Species Information
Carnival Feathoxes (or just Feathox) are a species of highly-intelligent bird/fox-like marsupials native to the rainforests of South America and Australia. Their bodies are covered in a coat of soft downy feathers as opposed to fur, and they have long ears that somewhat resemble the wings of a bird. Perhaps their most striking feature is the large crown of bright feathers that the adults possess which are used to help attract potential mates and intimidate rivals and predators.
Feathoxes are medium-sized creatures, being roughly the size of a labrador retriever though size often varies greatly (18 - 25kg). Both sexes live together in large open flocks where the species spends most of its time busily socialising, eating, grooming and sleeping. Sexual dimorphism is rather dramatic in the species. Typically males are bigger, with two pairs of enlarged upper canines, a more impressive, vibrant crown of feathers, and longer, denser fluff. Females on the other hand have a sleeker appearance, with short fluff, fewer feathers and often no visible canines. Both sexes also possess 3 pouches - one larger one on the belly, which is most commonly used for carrying their eggs and babies, and two cheek pouches which are typically used for food and small miscellaneous objects.
Habitat and Lifestyle
CFXs are very agile creatures, capable of moving through the jungle canopy, in which they make their home, at incredible speed. Females tend to spend more time in the treetops than males, who are somewhat clumsier than their sure-footed female counterparts. Spending more time in the trees is advantageous; being such small creatures, they have a number of ground-level predators, namely jaguars, caiman and anacondas. However, living up high still poses a risk for them, mainly in the form of other snakes and Harpy eagles.
CFXs are very social creatures, living together in large open community flocks that can typically include up to 100 members. Flocks of about 30 animals is more common, however. Flocks are divided into smaller sub-flocks, which are mostly family units made up of related or friendly females, as well as bachelor groups of same-sex individuals of varying ages. Feathoxes spend most of their time socialising with others within their sub-flock, eating, sleeping and grooming together, but they will often interact with other sub-flocks just the same. In an especially large flock, a single sub-flock may take an 'alpha' role, dictating where the entire community travels, eats and plays.
CFXs are very vocal animals and love to sing. It isn't uncommon to hear an entire flock whistling and chirping away on a night day, with each individual CFX having it's own unique song. When danger is sensed, the designated flock sentries will emit a series of loud, sharp barks to warn the others.
Feathoxes are omnivorous meaning that they eat both plant and animal matter. Their diet largely consists of small critters like insects, rodents, small birds and small snakes as well as fruits, fungus, nuts and eggs. Females seem to have a preference for fruits and other sweets whilst males prefer meat, however this is not exclusive and can go either way.
Reproduction
Whilst captive CFXs can breed all year around, wild CFXs do not. Instead their breeding season is restricted to spring and early summer.
Males will try to put on a bright, showy display to impress a mate or two, often by puffing up their thicker, fuller plumage and vocalising loudly. If one male challenges another over a particular female then they will confront each other. Fighting tends to start off as more of a harmless but threatening display, with the males trying to make themselves as big as possible whilst emitting a series of deep, rattling growls and hisses. Unless one male backs off then they will take to the trees (or any other high vantage point) to fight. The winner is the male who can push his foe out of the tree and to the ground.
Pair bonds are strong but not necessarily life-long. In fact, few pairs will actually stay together after the season ends, even in captive specimens. Some wild males will even choose to take multiple mates per season.
Females will lay 1 - 3 speckled eggs that are the same size and shape as a chicken's, which they then carefully roll into their belly pouches for incubation. Over the next 2 months the eggs will stay with the female at all times, allowing her to be able to care for the eggs during the incubation without needing to leave them for any reason, ensuring that they are safe.
The resulting kits are born inside the pouch. They are covered in a very soft, wispy down which is typically fairly plain in colour with minimal markings and no feather crown. For the first few hours after hatching they are relatively helpless but once they are dry and have rested they will leave the safety of their mother's pouch for the first time, where they will try to follow her around. For this reason, brooding mothers tend to stay on the ground during the day to let their kits play and forage. At the first sign of danger young kits will return to the pouch, and their mother will carry them to safety. By the time they are 12 weeks old the kits are usually too big for the pouch so they instead will follow their mother on foot. Kits can be scruffed and carried if need-be, however.
By the time a kit is 6 months old it has already moulted and grown in it's adult fluffy coat, and it's colourful feather crown, though small still, will have almost finished growing. It's at this age that the youngsters start exploring further away from their mothers, meeting and playing with other youngsters other than their siblings and sub-flock-mates. By 12 months the adolescent Feathoxes will be fully independent despite still being young, and will either fledge to form their own sub-flock or they'll stay behind with their mother for another year or two.
Feathoxes are considered as young adults until about 3 years. Maturity is not achieved until around 8 years. By 8 years females are physically fully grown whilst males may continue until they are around 10 years.
Rarities
Although there are no known subspecies or major physical differences amongst Feathoxes, certain feather crown colours are rarer than others. Feather crowns can come in multiple colours however there is always a base - or dominant colour. It's the base colour of a CFXs' feather crown that determines it's rarity. Each base colour covers a broad range of shades, hues and dilutes. Males are much more likely to have an Uncommon or Rare base colour than females.
Rarity List
Common; brown, white, cream, black
Uncommon; yellow, red, blue, grey, green, purple, pink, orange
Rare; silver, gold
Elusive; iridescent
Note: iridescent feathers are very rare and difficult to come by. There is no guaranteed way to 'breed' for them as they occur quite randomly, and even breeding a couple whom are both iridescent only has a 10% chance of producing more. Because of the random nature of iridescence passing, there is a chance that any bred couple may produce them.
Iridescent Feathoxes are capable of producing kits who exhibit a range of unusual colours.
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