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Description
Name: Forest Unicorn

Time: Eocene Epoch

Conservation status: CR (critical)

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Perissodactyla

Suborder: Perissodactyla

Family: Equidae

Subfamily: Artiodactyla*

Genus: E. ferus

Species: monokerōs

Etymology
The word 'unicorn is derived from monokerōs (or one horn). It is an odd toed mammal belonging to the same family as the horse (Equdiae). Like the horse the unicorn evolved over a similar time line as its family. However, they branched off of the horse once humans began to domesticate horses.

Unlike horses, unicorns are nearly impossible to tame (similar to zebras). Ancient legends speak of unicorns being pure white and was prone to being lured in by virgin maidens. These stories hold little fact. Unicorns are just as impossible to catch as they are to tame.

It is impossible to say where they gained the ability to heal wounds and cure poisons. This makes their horn very much sought after. However, humans failed to realize that the procuring the horn comes with a price. The horn having been removed from its living owner, slowly loses its ability to preform impossible acts of medicine. At some point, it becomes utterly useless.

This is why many horns were destroyed during the middle ages and unicorns were no longer sought after as a worthy animal to hunt.

Biology/Evolutionary Traits
Unicorns are cloven hoofed unlike their cousins the modern horse. This particular evolution allows them to remain surefooted in their habitat. Padding at the bottom of their hoof enables them to remain silent as they weave their way thorough the trees. Their fur is dappled and green, allowing them to blend into their environment. Young unicorns a pure green, the dabbled spots growing in as they age.

Females's horns are longer than a males: sometimes reaching up to two feet in length. It is possible (further studies are required to gain evidence to back up this claim) that it is used as a luring device for males. Upon two males wanting to choose a potential mate, they will compete to impress the females. Unicorns mate for life and can produce only one (rarely two) offspring in the union every spring.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Hey guys. I'm not dead.

So yeah. Haven't update anything for a while. Mostly because I have university (biochemistry is a *itch) and I feel my art is cringe-worthy. I'm still trying to figure out my art style, backgrounds, and shading.

I decided to do something for 'Juneicorn' (who comes up with these art prompts???) and settled on attempting to do a 'evolutionary' accurate unicorn after taking Biology class and learning so much.

* = yes this is part of the deer family and therefore no where near related to the horse family but whatever

Anyways peace out and all that.

~Sil

Description
Name: Forest Unicorn

Time: Eocene Epoch

Conservation status: CR (critical)

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Perissodactyla

Suborder: Perissodactyla

Family: Equidae

Subfamily: Artiodactyla*

Genus: E. ferus

Species: monokerōs

Etymology
The word 'unicorn is derived from monokerōs (or one horn). It is an odd toed mammal belonging to the same family as the horse (Equdiae). Like the horse the unicorn evolved over a similar time line as its family. However, they branched off of the horse once humans began to domesticate horses.

Unlike horses, unicorns are nearly impossible to tame (similar to zebras). Ancient legends speak of unicorns being pure white and was prone to being lured in by virgin maidens. These stories hold little fact. Unicorns are just as impossible to catch as they are to tame.

It is impossible to say where they gained the ability to heal wounds and cure poisons. This makes their horn very much sought after. However, humans failed to realize that the procuring the horn comes with a price. The horn having been removed from its living owner, slowly loses its ability to preform impossible acts of medicine. At some point, it becomes utterly useless.

This is why many horns were destroyed during the middle ages and unicorns were no longer sought after as a worthy animal to hunt.

Biology/Evolutionary Traits
Unicorns are cloven hoofed unlike their cousins the modern horse. This particular evolution allows them to remain surefooted in their habitat. Padding at the bottom of their hoof enables them to remain silent as they weave their way thorough the trees. Their fur is dappled and green, allowing them to blend into their environment. Young unicorns a pure green, the dabbled spots growing in as they age.

Females's horns are longer than a males: sometimes reaching up to two feet in length. It is possible (further studies are required to gain evidence to back up this claim) that it is used as a luring device for males. Upon two males wanting to choose a potential mate, they will compete to impress the females. Unicorns mate for life and can produce only one (rarely two) offspring in the union every spring.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Hey guys. I'm not dead.

So yeah. Haven't update anything for a while. Mostly because I have university (biochemistry is a *itch) and I feel my art is cringe-worthy. I'm still trying to figure out my art style, backgrounds, and shading.

I decided to do something for 'Juneicorn' (who comes up with these art prompts???) and settled on attempting to do a 'evolutionary' accurate unicorn after taking Biology class and learning so much.

* = yes this is part of the deer family and therefore no where near related to the horse family but whatever

Anyways peace out and all that.

~Sil