Traits

 
By default, Xeros have long kangaroo or otter-like tails that are thick at the base and taper to a soft point at the end. While Xeros can have fairly long tails, they should not exceed one and a half times the length of the Xero's body.

By default, all Xeros have ears that are located on the sides of their heads, roughly in line with their eyes. These ears can vary a bit in shape or size, but are always folded in and tapered at the base. 

By default, Xeros have small, rounded claws. Their claws are shiny and just slightly translucent. They cannot have no claws, or claws of a different shape or size than this without a special mutation.

All Marine Xeros have webs between their fingers and toes to help propel them through the water.

Savannah Hooves cannot be added to BOTH the hand or feet paws of Xeros with this trait. They can be added to one set, but Webbed Paws must be present on a Marine Xero in some way.

This trait is exclusive to the Marine subspecies, all Marine Xeros have this trait. 

This trait can only be added to a non-marine Xero by using a Marine Beaker on a glitched Xero. However, the Xero will also permanently gain the Glitched rarity.

Tundra Xeros are the largest of the Xero subspecies, averaging about 6 feet tall (183 cm). 

This trait is exclusive to the Tundra subspecies, all Tundra Xeros have this trait.

This trait can only be added to a non-tundra Xero by using a Tundra Beaker on a glitched Xero. However, the Xero will also permanently gain the Glitched rarity.

Desert Xeros are the smallest of the Xero subspecies, averaging only 3 feet tall (90 cm).

This trait is exclusive to the Desert subspecies, all Desert Xeros have this trait. 

This trait can only be added to a non-desert Xero by using a Desert Beaker on a glitched Xero. However, the Xero will also permanently gain the Glitched rarity.

Jungle Xeros have extra-long sticky tongues, perfect for lapping up their favorite treat: fresh flower nectar!

This trait is exclusive to the Jungle subspecies, all Jungle Xeros have this trait. 

This trait can only be added to a non-jungle Xero by using a Jungle Beaker on a glitched Xero. However, the Xero will also permanently gain the Glitched rarity.

This subspecies-exclusive trait allows a Savannah Xero to run faster than their non-savannah cousins and see over tall grass. While a Standard Xero would have stockier limbs that form rounded hands and paws, a Savannah Xero has longer skinnier limbs that taper near the ends to form a digitigrade look while they are standing up.

This trait is exclusive to the Savannah subspecies, all Savannah Xeros have this trait. 

This trait can only be added to a non-savannah Xero by using a Savannah Beaker on a glitched Xero. However, the Xero will also permanently gain the Glitched rarity.

All Hollow Xeros have much larger claws on their paws to enable efficient burrowing.

The Retractable Claws trait cannot be combined with Digging Claws, as they are too large to retract.

The Savannah Hooves trait can be combined with Digging Claws on either the hands or the feet, not BOTH. They can be added to one set, but Digging Claws must be present on a Hollow Xero in some way.

This trait is exclusive to the Hollow subspecies, all Hollow Xeros have this trait. This trait can only be added to a non-hollow Xero by using a Hollow Beaker on a glitched Xero. However, the Xero will also permanently gain the Glitched rarity.

Aposematic Xeros are quite rare, and not very much is currently known about why some feature this trait. The most notable visual feature of aposematic Xeros is that their skin is a very saturated, neon color, to serve as a warning of their potential toxins.

Scientists speculate that it is a leftover adaptation from their previously insectivorous lifestyle. These Xeros may have a pair of modified saliva glands that can deliver venom through grooves in their upper canine teeth. They have complete control over these glands, and are able to produce regular saliva the majority of the time, so it does not negatively impact their lives in any way. Even Xeros who do not posses venom are immune to its affects, so there is no cause for concern! However, not all aposematic Xeros are capable of producing venom; some are merely mimics!

Aposematic Xeros can also feature neon-colored markings surrounded with a dark outline for high contrast - however, markings of this kind are optional and are not featured on all Xeros with this trait.

While size, environment, or lack of predators may influence some animals to abandon the need for countershading, with Xeros, it is just a happenstance of random mutation rather adaptation. Xeros with this mutation will be primarily a solid color, with no obvious countershading on their belly, or may have countershading that falls well outside of normal requirements.

An abundance of pigmentation has caused some Xeros to have countershading that is darker than their primary coat color. This is just a happenstance of random mutation rather than an adaptation.

This trait allows Xeros to have markings on their skin! This can include markings of any shape on their ears, paw pads, tongue, or hairless sections if combined with that trait. These markings can only be darker or lighter than their normal skin color, unless combined with the Split trait. If combined with Split, the markings can be other colors.

Generally, a Xero's flesh is all the same color, so visible areas like the inside of their ears, tongue, nostrils, and paw pads must all be the same, but this special trait allows their skin to be different colors! It's not just limited to two colors either, each ear, paw pad, etc. could all be different colors! Each differently colored body part may only be one solid color, with the exception of any part that crosses the sagittal plane (midline) of the body, which may be split in half and half colors (tongue, pouch, or overall body skin if hairless trait is used).

Tundra Xeros can have extra fluffy fur, called Tundra Fur. Often shown as a super fluffy neck and chest area like a mane, but can also be extra fluffy on the undersides of the limbs, the tail, sides of the face, etc.

The fur pads trait gives a Xero extra fluffy feet that covers their paw pads, like a rabbit or fennec fox! This adaptation can help protect their paws against extremely hot or cold conditions.

Hairless Xeros are very rare. Their fur is very useful for regulating their temperature and protecting them from their environment, so its not common at all to see them with fur missing. The hairless trait can manifest in different ways; from just a hairless tail or belly, to only hair on the top of the head, to even completely bald! The color of skin where their fur is missing must be the same as the other visible flesh on their ears, tongue, and paw pads, but it can vary in different shades.

A long fluffy mane that can cover part or all of a Xero’s back, or even go onto their tail! The primary purpose of the mane is to protect the Xero’s back from UV damage from the sun, since there is not a lot of shade on the open grasslands this trait evolved on. Plus, it also serves as a fashion statement.

Though it's very rare, some Xeros may have horizontal pupils instead of the standard round or oval ones. This strange adaptation gives the Xero a wider field of view, making them very hard to sneak up on.