Many animals exist on Hal Keone and it would be impossible to list them all here. The ones mentioned on this page show up frequently in Kius culture and myth.

*Note: Illustrations coming soon!
Also: Kiuses hunt a variety of small mammal-like creatures - some are tree-dwellers, some are land-bound; all play a crucial part in the lives of Kiuses. I've included some here, but more of those as well as other animals of Hal Keone will be added in the future.

Birds (Tayshon)
Deer (Naku)
Dragons (Wana)
Fish (Pamag)
Gega
Gwaket
Kanesh
Ranep
Snakes (Pakay)
Spiders (Mae)

Birds (Tayshon: tay-shown)

Description: Of similar variety and appearance as those on Earth.

Regions: Nearly all

Relationship to Kiuses: Birds are never killed for food or otherwise; it is also forbidden to eat eggs. It is believed that a bird was the first victim of murder (by a jealous gega). Through this incident, birds were the first to be visited by the God of Death and, subsequently the Goddess of Children. Because of this, birds are considered messengers of the gods.
The Cave Kiuses have a special relationship with the Egapa Tayshon - or "Village Bird" - who builds its nests in the thatched roofs of Cave Kius homes. These medium-sized birds eat mostly seeds and insects and are welcome to roost at villages as they eat insects that can ruin crops. It is the feathers of the Egapa Tayshon that Cave Kiuses wear in their ears to denote social status.

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Deer (Naku: na-koo)

Description: The name "Naku" applies to any ruminant of Hal Keone and so I use the label of "deer" rather loosely as there are antelope and gazelle-like animals as well as goat-like ones on the planet.

Regions: "Deer"-Naku inhabit dry forests; a pigmy type of "deer"-Naku lives on the forest floor of the massive rain forest of the South-West Territory; "antelope"-Naku live on open savannahs and a hardy, smaller variety can be found in the Great Desert of the North-West Territory; "goat"-Naku can be found in the Great Mountains as well as hilly regions of the North and South-East Territories.

Relationship to Kiuses: Naku are a primary source of food for many Kius races. Similar to the relationship of deer and buffalo to native cultures of North America, all parts of the animal are used whether it be for food, medicine, tools, toys, weapons and household goods like bed rolls and door and window-coverings. It is considered very important to hunt and kill the animal with honor and respect.

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Dragons (Wana: wa-na)

Description: There are two main species of wana on Hal Keone: the green, winged type called "puwana" - which are lithe and light, but still large enough to carry a heavy load while in flight (say a deer carcass or a Kius passenger); the other is the brown, wingless kind, called "guwana" - which has a stocky, heavier build. Within these two species there are several varieties that live in different parts of the world.

Regions: Nearly all land regions of Hal Keone

Relationship to Kiuses: Kiuses don't domesticate Wanas but instead share a relationship with them similar to that of mahouts of southern Asia and India. They only work with male Wanas as the females of both species are territorial as well as vicious hunters who wouldn't think twice about killing a Kius to feed their young.
Puwana are the main source of long-distance travel for Kiuses. An adult male can carry two adult Kiuses over great distances. Guwana serve as draft animals, capable of helping plow fields quickly and efficiently. They're also used in carrying large water basins for irrigation as well as heavy building materials.

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Fish (Pamag: pa-mag)

Description: Fish are as numerous and varied on Hal Keone as they are on Earth.

Regions: There are few bodies of water which do not contain fish of some species.

Relationship to Kiuses: Most Kius races eat fish to varying degrees with Crystal Kiuses being the leading fish-eaters of all the races by far. Deer Kiuses don't eat fish at all.

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Gega (gee-ga)

Description: Large predatory cat with long canine teeth (like a saber-toothed cat). They have tawny-colored fur and a mane similar to a lion's.

Regions: Native to the Northern hemisphere.

Relationship to Kiuses: Antagonist in Kius creation myth. Kiuses rarely hunt gegas, but will kill any that are spotted near a village as gegas do hunt and kill large prey and that can include Kiuses.

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Gwaket (gwa-keet)

Description: Dog-like mammal with large, sail-like ears. They have short and brown fur with thin black stripes running down their back and along the tail.

Regions: Indigenous to the North-West Territory. They can also be found in the Great Mountains. Mountain gwakets have smaller ears than their lowland cousins.

Relationship to Kiuses: Partially domesticated. Almost every village in the North-West Territory (Cave, Spider and Kakiu), has a gwaket pack living in or near the village grounds. Gwakets naturally watch over child and chase vermin from crops. Though the pack will hunt independently, several pack-members will regularly hunt with villagers. Gwaket social structure is similar to that of African wild dogs.

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Kanesh (ka-neesh)

Description: Small, dog-like mammal with a short, stubby tail. The main part of their body is covered in thick, wooly fur; their legs and head have much shorter fur.

Regions: Mostly the South-East Territory with a few in the southern woodlands of the North-Eastern lands.

Relationship to Kiuses: Partially domesticated. Kaneshes travel in mated pairs and couples often frequent Crystal Kius villages for food and protection when they have young pups. If a pair chooses to permanently live at one particular village, they'll drive away any others who come. Kaneshes will protect village children and crops from predators, but will not aid in village hunts as gwakets do.

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Ranep (ra-neep)

Description: Pig-like animal

Regions: Woodlands of the North-West Territory

Relationship to Kiuses: Cave Kiuses and Osham Kius hunt raneps for food. Their hides produce a thick, durable leather.

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Snakes (Pakay: pa-kay)

Description: Similar in appearance to Terran snakes. There are both venomous as well as non-venomous varieties.

Regions: Can be found in all regions of Hal Keone with the exception of extreme polar regions.

Relationship to Kiuses: Nearly all Kius races will eat snakes save for those of the North-East Territory (the Deer and Snake Kiuses) who consider them holy beings because of their beauty, cleanliness and quick and clever hunting techniques.

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Spiders (Mae: mah-ee)

Description: Similar in appearance and variety as those on Earth.

Regions: All habitable regions

Relationship to Kiuses: The tarantula-like desert spider of the North-West Territory is a delicacy to the Spider Kiuses who enjoy catching and roasting the arachnids. The Winged Kiuses are the only other race who eats spiders, though they prefer them raw - as they do with most other insects they eat. The other races either ignore spiders or consider them vermin.
The Crystal have a particular fear of the poisonous cave varieties that inhabit their lands. One bite from a cave spider can kill and adult Kius in hours.