Graveling
The graveling (Messenian taxonomic name Diprotodon toetrae) is a marsupial species native to equatorial and southern Serania Major, and is the largest herbivorous species native to the Seranias.
The name graveling is an ellicisation of the Hártal grefling, “badger” (and the animal is still called stórgrefling or “giant badger” in that language). This was in reference to the Messenian badger (Meles meles), which it was thought to superficially resemble, although the graveling is an herbivorous species, unlike the carnivorous badgers. The genus name Diprotodon, Old Sabamic meaning “two pointed teeth”, refers to the animal’s most prominent feature, while the species name toetrae references the Tötra Peninsula in the south-east of Siursk Serania; the first specimens were encountered here, although the current taxonomic name was not given until 1855.
Characteristics
Mature adult gravelings average around three metres (ten feet) in length and stand approximately two metres (6.6 feet) at the shoulder; weight averages approximately 2,000 kilogrammes (2.2 tons), although exceptional specimens may reach as much as 2,800 kilogrammes (3.09 tons). Fur colour is variable, and ranges from sand-coloured to brown, and from grey to black. Unusually for marsupial species, the graveling’s pouch faces backwards, an adaptation which prevents any soil becoming deposited in the pouch as the graveling digs.
Female gravelings give birth to a single young (usually termed a “whelp”) after a gestation period of approximately 48 days. As is usual with marsupials, the tiny neonate spends a period of further development within its mother’s pouch; the whelp leaves the pouch after about nine months, although it is not fully weaned until about eighteen months. Gravelings are usually sexually mature and capable of breeding at 2½ years of age, although this may stretch to as much as four years in more adverse environments.
Habitat and nutrition
Gravelings tend to inhabit areas of open woodland and scrublands; they can range quite long distances as they search for water sources, and settled specimens will occupy ranges of up to 200 hectares (0.77 square miles). They are herbivorous, usually eating grasses, herbs, bark and plant roots, and can eat as much as 150 kilogrammes (330 pounds) of forage every day; while they will burrow into earth banks in some circumstances, they usually make their homes in dug-out hollows, known as nests. Graveling faeces is readily recognisable by its roughly cubic shape.
Predation
The sheer size of an adult graveling means that it is relatively safe from most predators, although the Seranian lion may take down immature, sick or ageing gravelings in some circumstances. While gravelings do not normally attack humans, their fierce territorial instincts mean that they will not hesitate to use extreme force if they consider their territory to be under threat, and will frequently attempt to kick an attacker double-footed with its rear feet, similarly to a donkey; over the period 2008-13 a total of 38 deaths were caused by graveling attacks in Siursk Serania.
Attempts at domestication
While early settlers made some attempts to transport horses, cattle and other draft animals to the Seranias, the expense and difficulty involved encouraged efforts to gather and domesticate native Seranian beasts; the observed capacity of the graveling for land clearance suggested possibilities. However, although gravelings move fairly slowly as a general rule, they are capable of reaching 50 km/h (32 mph) in short bursts of up to two minutes; they are also highly aggressive in defending their nests. While efforts to tame wild gravelings have generally been unsuccessful, several attempts have been made to domesticate the beasts, usually as the result of nursing wounded or lost whelps; these have had more positive results, although current estimates suggest no more than 400 fully domesticated gravelings exist across the Seranian continent.