Category:Variant

Tuxemon within a species may vary based on their genetics or environment. Variants could be purely mechanical, purely cosmetic or mechanical and cosmetic, and either be fixed from a monster's birth, fixed from some point after birth, or able to be changed.

Genetic

Local variation

For example, a butterfly tuxemon could have different wings based on which route it's captured in.

Sub-species

Magmaturtle's default form is a fiery turtle, but a sea-dwelling subspecies would have a different Type and techniques.

Speciation

The Furnursus and Bursa families may be closely related: both are fiery bears with a meditative/psychic side.

Sexual dimorphism

Differences within a species based on the sex (see Wikipedia).

At its most extreme, this could result in different species - like Nudiflot M and Nudiflot F.

Congential

Congenital conditions

From birth, but not necessarily inherited - could include different colouration, sizes or features.

Colour variations exist for some tuxemon:

Epigenetic changes

From birth and inherited, but not resulting from DNA (see Wikipedia)

Atavisms

(Wikipedia)

Random variations

Emerge at birth but do not reflect genetic variation, like different monsters in a species having different patterns of spots

Environmental

Permanent changes based on environment

Memnomnom's masks take the form of a dead king's face. This could also belong to the tool use category if it turns out that they can change their masks.

Jemuar have different gems based on the rocks found where they were born.

Katacoon evolves based on which technique it knows.

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Temporary changes based on environment

Like changing colour from eating berries of a particular colour.

Changing based on a cycle

Like the four seasons (io9; Wikipedia)

Jeluna changes with the phases of the moon.

Brief, cyclical or voluntary

Triggered changes

Like a skink losing its tail to distract a predator or a cuttlefish changing pigmentation; a tuxemon could change its colours to match its trainer, and if its trainer changed clothes it would change colouring. A tuxemon could have different abilities based on which status they had when they were caught.

Morphs that involve Booster Tech or Badges - like the Botbot family - are an example of this, since the transformation can be reversed or a new one selected.

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Bewhich has a "sealed form":

Tool use

Like a hermit crab getting different powers based on what shell they use as their home or a coconut crab getting more defence while it has a coconut shell, or a domesticated monster wearing clothes or getting a haircut (see Wikipedia)

Stimulant reaction

Like a dragon becoming ultra-powerful for a period after touching a magical stone

There's art for some monsters that doesn't match their main form (e.g. Moloch and Jemuar). This could be a form that is temporarily unlockable, e.g. through injecting them with a stimulant.

Changing based on a phase or condition

Where the changes only last for the duration - like having different properties while pregnant

Other

• Fusions
• Permanent or indefinite magical or scientific transformations
• Morphing is a form of change
• Changes that occur through maturation, like growing more tails, growing larger, more monsters joining a swarm
• Some Variants could be implemented through Features.