Unique Flora and Forna of the Archipelago

There are many unique plants and animals on the island chain, the two best known, being the Kanoruru Snow Gecko, and the Crisitith Creeping Willow. This factbook shall list examples of the Flora and Forna found throughout Kanoria.

Kanoruru Snow Gecko

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Gekkonidae
Subfamily: Gekkoninae
Genus: Cyrtopodion
Species: C. Kanaranoi

The Kanoruru Snow Gecko is a medium sized gecko that varies in colour between off white and stone grey, with dark red spots on adolescents about the size of a pen nib. The Gecko is naturally found in the forested foothills, and mid-hills of the mountainous ranges of Kanoria, though it has moved into cities, and is frequently seen on the sun facing side of buildings.

Typically, the Gecko is around 6cm long, and is remarkable for it's heat tolerances, almost unique in Reptiles. In fact, Kanoruru Snow Geckos have been found active, though slugish, at temperatures as low as -12 degrees Celsius.

The Gecko has the distinctive padded feet that allow it to climb almost any surface, and thus typically breed in hollow cliff faces, or now, gutters and vents.

Crisitith Creeping Willow

Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Salicaceae
Genus: Salix
Species: S. Cristalis

Salix Cristalis is the national plant of Kanoria, and one of three species of willow found only on the Archipelago. It is none typical for a willow, in that it is a ground-cover plant similar to S. reticulata. The Cristith Creeping willow produces distinctive flower spikes around 12cm tall, on which are several tens of reflective amber flowers, and at the top, one, larger, flower, in a cup shape, that is translucent blue white. Because of this, the flower is sometimes called the crystal challace, or cup of life.

The plant spreads both by rooting, and by seed. It is native to all the islands of the archipelago, thriving in almost all habitats that it is presented with, except the salt marshes. The stalk has been adapted to emerge through up to three inches of snow, before producing the distinctive red-white leaves, and later the flower spike.

Popular culture continually references this plant, and it is found in most flower beds and public displays throughout the nation. The petals of the amber coloured flowers can be ground and used as an antiseptic, and when made into a solution with alcohol, can also alleviate pain and swelling. The Crystal petals however are a powerful hallucinogen, and can cause Arrhythmia.

Muninn Domestic Raven

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Corvidae
Genus: Corvus
Species: C. Domestis

Very few other nations have understood the relationship between the Muninn Domestic Raven, and the Kanorian peoples. The term domestic is not a true reflection, and may even be disingenuous, the ravens are in fact semi wild, though they often come into homes, and are supplied with food. They spot many natural dangers and come to warn the citizens they choose to bond with.
Muninn domestic ravens are exceptionally large for a raven, almost as large as a red kite. It is said that several of the greatest leaders of Knaoria have been close friends with breeding pairs, having them perched on each shoulder when making decisions.

More life forms will be added later.