Plains Smilohound (Ursocyon campestris)

Alias: None
Origin: Inland Thazvaar (plains)

The Plains Smilohound is a wild, pack-dwelling predator native to the open plains of Inland Thazvaar. Descended from domesticated lines that fully reverted to feral behavior, it serves as an intermediate form between the Greater Smilohound (U. smiloides) and Lesser Smilohound (U. parvus). Its short, broad skull, reinforced jaw, and compact musculature are adapted for endurance hunting across sunbaked, broken terrain. A single-layered, ochre and stone-gray coat provides camouflage in grassy habitats. Known for its high-pitched yelps, barks, and long-distance calls, the Plains Smilohound hunts in coordinated packs, targeting large herbivores while rarely engaging humans unless provoked or territorial.

Terrain

Plains Smilohounds roam Inland Thazvaar’s open plains, favoring expansive grasslands with scattered vegetation. They are not found in dense forests, volcanic zones, or subsurface biomes.

Lifespan

They live 15–25 years, reaching maturity at 3–5 years, with reproductive activity tied to periods of environmental stability on the plains.

Height

Adult specimens stand 2.5–2.8 meters at the rear and weigh between 780–900 kg. Juveniles under 3 years measure between 1.2–1.8 meters tall.

Uses

• Ecological Role: Regulates populations of large herbivores through coordinated, long-range hunts, sustaining ecosystem balance across Thazvaar’s plains.
• Cultural Significance: Revered by Thazvaari nomads as symbols of wild unity and strength. Their vocalizations often serve as natural warnings of distant movement or shifting herd dynamics.
• Guidance: Avoid open plains during active hunt periods. Monitor vocalizations to determine proximity and direction of packs. Observation from elevated positions is recommended to reduce risk of territorial response.

Notes

Recorded in the Comprehensive Field Codex during the Era of Absolute Expansion (~3,000 years before modern Geba), Plains Smilohounds were noted for their reversion from domesticated origins and their crucial ecological presence. Their widespread vocal behavior and cooperative pack strategy continue to define their importance in Thazvaar’s grassland ecosystems. Extant and regionally dominant, they remain integral to both biodiversity and Thazvaari nomadic life.