FLORA & FAUNA

Some Earth animals did not make it over, however, and below is a list of these and their surrogates, if there are any:

Chickens - Chickens did not happen to migrate into any portals. The corresponding fowl that is now raised on Thyra and other Yamari worlds was given the name "chicken" by the ancestors. It looks a bit like a chicken except it is more the size of a turkey. The Yamari chicken's eggs are twice the size of an Earth chicken egg and quite delicious.

Bees - If bees ever came to Thyra, they did not make the transition. There is an indigenous pollenator who fulfills the same function as bees but they are not hive dwellers and do not make an edible product. There is an insect that makes a product that is as near as nevermind to honey. They are simply called "honey bugs." Honey bugs do live in hives and except for the fact that they are brown fuzzy bugs, you'd think they were bees. Honey bugs are kept by commercial honey growers and are also found in the wild.

Elephants - There are no elephants on Thyra or any other Yamari world. There are no other land animals the size of elephants. Evolution in this universe seemed to opt for more varieties of smaller herbivores rather than a few big ones.

Herbivores - The plant eaters of the Empire are varied. The list below details a few of the most important meat animals.

• Capeely - These are massive, ancient cattle. They are usually red and white dappled and weigh up to 2,000 pounds. Their meat is fatty and rich, so is the milk they give. The males grow horns that can span six feet in width. Fortunately, capeelies are generally docile unless it is breeding season and the males are in rut.
• Quincolo - Capybara-like herbivores who live mostly in water, feasting on succulent river plants. They do eat some land grasses and sleep on land but they prefer the water and its bounty. Their meat is pink and sweet and highly in demand by fine eateries and the wealthy.
• Avary - Large jack-rabbit type animals. Long and lean, their meat is mostly white and very satisfying. It is particularly beneficial to those wanting to eat meat but also wanting to watch their figures, being low in fat. Avaries are stupid beasts who have short life-spans in the wild. They will do fine until they are old enough to breed then the males will breed with as many females as he can, forgoing food until he expires. The females will have a large litter, raise them until they leave the nest then eat themselves to death. It is understandable that most avaries are raised in captivity where their urges can be controlled and their life-spans extended.
• Oryx - There are several breeds of goats throughout the Empire but their common name is oryx. The different breeds have their own names and characteristics but there are too many to name here. Oryx is both singular and plural, like "deer." Oryx are very popular both for their meat and their milk. They are easy to raise and will eat plants and things that other herbivores would scorn.
• Ovis - Sheep. Like the oryx, there are several different breeds with their own names and characteristics. Ovises provide wool, meat and many other necessary things for the Yamari. Their meat is sweet but strong and is almost an acquired taste.

Ocean Fish - Most Earth-type ocean fish did not come through any portals and those that did were probably eaten by the indigenous fish. It is not certain if the river fish found in Yamari were once Earth river fish or are indigenous, but they are so close to Earth-type river fish that it makes no difference and they were given the same common names. Here are some of the commerical fish that are found in Yamari oceans:

• Lumpies: Lumpies are about the size of catfish and are a popular meat fish. They earned their name from the mulitude of lumps on their dark green skins.
• Toughs: Toughs are a large fish about the size of marlin or a little bigger. They are a popular sport fish since, as their name implies, they're fighters. Not much meat on a tough, but they are a handsome fish.
• Specks: Specks are named for the speckles on their skin, not for their size. About the size of a large trout, specks have a wonderful light flavor that is very pleasing to most consumers.
• Priestess fish: Priestess fish are thought to be named for the fact that if you catch this fish and don't have a priestess with you, you'll soon wish you had. Priestess fish are toxic little buggers about the size of your hand. No one would probably even bother with the things except for the fact that the poison the fish secretes is used to make several different medications. The meat is also very succulent but has to go through a very specific treatment before it is safe to eat. The meat is therefore a delicacy, very expensive and only served at certain, licensed eateries.

Predators: Predators are admired by the Yamari for their strength, cunning, speed and beauty. There are many different types of predators in the Empire from insects to birds, too many to name. Here are a few of the most admired predators.

• Panthers - Beautiful, sleek, fast and deadly, the panther made the trip from Earth intact and unchanged. It's coat is a uniform black and its eyes are a frightening yet beautiful gold. No one likes to kill a panther but since they have developed a fondness for domesticated animals, sometimes it is necessary.
• Sand Wolf - Indigenous to the Great Waste of Sinovia, this buff-colored lupine is small, smart and lives in small family packs. It blends in perfectly with the desert sands and is a menace to the goat-herding Churka. Even so, it is admired for its bravery and tenacity.
• Whistler Hawk - Got its name from the whistling sound it makes as it dives for prey, it is a large hawk that preys on small animals and other birds. Highly intelligent and beautiful with its golden feathers and dark eyes, it is highly trainable. The wealthy have long since employed "Hawkers" to train birds to hunt. Hawking is a popular sport which is also useful as it brings in food for the table.

Plants: Most Earth-type plants which were carried over as seeds in animal and insect intestinal tracts thrive on Thyra and other Yamari worlds. These plants are easy to distinguish from their indigenous cousins. Earth plants are much greener than plants indigenous to Thyra and the other planets. The indigenous plants are more greeny-gray than green. Many of the indigenous plants are much the same as their Earth cousins and serve much the same purpose. There are, however, a few that do not have an Earth equivalent and deserve mention (or warning).

• Lashers: Lashers are a carnivorous plant that can grow up to six feet tall. More often they are found around knee height which most people think is quite big enough. Lashers have a very wide and thick trunk that holds a "mouth" opening for its prey to be deposited into. Lashers secure prey with their many branch "arms." Each "arm" is tipped with a sharp hollow claw. Upon encountering a living subject, the "arms" latch onto the subject's body and the hollow claw digs in and injects a paralyzing venom. The victim is then pulled into the lasher's maw where it will be digested. Lashers are, fortunately, inactive while digesting prey and (again, fortunately) they are slow to digest their food. Lashers are also not very prolific. Every two or three years, a lasher plant will form a bud. When the bud is fully developed it will detach from the main plant and be carried off by the wind or the rain to a place where it might be able to sprout. Lashers are usually not big enough to devour a human (although some are!) but even the smaller ones can cause nasty injuries.

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