gear and tents. With my last skin of blood, I ventured inland and left a trail of it behind me. In practically no time I was located by a pack of Arctic Wolf Fleas, who caught wind of the tasty blood. I ditched the skin and put distance between me and the blood. Since they don't feed on sap, the fleas ignored me and went for the blood. They latched onto the trail I left and headed straight to the site that absolutely reeked with food. Imagine the screams and shock that came from that camp when eight Arctic Wolf Fleas tore through their tents! For such mighty "hunters" they sure screamed and ran like frightened saplings! I had a good laugh at that, and also succeeded in driving those butchers away from the Pugnax colony. Sure, those hunters did wind up discovering me and seeking revenge, but it was well worth it. Besides, I figured things out in the end and I dissuaded them from taking part in the ivory trade. At least I think so, as that kind of depends on if those four ever made it back to civilization...

Chlora Myron

Dryad Natural Historian

----------------------------------

Hey look, an upside down walrus! HOW CREATIVE. Well, they can't all be winners, and the world needs to have some mundane in it.