Joustots

Joustots are a fictional species of herbivorous ungulates described in world-building and fantasy bestiaries. They are noted for a distinctive social mating display known as jousting, which combines ritualized horn clashes with postural signaling. In most depictions, joustots are native to temperate grasslands and lightly forested foothills of a fictional continent or planet, where they form seasonal herds and occupy open, browse-rich habitats.

Physical description

Joustots are medium-sized, compact ungulates with a robust neck and a pair of forward-curving horns. Adults typically stand about 1.0 to 1.2 meters at the shoulder and weigh roughly 60 to 110 kilograms. Their coats range from pale straw to light brown, often with a darker dorsal stripe or blotching that provides camouflage in dappled light. The horns are keratin-covered and grow in tandem, used in ritual displays and non-lethal duels during social interactions and mating seasons. They possess a ruminant digestive system adapted to grazing on grasses and low shrubs.

Behavior and ecology

Joustots live in mixed-sex herds that can number from a few individuals to several dozen. They are mostly diurnal, grazing in the morning and late afternoon, with mid-day rests. Social structure centers on a dominant female group with subordinate males and yearlings. Males participate in jousting bouts to establish or defend social status, but fights are generally non-lethal and steered toward displays and horn taps. Predation pressure comes from felids and avian scavengers in some settings, while humans or humanoid caretakers may manage herds for labor or ceremonial purposes.

Reproduction and life cycle

Breeding occurs seasonally, with single offspring or rare twins after a gestation period comparable to other small ungulates. Calves are independent after several months and join the herd as juveniles. Wild joustots have lifespans often extending into the mid-teens in favorable conditions.