Moonan (moo-nahn)

Moonan

Moonans were bipedal rodentian mammals with a coat of sharp spines, or quills, that protected against predators. They were large, terrestrial, and strictly nocturnal. They lived in wooded areas and climbed trees, where some species spent their entire lives. Most moonans were about 25–36 in (64–91 cm) long, with an 8–10 in (20–25 cm) long tail. Weighing 12–35 lb (5.4–15.9 kg), they were rounded, large, and slow moving creatures. The moonan was a herbivore; it ate leaves, herbs, twigs, and green plants such as clover. In the winter, it ate bark. It often climbed trees to find food. The moonan was not a climber and foraged on the ground. It was mostly nocturnal, but would sometimes forage for food in the day. Moonans became pests in Astar and were eaten as a delicacy. They lived in forests and deserts, and on rocky outcrops and hillsides. 

Moonans’ quills, or spines, took on various forms, depending on the species, but all were modified hairs coated with thick plates of keratin, and embedded in the skin musculature. Quills were released by contact or dropped out when the moonan shook its body. New quills grew to replace lost ones. Additionally, moonans had the ability to project their quills a considerable distance at an enemy.