No, not at all. It just isn't relevant to the space exploration side of things, even if it might be interesting.
Interlude: Wrixom Wildlife Primer
From the air, it might appear to the untrained observer as if Wrixom is a veritable Garden of Eden. Vast stretches of untouched greenery are visible where forests and grasslands stretch across the continent, seemingly unmarred by the concrete and metal constructions that so embody our idea of civilization.
Of course, the trained observer would know better. He would spot the strange mound-shaped mountains squatting squarely in the centre of these green paradises or sticking awkwardly from the sides of mountains. He would notice the thin wisps of smoke escaping these heaps through various small apertures. And he would definately notice the slew of anti-aircraft missiles that seemingly spring up from the ground when he flies too close.
But back to the wilds of Wrixom. As most of its 'civilization', that of the Wrix, is underground, the surface is pretty much unspoilt and inhabited by rapid-breeding herbivores of all sizes. All herbivores that were unable to breed rapidly had been hunted to extinction or close to it by the Wrix ages ago. Of course, there are also a number of predators and omnivores that subsist fully or partially on these plant-eating monsters, but they are smaller in number and have learnt long ago not to interfere with Wrix hunting parties. A vibrant small insectoid biosphere rounds out the ecosystem, but in the food chain they are too far removed from things that interest us and as such will not be mentioned further. We will concentrate on creatures of immediate interest to the Wrix.
Drurr - A large four-legged mammalian herbivore slightly bigger than an elephant. They appear to have a long neck, but it is more like an elephant's trunk than a giraffe's neck, except for the fact that it has a skeletal structure and jaws at the tip. One eye is positioned on each side of this 'trunk'. Their name comes from the sound they make when threatened, a sort of growling bellow, and the fact that the Wrix are notoriously uncreative when it comes to names. They are highly intelligent, perhaps comparable to certain primates, and congregate in large herds capable of rapidly defoliating entire grasslands and forests. With their relatively rapid breeding rates and large bulk, they form the staple of the Wrix diet.
Grueler - A medium sized four legged mammalian carnivore that seems to have many canine characteristics. It can best be described as a Pit Bull grown to the size of a Great Dane. They also hunt in packs and a large pack can, given sufficient time, take down even a Drurr. They are NOT domesticated in any way as the Wrix find the concept of domestication of anything you don't intend to eat very alien. They are the Wrix primary competitor for food and it is not unheard of for a hunting party to be attacked by these aggressive predators.
Reaper - Once the most prolific and successful predator on Wrixom for eons before it was nearly hunted to extinction by the Wrix, this massive bird of prey will hunt anything smaller than itself which is the size of small car. It looks more like a large bat than a bird, and instead of a beak it has a maw of razor sharp teeth capable of rapidly devouring any prey. Though somewhat clumsy in the air, it is nevertheless an excellent hunter. It hunts by diving on its prey, using its mass and its razor sharp talons and teeth to slam into its prey and eat it right there on the ground. Nowadays, it is easily shot out of the air by modern weapons and has almost been driven to extinction despite its own prolific breeding tempo as its clifftop nests are plundered. Our major interest is the effect it had in shaping the evolotionary paths of the other creatures on Wrixom. No land-bound creature that relied on speed could hope to survive against this aerial scourge on the open plains and hence Wrixom has no antelope or equivalents. All its herbivores rely on bulk and natural weaponry to protect themselves.
Epin - Possibly the dumbest animal ever to walk the surface of any planet. Ever. Also one of the strangest. It is a pony-sized six-legged mammalian creature that positively infests the vast open grass plains. It lays eggs in large clutches at a time, buried in shallow nests in the ground and breeds ferociously, if stupidly. On any other planet they would be considered a plague. On Wrixom, they are considered snacks. Currently, this is the only creature actively domesticated simply because they require no domestication. They are slow and their only defences are the short spines protruding from the fur on their back which provides at least a modicum of protection against diving Reapers, but have no offensive use. The secret to their success is their relatively simple anatomy which allows rapid growth. Unfortunately this also means that they are the carnivore's equivalent of junk food, easy to catch but not having all the required nutrients for a growing predator.
More to come later. The Wrix fear none of these creatures, of course, and have hunted many to extinction over the past years.
