Hengerelks

Hengerelks are a fictional species of large deer-like ungulates described in speculative zoology and regional folklore. They are said to inhabit dense boreal and temperate forests of the northern Kraev Highlands, forming small, loosely organized herds.

Description: Adults stand about 1.2 to 1.5 meters at the shoulder and weigh 180 to 320 kilograms. Males bear broad antlers up to 1.6 meters wide with five to nine tines. Velvet covers the antlers each season and, in some stories, hosts bioluminescent fungi that emit a faint glow at night. Coat color ranges from dark brown to gray, with lighter rump patches and facial markings for kin recognition.

Ecology and behavior: Hengerelks are primarily crepuscular, feeding on grasses, shrubs, bark, and aquatic vegetation along rivers. They favor riparian corridors and migrate seasonally between forest and meadow zones. Rut occurs in autumn; males display antlers and engage in ritual bouts. Calves are usually single; gestation runs around 230 days.

Human connections: In Kraev folklore, hengerelks are guardians of rivers and weather, appearing in ceremonial art and stories. They are symbols of endurance and ecological balance. In fictional field guides, they have a defined geographic range and behavioral repertoire, though they lack standing in real-world taxonomic status or conservation data.

Taxonomy: In fiction, they are placed in Cervidae, subfamily Capreolinae, genus Hengerelcus, with subspecies H. ignis and H. ceruleus.