Submission for Pophop

[Jagdkatzchen 72]

Name of the creature:

Pophop

(Optional) Link to a picture of the creature + name of the artist:

(Picture taken from the RuneScape Wiki)

Is this creature tamable and if so, how:

 

Though skittish and slow to trust, the Pophop is tameable. In a similar fashion to how one might tame wild rabbits, repeatedly associating oneself with positive attributes such as gentleness, safety, and food can eventually win a caught Pophop over, though the process may take several months to bear fruit.

Can you use this in combat:

No.

 

Habitats - Check all that apply:

Desert
Savannah

 

Summary of the creature:

 

The Pophop is a hare-sized therapsid that occupies an ecological niche similar to rabbits. They are brown-haired creatures that have barely noticeable tails, powerful hind limbs, short forelimbs and stout heads. These easily frightened herbivores will consume nearly any vegetation that they can get their jaws on, though they will not stray far from their burrows. Pophops usually form warrens near those of other families, and will sound an alarm to alert all in earshot of potential predators. When faced with danger, they will hop to safety as quickly as they can, and will only turn and fight when driven to a corner, or when protecting their young.

 

Characteristics of the creature:

 

Physiology:

 

Pophops can reach sizes comparable to that of adult hares, and they all possess pelts in varying shades of brown. The nature of their short fur changes depending on the selection pressures exerted upon them by their environment. For example, desert-dwelling Pophops have paler, more uniformly patterned fur so as to more easily blend in with the sandy expanse of the desert. Savannah-dwelling Pophops, on the other hand, typically possess coats of darker shades, and have more distinct patterns that help break up their form among rocks and shrubbery.

 

Pophops possess robust skulls with rounded beaks that are well-suited to gnawing on fibrous material, and scutes that help protect the front of their heads. Their short arms are usually kept close to their chest, only being brought forward to utilize their long claws when working the earth. They locomote by hopping around on their powerful hind limbs, and are known to be able to achieve speeds upwards of 60km/h. Though they do have a stumpy tail, it is largely vestigial.

 

Pophops are not sexually dimorphic.

 

Behaviour:

 

Pophops are crepuscular burrowing animals, and they will try to form new warrens close to those of other family groups. They are easily frightened, and will give out frantic squeak-snorts when they sense danger; almost always with their near 360-degree vision. As Pophops rarely wander over 150m from the safety of a burrow, hearing this alarm will usually cause them to dash straight towards safety.

 

Habitat:

 

Pophops will live wherever they can create burrows, and where there is a sufficient supply of food. Though their bodies appear adapted to warmer climates, it is reasonable to assume that given time, new generations of Pophops could adapt to new environments. Thus, their absence in the northern continent of Alamris could be largely attributed to the sea preventing their continued spread.

 

Diet:

 

Pophops are herbivorous creatures, and will consume any vegetation that they can get their jaws on. Grass, shrubbery, and seeds can all be found in their diet, but they do prefer tubers and fallen fruit. Pophops are known to be able to quench their thirst through the water content of their food sources alone, with desert-dwelling Pophops having been sighted using their beaks to consume the water-rich flesh of cacti.

 

Lifespan:

 

Pophops can live to the age of 12, though stress and predation often drastically reduces this number.

 

Reproduction:

 

Pophops reach sexual maturity at 6 months of age, and will mate with the same partner until one of them dies. After fertilization, female Pophops will gestate for a week before laying clutches of 1-14 fist-sized eggs in their burrows. It then takes another 3 weeks before the hatchlings emerge from their shells fully developed. Should they lose both parents prior to reaching adulthood, the young Pophops will instinctively seek out other adults. If they must travel away from their original burrow to do so, they will create new ones close to those of the adult Pophops.

 

(Optional) Origins of the creature:

 

This creature is heavily inspired by the myosaurus, or the dicynodont portrayed in BBC's Walking with Monsters. After realizing that the interpretation shared several similarities to rabbits, I decided to merge them together, and then used the kebbits in RuneScape to visually represent the outcome.

 

Strengths/Weaknesses

 

Strengths:

 

• Near 360-degree vision, with a blind spot just behind its head
• Capable of camouflaging well
• Cautious and easily spooked
• Usually near a burrow they can flee to
• Capable of hopping at speeds exceeding 60km/h
• Its facial scutes are comparable to a crocodile’s back scutes
• When cornered, can deliver a nasty bite with their beak that can sever an unprotected finger

 

Weaknesses:

 

• Will only fight as a last resort
• Most of its body is protected by a thin layer of fur and skin
• A powerful scare can send a Pophop into shock
• Will avoid large bodies of water

 

Red Lines

 

Pophops will only fight when driven to a corner, or when protecting their young.

Pophops will die if they do not eat for 3 days.

Pophops will not attempt to cross any body of water larger than a brook.

Pophops cannot live beyond 12 years of age.

 

Availability:

Common - Anyone can RP finding this creature.

Edited July 18, 2021 by Jagdkatzchen
formatting and sourcing