Mantabungal
“ Locals in the area claim that this furry, demon-like creature is skulking around the Palawan Highlands. The scientist believes it to be the last surviving Southeast Asian hippopotamus. ”
– Eostre
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Synapsida
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Hippopotamidae
Subfamily: Hippopotaminae
Genus: Imparodon
Species: Imparodon balabaca
Descendant: Hexaprotodon
Named by: ugh
Year Published: ???
Size: 75–100 cm (2.46–3.28 ft) high at the shoulder, are 150–175 cm (4.92–5.74 ft) in length and weigh 180–275 kg (397–606 lb)
Lifespan: 30-50+ years
Activity: Cathemeral 🌅🌃
Thermoregulate: Endotherm
Type:
Synapsids
Mammals (Hippos)
Mythical
Guardian
Title:
Last Remaining Southeast Asian Hippo
Pantheon:
Terran/Gaian 🇺🇳
Filipino 🇵🇭
Time Period: Pleistocene–Holocene
Alignment: Neutral
Threat Level: ★★★★★
Diet: Carnivorous
Elements: Water 🌊
Inflicts: Bleeding 🩸
Weaknesses: Electric ⚡, Leaf 🌿
Casualties: ???
Based On: itself
Conservation Status: Endangered (EN) – IUCN Red List
Mantabungal (Imparodon balabaca) is one of the mythical creatures and guardians found on Palawan Island. Thus, this is the only hippopotamus in Southeast Asia so far, as an animal like Tikbalang, a last-known chalicothere, almost reached the Wallace Line.
The Latin word hippopotamus is derived from the ancient Greek ἱπποπόταμος (hippopótamos), from ἵππος (híppos) 'horse' and ποταμός (potamós) 'river,' together meaning 'horse of the river.' In English (1700s-2700s), the plural is "hippopotamuses," and in the 2700s-present, the hippopotamus was replaced by their native word as "eddicau," which means "river cow" to avoid foreign-influenced loanwords.
The word Mantabungal (ᝫᝦᝪᝳᝥ) is the Tagbanwa and Palaweno for this monster.
Mantabungal is a hideous, fuzzy hippopotamus that is sometimes confused with elephants that lack trunks and have four log incisors. Their three-toed, elephantine feet and chestnut or chocolate fur coat colors are useful for camouflage. Their eyes are brown, and their skin is grayish brown.
In enraged form, the Mantabungal roars its own cry with a dark element that causes darkness and blindness; yet, when not enraged, it cannot fuse with any dark element. Hippos have the strongest bites of any terrestrial animal, including the manatee, and can cause tremors without being approached by stamping their limbs. Despite lacking the enormous plates of cattle, horses, and elephants, manatees have hippo-like teeth that they employ to chew up tough water grasses. The incisors and canines are usually utilized to battle opponents rather than to feed.
The mantabungal is today the last apex predator in Palawan province for unexplained reasons after tigers and crocodiles vanished at the end of the Pleistocene. Mantabungal, on the other hand, is a herbivorous species that consumes acorns, pine cones, roots, buds, stems, and even coconuts. The majority of predators in the Mantabungal are other guardians and saltwater crocodiles.
Mantabungal is a legendary monster that is neutral and never bothers anyone by itself. It is also believed by all Tagbanua that it never kills or injures non-Tagbanua, including Eurasians and Africans (not Aeta, who are autochthonic). Similar to hippos, mantabungals are massive and heavy creatures that lack speed and frequently use violence as their main defense method.
ugh
Mantabungal was found in Palawan, Philippines and is very small in population according to locals. It is found primarily in the forests of Victoria Peaks.
Movement Pattern: Not a Migrant
Individual Type: Random
Population Trend: Stable
Population: 400
Locomotion: Amphibious
Habitat: Temperate Coniferous Forests; Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests; Temperate Deciduous Forests, Temperate Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands; Subtropical Coniferous Forests; Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests; Subtropical Dry Broadleaf Forests; Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands; Tropical Coniferous Forests; Tropical Moist Broadleaf Forests; Tropical Dry Broadleaf Forests; Tropical Grasslands; Tropical Savannas and Shrublands; Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands, and Scrub; Deserts and Xeric Shrublands; Badlands; Flooded Grasslands and Savannas; Swamp; Bayous/Billabongs; Riparian; Wetland; Mangrove Forest; Cold Bamboo Forests; Tropical Bamboo Forests; Air-breathing Coral Reefs; Graveyard Vale; Warm River; Cold River; Lukewarm River; Subterranean River; Warm Pond; Cold Pond.
Earth:
Extant (Resident): Philippines (Palawan)
The hippos are easy to tame, you can easily knock them out with your fists or by using a tranquilizer on the entire body or slingshot on the head.
Coming soon
ugh
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