The timberfox (Xenocanis vulpus) is a quadripedal canine native to the wilderness and remote areas of Atramentar. It is the largest extant member of its family, with females averaging 50–63.5 kg (110–140 lb) and males 43–55 kg (95–120 lb). It is distinguished from other terrestrial canis species by its larger size and flatter skull. Its winter fur is long and bushy and predominantly grey-blue in colour, with cream colouring at the extremities - although nearly pure white, tan, and brown to black also occur across each subspecies. Timberfoxes are pack animals and their term of venery is quietus.
The timberfox is one of the Star Kingdom’s best-known and most-researched animals. It has a long history of association with Persicans, having been despised and hunted in most pastoral communities because of its attacks on livestock, while conversely being highly respected in most Druidic and Runic societies. For instance, on Bridon, a burgeoning population of prairie timberfoxes were hunted to extinction in the 2800s; while on Atramentar and other worlds, timberfoxes have been kept as pets and hunting companions.
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Etymology
The first timberfoxes were discovered in the boreal regions of Atramentar. The word fox comes from Old English, which derived from Proto-Germanic fuhsaz. This in turn derives from Proto-Indo-European *puk, meaning “thick-haired; tail”. Male timberfoxes are known as grims, females as vixens, and young as pups or kits. A group of timberfoxes is referred to as a quietus.
Taxonomy
The species Xenocanis vulpus was first recorded by Heber Monson in his publication Atramentara Naturae in 2693, with the Latin classification translating into the English words “alien dog fox”. The three subspecies of Xenocanis vulpus are listed under the designated common name of “timberfox” in Extrasolar Species of the Diaspora, fifth edition, that was published in 3405.
Evolution and Subspecies
There are three recognized subspecies of Xc. vulpus:
Xc. vulpus atramensis, the original species discovered on Atramentar in 2685.
Xc. vulpus orcadiensis, known as the grey timberfox, introduced to Orcadia in the 2690s.
Xc. vulpus cascadiensis, known as the prairie timberfox, introduced to Cascadia in the mid-2720s.
Physical Characteristics
Anatomy
The timberfox is the largest extant member of the Canidae (and xenocanidae), excepting certain large breeds of domestic dog. Timberfox height and weight can vary slightly; those from Atramentar are the largest, while their grey timberfox cousins tend to be smaller by as much as a third. Compared to its closest Terran cousins, the timberfox is larger and heavier, with a broader triangular snout, longer torso and long pointed ears, and shorter tail. It is a slender, powerfully built animal with a large, deeply descending ribcage, a hard ridged back, and a heavily muscled neck. Timberfox legs are slightly longer than those of other canids, which enables the animal to move swiftly, and to overcome deep snow, undergrowth, and long grasses that cover most of its geographical ranges. Timberfoxes are digitigrade, and thus, walk on their toes. Unlike most members of the Canidae family, timberfoxes have partially retractable claws. Moderately sexually dimorphic, female timberfoxes tend to be notably larger and more muscular than the males, with a shaggy mane that grows downward and backward, covering most of the neck and shoulders.
Colouring
The timberfox has very dense and fluffy winter fur, with short underfur and long, coarse guard hairs. In warmer seasons, the fur is a dark grey-blue with cream colouring on the forehead or snout, limbs, and at the end of the tail. As the weather turns colder, the outer fur fades close to white, mottled by the blue-grey underfur to help it blend in to snowy terrain. The grey timberfox has much less blue in its colouring and both its fur and underfur bleach almost completely white in cold seasons. The prairie timberfox, has developed a colouring of tan and light brown that darkens towards black in the colder seasons.
Behavioral Characteristics
Habitat
The timberfox is a habitat generalist, and can inhabit grasslands, forests, and arctic terrains. Habitat use by timberfoxes is strongly correlated with the abundance of prey, snow conditions, presence of livestock, human presence, and topography. On Atramentar and Orcadia, habitat preference tends to forests and arctic terrains; on Cascadia, preferences are temperate forests and grasslands. Dens are usually constructed for kits during the warmer seasons. When building dens, males make use of natural shelters such as fissures in rocks, cliffs overhanging riverbanks, and holes thickly covered by vegetation. On rare occasions, male timberfoxes dig burrows themselves, which can be quite deep and complex.
Behaviour
The timberfox is a specialised member of the genus Xenocanis, as demonstrated by its morphological adaptations to hunting large prey, its more gregarious nature, and its advanced expressive behaviour. A highly social animal, timberfoxes live in groups of related individuals with their offspring. Such a group is called a quietus. Males form the stable social unit in a quietus and do not tolerate outside males. Membership only changes with the births and deaths of grims, although some males do leave and become nomadic. Although extremely large quietuses of up over 15 individuals have been observed, the average quietus consists of around six or seven timberfoxes; including several adult males, up to three females (alpha, beta, and omega), and their kits of both sexes.
Young timberfoxes first display stalking behaviour at around four months of age, although they do not participate in hunting until they are almost a year old; they begin to hunt effectively when nearing the age of two. Although social animals, single timberfoxes or mated pairs typically have about the same success rate in hunting as quietuses. The timberfox’s sense of smell is highly developed, even when compared to that of some hunting dog breeds, being able to detect carrion upwind at ranges exceeding seven kilometers (4.35 miles). Typical hunts include each grim, either stalking prey on the wing then attacking, or moving a smaller distance in the center of the patrol and capturing prey in flight from other grims. Females do not usually participate in group hunting, instead defending the den and young.
Most peculiar about timberfox behaviour, setting the species quite apart from visually similar cousins, is their near silence. Timberfoxes do not growl or bark or howl; they do affect a deep, almost inaudible purr when content – though this has only been observed by humans with a deep bond to a timberfox. Instead, timberfoxes appear to utilise a startling combination of limited telepathy, empathy, and pheromones to communicate complex ideas and coordinate hunts. These traits are the primary root of the species’ collective noun.
Diet and Enemies
Diet
Timberfoxes are generalist carnivores and usually hunt in groups. Their prey consists mainly of large and medium-sized wild fauna, with local population variations due to the mix of wild fauna and domestic species consumed. Although timberfoxes primarily feed on medium to large sized fauna, they are not picky eaters. Smaller sized animals and fish may supplement the diet of timberfoxes, as well as avians and their eggs. When such foods are insufficient, they prey on local reptilians, amphibians, and large insects as available. In times of scarcity, timberfoxes readily eat carrion. Humans are rarely, but occasionally preyed upon.
Relationship with Humans
Timberfoxes are sometimes kept as exotic pets and, in some rarer occasions, as working animals. Although similar to domesticated canids, timberfoxes do not show the same tractability in living alongside humans; much more work is required in order to obtain the same amount of reliability. Timberfoxes also need much more space than domesticated canids so they can exercise.
In every star nation with timberfoxes present, scientific research is being conducted to study and devise methods of effective interspecies communication. Further, extensive and highly secretive programmes are reported to exist in those same nations, to understand both the telepathic and empathic links and to employ them in military applications. All interstellar governments currently deny the existence of any such research.