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Fuzzbutts Notes: Hybrids
🕑 Added 2023-02-25 22:10:01 +0000 UTCI get questions about hybrids a lot, so I thought I’d make a lil quickie guide. Reproduction in FB is a solid blend of genetics and bullshit. >:3
In the world of FB, it’s sometimes thought that any two animals can, in theory, reproduce. In actuality, however, many animals possess incompatible anatomy (eg. egg-layers vs placental mammals) or drastic size differences that make reproduction dangerous, unlikely, or downright impossible. For this reason, most critters opt to stick within their own species (or close to it) when it comes to settling down and raising families. Adoption is also fairly popular for mixed-species and same-species couples alike.
This is not to say biological reproduction is out of the cards for interspecies couples. The usual product of these unions is a “false hybrid”. An example of this would be Priscilla, a housecat born to a lioness mother and domestic cat father. Priscilla is 100% domestic cat, Felis catus. Yet she nonetheless shares some small traits with her mother, such as Shari’s blue eyes….and were anyone brave enough to shave Shari, they’d find the skin underneath her golden fur to be the same shade of purplish-pink as Priscilla’s. The genetics behind the false hybrid are yet to be fully understood.
True hybrids can only be created between closely related species. If two animals can hybridize in the real world, then they can hybridize in Fuzzbutts. Canines make up the bulk of the world’s mammalian hybrids, ranging from mixed-breed domestic dogs to coyote/dog, dog/wolf, coyote/wolf, and dingo/dog crosses. Rarer examples are ligers (lion/tiger) and grolar bears (grizzly/polar bear). True hybrids become impossible when the parent species are not related enough. A dog and a wolf can make a true hybrid, but a dog and a fox can only make a falsie.
There’s a strange cultural clash between true hybrids and false hybrids. True hybrids may envy false hybrids for their easier time fitting in, or they may regard them as regular animals trying to feel special by claiming hybrid status. False hybrids may envy that true hybrids more obviously resemble both of their parents, as falsies may have a harder time bonding with their other parent (eg. Priscilla is too small to safely spar with Shari at the gym). Falsies may also experience mockery and disdain over their mixed parentage, and thus may express that true hybrids are unnatural freaks in a desperate bid to fit in.
Comments
Bigsmile
Exactly! You nailed it! Large animal accommodations are important in the nation and the large Critter party have been lobbying for national standardized accommodation and reasonable housing prices for the bigger folk of the land! It's an important issue....... But we're a city of bats and blind lizards in a cave community
Dean
I AM THINKING I AM THINKING I AM THINKING- I like your idea a lot. I think while on a larger scale like national elections would still be based on some sort of progressive/reactionary party binary like real life America, smaller local elections would be much more heavily aimed towards independent parties. I liked the ones you brought up a lot, like aquatic and herd animals, avian etc. For example a city made up mostly of birds of prey would probably elect avian-aligned officials. However in a more general city such as the main location FB takes place in, Critter City, would have a more diverse population, so more generalized politicians would have to say they were advocating for idk for example, aquatic accessibility, even tho they aren't part of the proper aquatic party themselves. I am having so many thoughts rn.
Bigsmile
I'd imagine that instead of a 2 party system there would be many parties and groups all representing specific peoples with specific interests and needs. Predator, prey, aquatic, birds, herd, solitary, etc etc etc.
SmilesPerHour
I’m a big biology nerd, so I love learning about the genetic structures of Fuzzbutts! You really did your research, Lop :)
Lopoddity
A friend of mine used to joke that Biscuit and Buddy definitely voted for “Dognald Trump”, a yappy lying pug. This is a good question! I’ll definitely have to think on it further. FB is set in a loose analogue of the United States, except that the main location, Critter City, is largely walkable, instead of a dead sprawling urban wasteland studded with parking lots and the occasional Walmart. The existence of Honey implies a two-party political system, with a similar government structure as America….though I’m not sure I want to make my world a DIRECT copy of America. This is meant to be escapism after all, and there’s certain socio-political issues I just don’t want to think about more than I already have to, especially juxtaposed against a silly furry universe. Honey is a self-proclaimed conservative and implied to be something close to an evangelical. She calls Skye a “liberal”, though Skye would probably describe herself as a progressive. I really must do more thinking on the government of FB, as well as the way social issues would be approached by animals instead of humans.
Dean
The discussion of discourse between the two hybrid factions reminded me to ask- how does politics work in Fuzzbutts world? Or at least the country which the main cast inhabits. Given the political nature of the themes of this work I'm just curious. Like, is it an America expy with a congress and a Supreme Court and a President or is it something else entirely? What are some common views on species related issues among various political groups? This isn't like some bait question btw I'm genuinely curious 😭
