Saltantas are an elusive species that can be difficult to spot thanks to their mottled fur and bushy mane and tail, which allow them to disguise themselves among plants, rocks, and other natural objects. They are powerful ambush hunters capable of stalking prey for days until the opportunity to strike arises. Their strong, muscular body is best suited for short bursts of speed, so it is crucial that they deliver a swift, fatal blow with their sharp claws or fangs. As they only need to eat once or twice a month, Saltantas spend much of their time wandering. They have no set territory, preferring to seek out new places every day, and thus tracking them can be challenging. Females carry their young on their back until the juveniles are old enough to walk; the soft fur of their mane makes a comfortable nest. Saltantas communicate mainly in low growls and snarls, though there are reports that they can also produce a soft, rumbling purr.

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

• Faintly smells of toasted chestnuts and ground coffee
• Agreeable temperament, yet high maintenance and sometimes moody--meticulous in appearance and will spend considerable stretches of time grooming his fur, which is softer, more plush-like, than usual Saltantas
• Displays no interest in hunting for food--content to be fed for and live in leisure most of the day, it is assumed that perhaps a loss of wilder instincts are at play, having been raised completely in a captive setting, or he simply sees no need to
• Other Saltantas seem drawn to his faint brown iridescent markings across black, almost void-like fur--it is difficult to spot him with the lights off in the lab, and nearly impossible at night hidden among the foliage, bushes, and faltering moonlight