All about love!
Ascalabotes are Ectotherms Homeotherms, they can maintain their own body temperature but also can warm-up or cool-down based on the temperature around them.
Standard, Arctic, and Tree dwelling Ascalabotes use histotrophic or hemotrophic viviparity when it comes to developing young, where the developing pups have an egg yoke or a rudimentary placenta so they give birth to live young but are not as restricted as full viviparity creatures.
Standard, Arctic, and Tree dwelling Ascalabotes use histotrophic or hemotrophic viviparity when it comes to developing young, where the developing pups have an egg yoke or a rudimentary placenta so they give birth to live young but are not as restricted as full viviparity creatures.
Rainbow and Sea Ascalabotes are oviparous, they lay eggs with Rainbows having a hard shelled egg and Sea Ascalabotes having a soft shelled egg similar to a shark
No Ascalabote uses Placental viviparity
No Ascalabote uses Placental viviparity
Ascalabote couples
Affection
Ascalabotes are very affectionate creatures. All but Arctic Ascalabotes are highly social and like lions spend time grooming each other to strengthen bonds. Ascalabotes use gestures of affection similar to that of big cats, grooming, headbutting, etc. More romantic gestures of affection include pressing foreheads together and curling necks over the other, these two gestures mean similar things to that of human kissing and hugging.
Socius is the Ascalabote term for a time after a successful hunt or other big events when the clan spends time grooming each other. |
Maturity
While Ascalabotes do not have a season for breeding and once they reach adulthood they can have pups, different species of Ascalabote are more likely to be produced during certain seasons so it is common for breeding to line up with Senluna’s four seasons.
In the Frost Season, Arctic Ascalabotes tend to be more common
In the Flood Season, Sea Ascalabotes tend to be more common
In the Dry Season, Tree Ascalabotes tend to be more common
In the Dark Season, Rainbow Ascalabotes tend to be more common
Standard Ascalabotes do not fit this pattern and are equally likely in all the seasons.
In the Frost Season, Arctic Ascalabotes tend to be more common
In the Flood Season, Sea Ascalabotes tend to be more common
In the Dry Season, Tree Ascalabotes tend to be more common
In the Dark Season, Rainbow Ascalabotes tend to be more common
Standard Ascalabotes do not fit this pattern and are equally likely in all the seasons.
Courtship
Sea Ascalabotes have the most complicated courtship with the Ascalabote trying to gain the affection of another must prove themselves through a trial such as retrieving a relic from the deep sea or the mountains. The trial is decided by the Ascalabote being courted.
Tree Ascalabotes have similar trials to Sea Ascalabotes, though they tend to have multiple trials that are not as risky as Sea Ascalabote trials. These trials are also done by both Ascalabotes together.
Arctic Ascalabotes don’t have any kind of set courtship and tend not to have permanent partners either as they are the only Ascalabote who live a mostly solitary life.
Tree Ascalabotes have similar trials to Sea Ascalabotes, though they tend to have multiple trials that are not as risky as Sea Ascalabote trials. These trials are also done by both Ascalabotes together.
Arctic Ascalabotes don’t have any kind of set courtship and tend not to have permanent partners either as they are the only Ascalabote who live a mostly solitary life.
Preparing for a litter
This is based on Standard Ascalabote culture, however, it is very similar in all species though materials might change to fit the environment.
Ealies
Ealiy is the Ascalabote term for their woven shelters. There are several kinds of ealies, the most common are layers mats of Cortex branches and Simul fronds but larger ealies can also be made with stone walls and even very simple ealies can be dug into the earth. These shelters can be made in any size or shape and often have a large boulder or circular piece of wood as the door. Advanced weaves can also create windows and rooms, creating a floor plan similar to that of a house. ealies can even have metal or wooden roofs though that requires more internal support to prevent the walls from collapsing. Ascalabotes weave an ealiy with their soon to be partner, making their relationship official to the clan by weaving their new shelter. All Ascalabotes are expected to know how to weave ealies and parents teach their pups by having the pups help with repairs.
Aetereil
Aetereil is the Ascalabote term for their unity of two Ascalabotes. Ascalabotes are officially aetereil after they have weaved an ealiy for themselves and any future pups. The couple holds a party when the last mat is woven. There is a feast and family and friends show up to congratulate the new couple and often provide gifts or food. With the ealiy complete, the couple can now officially be considered aetereil.
Ascalabotes do not need to be aetereil to have pups however it secures a place for the litter to live. |
Fordus
Fordus is an Ascalabote pregnancy. Female Standard Ascalabotes have around 2 months of gestation and have litters of 2-6 though more are possible, this also changes with species. In litters that have 8 or more pups, it can cause a lot of issues and strain on the mother to be and can cause miscarriages or stillbirths. When the mother starts to show a baby bump, she is in the tuminus stage and close to the end of her pregnancy. At this stage, small females or a large litter may make it hard for the female to leave the ealiy and will rely on her partner for food and care until the pups are born.
Gestation times and litter size per species
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When the litter arrives
Birth and newborns
Standard, Tree, and Arctic Ascalabotes give live birth. The newborns are a solid color (their fur color) and cannot see, hear, or walk. However, as Ascalabotes are not mammals, they do not nurse their pups and Ascalabote pups can eat solid foods as soon as they are born. Newborn Tree Ascalabotes are the exception and need to eat a soft mush instead of solid food. Arctic Ascalabotes are born more developed than other Ascalabotes and are often abandoned by their mother in a matter of months. Newborns develop their complete baby colors between one to two months after being born, before they do they are defenseless and must stay with their mother all the time.
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Sea and Rainbow Ascalabotes lay eggs. Rainbow Ascalabotes can lay up to 4 hard-shelled eggs. These eggs hatch in one to two months after being laid if they are consistently warmed and cared for, if they are not, these eggs can go dormant for long periods of time until they are cared for again. Sea Ascalabotes lay large soft eggs that need to be in water until they hatch. Sea Ascalabotes can swim as soon as they hatch, they can be fully independent after hatching but tend to stay with their parents until all four of their legs have grown in.
Parenting
With the exception of Arctic Ascalabotes, the other Ascalabote species care for their offspring until adulthood. For the most part, both parents share the duty of taking care of their litter. It is the parents’ job to teach the pups how to be a part of the community. Often, one parent spends all their time teaching and caring for the litter while the other provides food for the family. Single parents often get help from friends or family since it is hard to care for large litters alone.
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Aberelconito pups
Aberelconito pups are Ascalabotes who were born to a family where they are not supposed to have any and so are hidden from the clan until they are old enough to take care of themselves.
An Ascalabote who has aberelconito pups in a career that doesn’t let them have pups can still go on career events and participate in the group as if they didn’t have pups.
An Ascalabote who has aberelconito pups in a career that doesn’t let them have pups can still go on career events and participate in the group as if they didn’t have pups.
Adoption and the Amissa
Unwanted pups can be given to the Amissa to be adopted by other Ascalabotes or grow up under the care of Caput.
Pups are normally abandoned before their colors come in to prevent them from remembering their parents but the Amissa takes in all ages of pups, even teens who are growing in their adult colors.
Once an Ascalabote fully grows into their adult colors, they must leave the Amissa however Caput is happy to help them build a simple ealiy nearby until they have a partner and build their own. There are also old ealies that a new adult can fix up and live in after they grow out of the Amissa. They are also not completely on their own and can still help out in the Amissa but there is not enough space for adults to stay there indefinitely.
Pups are normally abandoned before their colors come in to prevent them from remembering their parents but the Amissa takes in all ages of pups, even teens who are growing in their adult colors.
Once an Ascalabote fully grows into their adult colors, they must leave the Amissa however Caput is happy to help them build a simple ealiy nearby until they have a partner and build their own. There are also old ealies that a new adult can fix up and live in after they grow out of the Amissa. They are also not completely on their own and can still help out in the Amissa but there is not enough space for adults to stay there indefinitely.
The litter growing up
Raising pups
Ascalabotes pups develop quickly, in their first month after they are born they develop their sight and hearing as well as learn to walk, run, and climb. All Ascalabotes develop at different paces but typically after all their baby colors develop their physical growth slows as they can now technically fend for themselves if need be. From when all their baby colors grow in, to when their adult colors start to come in, their life revolves around learning about their world and how to live in it. This is much like human children where physical growth is slowed so the brain can develop more.
Arctic Ascalabotes are the only ones mostly exempt from this rule as as soon as the pup is able to survive alone, it has to. (Of course this is not the rule and many Arctic Ascalabotes keep their pups around longer to teach them how to survive)
When it comes to raising Ascalabote pups, large litters can get very overwhelming for even experienced parents. It’s not uncommon for pups from different litters to be raised together with one or more caretakers and their parents. Since raising pups can be so difficult, even Ascalabotes outside of the clan tend to stay with family tribes to support each other and the new pups.
Arctic Ascalabotes are the only ones mostly exempt from this rule as as soon as the pup is able to survive alone, it has to. (Of course this is not the rule and many Arctic Ascalabotes keep their pups around longer to teach them how to survive)
When it comes to raising Ascalabote pups, large litters can get very overwhelming for even experienced parents. It’s not uncommon for pups from different litters to be raised together with one or more caretakers and their parents. Since raising pups can be so difficult, even Ascalabotes outside of the clan tend to stay with family tribes to support each other and the new pups.
Colors and physical changes
Standard Ascalabotes go through several color changes in their life. Newborn Ascalabotes are born a solid color with no mutations or markings, over the following month or two these features develop, and by the time the pup is ready to start exploring the outside world they have the classic pup look and all their inherited mutations. Standard Ascalabotes
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go through another change in their transition from pup to adult, the baby fluff slowly growing patchy as their adult fluff takes its place, dormant mutations such as a bipedal stance also begin to develop. As adults, Ascalabotes can also have mutations to change their colors and markings.
Rainbow Ascalabotes go through similar changes as standard Ascalabotes though they hatch with all their colors developed.
Sea Ascalabotes hatch without rear limbs, instead they have a pair of flippers that make them awkward on land but graceful underwater. As they grow up, these fins develop into hind limbs.
Sea Ascalabotes hatch without rear limbs, instead they have a pair of flippers that make them awkward on land but graceful underwater. As they grow up, these fins develop into hind limbs.
Introducing pups to the clan
When standard Ascalabote pups get their full baby colors the parents take them out of the ealiy for the first time and the clan’s leader(s) introduce the new members to everyone. Ascalabote parents have final say of when their litter gets introduced and may wait longer to make sure the pups are ready to interact with the rest of the clan though if the parents wait to long, the pups might leave the ealiy on their own which can be dangerous since no one would be watching them.
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Pups in the Amissa are typically announced immediately so they have a better chance at finding a family before they get too old.
In the group, a pup’s introduction to the clan is when their approval is added to the group though it is fine to draw the pup before they are introduced after they get approved.
In the group, a pup’s introduction to the clan is when their approval is added to the group though it is fine to draw the pup before they are introduced after they get approved.