Heafits (family Heafitious) are a distinctive clade of reptiles, forming part as the only species in the order Hauropoda, also known as "modern-day Sauropods". As of August 2022, only two known species of heafits have ever been discovered, with only one member of the family still being extant, that being the almosbus.
Heafits are distinguished by their incredibly long necks, which can reach up to 2 meters (6,5 feet), and their very tanky bodies covered in a thick layer of catered skin that acts as a substitute for scales, which reptiles normally have, however heafits do not. They are also heavily armoured animals, either having spikes or plated keracin along their necks, backs and, in some instances, even their tails.
Heafits are diurnal, and are quite adapted to scale steep cliffs or semi-horisontal trees in search of food. Heafits are herbivores and prefer harder fruits and vegetables, such as watermelons and pumpkins, however also have a mixed diet of leaves, and have also been recorded feeding on tree resin. While they do prefer a temperate climate, due to their geographical distribution, heafits have been well adapted to colder climates, far more so than any other reptile. This is due to their very thick skin being able to regulate temperature. Heafits are only found in two countries of Eurasia, although currently, the only extant species can be found in Nuovo Diamanti.
Etymology[]
The English word heafit (hee-fit) is derived from the Diamanti word Tγʇèɘʜ, a compound of Ǝɘʜ (large) and Tiv (monarch).
Classification[]
In 1976, the two known species of heafit were declared distinguishable enough from one another to warrant the seperation into two subfamilies: Alambious, which is compromised of the almosbus, and Dessetites, which is compromised of Desmodontedae. However, many discussions on wether or not subdivions of a family with only two members is necessary since then, and has caused major ethological distress amongst those closely studying heafits and other reptiles.
Evolution[]
During the larger quantity embilation of sauropods between the jurassic and cretaceous, sauropods spread put through Pangea, the supercontinent, primarly situating themselves in (modern day) South-America and Africa however, two distinct circles of sauropods migrated to (modern day) Asia, where they seemed to have miracolously survived the mass extinction of the dinosaurs.
These sauropods, now known as hauropods, lived through Earth's far colder periods, such as the ice age, which lead them to survive into our modern day. During the former laterral periods, oxygen on Earth severely increased, so hauropods, not needing their massive sizes for oxygen consumption anymore, evolutionised into much smaller variants of sauropods.
Thr largest fossil of Desmodontedae ever found.
The oldest described Almosbus was found in Mongolia in 1883, suggesting that almosbus' migrated from Mongolia to Nuovo Diamanti to reach a more temperate climate. The skeleton of this almosbus, theorised to be from the quanetary period of 2 - 3 million years ago, reached a length of 4 meters (13,1 feet), far larger than modern day almosbus'. In 1903, some authorities tried to argue that the skeleton was a juvenile amargosaurus, however this consideration was debunked in 1905 when a metabollic experiment was issued and conducted by the almosbus' cranium, in which results identified it as an almosbus.
The oldest described Desmodontedae was found in 2003 at the Arkhat fossil formation in central Mongolia. The specific specimen of Desmodontedae has been the subject of much historical debate, with authorites being torn on its exact placement of paleontological transcription, however it has been established that the fossil is at least 2 million years old. The length of the skeleton is 1,5 meters (4,9 feet), only a little larger than modern day Desmodontedae, and had a larger tail weapon, roughly twice the size of modern day Desmodontedae.
Descrption[]
Heafits have a typical build and body structure consisting of very thick skin instead of scales, which help adapt to the colder climates of their distribution ranges. Heafits have characteristically long necks similar to that of their sauropod ancestors, with their necks and backs being covered in hardened body armour, with almosbus' having spikes the length anywhere between 4 - 20 cm, and Desmodontedae having karetin armour similar to rocks aligning their necks, backs and tails, which is sometimes used in defence as a club at the end of their tail. Both species of heafit are sexually dymorphic, with males having larger spikes/armour and females having longer, thicker tails.
Heafits have thick, stumped feet similar to that of mammals such as elephants and rhinoceroses. On each foot, five toes are present, including four toes featured at the front of their feet and one at the back. The toenails of heafits, made uniquely of lead, takr up 90% of their toes and are often not shortened on their hine legs, and is then used as a tool of combat while stomping or kicking with their back legs. The soles and undersoles of heafits are roumic, with suction-like brissles that help them become good climbers despite their immense weight, which can reach up to one ton.
Distribution and habitat[]
Heafits live and lived in two specific countries in Eurasia - Nuovo Diamanti and Mongolia, although due to conservation efforts, some zoos in Russia, Egypt and Poland house heafits (specifically almosbus'), with permission from the World Wildlife Preserve.
Heafits, while being adapted to colder climates, shall move and migrate based on habitational temperature. They shall move from exceptionally warm or exceptionally cold climates to temperate climates, which usually include socluded forests and swamps where dampity arises to temparature considered "perfect" for heafits' rural engagement outlets, although specific vegital places and forests, specifically featuring hardened fruits and vegetables such as apples and butternut which are heafits' primary food preferences, are their major inhabited areas.
Reproduction[]
Heafits are oviparous animals and, like most reptiles, lay eggs.
The two species of heafit have two different reproduction cycles. Almosbus' reach sexual maturity roughly at 12 years of age, which is very late for any reptile, and will only have one reproduction period in their life, meaning after their first pregnancy, they cannot get pregnant again. Almosbus' lay around 4 - 6 eggs from 10 - 30 cm (4 - 12 inches), and willing dig massive holes where they bury their eggs. The almosbus herds, known as "kingdoms", will then move to the embryodic area and live in the area until the reptiles are born.
Desmodontedae reach sexual maturity at roughly a year of age, and can have multiple reproduction periods until their sterility at death. Desmodontedae can lay 2 eggs at the most, which thry also bury underground however, unlike almosbus', they leave their young's birthplace in order for them to fend for themselves once born. Both heafits' reproduction flaws are the reasons for their crticically endangered and extinct statuses, respectively.
Both species of heafit lay flexible-shelled eggs which are affected by enviornmental characteristics during incubation. The egg mass is the most important in differentiating survivors of Heafit during incubation. An increase in egg mass will depend on temperature and water potential.
Diet[]
As mentioned before, heafits are herbivores, however both species of heafits have different taste and unique ways of digesting food:
- Almosbus', due to the forests and swamps of Nuovo Diamanti having rapidly growing vegetation, developed skinned-beaks to puncture through hardened vegetables. They will also have a mixed diet of leaves and tree roots, and eat rocks to help with digestion, a practice known as kosheration, adapted from their sauropod ancestors.
- Desmodontedae have also developed skinned-beaks to penetrate through fruits, and have a recordedly strong dislike of vegetables. They also eat a mixed meal of leaves and tree roots, and have also been reproted to eat mud, the reason for eating of which is unknown.