Exobiology
Abstract
A fairly rare ungulate, Pseudocamelus piscivorous is a unique example of the peculiar fauna of Asgard and in the far north of Europe. This animal was also widely used, especially by dwarves, as a means of transportation of heavy loads, as well as a source of fresh meat and milk. Originally thought to be close to camels, a thorough phenotypic examination reveals it is closer to tapirs and rhinos, rather than camels. Further genetic studies allowed for more precise classification, putting P. piscivorous as the single species in its own family within the order Perrisodactyla.
Anatomy and phylogeny
This peculiar animal is known as Beast of burden, or also Huldra creature [1]. It is found both in Asgard and in far northern Scandinavia. First thought to be a camelid species in the far north, this mammalian species does indeed share some features with typical camelids, but it also differs greatly. It is, clearly, an ungulate, although bipedal (Fig. 1). The average size is about that of a camel, too, reaching a height of 250 cm weight between 500 and 600 kg.
Figure 1. General appearance of the pseudocamelid Huldra creature.
The head resembles that of a camel, but the mouth is modified into a beak-like structure, formed by highly hardened lips. This particular structure is especially suited to scraping lichens and digging the snow for the scarce vegetation, serving as food for the Huldra creature. The fur is thick and irregularly covers the body and front limbs, while the back limbs and the tail are almost naked. The tail itself is thick and comparatively short, and serves both as counterweight for balance and for storage of fats, along with the hump. Very similarly to camels, indeed, this species is able to store large amounts of fat deposits during times of abundant feed, which are later metabolized to ensure energy needs and heat production during times of long fasting.
The back limbs offer a stable basis for walking, while the short front limbs are equipped with claws, having a similar function to the “beak”. The back limbs have three toes, suggesting that the Huldra beast is an odd-toed ungulate (Perrisodactyla), rather than an even-toed ungulate (Artiodactyla) like the camels. Analyses of the cytochrome b gene of the mitochondrial DNA confirmed that and placed the Huldra creature into a new family, Pseudocamelidae, in order Perrisodactyla, closely related to both tapirs and rhinoceros (Fig. 2).
Figure 2. Phylogenetic tree, showing the classification of Huldra creature close to rhinos and tapirs within the odd-toed ungulates.
Diet and predators
Like most ungulates, the Huldra creatures live in more or less family-related herds of 10 to 15 animals. This is required both for defense against predators, protection of immature animals, and mutual heating in cases of extreme coldness. Although predominantly herbivores, Huldra creatures adapted to an omnivorous diet, to take advantage of the entire environment. Their regular diet consists of grasses, mosses and shrubs and tree leaves, as well as lichens, especially during the winter, which is not much different from what reindeer eat in the same range.
However, much like reindeer also do, Huldra creatures feed on fish whenever possible. Being not especially suited for hunting, they rely on fish that are washed away on shores but are also benefiting from the salmon run during spawning, when already dead or dying salmons become an easy catch for the Huldra creatures.
The special need for this supplement to the diet is driven mainly by the low-protein content of the regular diet. However, it is also believed that feeding on fish is crucial for the supplementation of the diet with essential unsaturated fatty acids and carotenoids, both of high significance for the growing young. However, the fish diet also contributes significantly to the composition of the milk. Unlike individuals, fed mainly on plants, individuals with fish additives in the diet are known to produce milk with about 50% higher protein content, and about two-fold higher fat content. Moreover, this leads to a specific smell because of the passing of trimethylamine into the milk. This specific flavor is despised by some, but highly valued by others, and especially valued in the dwarven Huldra cheese, made from this milk.
In their natural range, Huldra creatures have few to no natural predators. Wolves are known to attack sick or immature animals. Also in their far northern range, they may fall victims to polar bears.
In terms of domestication, Huldra creatures are widely used as caravan animals by dwarves, but also their milk is drunk either fresh or made into cheese. Their meat is also valued in times of food shortage, but rarely slaughtered otherwise because they are more valued for transportation purposes.
[1] Cory Barlog, Santa Monica Studio (2018) God of War. Sony Interactive Entertainment