gestral

Gestral is a fictional species of herbivorous mammal commonly featured in fantasy literature and gaming. It is described as a medium-sized ungulate that inhabits temperate forests and marsh edges in northern regions. Adults typically measure around 1.1 to 1.4 meters at the shoulder and weigh 150 to 230 kilograms. The fur is dense and seasonal, ranging from pale gray-brown in summer to darker charcoal in winter. A distinctive feature is a low dorsal crest of longer hair and a short pair of horn-like ridges on the forehead; both sexes may bear these structures, though size is usually greater in males.

Gestrals are social, forming mixed-sex herds of six to twenty-five animals. They are primarily crepuscular, foraging on grasses, shrubs, and bark near stream banks. They communicate with a combination of vocal calls, scent marking, and body language, and calves rely on herd protection.

Reproduction occurs annually in many settings, with a gestation period of roughly nine months and a singleton calf born in spring. Calves are cared for by the herd and weaned after several months. In-world lore, Gestrals symbolize endurance and stealth, and their hides are sometimes used in crafts or rituals.

Taxonomy varies by source, but in many imagined classifications Gestral is placed among the order Artiodactyla, in a standalone family Gestralidae or within a broader ungulate grouping.