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Description

This was made for me by AstroGriffin

***************************************************************
This is a Gorrax, an animal native to the planet Nlia

NLIA
Nlia , is a planet that exists in my AU Star Trek ‘New Start’ verse
seekhim.deviantart.com/gallery…
It is the home of the Nlians who are members of the United Federation of Planets

The planet has three landmasses:
The Northern Land: A tiny northern island continent, roughly the size of TGreat Britain.
The Western Land: A large western continent the size of Eurasia
The Eastern Land: A large eastern continent about the size of Asia.
The two southern continents are collectively referred to as the Southern Lands
They are comprised mostly of desert with arid grasslands at the northern coasts and southern tips.

THE GOLDEN SANDS
The Golden Sands Region is a large desert region located in the Western Continent.
Its called the Golden Sands because of the bright golden color of the sand here.

In general, the climate is extremely hot and arid although there are exceptions.
Areas along the coastline receive cool, humid breezes
Precipitation is scarce and the region receives only about three inches of rain annually.

There are temperature extremes
During the day temperatures can reach 120 degrees.
During the night it is very cold because there is no insulation provided by humidity and cloud cover

The terrain varies from sand dunes, stone plateaus, gravel plains, arid hills, dry valleys and salt flats
Although a desert, there are many oases.
There are also streams, rivers and shallow lake beds that fill during the brief rainy season.

There are many areas with grassland, shrubland and flowers.
At oases and other places were water collects there are trees.
There are heavier concentrations of grassland and trees along the coasts

GORRAX
Gorrax are four-legged, grazing animals indigenous to the Golden Sands region.
They're about the size of a mountain goat with males being slighly larger than females.
Both males and females have horns although males are more elaborate.

Females use their horns to defend themselves and their young from predators.
Males use their horns for defense and in dominance fights with other males.

Females are plain brown in color while males are more elaborate with stripes and socks.
Fawns are born with brown coats and lack distinguishing marks, which appear later in life.
Gorrax are well adapted to the hot desert climate.
They have a double row of eyelashes that prevent sand and dust from entering their eyes during sandstorms
They're also able to close their nostrils voluntarily which also helps keep them from breathing in sand.

Gorrax are herbivorous and feed on desert vegetation, with a diet mostly consisting of grass, sedges and cacti.
Their mouths have a thick leathery lining, allowing them to chew thorny desert plants.
They can injest virtually any type of vegetation be it dry, prickly, salty or bitter.
Like most animals of the continent they can go long periods without drinking, gaining moisture from the food they eat.

They have very keen senses and are able to track rainfall.
They can smell water and vegetation from miles away.

Behavior
Gorrax are social and live in herds.

Females and their young live in herds of up to a dozen.
They have a nonlinear hierarchy, correlating with age and are led by the oldest female.

Males live in smaller groups of up to five and establish a dominance hierarchy.
Fighting can result in injury or death due to horns becoming entangled or the desert heat.
Most conflicts are settled by postering and display and some avoid it altogether by showing a posture of nonaggression.

During the mating season male and female herds come together
Dominant males mate with as many females as possible.

Herds move constantly to find food and avoid over grazing.
Although some herds have territories they are not territorial.
Herds often mingle where water is more plentiful.

Gorrax are most active in the morning and afternoon and rest during the heat of the day.
They rest under trees and shrubs if available.
If neither are available, they dig depressions in the ground with their hooves and rest there.

Reproduction
Gorrax reach full size and sexual maturity at age two
Males usally aren't able to mate until five when they're old enough to fend off rival males.
Females usually reproduce every two years

Gestation lasts for 5 months and produces 1-2 fawns.
Newborns can stand within an hour of birth
Fawns are weaned at about 4 months old and are independent at six.

Domestication
Gorrax are mild in temperment and easily domesticated.
For thousands of years Nlians have domesticated them for their meat, milk and hides.
Only a percentage are domesticated and there are many wild herds.

Description

This was made for me by AstroGriffin

***************************************************************
This is a Gorrax, an animal native to the planet Nlia

NLIA
Nlia , is a planet that exists in my AU Star Trek ‘New Start’ verse
seekhim.deviantart.com/gallery…
It is the home of the Nlians who are members of the United Federation of Planets

The planet has three landmasses:
The Northern Land: A tiny northern island continent, roughly the size of TGreat Britain.
The Western Land: A large western continent the size of Eurasia
The Eastern Land: A large eastern continent about the size of Asia.
The two southern continents are collectively referred to as the Southern Lands
They are comprised mostly of desert with arid grasslands at the northern coasts and southern tips.

THE GOLDEN SANDS
The Golden Sands Region is a large desert region located in the Western Continent.
Its called the Golden Sands because of the bright golden color of the sand here.

In general, the climate is extremely hot and arid although there are exceptions.
Areas along the coastline receive cool, humid breezes
Precipitation is scarce and the region receives only about three inches of rain annually.

There are temperature extremes
During the day temperatures can reach 120 degrees.
During the night it is very cold because there is no insulation provided by humidity and cloud cover

The terrain varies from sand dunes, stone plateaus, gravel plains, arid hills, dry valleys and salt flats
Although a desert, there are many oases.
There are also streams, rivers and shallow lake beds that fill during the brief rainy season.

There are many areas with grassland, shrubland and flowers.
At oases and other places were water collects there are trees.
There are heavier concentrations of grassland and trees along the coasts

GORRAX
Gorrax are four-legged, grazing animals indigenous to the Golden Sands region.
They're about the size of a mountain goat with males being slighly larger than females.
Both males and females have horns although males are more elaborate.

Females use their horns to defend themselves and their young from predators.
Males use their horns for defense and in dominance fights with other males.

Females are plain brown in color while males are more elaborate with stripes and socks.
Fawns are born with brown coats and lack distinguishing marks, which appear later in life.
Gorrax are well adapted to the hot desert climate.
They have a double row of eyelashes that prevent sand and dust from entering their eyes during sandstorms
They're also able to close their nostrils voluntarily which also helps keep them from breathing in sand.

Gorrax are herbivorous and feed on desert vegetation, with a diet mostly consisting of grass, sedges and cacti.
Their mouths have a thick leathery lining, allowing them to chew thorny desert plants.
They can injest virtually any type of vegetation be it dry, prickly, salty or bitter.
Like most animals of the continent they can go long periods without drinking, gaining moisture from the food they eat.

They have very keen senses and are able to track rainfall.
They can smell water and vegetation from miles away.

Behavior
Gorrax are social and live in herds.

Females and their young live in herds of up to a dozen.
They have a nonlinear hierarchy, correlating with age and are led by the oldest female.

Males live in smaller groups of up to five and establish a dominance hierarchy.
Fighting can result in injury or death due to horns becoming entangled or the desert heat.
Most conflicts are settled by postering and display and some avoid it altogether by showing a posture of nonaggression.

During the mating season male and female herds come together
Dominant males mate with as many females as possible.

Herds move constantly to find food and avoid over grazing.
Although some herds have territories they are not territorial.
Herds often mingle where water is more plentiful.

Gorrax are most active in the morning and afternoon and rest during the heat of the day.
They rest under trees and shrubs if available.
If neither are available, they dig depressions in the ground with their hooves and rest there.

Reproduction
Gorrax reach full size and sexual maturity at age two
Males usally aren't able to mate until five when they're old enough to fend off rival males.
Females usually reproduce every two years

Gestation lasts for 5 months and produces 1-2 fawns.
Newborns can stand within an hour of birth
Fawns are weaned at about 4 months old and are independent at six.

Domestication
Gorrax are mild in temperment and easily domesticated.
For thousands of years Nlians have domesticated them for their meat, milk and hides.
Only a percentage are domesticated and there are many wild herds.