Traits
Eye Stalks (Glitched)
Eye stalks are classified as two protrusions from the head of a Xero that have a cone-like base and two round eyes on top. These stalk eyes are simple ocelli and are primarily used to detect light, dark, and movement all around the Xero, rather than complex shapes or colors. Sneaking up on a Xero with this trait would be very difficult!
Eye stalks must be placed on top of the Xero's head area and must be in pairs, much like adding any other extra body part. The eyes must also match the iris and pupil color of the rest of the eyes on the Xero, meaning that if a Xero has blue irises, the stalks must follow suit!
How To Use This Trait
Do
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This trait must be placed on the Xeros head area and cannot be placed anywhere else.
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Much like any extra body parts, eye stalks must be placed in pairs.
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Eye stalks can be added 2x with Glitch Vials for a maximum of 4 eye stalks.
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Eye stalks count as extra eyes, and any Xero that has more than 4 eyes total may be censored on the Masterlist. For example a Xero with 4 main eyes and 2 eye stalks would have 6 eyes total, or a Xero with 2 main eyes and 4 stalk eyes.
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The eye stalks must match the iris and pupil color of the other eyes on the Xero.
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Eye mutations such as slit pupils may be present on the other eyes of the body but do not need to be added to the stalked eyes.
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If your Xero has an eye mutation it is no extra cost to add it to your eye stalks.
Don't
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The eye stalks must be placed close together in pairs much like a snail's eyes, placing one "hidden" while the other is prominent is not allowed.
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The eyes on the top of the eye stalks are small and form on top of the base cones, huge eyes that weigh down the base cones would not be allowed.
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Eye stalks do not have eyelids.
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Eye mutations such as Hollow Eyes or Slit Pupils cannot be added ONLY to the Eye Stalks without also being added to the rest of the eyes on the Xero.
This trait can only be added by using a Glitch Vial on a Xero that has the "Glitched" status.
Click the magnifying glass above for examples of this trait! 🔍
Slit Pupils (Unusual)
Some Xeros may have thin, slit pupils instead of the standard round or oval ones. This is an uncommon adaptation, but the Xeros that have this style of eye tend to have even stronger night vision.
Hollow Eyes (Hollow)
Life in a world of little-to-no light can present several obstacles, arguably the most important being how to sense the enviroment. Hollow Xeros have developed eyes that feature significantly larger pupils and a highly efficient tapetum. These features enable them to operate effectively in the darkest of conditions and give their eyes a soft, reflective sheen.
Shaped Pupils (Glitched)
While Xeros typically feature a static pupil, their flexible biology can be manipulated to overcome this limitation. By altering the smooth muscles of the eye, the collarette can be reshaped effectively, changing the shape until desired.
Tufted Ears (Standard)
Tufted Ears are a common mutation observed on Xeros. These ears can be any shape or size, but feature tufts of longer fur at the tips. This adaptation may have allowed Xeros to more easily determine wind direction and stay downwind of danger.
How To Use This Trait
✅ Do
🚫 Don't
This trait can be added to your Xero by giving them a Kara Berry.
Frilled Ears (Notable)
Frilled Ears are a rare mutation observed on Xeros. They have a grooved outer edge, giving them a jagged or wing-like appearance.
Marine Ears (Marine)
Marine Xeros can have extra small ears, or no visible ear flaps at all. This adaptation helps them be more streamlined underwater.
Hollow Ears (Hollow)
These ears are unique to Hollow Xeros, and while they fit the shapes and sizes you expect from a standard Xero, they do have an adaptation unique to their type. The ear's interior cartilage is ridged, acting as a type of acoustic focusing lens to help sharpen sounds for positional accuracy in the dark. Hollow ears can be a solid color, or have a gradient of changing colors within the different segments. The ridges within the ear must be present.
Floppy Ears (Standard)
Floppy Ears are a common mutation observed on Xeros. These ears can be perky like the above example, fully flopped like a labrador's ears, or even longer flopped ears like a lop rabbit's.
Tundra Ears (Tundra)
Tundra Xeros can have extremely fluffy ears called Tundra Ears; the fluff is so long that the tufts of fur inside cover most or all of the visible skin and hangs outside the ears!
Desert Ears (Desert)
Desert Xeros can have larger than average ears to radiate heat, this trait is known as Desert Ears. They can be any shape (pointy fennec-like, rounded jackrabbit-like, etc.) Size can vary a bit, but is generally about 1.5 to 2x the height of the head.
Gills (Glitched)
Gills are respiratory organs that are located on the neck or rib area and allow the Xero to breathe underwater. A Xero with this trait has both a set of gills and a set of lungs and can “turn off” function for one or the other depending on their body state.
Gill-having Xeros who spend a lot of time outside of the water are recommended to find ways to rehydrate often to avoid drying out the area.
How To Use This Trait
Do
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This trait can only be placed on the Neck or Rib area of a Xero.
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The gills can be "scalloped" or flat facing on the Xero.
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Gills must have the same flesh color as the Xero. If the gills are a different color it requires the use of the split trait.
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The Gills can be placed BOTH on the Neck and the Ribs.
Don't
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Place the gills anywhere else but the neck or ribs.
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Use gill-like markings without the use of the trait.
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If the gills are drawn primarily closed in ML art, please inform us so we can categorize the trait correctly.
This trait can only be added by using a Glitch Vial on a Xero that has the "Glitched" status.
Click the magnifying glass above for examples of this trait! 🔍
Mushroom Growth (Glitched)
The result of recent cutting edge medical development; it is now known that XNA allows for the dynamic integration of even fungal genes. The mycelium and nerve network of the two organisms combines at the genetic level, forming a highly integrated symbiotic relationship, possibly becoming part of the Xeros tissues or even thoughts. This trait causes mushrooms to grow out of the Xero's body. A single mushroom may not exceed 25% of the Xero's body size.
Warning: this is still highly experimental, results my vary.
Colored Teeth (Notable)
Braving the acidic Sugar Drop allows a Xero to stain their teeth any color they desire! The enamel-stained color can also be as subtle or vivid as the Xero wants. Curiously, the Sugar Drop dyes every tooth in the consumer's mouth. This means that the Xero must commit to the same color on each of their teeth and may not mismatch colors. Go all in!
How To Use This Trait
Do
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Every tooth must be the same color.
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The teeth can be any color and as bright or dull as wanted.
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Having metallic "fillings" for the fangs is allowed without the use of this trait, as long as they are realistic gold or silver colors.
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Off-white/Slight yellowing of the teeth is allowed without the use of this trait.
Don't
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Mismatched teeth aren't allowed. For example, having all green teeth and one black fang.
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All teeth must be colored, meaning that you cannot have blue fangs only, for example.
This trait can only be added by consuming a Sugar Drop!
Click the magnifying glass above for examples of this trait! 🔍
Savannah Hooves (Savannah)
An adaptation for moving swiftly on wide-open grasslands. These hooves are rounded, modified claws whose purpose is to protect the Xeros feet from rocks and difficult terrain while running. Since these hooves can see some extra wear and tear it is recommended to clean them out daily.
Hooves must be placed in symmetrical pairs while adding this trait to a Xero. This means that you may do something like only adding hooves to a Xeros feet paws and have normal Xero hand paws or adding hooves to all 4 limbs. You may not, however, mix and match by, for example, adding one hooved foot and one hooved hand paw.
This trait can not be added onto BOTH sets paws of Xeros with the Webbed Paws or Digging Claws trait.
Diaphonized (Glitched)
Diaphonization is a bizarre mutation in which the skin of the affected area contains no melanoctyes, rendering it semi-translucent to visible light. Organs, veins, and muscles, having the same refraction index, would also appear transparent, but bones, being a denser tissue, remain visible.
Although the effect is fascinating, Xeros with any amount of diaphonization cannot grow fur in those areas and thus their skin is extra sensitive to UV light; nothing a bit of sunscreen can't fix though!
How To Use This Trait
Do
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Bones have to be black/dark. Xeros do not have white/light-colored bones.
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Bone color can be influenced by the skin color on top as long as the bones underneath are darker as a result. Meaning that orange skin could make the bones look grey/orange as a result.
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This trait includes the hairless trait for the portions that are diaphonized.
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Skin color for diaphonized portions should match the other skin unless Split is applied.
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This trait may be combined with the Slimy Skin or Dazzle traits, but there may not be floating objects or shapes inside the diaphonization, as that goes into Patterned Skin.
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Horns are bone growths connected to the Xero's skeleton and thus, if the diaphonization is exposing bones that horns are connected to, the connection will be shown.
Don't
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No diaphonization above the neck. This includes skulls. The exception is antennae, which may be diaphonized.
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Only 50% or less of the Xero's body may be diaphonized; the entire body may not be diaphonized.
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Organs, veins, muscles and etc. will not be shown, only bones.
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Patterned Skin cannot be added to diaphonized portions since they are translucent. If you wish to have patterned skin on your diaphonized character it will have to be in the ears/paw pads or on other sections of non-diaphanized hairless skin.
- Bones do not need to be drawn realistically; you may draw them more cartoony if you wish.
- There must be a solid "chunk" of a Xero to be diaphonized. You may do shapes or patterns but they must be visible and semi-prominent in the Masterlist Art.
This trait can only be added by using a Glitch Vial on a Xero that has the "Glitched" status.
Click the magnifying glass above for examples of this trait! 🔍
Xero Bone Structure Reference

Antennae (Standard)
Antennae are the most common trait displayed by Xeros. These sensitive feelers enhance a Xero's senses and help them navigate in difficult environments. The antennae can be many different lengths, and can be present on the head, back, tail, or on the cheeks like "whiskers".
How To Use This Trait
Do
- A Xero's antennae are always soft, flexible, and tube-shaped.
- The tips of antennae may be rounded, bulbous, heart-tipped, curled, etc.
Don't
- Xero antennae are never fluffy or densely furred.
- Insect or moth-like antennae are not included under this trait.
This trait can be added to your Xero by giving them a Ru Berry.
Click the magnifying glass above for examples of this trait! 🔍