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Description
The Chinya represents an odd, but specious clade of organisms that originated from the same world as the Handa and the Kyogwe but diverged from their more conventional quadrupedal brethren many millions of years ago. Some of these differences are somewhat insignificant such as having two distinct superior labra or a different follicular structure, while other are a bit more obvious like their tripedalism. They have the same number of limbs as a Handa or Kyogwe, but its tail has evolved into a functional third limb that allows it to accommodate this odd form of locomotion. A typical, full-grown Chinya stands at around 66 centimeters tall and weigh approximately 15 kg, though females are often slightly smaller and lighter. The male has a distinct emerald-green coloration that sharply contrasts the reddish-brown patterns of the female, while infantile and juvenile specimens are usually a mottled brown gray. The animal's upper limbs are highly reduced, nearly to the point of being fully vestigial, however, they are noticeably larger in males and have longer, brilliantly colored fur that the male uses to enhance his mating displays. Its most striking feature is its spear-tipped appendage that has evolved from the fusion of its upper two labrum into a single, highly muscled structure with all the dexterity and full range of movement of an elephant's trunk. The tip of this trunk ends with a bony skewer sheathed in a mesh of cellulose fibers and an enamel analogue that makes it remarkably durable. It's true jaws are long with many needle-like teeth ideal for handling and tearing apart the fish that comprise the bulk of its diet. The Chinya hunts by using glands situated in its front two feet to secrete a potent pheromone into the water to attract nearby fish, then uses its barbed upper labrum to intercept and skewer the hapless creature before it has a chance to escape. The Chinya is extremely adept at aiming its attacks and they very rarely ever miss their mark. The barbed structure of the skewer helps prevent the prey from being able to break free, and even if it did, the damage sustained from removing it would be far more grievous than the entry wound. Any would-be escapee would not be able to get very far before it would succumb to blood loss. It is altogether unclear where the name for this strange creature comes from, though it might stem from its coloration as the 'chi' in its name sounds quite similar to the Mayic word for green: 'chai.' Whatever the case, the Chinya is often associated with skill and its cultivation. The adjective 'chinyanae' which can be translated as 'like a Chinya' conveys the meaning of being naturally adroit. Mayic folktales claim that people first learned the art of spearfishing by watching these creatures capture their prey. Other stories state the very idea of a spear was first inspired by a Chinya.

The two creatures pictured right of the Chinya are a highly derived rodent called a Minda, and a galliform bird called a Yondwe.

The Minda is about the size of a javelina, standing about 60 cm tall at the shoulder and can weigh anywhere from 13 to 23 kilograms on average. Its name is a clever pun, a portmanteau of the Mayic words 'mindo' and 'ta' which mean scar and animal respectively. It's been given this title because of the wounds they leave behind on kokkinophyte trees they gnaw with their ever-growing teeth. The hard, bony plates that forms the outer integument of these plants serve as the perfect tool for grinding their teeth down to size, and it also lets the beast have at its pulpy wood and sup of its sap. The Minda primarily subsists upon a diet of bark and woody plants; however, it will supplement this with many other kinds of vegetable matter. Their snout has evolved into a sort of bifurcated trunk and the tissue surrounding their nasal cavity is quite elastic. They not only use this peculiar nose to sniff out food hidden under brush and forest detritus, but also to help them produce a variety of calls that they use for the purposes of communication and for mating displays. The individual here is a startled female caught in the act of gnawing at the side of this eubidafyllid. For better or for worse, the Minda has a tendency to seize up when frightened. The Minda is but one of several large species of rodents native to the Southlands and it is among the smallest of this clade of super-sized vermin. The greatest of its relatives is the 1.5 metric ton cavies of the western plains domesticated by the Dhuroh riding peoples native to that region of the world.

The Yondwe is a sort of galliform and is most closely related to the terrestrial quails. It has the not so flattering honor of being called a 'meat bird', an all too pragmatic name that succinctly describes its importance to the Mayic speaking peoples of the Eastern Peninsula. There are several different birds called Yondwe, however, this specimen in particular in the one that most often comes to mind, for as far as the Mai are concerned it is the fowl that best embodies the name. The average male Yondwe weighs about 1.1 kilograms whereas its female counterpart weighs only about half as much. The males are also larger than the females, standing at about 36 cm tall compared to her 25 centimeters. Despite closely resembling some tame birds like the chicken, the Mai have never domesticated the Yondwe due to its solitary character and its somewhat disagreeable temperament. That being said, they do hunt them, and they do so quite regularly. The Yondwe breed prolifically, so there is little harm in humans thinning their numbers every so often. Their flesh tastes very similar to wild hare, though usually a bit greasier. The individual pictured above is a male, blue frilled and blue-footed accompanied by one of its chicks. The female Yondwe quickly flees the nest after laying her clutch of eggs, leaving the father to raise the brood to maturity. It is for this reason that their name has developed into a euphemism for an 'effeminate' father or uncle who seems to have more of a nurturing instinct than their child/nephew's mother.

Description
The Chinya represents an odd, but specious clade of organisms that originated from the same world as the Handa and the Kyogwe but diverged from their more conventional quadrupedal brethren many millions of years ago. Some of these differences are somewhat insignificant such as having two distinct superior labra or a different follicular structure, while other are a bit more obvious like their tripedalism. They have the same number of limbs as a Handa or Kyogwe, but its tail has evolved into a functional third limb that allows it to accommodate this odd form of locomotion. A typical, full-grown Chinya stands at around 66 centimeters tall and weigh approximately 15 kg, though females are often slightly smaller and lighter. The male has a distinct emerald-green coloration that sharply contrasts the reddish-brown patterns of the female, while infantile and juvenile specimens are usually a mottled brown gray. The animal's upper limbs are highly reduced, nearly to the point of being fully vestigial, however, they are noticeably larger in males and have longer, brilliantly colored fur that the male uses to enhance his mating displays. Its most striking feature is its spear-tipped appendage that has evolved from the fusion of its upper two labrum into a single, highly muscled structure with all the dexterity and full range of movement of an elephant's trunk. The tip of this trunk ends with a bony skewer sheathed in a mesh of cellulose fibers and an enamel analogue that makes it remarkably durable. It's true jaws are long with many needle-like teeth ideal for handling and tearing apart the fish that comprise the bulk of its diet. The Chinya hunts by using glands situated in its front two feet to secrete a potent pheromone into the water to attract nearby fish, then uses its barbed upper labrum to intercept and skewer the hapless creature before it has a chance to escape. The Chinya is extremely adept at aiming its attacks and they very rarely ever miss their mark. The barbed structure of the skewer helps prevent the prey from being able to break free, and even if it did, the damage sustained from removing it would be far more grievous than the entry wound. Any would-be escapee would not be able to get very far before it would succumb to blood loss. It is altogether unclear where the name for this strange creature comes from, though it might stem from its coloration as the 'chi' in its name sounds quite similar to the Mayic word for green: 'chai.' Whatever the case, the Chinya is often associated with skill and its cultivation. The adjective 'chinyanae' which can be translated as 'like a Chinya' conveys the meaning of being naturally adroit. Mayic folktales claim that people first learned the art of spearfishing by watching these creatures capture their prey. Other stories state the very idea of a spear was first inspired by a Chinya.

The two creatures pictured right of the Chinya are a highly derived rodent called a Minda, and a galliform bird called a Yondwe.

The Minda is about the size of a javelina, standing about 60 cm tall at the shoulder and can weigh anywhere from 13 to 23 kilograms on average. Its name is a clever pun, a portmanteau of the Mayic words 'mindo' and 'ta' which mean scar and animal respectively. It's been given this title because of the wounds they leave behind on kokkinophyte trees they gnaw with their ever-growing teeth. The hard, bony plates that forms the outer integument of these plants serve as the perfect tool for grinding their teeth down to size, and it also lets the beast have at its pulpy wood and sup of its sap. The Minda primarily subsists upon a diet of bark and woody plants; however, it will supplement this with many other kinds of vegetable matter. Their snout has evolved into a sort of bifurcated trunk and the tissue surrounding their nasal cavity is quite elastic. They not only use this peculiar nose to sniff out food hidden under brush and forest detritus, but also to help them produce a variety of calls that they use for the purposes of communication and for mating displays. The individual here is a startled female caught in the act of gnawing at the side of this eubidafyllid. For better or for worse, the Minda has a tendency to seize up when frightened. The Minda is but one of several large species of rodents native to the Southlands and it is among the smallest of this clade of super-sized vermin. The greatest of its relatives is the 1.5 metric ton cavies of the western plains domesticated by the Dhuroh riding peoples native to that region of the world.

The Yondwe is a sort of galliform and is most closely related to the terrestrial quails. It has the not so flattering honor of being called a 'meat bird', an all too pragmatic name that succinctly describes its importance to the Mayic speaking peoples of the Eastern Peninsula. There are several different birds called Yondwe, however, this specimen in particular in the one that most often comes to mind, for as far as the Mai are concerned it is the fowl that best embodies the name. The average male Yondwe weighs about 1.1 kilograms whereas its female counterpart weighs only about half as much. The males are also larger than the females, standing at about 36 cm tall compared to her 25 centimeters. Despite closely resembling some tame birds like the chicken, the Mai have never domesticated the Yondwe due to its solitary character and its somewhat disagreeable temperament. That being said, they do hunt them, and they do so quite regularly. The Yondwe breed prolifically, so there is little harm in humans thinning their numbers every so often. Their flesh tastes very similar to wild hare, though usually a bit greasier. The individual pictured above is a male, blue frilled and blue-footed accompanied by one of its chicks. The female Yondwe quickly flees the nest after laying her clutch of eggs, leaving the father to raise the brood to maturity. It is for this reason that their name has developed into a euphemism for an 'effeminate' father or uncle who seems to have more of a nurturing instinct than their child/nephew's mother.