ANIMALS

FYI: some of the animal illustrations were created using Artificial Intelligence technology derived from written descriptions from the author.

LINT DRAGON: A small, warm blooded, four-legged winged mammal. It is covered in very fine fur and resembles a floating ball of rainbow-colored lint. It is omnivorous with a diet consisting of berries, nuts, small insects, and grubs. Normally found in family groups consisting of several females and males of various ages and ranks and their fledglings. One dominant pair rules the others. Some family groups will band with others to form a herd with one supreme pair who rules. Because of their small size (about the size of a hamster) they have very few offensive weapons, but they do possess a painful sting. When a flock acts in unison to drive off a predator, their combined sting can cause injury or even death depending on the size of the predator. They can form a flock bond with a human, but only if they are socialized when they are very young. Mostly they are used domestically to help control Barsoom’s burgeoning insect population.

CATAMOUNT: a small native mammal adopted by colonists as pets. It's about the size of a Guinea pig. It looks hairless, but the hair is so fine it's transparent. It has large, bat-like ears, big eyes which change in the dark. It is Omnivorous with a diet of fish, crustations, berries nuts and occasional insects. Catamounts Like water, and in the wild can be seen swimming in shallow water. They are usually found singly or in small family groups. Adolescents move on when they reach maturity. Despite their small size, they Can be fierce in defense of their clan.

HAIRY CATAMOUNT: This variety has a short, dense coat of golden fur fading to white around the paws and face. The loose skin under the dense fur is wrinkled, probably a defense against being grabbed by a predator. Like their hairless relatives they are Omnivorous with a diet of fish, crustations, berries nuts and occasional insects. They are usually found singly or in small family groups.

KEVLAR: Kevlars are a Medium to large carnivore, with shaggy, green mottled fur, pointed ears and eyes on the side of the head. They run in packs. Although they do have some feline characteristics, The xenozoologists say they fill the same niche on Barsoom as wolves did on earth. They also have a similar pack social structure.