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- Name: Arkanian Tundra Wolf
- Biology: The Arkanian tundra wolf (canis dirus albus), commonly abbreviated as ATW and also known as Arkanian dire wolf or simply dire wolf, is a subspecies of the gray wolf, an animal commonly found on many systems throughout the galaxy and, as the name suggests, is native to the tundras of the planet Arkania on the Perave system of the Colonies region. This particular subspecies of tundra wolf is exceptionally large; other than that, it is pretty much similar in terms of biology and social structure to any other tundra wolf in the galaxy.
Their fur coat color ranges from almost pure white through various shades of blond, cream, and ochre to grays, browns, and black, with variation in fur coloring tending to increase in higher altitudes. Differences in coat color between sexes are largely absent, though females may tend to have redder tones.
In accordance with Bergmann's rule, fully grown adult males typically measure between 2.9 to 3.5 meters from nose to tail and are usually 1.1-1.3 meters tall at the shoulder. Females are usually smaller, measuring 2.5-3.3 m and have 90 to 110 cm in height at the shoulders. The average weight for a male can range from 200 to 270 kg, while that of females range from 130 to 170 kg.
The Arkanian tundra wolf life span is approximately 27 years.
They are valued for their fur as well as for their ferocity - serving the purpose of animal population control in certain biomes throughout the galaxy or simply as arena beasts due to their remarkable aggressiveness. As such, they are usually hunted down, and either killed or smuggled off-world. Arkanian tundra wolves, although native to Arkania, can therefore be found all around the galaxy on reserves and restoration zones, and on public or private zoos even.
- Breeding: The Arkanian wolf is generally monogamous, with mated pairs usually remaining together for life, unless one of the pair dies. Since males often predominate in any given wolf population, unpaired females are a rarity. If a dispersing male Arkanian tundra wolf is unable to establish a territory or find a mate, he mates with the daughters of already established breeding pairs from other packs. Such wolves do not form a pair bond with the females they mate with.
Arkanian Tundra wolves practice alloparental care, in which a wolf pair may adopt the pup or pups of another. This might take place if the original parents die or are for some reason separated from them.
The age of first breeding in tundra wolves depends largely of environmental factors, with the youngest recorded breeding wolf in the wild being 2 years old. Females are capable of producing a litter every year - that actually being the average - and Arkanian wolves never reach reproductive senescence.
Estrus occur in late winter; on Arkania, usually at the end of the first trimester. Females are in heat for 5 to 15 standard days. After mating, gestation period for the female is 62 to 63 days, at which time they remain in a den; afterwards, she gives birth to usually between 2 to 6 pups, weighting between 300-500 grams, that are nursed for a duration of around 45 standard days.
Pups eat solid food at the age of 3-4 weeks. During the first four months, they can grow up to 30 times their weight. They reach maturity at the age of 1.5 years; taking three times longer than other gray wolf subspecies.
Arkanian wolves are known to be able to breed with other subspecies of wolves and even dogs, sometimes even producing fertile hybrids. This, however, does not voluntarily occur in the wild.
- Strengths: The Arkanian tundra wolf shares all the traits of the common gray wolf, only heightened due to their larger size. They are slender, powerfully built animals with a large, deeply descending rib cage, a sloping back and a heavily muscled neck. The wolf's legs are moderately longer that those of similar species (dogs, coyotes, jackals, etc.), enabling the animal to move swiftly and allowing it to overcome the deep snow that covers its natural habitat.
The head is large and heavy, with a wide forehead, strong jaws and a long, blunt muzzle. Their canine tooth can achieve bite force quotients of up to 163 N/kg of body mass. In other words, an average Arkanian tundra wolf, weighting 235 kg, can exert a force of 38,305 N. That roughly translates to 65.000 kPa of pressure from a single bite. More than enough to crush the bone of most species (sentient or otherwise) found in the galaxy - provided, of course, that no additional barrier between the teeth and the skin, such as armor, is being used.
An Arkanian wolf can quickly achieve speeds of 60-70 km/h, with maximum running speed of 90 km/h, and is able to leap as high as 7 meters horizontally in a single bound. The rapid pursuit speed can be maintained for no more than 20 minutes, while an 8-9 km/h gait speed can be maintained for hours.
Their thick fur can protect them from most cold harsh environments, but not from a sudden or unnaturally low drop in temperature. The fur can resist temperatures as low as 233.15 kelvin.
Lastly, their sense of smell and hearing, although somewhat remarkable, lacks in comparison to those of some hunting dogs even.
As mentioned, the Arkanian tundra wolf is a pack animal; as such, if a strong bond is developed with a sentient being, the tundra wolf considers him/her as being a part of the pack. The bond never disappears for as long as the tundra wolf lives. This is similar to what happens with domesticated dogs, it is simply a much rarer occurrence. The domesticated Arkanian tundra wolf will defend the sentient as part of its pack, sometimes even at the expense of its own life.
Being social predatory creatures, the tundra wolves are cunning animals.
In sum, the Arkanian tundra wolf's strongest feature, aside from his physical prowess, remarkable intelligence for a wild animal, and fearsome predatory animal instincts, is its loyalty towards the pack.
- Weaknesses: For all the strengths they possess, Arkanian tundra wolves are, first and foremost, wolves. They are not sentient, and their true strength only comes out in the wild while amongst their packs. While being ferocious and remarkable foes against creatures smaller, similar, or slightly larger than them, their hide is not particularly strong. Any common blaster bolt or vibroblade and lightsaber can easily cut through it; as can most talons, fangs, claws, etc. If the tundra wolf does not kill or otherwise incapacitate their prey before they get a chance to retaliate, the wolf will most likely get seriously hurt or even killed.
The Arkanian tundra wolf, even a not fully matured one, is a conspicuous animal, particularly on metropolitan areas. So, while the wolves are useful in the wilderness, in urban areas the creature draws to much attention onto itself and its sentient companion. Many settlements and worlds across the galaxy have legislation in effect against wild creatures roaming around; those, are usually sanctioned by law enforcement agencies. Even on the more rural worlds, most sentient species will likely be fearful of anyone with a large wolf as a companion. In accordance to it, they can act in different manners that can range from shunning the wolf-accompanied visitor, to persecution and even conviction.
The Arkanian wolf's fur is also very coveted, and many criminal groups may see a good profit in kidnapping such an animal.
Therefore, many Arkanian tundra wolves that travel on a starship, remain there while it is docked on a planet or space station. Although the animal can serve to effectively guard and defend the ship against any and all intruders, it can also cause problems if the ship is ever inspected by law authorities. Since this rare wolf is a protected subspecies on many sectors of the galaxy, and their poaching is punishable by law, the presence of such wolves on regular comercial or private vessels is strictly prohibited. Health regulations on many worlds even actively prevent such animals from entering or leaving the atmosphere. The animal can still easily and safely travel in and off-world covertly, since law enforcement regarding it is often lax and customs often prioritize the surveillance of shipments of other commodities and goods.
The Arkanian tundra wolf pack instinct surpasses all others. So, while domesticating a single or sometimes a small group of tundra wolves is possible, doing so with a full matured pack is utterly impossible. This, however, does not discourage certain individuals and organizations from trying.
In sum, while valuable under certain specific conditions, the Arkanian tundra wolf is more of a nuisance than anything else, while on civilized worlds.
- Diet: The Arkanian tundra wolf is a predatory carnivore. Hunting in packs that usually target large ungulates, such as deers, elks, sheep, bison, nerfs, tauntauns, etc. They also prey on smaller animals, or anything else that they can, really. Tundra wolves even resort to cannibalism during harsh winters; a pack will often attack weak or injured wolves, as well as eat the body of a dead pack member.
If possible, Arkanian wolves will even prey on sentients, although that is exceptionally rare.
- Behavior/Temperament: Like any gray wolf, the Arkanian subspecies are social animals. They live and hunt in packs. Despite this, single wolves or sometimes mated pairs are known to have higher success rates than larger packs while hunting. A lone wolf is even capable of killing large prey such as a moose or a nerf.
They exhibit the typical behavior of any other wolf, or wild dog for that matter. Unlike dogs, wolves are harder or near-impossible to domesticate. Nevertheless, instances of such occurrences are not unheard of. Although most tales of children being raised by wolves are just that, folklore; they are certainly based on a certain amount of truth, given the stories ubiquitous distribution across many different civilizations on distant systems.
It is, therefore, highly unlikely but not totally impossible to domesticate an Arkanian tundra wolf, especially if done at a very young age, on a lone member of the species, or resorting to certain empathetic energies such as those provided by the Force.
- Communication: Arkanian wolves communicate the same way any wolf and dog does, through verbal, auditory, and olfactory means.
The features on their faces and body change to portray a certain message or state of mind, resorting to certain motions of the body also. For example, a direct stare accompanied by erect ears and bared canine teeth is a sign of aggression; the wagging of a tail is a sign of playfulness, and so on.
Although wolves bark, growl, and yelp, their most famous vocalization is the howl. Arkanian tundra wolves are known to howl to the full moon, but they actually do that to assemble their packs before and after a hunt, to locate each other during a storm or while on unfamiliar territory, etc. They mostly do so to communicate across great distances.
Like is known to occur even with common dogs, wolves are known to mark territory via apocrine and eccrine sweat glands as well as with urine.
- Culture: They are non-sentient pack animals.
- History: No major history is known to the Arkanian tundra wolves, other than the fact that a comparison of haplotypes suggest that the animal may be the result of intentional genetic mutations induced by the Arkanians in the long forgotten past. Such has been systematical debunked by Arkanian government officials.
- Planet: The tundra wolf homeworld is Arkania. As previously mentioned it can be found in small numbers throughout the galaxy, although those "migrations" never occurred naturally, since the subspecies has no space travel capability by itself.
- Technology: They are wolves, so apart from social hierarchies and tracking and hunting tactics, they possess none.
- Intent: Although wolves are a part of Star Wars, I found none to suit the environment of a planet such as Arkania. Every well-known planet on SW has an "alien" species in it, while Arkania lacks any (fantastic or real).
I wanted to do more than simply add the "usual" wolf to the planet - since I believe it to be the animal that exceptionally portray cold climates - without going too overboard and create a weird - albeit, awesome - reptomammal such as the tauntaun.
For all intents and purposes the creature is a dire wolf; one that can be used, for example, in a scout/tracking mission on a snow world, or to throw some non-sentient NPCs to challenge a group of characters stranded on an icy world, and so on...
PCs who want to use Arkanian tundra wolves as animal companions must present a solid reason for finding and being able to bond with and domesticate the creature. After the bonding is done however, and the animal accepts the PC as part of his pack, the connection between tundra wolf and PC lasts for as long as the wolf lives - in the event of it, even after the death of the PC.
I believe it to be balanced, since it's basically a real world tundra wolf with the physical strength and bulk of an over-sized Bengal tiger.
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