While the Biancocene was for the Antarctic fauna a slow but steady extinction event, it cannot be technically defined as such due to its prolonged duration. Also, unlike classical extinctions where only a few small, generalist species persist, the Biancocene saw the survival of several relatively large and specialized forms. This is evident in the current herbivorous fauna, which has retained a similar structure to the late Biancocene ecosystem, with only a little glimpse of diversification.
Among the most notable examples of rapid diversfication, hoofpoles are the most notable example. Although only a single hoofpole species survived the Biancocene's end, a second wave of hoofpole colonization occurred a few million years after the Incertocene began, significantly boosting their biodiversity.
Hoofpoles now display a remarkable variation in size, with the crowned hoofpole (Apterungulatum maximus) being the largest known representative of their group in Antarctica and also the largest vertebrate currently present in Antarctica. Standing 4 meters tall and weighing up to 300 kilograms (660 lbs), it occupies a giraffe-like ecological niche, browsing on the highest foliage of the austral forests.
This hoofed bird shows a marked sexual dimorphism, with males being up to 30% larger than females and possessing a more uniform feather pattern and a colorful head crest used as sexual display. Both sexes lack feathers on the neck, a way to better disperse heat in the hot and dry environments where they dwell.
This species underwent a rapid increase in size at the start of the Incertocene: with the retreat of the Antarctic ice cap and the subsequent vegetation's increase, their ancestors doubled in size within a few generations, suggesting that the hoofpoles' size limitations prior to the Incertocene were primarily food scarcity and competition, but not biomechanic.
Crowned hoofpoles are easily recognized by their elongated cranial crest, from which they derive their name, and their relatively large eyes, an adaptation to their crepuscular activity. During the day, they remain concealed in dense riverine forests, becoming active during twilight hours when predators are less present.
As with the now-extinct erosion-poles, crowned hoofpoles have powerful hind limbs capable of supporting their body weight in an erect bipedal stance. However, unlike their slower extinct cousin, they can achieve short bursts of speed, with a confirmed maximum of 52 km/h. Despite their folivorous diet, their cursorial physique limits them to semi-open habitats such as those of the Great Depresseaon, where dry conditions and heavy trampling result in sparse, shrubby vegetation similar to a savanna wodland.
Crowned hoofpoles live in small social groups of up to 20 individuals and show a peaceful behaviour toward nearby herbivores. Yet when threatened, they transform into nightmare-fuel monsters. They emit loud, unsettling screeches to warn their group, and their long legs deliver lethal kicks capable of killing any inattentive predators. A raised leg is their typical defensive posture, reducing reaction time and increasing the impact of their strike. Encountering one at night, standing on a single leg and letting out its ghostly call, is a warning to keep your distance. No incertocenic predator has the gut to attack a fully-grown enraged crowned hoofpole.
Alarm call of a crowned hoofpole during a rainy day
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