Yeah, I decided to jump on the 'new breed' bandwagon and create my own new species. They're called Feather Lupus; or 'FeaLupes'. Inspired somewhat by Lovely_Little_Emo's GoTC; but mostly inspired by my own birds.
Physical Description:
Male- Larger then females. Feathers are long and flowing; pointed. Very colorful. Has bulging neck crest and flowing tail; displays during breeding season. Pink skin; small dark ears; dark eye mask. Legs are bald.
Female- Slim. Feathers contour to body; rounded. Dull “millie fleur” plumage. Has silver laced puff on crown of head. Long, featherless tail tipped with a few sharp feathers; 2 flowing ‘eye’ feathers at end of tail. Silver down grows on underbelly. Mulberry skin; soft down on small ears and around face. Legs feathered down to ankles in back legs, and past elbow on forelegs.
Both sexes have long toes for grasping tree limbs; yellow eyes; longer front legs.
Cublings (males)- Covered with silvery down; thick layers of down decorate the neck.
(Females)- Black and white down coats them as newborns; fuzzy ‘top-hat’ crowns head.
Juveniles (males)- Similar to adult female, but lacks the black and white spangling; Thick neck crest; dull, but large, tail.
(Females)- Black with some white spangling on breast feathers. Bald tail with millie feathers on tip. Eye feathers don’t grow until female has cublings.
Habitat: Lives on edges of conifer forests and feeds in grassy meadows.
Diet: Spring- Feasts on eggs and hatchlings of wild turkeys, pheasants, ducks, geese and quail.
Summer- Birds eggs/hatchlings, mushrooms, pine needles, apple blossoms, grass.
Fall- Stone fruit (apples, plums, and cherries), berries, dead or dying salmon.
Winter: Hibernating species. May nibble on pine needles.
Breeding: Males reach maturity at age 3; females are fertile at 2. During the spring, the fealupe drops all it’s feathers; resembling a naked coyote. It is only during this time that they can breed successfully. The female holds the sperm inside until about August, when her eggs become fertilized. At the end of September, the female digs a den and lines it with the soft down from her underbelly. The cublings are born live in October; usually not more then 2. After their birth, the female leaves them alone for 24 hours, allowing them to absorb the remainder of their yolk sack. When she returns, the cublings are very hungry. She regurgitates partially digested fruit for them. This breed does not nurse their young on milk. The cublings will survive on their ‘fruit smoothie’ until they are 2 weeks old. The female then destroys the den. Until they are 8 weeks old, the young will feed on fallen fruit and dead salmon with their mother; they will sleep on the ground against her plumage. The females use their long tail tassels to let the cublings know where she is in tall grass. When they are 2 months old, they sleep in tall redwood and fir trees, clinging to the branches with their long toes. Females are fierce mothers and rarely lose their young to predators; leading cause of death for cublings is a long fall from a high perch.
Behavior: Males are territorial and will display and howl daily, letting other males know that he has females and will protect them. The females don’t pay much attention to the bugeling males unless a display fight breaks out. This species is very delicate and has no form of protection. Fights amongst each other are brief and rarely physical. The winner will take over the females and the territory and drive the loser away. Only extremely colorful males partake in these battles. This species only form of protection is their speed and ability to climb trees. Getting wet is their downfall; mainly for the males. Their feathers are not waterproof and so they are prone to drowning. If they do escape the water, they are very vulnerable, as their heavy, wet plumage prevents them from running, climbing or jumping. Wet females, however, dry rather quickly. Hibernates in winter by perching high in redwood trees.
MALE
FEMALE
Both done with colored pencils.
Species (C) to Roach
