Dusthare
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Entity Classification

Aggressiveness 2/5 Dusthares are a generally docile species, typically keeping distance from human contact, or from colony outpost territories. However, Dusthares have sometimes been known to retaliate against potential threats. During certain time periods, especially around breeding season, or times of food scarcity, Dusthares have been known to be quite territorial creatures; becoming notably more aggressive than usual.
Frequency 1.6/5 Dusthares are uncommon inhabitants of the Backrooms, though they are most often found within indoor levels with ample amounts of dust. However, a much lesser known outdoor subspecies does exist within some levels with dense foliage.
Intelligence 1.8/5 Although Dusthares aren't the most intelligent animals, they still do have behavioral adaptations and strategies put in place to survive the harsh environments of the Backrooms.
Pritoria Index 1.8/5 Although Dusthares are one of the more docile creatures of the Backrooms, one should not underestimate the power of a defensive, or territorial Dusthare. These creatures are both quite elusive, and have a natural rarity to them; add on the fact that they only thrive in areas far from human settlements, Dusthares are seldom encountered naturally, without specific experience in tracking these animals down.

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fig 1.0 (Illustration of a family of "Dusthares")

Description

Dusthares are uncommon, large rabbit-like creatures with thick, shaggy fur; which often takes on the properties of dust. The intensely dusty coats of Dusthares help them to to camouflage within areas, where large piles of dust collect. Adults of this species can range from 3-5 feet in length, and up to 2 feet in height. Adult Dusthares also possess sharp, musk deer-like tusks; used for self defense against would-be predators, and for intraspecific competition; fighting other Dusthares for limited resources of the Backrooms, whether it be food, territory, or mates.


Behaviors

To wanderers and many large and/or hostile entities, Dusthares are typically rather skittish beasts; often preferring to flee, or burying themselves in a deep pile of dust. However, during mating season, or times of scarcity, these creatures become highly territorial; they will stand their ground and fight. On a handful of occasions, deep expeditions into the halled wilderness of Level 1 had resulted in some personnel getting ambushed by overprotective mothers, or hyper-territorial males; becoming injured by Dusthare's strong kicks, or sharp tusks.

At times where Dusthares are more docile, they often huddle around dust piles, to camouflage, to collect dust on their coats, and to forage or food within the dust. When threatened, they may attempt to lay flat to the ground, bury themselves in a pile of dust, and produce electric shocks, to deter an attacker - as dust can become electrified.

Dusthares typically live in localized territories of dusty corridors, far from most human settlements within the Backrooms. Within such areas, Dusthares live in small family groups; typically composed of 1-2 dominant males, 5-8 females, and offspring. Females of the same family group will assist each other in caring for each other's offspring, and often become overprotective if any outsiders come nearby. Dominant males have strict territories, which they patrol regularly; fighting, or chasing off any other males, or predatory entities that they find.

Whenever juvenile males of a family group grow old enough, their father will forcefully chase them off into exile - to potentially form a territory of their own. Whenever a family group gets overpopulated, some female Dusthares will also voluntarily exile themselves, to both avoid inbreeding within their group, and to join new groups.


Biology

Dusthares are omnivores - they've been known to feed on mosses, algae, lichen, certain molds and yeasts, fungi, Hall grass, eggs, small rodents, various invertebrates, and small insect-like entities; such as young Combines, small Rustbugs, and larval Death moths. Dusthares also feed on organisms that specialize in living within the dust.

Despite their size and defenses, they have been known to be hunted on by a variety of hostile entities; such as hounds and smilers, to list a few.
Dusthares are also occasionally hunted by humans, for their meat, tusks, and fur; though Dusthares are quite elusive beasts, so a hunter must be skilled, and well-adapted towards the Backrooms environment, to track them down.

Dusthares possess a few adaptations, which allow them to live within dust. Such adaptations include long eyelashes, whiskers, thick eyebrows, and hairs within both their nose and ears, to trap out dust particles.

Male and female Dusthares don't possess significant forms of sexual dimorphism; however, males are typically larger in size, with longer tusks, while females have thicker and dustier fur coats.
Although little is known about the overall breeding process, or life cycle of Dusthares, females have typically been reported to produce 1-4 "Dust bunnies" (baby Dusthares), per breeding season.

Young Dust bunnies are small, with long, thin, and straight blackish/dark gray hair; in contrast to the adult's thick, coarse, and shaggy fur. Dust bunnies also lack tusks. As Dust bunnies age into juveniles, they will gradually grow the traits of their adult form.

The fur of Dusthares seem to have peculiar properties; the fur generates mild electric shocks, which gets somewhat amplified by the layer of dusty coating on top. Dusthares use this ability as a passive defense/deterrent against enemies, as although relatively harmless, the electrical shocks seem to cause hostile entities to panic and run off.

Interestingly enough, fur harvested from Dusthares, and turned into dusty coats and tunics for human usage have the same effects on hostile entities. This makes the clothing useful attire to bring for Backrooms exploration. However, given the elusiveness and natural rarity of Dusthares, such fur clothing is high in value, and low in circulation.

Meat from Dusthares are often used in luxury/gourmet meals, given their rarity. The meat of Dusthares have a favorable, savory taste, but somewhat firm texture.

In recent times, isolated communities and outposts have captured and raised small groups of Dusthares, in an attempt to eventually domesticate these animals. However, given the nature of Dusthares, such a domestication process will not be an easy feat.


Subspecies: Mosshare

Deep, within levels with dense foliage, hot temperatures, and high humidity, Mosshare sightings had been reported.

Little is known about these creatures, as they've only been spotted a handful of times; however a carcass of one has been found within Level [placeholder jungle level], which has given a slight insight on this highly rare subspecies.

From observations of the carcass, it appears that instead of cultivating dust on their fur for camouflage, like typical Dusthares, the fur coats of Mosshares appear to cultivate a wide variety of ferns, mosses, algae, lichen, fungi, and small animals; similar to that of baseline sloths. Also like sloth's fur, it appears that certain species of flora, fungi, and fauna are specialized, to live exclusively on the fur of Mosshares. Mosshare fur also appears to clump together, to form leaf-like and fern-like shapes, further improving camouflage in the dense foliage they inhabit.

Mosshares also appear to possess a pair of jagged, venomous fangs, which it possibly may use for hunting prey, or self defense.


Discovery of Dusthares

As Dusthares are elusive, skittish creatures with a natural rarity to them, they were not discovered until the early 1940's. Starting in 1942, naturalist and biologist, Dustin Glovensfelt, and his colleagues performed an expedition towards exploring 4,000 miles within the farther reaches of Level 1's halled wilderness; resulting in the discovery of many entities, level anomalies, and sublevels within Level 1.

During this expedition in March 16th, 1943, a lone, young adult Dusthare was found close to the crew's temporary camp, and was noted to sniff around curiously at the walking canes and empty tin cans -lying around, from after the previous nights supper. Dustin Glovensfelt took a liking to this dusty, scruffy little creature, and set up camp for a few more days, to further observation studies on it, and a nearby group of Dusthares.

After the series of expeditions, in 1946, Dustin Glovensfelt and his colleagues became renowned, for kick-starting the study of Backrooms biology.

In the early 1950's, a series of make-shift stuffed animals were made in respect of Dustin Glovensfelt; called "Dustin bunnies". These became a popular and widespread toy, for children, among many of the Backroom's settlements.


Potential evolutionary origins

Due to their rabbit-like appearance, one could assume that the Dusthare's origins came from a population of Baseline reality rabbits that no-clipped into the Backrooms. However, it has instead been theorized that Dusthares are a branched-off lineage of the "Rodentaforms" (the classification of rodent-like entities, including Skitters, Death Rats, Jerboas, and others), with their common ancestors being Baseline reality mice.

In the modern era of Backroom civilization, developing genetic testing technologies have been used to help strengthen the Rodentaform Theory.


Survival Guide

It is unlikely that a typical wanderer would stumble upon a Dusthare's territory. However, if you somehow do come in contact with a Dusthare, it is recommended that you keep a distance from these creatures; as it can be difficult to tell whether it will attack or flee, so having more distance from a defensive Dusthare is best. Also, keeping a consistent distance from the creature will potentially avoid it from seeing you as a threat.

If you stick around a defensive Dusthare, and get attacked, there are a few things to consider:

•Although not the most powerful attacks, the kicks of a Dusthare's hind legs can still pack a notable punch; either avoid their hind legs, or find a reliable method for restraining their legs, to prevent kicks.

•The mild electrical shocks of a Dusthare's fur can temporarily stun their attacker, and cause brief panic. However, wearing shock-resistant clothes, using non-conductive tools, or avoiding physical contact with the creature's fur (for instance, projectile weapons) can counter this shock attack.

•The tusks of Dusthares can leave seriously nasty cuts, or impalement wounds. However, disinfecting and bandaging these injuries up can help improve your chances of surviving; granted you have access to such supplies in Dusthare territory - far away from most major settlements.


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