In the level of the emergents there live primarily birds, in particular parrots, long-billed fleers, and needle-tailed lits. Monkeys and tree urts, and snakes and insects, however, can also be found in this highest level. In the second level, that of the canopies, is found an incredible variety of birds, Warblers, finches, mindars, the crested lit and the common lit, the fruit tindel, the yellow gim, tanagers, some varieties of parrot, and many more. Here, too, may be found snakes and monkeys, gliding urts, leaf urts, squirrels, climbing, long-tailed porcupines, lizards, sloths, and the usual varieties of insects, ants, centipedes, scorpions, beetles and flies, and so on. In the lower portion of the canopies, too, can be found heavier birds, such as the ivory-billed woodpecker and the umbrella bird. Guernon monkeys, too, usually inhabit this level. In the ground zone, and on the ground itself, are certain birds, some flighted, like the hook-billed gort, which preys largely on rodents, such as ground urts, and the insectivorous whistling finch, and some unflighted, like the grub borer and lang gim. Along the river, of course, many other species of birds may be found, such as jungle gants, tufted fishers and ring-necked and yellow-legged waders. Also in the ground zone are varieties of snake, such as the ost and hith, and numerous species of insects. The rock spider has been mentioned, and termites, also. Termites, incidentally, are extremely important to the ecology of the forest. In their feeding they break down and destroy the branches and trunks of fallen trees. The termite “dust,” thereafter, by the action of bacteria, is reduced to humus, and the humus to nitrogen and mineral materials. In the lower branches of the “ground zone” may be found, also, small
animals, such as tarsiers, nocturnal jit monkeys, black squirrels, four-toed leaf urts, jungle varts and the prowling, solitary giani, tiny, cat-sized panthers, not dangerous to man. On the floor itself are also found several varieties of animal life, in particular marsupials, such as the armored gatch, and rodents, such as slees and ground urts. Several varieties of tarsk, large and small, also inhabit this zone. More than six varieties of anteater are also found here, and more than twenty kinds of small, fleet, single-horned tabuk. On the jungle floor, as well, are found jungle larls and jungle panthers, of diverse kinds, and many smaller catlike predators. These, on the whole, however, avoid men. They are less dangerous in the rain forest, generally, than in the northern latitudes. I do not know why this should be the case. Perhaps it Is because in the rain forest food is usually plentiful for them, and, thus, there is little temptation for them to transgress the boundaries of their customary prey categories. They will, however, upon occasion, particularly if provoked or challenged, attack with dispatch. Conspicuously absent in the rain forests of the Ua were sleen. This is just as well for the sleen, commonly, hunts on the first scent it takes upon emerging from its burrow after dark. Moreover it hunts single-mindedly and tenaciously. It can be extremely dangerous to men, even more so, I think, than the Voltai, or northern, larl. I think the sleen, which is widespread on Gor, is not found, or not frequently found, in the jungles because of the enormous rains, and the incredible dampness and humidity. Perhaps the sleen, a burrowing, furred animal, finds itself uncomfortable in such a habitat There is, however, a sleenlike
animal, though much smaller, about two feet in length and some eight to ten pounds in weight, the zeder, which frequents the Ua and her tributaries. It knifes through the water by day and, at night, returns to its nest, built from sticks and mud in the branches of a tree overlooking the water.
Explorers
“Watch out!” I said.
The tarsk, a small one, no more than forty pounds, tasked, snorting, bits of leaf scattering behind it, charged.
It swerved, slashing with its curved tusks, and I only man. aged to turn it aside with the point of the raider’s spear I carried, one of four such weapons we had had since our brief skirmish with raiders, that in which we had obtained our canoe, that which had occurred in the marsh east of Ushindi. It had twisted hack on me with incredible swiftness.
The blond-haired barbarian screamed.
I thrust at it again. Again it spun and charged. Again I thrust it back. There was blood on the blade of the spear and the animal’s coat was glistening with it. Such animals are best hunted from the back of kaiila with lances, in the open. They are cunning, persistent and swift. The giant tarsk, which can stand ten hands at the shoulder, is even hunted with lances from tarnback.
It snuffled and snorted, and again charged. Again I diverted its slashing weight. One does not follow such an animal into the bush. It is not simply a matter of reduced visibility but it is also a matter of obtaining free play for one’s weapons. Even in the open, as I was, in a clearing among trees, it is hard to use one’s spear to its best advantage, the animal stays so close to you and moves so quickly.
Suddenly it turned its short wide head, with that bristling mane running down its back to its tail. “Get behind me!” I called to the girl. It put down its head, mounted on that short, thick neck, and, scrambling, charged at the blond-haired barbarian. She stumbled back, screaming, and, the animal at her legs, fell. But in that moment, from the side, I thrust the animal from her. It, immediately, turned again. I thrust it again to the side. This time, suddenly, before it could turn again, I, with a clear stroke, thrust the spear through its thick-set body, behind the right foreleg.
I put my head back, breathing heavily.
Pressing against the animal with my foot I freed the spear.
Explorers
Animals
Anteater - more than six varieties More than six varieties of anteater are also found here,...
Explorers
One variety - great spined anteater
20+ feet long
Shuffles when it moves
Long thin tongue - 4 feet long - coated withadhesive saliva A great spined anteater, more than twenty feet in length, shuffled about the
edges of the camp. We saw its long, thin tongue dart in and out of its mouth.
The blond-haired barbarian crept closer to me.
"It is harmless," I said, "unless you cross its path or disturb it."
It lived on the white ants, or termites, of the vicinity, breaking apart their
high, towering nests of toughened clay, some of them thirty-five feet in
height, with its mighty claws, then darting its four-foot-long tongue, coated
with adhesive saliva, among the nest's startled occupants, drawing thousands
in a matter of moments into its narrow, tubelike mouth.
Explorers
Armored Gatch - a marsupial that lives on the
floor of the rain forest On the floor itself are also found several varieties of animal life, in
particular marsupials, such as the armored gatch, and rodents, such as slees
and ground urts.
Explorers
Slee a rodent that lives on the floor of the rain forest
Urt - ground urt - a rodent that lives on the
floor of the rain forest
Tarsier - a small animal that lives in the
lower branches of the ground zone of the rain forest
Jit Monkey - Small monkey living in the lower
branches of the ground zone of the rain forest.
Nocturnal
Kailiauk In Schendi there were many leather workers, usually engaged in the tooling
of kailiauk hide, brought from the interior. Such leather, with horn, was one
of the major exports of Schendi. Kailiauk are four-legged, wide-headed,
lumbering, stocky ruminants. Their herds are usually found in the savannahs
and plains north and south of the rain forests, but some herds frequent the
forests as well. These animals are short-trunked and tawny. They commonly have
brown and reddish bars on the haunches. The males, tridentlike, have three
horns. These horns bristle from their foreheads. The males are usually about
ten hands at the shoulders and the females about eight hands. The males
average about four hundred to five hundred Gorean stone in weight, some
sixteen hundred to two thousand pounds, and the females average about three
to four hundred Gorean stone in weight, some twelve hundred to sixteen hundred
pounds.
Explorers
Squirrel - black - Small squirrel that lives
in the lower branches of the ground zone of the rain forest
Tharlarion “Look!” said Ayari, pointing off to the left.
There we saw a tharlarion, sunning itself on a bar. As we neared it it slipped
into the water and swam away.
“We are within the river,” said Kisu. “I am sure of it.”
Explorers
Urt - Leaf Urt - Small rodent that lives in the
lower branches of the ground zone of the rain forest.
Four-toed
Vart - Jungle Vart - Bat-like animal that lives in the
lower branches of the ground zone of the rain forest
The Vart is a small, sharp-toothed winged mammal, carnivorous, which
commonly flies in flocks.
Explorers
Giani - Tiny, cat-sized panther that lives in
the lower branches of the ground zone of the rain forest.
Prowling
Solitary
Not dangerous to man
...In the lower branches of the "ground zone" may be found, also, small
animals, such as tarsiers, nocturnal jit monkeys, black squirrels, four-toed
leaf urts, jungle varts and the prowling, solitary giani, tiny, cat-sized
panthers, not dangerous to man....
---Explorers of Gor, 32:312
Larl - Jungle Larl - Lives on the jungle floor
Panther - Jungle Panther - Lives on the jungle floor
...On the jungle floor, as well, are found jungle larls and jungle panthers,
of diverse kinds, and many smaller catlike predators. These, on the whole,
however, avoid men. They are less dangerous in the rain forest, generally,
than in the northern latitudes. I do not know why this should be the case.
Perhaps it is because in the rain forest food is usually plentiful for them,
and, thus, there is little temptation for them to transgress the boundaries
of their customary prey categories. They will, however, upon occasion,
particularly if provoked or challenged, attack with dispatch....
---Explorers of Gor, 32:312
Snakes
Monkeys
Urts - Gliding Urts
Squirrels
Porcupine
Lizards
Sloth
Ants
Centipedes
Scorpion
Beetles
Flies
Here, too, may be found snakes and monkeys, gliding urts, leaf urts, squirrels,
climbing, long-tailed porcupines, lizards, sloths, and the usual varieties of
insects, ants, centipedes, scorpions, beetles and flies, and so on. In the
lower portion of the canopies, too, can be found heavier birds, such as the
ivory-billed woodpecker and the umbrella bird. Guernon monkeys, too, usually
inhabit this level....
... In the lower branches of the "ground zone" may be found, also, small
animals, such as tarsiers, nocturnal jit monkeys, black squirrels, four-toed
leaf urts, jungle varts and the prowling, solitary giani, tiny, cat-sized
panthers, not dangerous to man....
---Explorers of Gor, 32:311-312
...Here, too, may be found snakes and monkeys, gliding urts, leaf urts,
squirrels, climbing, long-tailed porcupines, lizards, sloths, and the usual
varieties of insects, ants, centipedes, scorpions, beetles and flies, and so
on....
---Explorers of Gor, 32:311
...Conspicuously absent in the rain forests of the Ua were sleen. This is just
as well for the sleen, commonly, hunts on the first scent it takes upon
emerging from its burrow after dark. Moreover it hunts single-mindedly and
tenaciously. It can be extremely dangerous to men, even more so, I think,
than the Voltai, or northern, larl. I think the sleen, which is widespread
on Gor, is not found, or not frequently found, in the jungles because of the
enormous rains, and the incredible dampness and humidity. Perhaps the sleen,
a burrowing, furred animal, finds itself uncomfortable in such a habitat.
There is, however, a sleenlike animal, though much smaller, about two feet
in length and some eight to ten pounds in weight, the zeder, which frequents
the Ua and her tributaries. It knifes through the water by day and, at night,
returns to its nest, built from sticks and mud in the branches of a tree
overlooking the water.
---Explorers of Gor, 32:312
...On the floor itself are also found several varieties of animal life, in
particular marsupials, such as the armored gatch, and rodents, such as
slees and ground urts. Several varieties of tarsk, large and small, also
inhabit this zone. More than six varieties of anteater are also found here,
and more than twenty kinds of small, fleet, single-horned tabuk....
---Explorers of Gor, 32:312
..."In the lower branches of the "ground zone" may be found, also, small
animals, such as tarsiers, nocturnal jit monkeys, black squirrels, four-toed
leaf urts, jungle varts and the prowling, solitary giani, tiny, cat-sized
panthers, not dangerous to man....
---Explorers of Gor, 32:312
...There is, however, a sleenlike animal, though much smaller, about two feet
in length and some eight to ten pounds in weight, the zeder, which frequents
the Ua and her tributaries. It knifes through the water by day and, at night,
returns to its nest, built from sticks and mud in the branches of a tree
overlooking the water.
---Explorers of Gor, 32:312
Birds
Birds living on the floor or ground zone of the jungle
Birds living in the canopy level of the jungle
Warblers - live in the canopy of the jungle
Finches - live in the canopy of the jungle
Mindars - live in the canopy of the jungle
Kisu pointed overhead. “See the mindar,” he said.
We looked up and saw a brightly plumaged, short-winged, sharp-billed bird. It
was yellow and red.
“That is a forest bird,” said Kisu.
The mindar is adapted for short, rapid flights, almost spurts, its wings
beating in sudden flurries,: hurrying it from branch to branch, for camouflage
in flower trees, and for drilling the bark of such trees for larvae and grubs.
Explorers
Lit - Crested - lives in the canopy of the jungle
Lit - Common - live in the canopy of the jungle
Fruit Tindel - lives in the canopy of the jungle
Yellow Gim - lives in the canopy of the jungle
Tanagers - live in the canopy of the jungle
Parrots - some varieties live in the canopy of the jungle
In the second level, that of the canopies, is found an incredible variety
of birds, warblers, finches, mindars, the crested lit and the common lit, the
fruit tindel, the yellow gim, tanagers, some varieties of parrot, and many
more
Explorers
...In the ground zone, and on the ground itself, are certain birds, some
flighted, like the hook-billed gort, which preys largely on rodents, such as
ground urts, and the insectivorous whistling finch, and some unflighted, like
the grub borer and land gim. Along the river, of course, many other species
of birds may be found, such as jungle gants, tufted fishers and ring-necked
and yellow-legged waders....
---Explorers
...His head was surmounted by an elaborate headdress, formed largely from the
long, white, curling feathers of the Ushindi fisher, a long legged, wading
bird....
---Explorers
...Along the river, of course, many other species of birds may be found, such
as jungle gants, tufted fishers and ring-necked and yellow-legged waders....
---Explorers
...The canopy, or zone of the canopies, ranges from about sixty to one hundred
and twenty-five feet high, Gorean measure. The first zone extends from the
ground to the beginning of the canopies above, some sixty feet in height,
Gorean measure. We may perhaps, somewhat loosely, speak of this first zone as
the "floor," or, better, "ground zone," of the rain forest. In the level of
the emergents there live primarily birds, in particular parrots, long-billed
fleers, and needle-tailed lits....
---Explorers
...In the ground zone, and on the ground itself, are certain birds, some
flighted, like the hook-billed gort, which preys largely on rodents, such as
ground urts, and the insectivorous whistling finch, and some unflighted, like
the grub borer and land gim. Along the river, of course, many other species
of birds may be found, such as jungle gants, tufted fishers and ring-necked
and yellow-legged waders....
---Explorers
Coast gulls screamed overhead. The air was sharp and clear. The sky was very
blue.
"Those are Schendi gulls," said Ulafi, pointing to birds which circled about
the mainmast. "They nest on land at night."
---Explorers
Within the next Ahn we passed more than sixty bodies, dangling at the side of
the river. None was that of Shaba. About some of these bodies there circled
scavenging birds. On the shoulders of some perched small, yellow-winged
jards....
---Explorers
...Behind and about him had swirled a gigantic cloak of yellow and red
feathers, from the crested lit and the fruit tindel, brightly plumaged
birds of the rain forest....
---Explorers
...In the level of the emergents there live primarily birds, in particular
parrots, long-billed fleers, and needle-tailed lits....
---Explorers
...In the second level, that of the canopies, is found an incredible variety
of birds, warblers, finches, mindars, the crested lit and the common lit,
the fruit tindel, the yellow gim, tanagers, some varieties of parrot, and
many more....
---Explorers
In the level of the emergents there live primarily birds, in particular
parrots, long-billed fleers, and needle-tailed lits. Monkeys and tree urts,
and snakes and insects, however, can also be found in this highest level. In
the second level, that of the canopies, is found an incredible variety of
birds, warblers, finches, mindars, the crested lit and the common lit, the
fruit tindel, the yellow gim, tanagers, some varieties of parrot, and many
more....
---Explorers
...The canopy, or zone of the canopies, ranges from about sixty to one
hundred and twenty-five feet high, Gorean measure. The first zone extends
from the ground to the beginning of the canopies above, some sixty feet in
height, Gorean measure. We may perhaps, somewhat loosely, speak of this first
zone as the "floor," or, better, "ground zone," of the rain forest. In the
level of the emergents there live primarily birds, in particular parrots,
long-billed fleers, and needle-tailed lits....
---Explorers
...Behind and about him had swirled a gigantic cloak of yellow and red
feathers, from the crested lit and the fruit tindel, brightly plumaged birds
of the rain forest....
---Explorers
...In the lower portion of the canopies, too, can be found heavier birds,
such as the ivory-billed woodpecker and the umbrella bird....
---Explorers
...Monkeys and tree urts, and snakes and insects, however, can also be found
in this highest level. In the second level, that of the canopies, is found an
incredible variety of birds, warblers, finches, mindars, the crested lit and
the common lit, the fruit tindel, the yellow gim, tanagers, some varieties of
parrot, and many more....
---Explorers
...About some of these bodies there circled scavenging birds. On the shoulders
of some perched small, yellow-winged jards. One was attacked even by zads,
clinging to it and tearing at it with their long, yellowish, slightly curved
beaks. These were jungle zads. They are less to be feared than desert zads, I
believe, being less aggressive. They do, however, share one ugly habit with
the desert zad, that of tearing out the eyes of weakened victims. That serves
as a practical guarantee that the victim, usually an animal, will die.
Portions of flesh the zad will swallow and carry back to its nest, where it
will disgorge the flesh into the beaks of its fledglings. The zad is, in its
way, a dutiful parent.
---Explorers
Wildlife, plants and animals of the jungle on Gor
