wanted to expand on spark's species a bit since i've pretty much had them planned out for about,, 3 years now? ? yea

this is a closed species, so please don't make your own afra without my permission!
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the binomial name for the species is Crinitus afrus (meaning 'long-haired giant'), but the species is commonly referred to as 'afra', with the plural name of 'afras'. they're the only extant species of their genus, the other members being Crinitus tenebris (a more slender creature with longer ears, no extra fur on the end of the tail, and generally much darker colours) and Crinitus crinitus (similar to C. afrus but with shorter ears, much longer fur, and shorter front legs).

an afra's hind legs stop growing when they reach around 20 years of age. before this age they are mostly bipedal, since their hind legs are longer than their front legs (spark is around 15 years of age, so their legs are approximately of equal length). as they age they become quadrupedal, no longer able to support their weight on their relatively shorter hind legs.

they are omnivorous, but need a diet comprised of around 80% meat to be healthy. an afra is unhealthily underweight if its belly does not extend at least slightly past its ribcage (picture shows an afra that is on the lower end of the healthy weight range). they have around 22 teeth; 4 incisors, 8 canines, 6 premolars, and 4 molars. their teeth are all roughly the same length, with the exception of the canine teeth, which can in some cases grow long enough to protrude out of their mouth (the lower canines are much more prone to this, forming 'tusks').

common variations of the 'standard' afra (more than one variation for the same individual is uncommon):
longer ears, thicker fingers/toes, variations in tail fur length/style, variations in fur colour (light greyscale colours)
uncommon/rare variations (more than one variation for the same individual is extremely rare):
non-greyscale fur (though always tinted grey), distinct claws, 'tusks' (long lower canines)