Social Groups

Darinos are very social creatures, and are rarely found alone. Darinos live in large colonies, sometimes with over 200+ members. Each colony is led by a matriarch, also sometimes called the alpha, or head buck/doe. The matriarch are in charge of making important decisions, leading migrations, and keeping the colony safe. This rank is passed down through bloodline. Each Colony is named after the darino who founded it, followed by the suffix "wing". (Example, Whisp founded the Whispwing Colony). The colony name is used as a last name for the members.

For aquatic darinos, groups are called pods. Their culture and practices are pretty much the same as colonies. Matriarchs are still also called alphas, but now head bull/cow. The pod names differ as well. They're still is named after the darino who founded it, but now followed by the suffix "fin". (Example, Shell founded the Shellfin Colony)

No darino is required to remain in their birth colony. Especially in smaller colonies, it may be hard to find a darino you're not related to to pick as a partner. If a darino chooses to leave their colony, there will be a short farewell ceremony, where the matriarch and the darino's family will gather in silence as the sun sets, and once it disapears over the horizon they call the leaving darino by their name, leaving out their colony name. If a darino wishes to join another colony, there is another ceremony often practiced. The "Wing" or "Fin" ceremony is a short celebration where the darino joining is presented to the rest of the colony with the Matriarch. After a short speech the joining darino will be asked to present their name, along with their new colony name. The colony will cheer and feast for the evening.

Society

Because of their high intelligence, darinos have a culture. All members of a colony look after one another, and will all assist in raising young. They all respect and listen to the matriarch. Aquatic darinos and darinos tend to stay out of each other's way, this is normally easy because of their different environments. But the two species are still very similar culture wise.

Because of their high, near human-like intelligence and flexable talons, darinos can often be found wearing things like feathers, crystals, flowers or other trinkets as decorations. On the day of the Winter Festival, they'll wear woven flower crowns. More about their culture coming soon once I write out their lore.

The Winter Festival:
All darinos celebrate a day called the "Winter Festival". On the first full moon of winter, all darinos will gather outside for three days and three nights, for a time of song and celebration. Darinos will make flower crowns for each other out of the ice bloom (a flower that only grows during winter). Colonies will also often celebrate together if they're near one another. Stories and songs are shared, plenty of prey is caught and shared, and large bonfires will be set up under the stars each night.

Reproduction and Aging

Due to NSFW not being allowed in the species, I won't go into "detail"

Darinos mate for life. When they find a partner they'll stay together for the rest of their lives, and if they want, have several clutches of eggs. If a partner dies, the living partner may or may not pick a new partner. It's up to them. Though it's most common for them not to re-mate. Some partners may also split up due to any variety of reasons and may find new mates.

All darinos lay eggs, with clutches up to 6. Eggs are about the size of a barrel, and can have faint blue or yellow colorations! Darinos lay their eggs and raise their young from late spring to summer after they've migrated south. The "rutt" or "mating season" takes place in the winter. Gestation takes about three months.
Aquatic darinos are the opposite. Their mating season is in summer and they have their young in the winter, laying their eggs on land on beaches. Gestation takes about five months.

Baby darinos are often called cubs or calves. Cubs grow very rapidly in their first three years. At one year old they'd be considered to be about 10 years old in human years, at two years they'd be 16, and at three they're 20.

Rules

All darinos must have white fur on their heads and necks. Very limited exceptions. (See "White Heads") Nothing considered NSFW is allowed in art or stories about darinos. Doing so will result in you being blacklisted. Darinos can have magical abilities, but they need to earn them some how. ("Normal" darinos do not carry magic from birth. But perhaps it could've been given to them, they were cursed, etc.) Genetic mutations are extremely rare, because of this, a person may only own up to 4 "rare" darinos at one time. However this rules isn't heavily enforced, and is more of a guideline. Darinos cannot be hybridized with other animals/creatures. Horns or extra spikes can be added, but don't go overboard. Darinos can be included in your own stories if they take place in a different universe/setting. Basing a darino off another animal or object is allowed Hybrids between regular and aquatic darinos are allowed, but can't have an equal amount of traits from either parent, they must have dominant traits. (Usually from the sire/father)

Trivia

Darino is pronounced "Dare-e-no"

Darinos will almost always sleep upside down. They have strong legs and tails, and extra claws on the tip of their first "wing digit", all of these help them hang from tree branches, stalactites, and cave ceilings.

Darinos can be fully anthro! They're bipedal to begin with, but it's also allowed to give them more humanoid anatomy. However this will cause your character to exist outside of the canon universe, which is a-okay!