Dog-of-Prey
Added 2023-07-01 09:52:04 +0000 UTCPreliminary sketches for a species of carver descended from the larger canicrow, known as the jackal-jay, which is being domesticated by the sylvans. This species evolved short, blunt, bone-crushing jaws to take advantage of the recent radiation of large armoured prey like burdles and snurtles. This also makes them highly effective scavengers, capable of even consuming and digesting the skeletons, claws, and teeth of a carcass. They will also dig up and feed on roots and tubers in leaner times.
This ability to eat the most intolerable scraps has made them a suitable ally for the contemporary scrounger sophonts, as they are perfectly happy to subsist on the otherwise inedible leftovers. Naturally intelligent, social, and having existed alongside the scroungers for millions of years made them optimal hunting partners. The relationship began with the jackal-jays lingering at the edge of sylvan villages, feeding on whatever garbage was tossed aside, and the relationship gradually became mutually beneficial rather than commensal, as the jackal-jays learned being friendly came with rewards.
Although not particularly fast, they are capable of long-distance endurance runs, allowing them to wear down sprinting prey like lumpelopes and giraffowl, clipping their legs or tiring them out, or snapping at the ankles of larger prey like horned lumps to herd them into an easier kill. They also make excellent guard... dog.... birds..., which is incredibly useful considering sylvans are rather small and coexist with a decent number of huge predators. Raids by aggressive wildlife on their settlements are a real threat.
