While Malbenita Benos are native to a wide range of mountainous regions, distinctive physical and behavioral divergences have been observed between those that make their homes in rocky grasslands above the tree line and those that inhabit lower-altitude mountainous forests. Grassland Malbenita Benos are immediately recognizable for their lighter coloration, thicker woolen coats, and long-bristled manes that extend down their backs and fan out to each side. Gregarious and mild-mannered, these creatures live in large groups and are known to form close and lasting bonds with their herdmates. Forest-dwelling Malbenita Benos possess a deeper coloration and coarse, water-resistant bristles that help them blend in with their muddy habitat. They display an aggressive and domineering temperament, forming small groups with a rigid social hierarchy determined through fitness and fierce combat. If an individual displays signs of illness, lameness, or any other ailment, its herdmates will cast it out of the group to fend for itself.

The creatures that dwell in this rather desolate world still display some diversity in appearance, eating habits, and social behavior. Whether they have fur or feathers, skin or scales, their unique genetic makeup allows for a variety of colors and markings within each species. Despite limitations in food sources, herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores are all present in the food chain, and each species requires specialized care within a laboratory. Although the artificial setting of housing units and breeding pods precludes most opportunities to study true interspecific behavior, the interactions within and between species has been studied extensively in the wilderness by scientists daring enough to venture beyond the outpost’s walls.