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I made this adoptable species back in early 2012 (on DA) and it's about time I had them resurface. Since I've decided to become more active on Weasyl, it seems fitting to reintroduce them here.

-Please note that codicarius may only be biologically male. Codicarius characters may identify as trans*, but their sexual organs are exclusively male.
-You may alter portions of the design, but please do not change the leaf shape as it pertains to rarity. Notches or stains on the leaf may be added. If you choose to alter a codicarius' age-- or anything, in general-- please keep its design recognizable.
-You may trade or resell the design, but not for more profit than purchased for.
-You may upload the unwatermarked version into your gallery.

Codicarius are a strange, quiet species that are very closely related to unicorns. They are long-lived creatures that embody nature. Many consider them sacred spirits, and believe that slaughtering one would damn an individual.
Their appearances vary between different aspects of nature. Depending on their location and the season, their manes and antlers will molt various forms of leaves, foliage, and flowers. If a codicarius lives in a climate with little change throughout the year-- such as a desert or mountain region-- their appearance may hardly, if at all, alternate. If a codicarius changes its habitat, its appearance may slowly take on characteristics of its new environment.
Unlike the rest of their body, the leaf-like tail of a codicarius remains stubborn against yearly or regional change. The colour and state of a codicarius' leaf, mimicking that of trees, determines the age of an individual. Young are born with blossoms, that will grow into leaves as they mature. With time, the leaves turn shades of fall, and then wither and crumble as the codicarius' life expires. In the event that a codicarius sustains an injury-- physical or mental-- large notches or stains have been known to appear on their leaves.
The length of their beard and hair may also be a good depiction of age and environment. The stone-like projections on their sides appear at random throughout their lives, and some may grow to resemble odd horns. Their eyes are always solid in colour-- no iris, no pupil-- and may come in a wide variety of hues.
Codicarius are exclusively male. To track back to their relation to unicorns-- it is with unicorns that codicarius mate. A male is almost always the result of these matings, and in which case the offspring will be a codicarius. If luck favors a female, then the offspring will be unicorn. (Universes that codicarius are shoehorned into do not need to feature female-exclusive unicorns.)
The average lifespan of a Codicarius is about 200 years.

Art and design by me.
Drawn on SAI.