Vernon: Aw, well I guess we never really talked about how...er' size classification works in Zootopia...though I'm surprised to hear from someone who's never heard that sorta thing since I think most countries have it.
Dawn: There are plenty of countries still out there that don't really have a system like ours, usually due to them being largely homogeneous when it comes to the diversity of species.
Vernon: Well I guess we should kinda explain that to help explain just what makes a mammal a 'mega' er' microfauna...and the average.
Dawn: Well the Zootopian average anyway...even so, almost all of this has to do with a height and weight standard in regard to classification. Obviously, there are some species that are almost always born into a certain height and weight class to start with save for some special cases. Giraffes, elephants, and rhinos are generally seen as being 'Megafauna' by default. But basically, any mammal that cracks about eight feet tall and over three hundred pounds is classified as a 'Megafauna Class Mammal'.
Vernon: Below that class would be the 'large' class o' mammals. This hits about everythin' from five to eight feet in height and under three hundred pounds. This includes Wolves like me, Hyenas, Tigers, Deer, them sorts o' mammals. This class covers a lot more mammals but is still sorta high up there which is why we ain't considered the 'average'.
Dawn: The 'average' class is naturally the most common rubric used in Zootopia, at least in terms of structure and accommodation. This class is made up of mammals between three to five feet tall and up to about two hundred pounds. Generally, this group includes foxes, sheep, other smaller canids and felines, etcetera. Under normal circumstances, I should also be a part of that group, as ewes are generally around four feet tall, whereas rams tend to hit the five-foot marker. However, I'm one of those 'special cases' I mentioned earlier. I was born a runt, and due to...repeated injuries during my formative years, my growth was pretty badly stunted. I'm not considered a 'dwarf sheep', but only medically and by the grace of having a few inches on how tall most dwarf sheep would stand.
Vernon: So that puts my Honey Lamb in the 'Small' Category...not that I mind. Just makes her easier to cuddle...
Dawn: Aww...Puppy...*gestures him to lean down and places a kiss on the tip of his snout.* You're sweet.
Vernon: Not as sweet as you Darlin'. Gave ya the nickname Honey Lamb fer a reason...*Chuckles* Well, a few reasons...
Dawn: *Dawn Blushes* Puppy, shh! *Ahem* The 'small' class of mammal covers mammals between one to three feet tall, and between about one hundred to two hundred pounds, although most small-class mammals tend to skew toward the lower end of the weight scale. Here you find mammals like bunnies, skunks, otters, opossums, red pandas, and so on.
Vernon: After that, it gets a little more complicated...er' rather, at this point they had to cram about two different distinctions in about a one-foot range...
Dawn: Right, below 'small' class is the 'tiny' class. This class covers mammals specifically between half a foot and a foot tall. Weight is less of a consideration in this class to try and make classification less confusing because the next two classes are so close to one another.
Vernon: Basically, y'all need to satisfy the height requirement first and foremost as the weight can stand to push mammals over a category line despite bein' too short to use 'tiny' specific amenities.
Dawn: The weight ballpark is generally around fifty to hundred pounds in order to be considered 'tiny' if you're going to use it. But, it's really more like under eighty pounds...I think they were just aiming to keep the numbers cut into nice little groups of fifties and hundreds, but I don't think I've ever met a 'tiny' mammal that hits over eighty pounds. Unless it's on one of those 'reality shows'.
Vernon: Like "Little Rodentia's; My Hundred Pound Life?"
Dawn: That's what I was thinking of, but I mean seeing it on tv versus seeing it live are two different animals altogether.
Vernon: *Chuckles* True...
Dawn: Anyway, Tiny mammal groups include squirrels, ferrets, martens, stoats, and so on.
Vernon: Right, and below that ya got 'Microfauna' which, I mean, I've heard that ain't the right word y'all should use to describe 'em.
Dawn: Well, the term microfauna was originally created to describe microscopic organisms if I'm not mistaken. But it became a sort of cultural thing to call really small classes of mammal microfauna due to the fact that 'Megafauna' was so commonly bandied about to describe mammals on the opposite end of the spectrum. It ended up sticking, and thus it eventually became the 'official' classification term used in many nations, with 'Microorganisms' replacing the original term for Microscopic life. Though now some 'Microfauna class' mammals are starting to push to get the name changed because of its association with microorganisms.
Vernon: Wait, it's offensive now? Why?
Dawn: Some um...'extra-tiny' mammals don't appreciate sharing the formal title given to microbial life due to the association with viruses and other disease vectors. Naturally, most rodents already have a strong stigma levied against them due to the plague-based persecution, and that name just makes it worse.
Vernon: Ah...I guess that makes sense...so...'extra-tiny' it is then.
Dawn: Yes, extra-tiny works just fine. Anyway, the Micro-er...'extra-tiny' class of mammals is basically made up of the remaining range of height and weight. So basically under six inches tall, and under fifty pounds. Naturally, this category includes mice, rats, moles, hamsters and so on.
Vernon: So mammals like my co-worker Moira fit in here...and Judy's friends in the Big family.
Dawn: Right, you don't get any smaller than them, and so that's basically the bottom of the classification system. Now, with all that said, you should have a better idea of exactly what sort of goals and priorities the Tusk Party might have. It was initially founded by mammoth and elephant species, and extended to cover the needs of giraffes, rhinos, and all the other species that make the 'Megafauna' classification requirements. However, like most other parties in modern society, they are generally open to all those looking to join.
Vernon: However, don't be too surprised iffin' y'all go to a 'Tusk Party' meetin' and need a ladder to reach one of the chairs. Or y'all can't reach the buffet table...
Dawn: Yes, while they are open to all species, the membership does tend to skew Megafauna...and so most of the venues they work out of are...super-sized.
Vernon: Same goes fer the Packrat Party...which we actually went to one o' them meetins'.
Dawn: Oh yes! I remember Moira wanted me to speak at one of their functions...*Giggles* it was pretty awkward.
Vernon: Yeah, we had to sit outside the restaurant they was meetin' at and basically peek in the windows to watch the other speakers...and the food...well...it was...less than fillin'...*Chuckles*
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