Neri
Classification: Mammal
Average Size: Small.
Diet: Herbivores
Distinctions: Delicious, Pest, Live in Packs.
The neri is a species of small mammals that inhabits the planet Ti'rok, dwelling mostly in forests and underground tunnels. Their head-to-body length ranges from 51 to 63 centimetres (20.1 to 25 inches), with a 28–48.5 cm (11.0–19.1 in) tail, and it weighs between 3.2 and 15 kg (7.1 and 33.1 lb). A neri has dense grey-white fur all over its body, which also covers the tough hides of their backsides. As a neri matures, it grows small horn-like stubs on its back, with more appearing as they advance in age. Their flat physiques are shaped by their flexible ribs, which allows them to deform and elongate them somewhat simply by inhaling air. This works both for burrowing and squeezing into small tunnels in which they like to nest, and also to withstand blunt trauma to some degree.
They are herbivores and their primary diet consists of fruit (though they'll eat roots, leaves, and berries as well), particularly some of the sweeter fruits of Ti'rok. Assumingly because of this, their meat is described as very delicious and makes them suitable for a wide range of dishes. To protect themselves from predators, they bundle up together in their nests and inflate their bodies with their hardened backs facing outwards, forming a near impregnable wall. The size of neri nests varies, with some of the smallest groups being less than 6, while most are around a dozen or more.
Neri are relatively harmless, as they can be more a nuisance to get rid of if they decide to burrow near populated areas, and they have sometimes been drawn to generators and the like for the residual heat. Given their small size and cute appearance, some neri have been claimed as pets, though they do not really thrive well without a group.