The Cactoose

Before development and relocating Americans began encroaching on their territory, the Cactoose grew wild throughout many parts of the Southwestern U.S., particularly in the more desolate reaches of desert. Like the camel and the dromedary (its chlorophyll-free evolutionary cousins), it can cover long distances over many days on little or no water. In fact, Cactoose that are too freely watered will eventually blacken, turn mushy, and reflect badly on one's gardening skills.

Having evolved the knack of photosynthesis millenia ago, upon the rare encounter the Cactoose exudes a minty breath, and will often display brightly flowered antlers through the spring mating season.

Unlike some other evolutionary oddities in rickzworld, both genders of these gangly green ungulates sport antlers. While it is a rare regal deer or reindeer buck that displays a 12-point rack, most Cactoose antler racks range from 843 to 917 points (and those points are like needles!).

Here a fine Cactoose is caught in a rare smile — they normally have quite prickly dispositions. And who can blame them? Since the 1950s, numerous young Cactoose have been stolen from their herds by nature-walking Reno kindergartners!