Minuskla Casadistos start their mornings early and fill the predawn silence with a myriad of barks, chirps, and howls. These miniscule canids are remarkably light, even for their size, and are amazingly agile on the ground and in the air. Minuskla Casadistos live in small family groups, called packs, that usually consist of a breeding pair and their offspring. Packs nest in dens that they’ve dug out for themselves or that other animals have abandoned, and they tend to nest near other packs. Neighboring packs will often flock together, especially while hunting, and coordinate their attacks with chirps and barks. These flocks can reach much larger numbers, and it’s common for them to successfully take on prey many times the size of a single Minuskla Casadisto. While neighboring packs generally keep to themselves outside of hunting situations, individuals will still alert the larger flock to danger with alarm calls. Despite their small size, Minuskla Casadistos are particularly intelligent and can remember where food tends to be most abundant from season to season. They will even tolerate a human’s presence if they know food will be readily available.

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.

Creature Notes

• Pair-bonded with Critias (VRG74). Thalassa was taken into captivity as an injured pup when they tried to sneak food from a researcher's pack. They quickly learned to do tricks in exchange for food, but they dislike being handled.
• Upon Thalassa's introduction to the lab's small Minuskla flock, they became interested in Critias, who accepted the company. Thalassa frequently sang and chirped to him. Before long, Critias began to groom Thalassa and share his food.
• Though mostly rehabilitated, their injury as a pup rendered them unable to properly fly (though they can glide somewhat). Their disability does not slow them down, and they are known to swim like an Avka in water, with an avid fondness for it.
• Thalassa will charm food from the hand of every visitor, and has been known to steal treats from the cabinet and bring them to Critias when no one is around. We still don't know how. They occasionally even playfully show off their prize to us.