TEXT: 1616
  I: Overview
  I: Overview
  D
  eep in the steamy jungles 
  of the south live beasts that 
  are spoken of only in whispers by 
  civilised people.  Among the jagged 
  mountains of eastern Zamora and 
  Hyrkania lurk the hunched forms of 
  creatures so terrible that travellers 
  do not dare traverse the crags 
  alone.  They are the man-apes: the 
  degenerate reminders to present-day 
  Hyborians of their primitive relatives.  
  Modern observers would call them 
  the ‘missing link’, the stepping-
  stone between true apes and humans.  
  The truth about their past, however, 
  is far more disturbing.  Whatever 
  their origins, they are fearless and 
  ferocious, possessing Herculean 
  strength and posing a constant threat 
  to any adventurer travelling in their 
  shadow.
  General Physical Appearance:  
  From a distance, or from behind, 
  man-apes might be mistaken for 
  muscular, squat humans.  The stance 
  of all man-apes is somewhat hunched, 
  but, unlike true apes, only rarely 
  do they walk upon their knuckles.  
  Instead, with their strong and nearly 
  straight legs, they are able to walk 
  mostly upright, as well as leap and 
  even run with ease (albeit using a 
  somewhat awkward gait).  Generally, 
  man-apes have broad shoulders, long, 
  brawny arms and proportionally 
  shorter legs than humans.  The 
  A Field Guide to Creatures 
  of the Hyborian Age
  muscle structure of their massive 
  chest is so pronounced that they are 
  said to look almost as if they have 
  been chiselled from stone.  In all 
  man-ape species, a distinct layer of 
  hair covers the body in thick coarse 
  mats, which are especially dense 
  along the back, arms and legs.  The 
  colour of this hair depends on the 
  type of man-ape being discussed; but 
  is generally brownish, black or grey.
  Like true apes, 
  man-apes have ﬂ at 
  noses, pronounced 
  brow ridges and 
  sloping foreheads.  
  Generally speaking, 
  their eyes are small, 
  often described as 
  ‘pig-like.’  Their 
  jaws are prominent, 
  with large, thick 
  lips used primarily 
  to manipulate food 
  while eating.  They 
  are described as 
  having yellow 
  teeth, with enlarged 
  canines that can rip 
  ﬂ esh from bone.  
  Finally, the physical 
  characteristic that 
  most distinguishes 
  man-apes from true 
  apes or humans are 
  their thick, sharp 
  claws that resemble 
  the talons of eagles.  Although they 
  make no weapons of steel, these large 
  claws can be utilised as such with 
  equally devastating results.
  Black Man-Apes of Zamora:  
  Although reported to exist throughout 
  the southern lands, these beasts 
  are considered to be of Zamora as 
  that is where they seem to be most 
  common.  Although called black 
  man-apes because their hair and skin 
  is generally dark charcoal or black 
  in colour, there are reports of dark 
  brown and rust-coloured individuals 
  in the lands of Kush and the Black 
  Kingdoms.  They are found most 
  commonly in mountainous regions, 
  where they are reported to live in 
  Josh Kapfer
  Josh Kapfer
  A detailed study of 
  A detailed study of 
  Man-Apes for Conan The 
  Man-Apes for Conan The 
  Roleplaying Game, Part I
  Roleplaying Game, Part I
  It was covered with black hair, from which small pig-like eyes 
  glared redly; its nose was ﬂ at, with great ﬂ aring nostrils; its 
  loose lips writhed back, disclosing huge yellow fangs, like the 
  teeth of a dog.
  - Rogues In the House, Robert E. Howard
  
  1717
  groups.  Yet, it is not known if the 
  beasts prefer these habitats, or if 
  they are merely forced to live there 
  due to persecution by humans.  This 
  notion stems from the fact that the 
  few individuals encountered in the far 
  south all inhabit dense jungles.  
  Black man-apes are the most hairless 
  species existing in Hyboria, not 
  surprising based on their preference 
  for warm climes.  They are also the 
  most upright in their stance among 
  man-apes, and have longer legs 
  than their grey relatives (although 
  not quite proportionally as long 
  as humans).  Because of this, it is 
  somewhat understandable that black 
  man-apes are mistaken for humans 
  at ﬁ rst glance.  Furthermore, it is 
  believed that they are slightly less 
  powerful than the species that exist in 
  the east.  They are reported to reach 
  average heights of over seven foot six 
  inches and weigh over 400 pounds.
  Black man-apes are territorial and 
  violent by nature.  They are also 
  regarded as the man-ape species 
  with the most advanced intellect.  In 
  addition, it seems they have little fear 
  of humans, and occasionally venture 
  too close to civilisation.  These traits 
  make them incredibly dangerous to 
  mankind.  The Zamorians have taken 
  great pains to eradicate 
  black man-apes from 
  their lands, and will kill 
  them on sight.  This fact, 
  coupled with the man-
  apes’ predilection for 
  wandering near human 
  civilisation, has taken 
  a toll on their number.  
  Consequently, the beasts 
  are much less common 
  than their grey cousins.
  It has been reported that 
  efforts have been made 
  by the foolhardy to train 
  these creatures as one 
  would a dog.  It is beyond 
  doubt that black man-
  apes are smart enough to 
  be trained; yet their base 
  animal instincts, coupled 
  with the simple human 
  emotions that they retain 
  from their ancestors, 
  make them unpredictable.  
  Therefore, it is not unexpected that all 
  attempts to habituate these creatures 
  to domestication have ended badly.
  Grey Man-apes of the East and 
  Yahtis:  Grey man-apes are often 
  regarded as true apes, similar to 
  gorillas.  Their evolutionary record 
  shows that this is untrue, and their 
  physiognomy is much 
  closer to black man-
  apes than gorillas (the 
  explanation for which 
  will be given shortly).  
  Most grey man-apes 
  seem concentrated to the 
  dense forests or jungles 
  east and south of the 
  Vilayet Sea, although 
  there are reports of 
  them inhabiting nearby 
  mountain ranges as well.
  As their name suggests, 
  these creatures have hair 
  and skin that is grey in 
  colour and much lighter 
  than that of the black 
  man-apes.  Furthermore, 
  their fur appears to be 
  much thicker than that 
  of their western cousins, 
  especially in the Yahti 
  sub-species.  Grey man-apes have a 
  much more hunched posture than do 
  black man-apes, with shorter, more 
  crooked legs, which forces them to 
  walk on their knuckles occasionally.  
  They also have broader shoulders 
  and are considered more powerful 
  than their cousins to the west.  Their 
  features, which include large tusk-like 
  teeth protruding from their mouths, 
  are less like humans and more like 
  true apes, making them appear bestial 
  and savage to some.  It is unlikely that 
  a grey man-ape could be mistaken for 
  a human, even from behind.  These 
  beasts reach an average height of six 
  and a half feet and weigh over 550 
  pounds.
  Although they are much more similar 
  to animals in their appearance and 
  habits, grey man-apes are much more 
  common than their black-haired 
  relatives.  Their territory is distributed 
  over a much wider area and they 
  seem to exist in greater numbers.  The 
  mechanisms behind their relative 
  commonness are not fully understood.  
  Some scholars believe that, because 
  they are more bestial and do their best 
  to shun human civilisation, they do 
  not receive the level of persecution 
  that black man-apes do.
  
  1818
  Interestingly, there is at least one 
  sub-species of grey man-ape in 
  existence during the Hyborian Age.  
  These are the shaggy ape-men, also 
  called Yahtis by local inhabitants, 
  found in the snow-covered Himelian 
  Mountains.  Although as bestial and 
  grey as their contemporaries, Yahtis 
  have hair that is signiﬁ cantly longer 
  and thicker.  They also tend to walk 
  slightly more upright than other grey 
  ape-men, an adaptation that some 
  believe makes them better suited for 
  travelling through deep snow.
  History and Position in the Animal 
  Kingdom:  Recently, archaeological 
  documents have been discovered 
  that help scholars place these 
  beasts, taxonomically, in the Animal 
  Kingdom.  While these documents are 
  only summarised here, the importance 
  of their ﬁ ndings to current beliefs 
  regarding archaeology, anthropology 
  and evolution will be evident.  
  Ancient races of humans, such as 
  the Atlanteans, dominated the Pre-
  Cataclysmic Age.  Although slightly 
  different in appearance from current 
  humans of the Hyborian Age, the 
  Atlanteans were fundamentally very 
  similar, and even as technologically 
  advanced.  Yet this was before the 
  great cataclysm rocked the face of 
  the earth, changing it forever.  The 
  races of men, as they had evolved to 
  be during the Pre-Cataclysmic times, 
  were likewise altered by the upheaval, 
  forever changing their evolutionary 
  path.  The turmoil caused most 
  human races of the time, in particular 
  the Atlanteans, to regress back into a 
  primordial state, degenerating into 
  ‘lesser-humans’.  The resulting 
  degenerates, it appears, eventually 
  evolved into, what are today known 
  as the black man-apes of Zamora.
  As the downfall of Atlantis was 
  occurring, the cataclysm was also 
  forever altering the Atlanteans’ 
  contemporaries to the east: The 
  Lemurians.  The changing of the 
  world forced the Lemurians to travel 
  even further east, until reaching 
  the very coast of their ancient 
  Thurian continent.  Yet, instead of 
  ﬁ nding peace here, the Lemurians 
  were enslaved by a race of ancient 
  humanoids whose history was lost in 
  ages past.  All that is known of these 
  humanoids is that, although they 
  had enslaved the Lemurians, their 
  slaves eventually overthrew them and 
  seized their freedom.  Unfortunately, 
  the many years of brutish slavery 
  had degenerated the Lemurians into 
  a semi-human, bestial state.  While 
  some of these primordial humans 
  traveled west, evolved and eventually 
  established the present-day land of 
  Stygia, the rest remained in the east, 
  continuing their boorish existence.  
  Those who remained behind became 
  the grey man-apes of the Hyborian 
  Age that exist to the east and south of 
  the Vilayet Sea, including the shaggy 
  sub-species that roam the Himelian 
  Mountains.
  Although the subject is hotly 
  debated in academic circles, most 
  scholars consider man-apes a 
  close relative of humans.  Among 
  vertebrate animals, they have been 
  placed within the taxonomic Class 
  Mammalia, being warm-blooded 
  animals with female individuals 
  possessing mammary glands.  Much 
  like others of their kind, they are in 
  the taxonomic Order Primates, which 
  also includes prosimians (such as 
  lemurs and tarsiers), monkeys (such 
  as mandrills and baboons), apes (such 
  as chimpanzees and gorillas) and 
  humans.  It is their placement within 
  this Order that leads to the greatest 
  disagreement among those that study 
  Taxonomy.  While a small group 
  of individuals consider man-apes 
  to be a type of primate completely 
  separate from humans, most believe 
  that they should actually be placed, 
  taxonomically, within the same 
  group, as it appears they evolved 
  from primitive humans.  Although it 
  may never be proved which is true, 
  much evidence has been accumulated 
  in favour of the latter hypothesis, 
  including profound skeletal and 
  anatomical similarities between the 
  man-apes and humans.  Furthermore, 
  while monkeys and apes are reported 
  to be gentle unless provoked or 
  threatened, man-apes are always 
  ferocious.  Most scholars agree that 
  this disposition was acquired from 
  human ancestors, from whom they 
  retain shadows of emotions, such 
  as hate and resentment.  Finally, 
  the historic records that have 
  been summarised in the previous 
  paragraph, give evidence that man-
  apes are more closely related to, and 
  in fact evolved from, men (rather than 
  true monkeys or apes).
  II. Anatomy and 
  II. Anatomy and 
  Physiognomy
  Physiognomy
  Man-apes have been a source of 
  fascination for scholars over the 
  ages.  Thus, it should come as 
  no surprise that certain scholars 
  have gone to great lengths to be 
  able to dissect these animals and 
  thoroughly catalogue their internal 
  anatomy.  From these diagrams and 
  notes, inferences regarding their 
  physiognomy have also been made 
  over the years.  The ﬁ ndings reported 
  here represent a summary of the most 
  up-to-date and commonly accepted 
  views regarding the subject.
  Among the forest-covered hills of the northwest exist 
  wandering bands of ape-men, without human speech, or the 
  knowledge of ﬁ re or the use of implements.  They are the 
  descendants of the Alanteans, sunk back into the squalling 
  chaos of the jungle-bestiality from which ages ago their 
  ancestors so laboriously crawled.
  Far to the east, the Lemurians, leveled almost to a bestial 
  plane themselves by the brutishness of their slavery, have risen 
  and destroyed their masters.  They are savages stalking among 
  the ruins of a strange civilisation.
  -The Hyborian Age, Robert E. Howard
  
  1919
  Unique 
  Unique 
  Morphological 
  Morphological 
  Characteristics
  Characteristics
  The Fur: As mentioned earlier, man-
  apes are mostly covered in coarse 
  hair or fur.  This hair, a structure 
  comprised mostly of protein, is 
  slightly different from that found 
  in other types of mammals.  Most 
  mammals have two coats of hair, 
  or fur: an outer thick coat for 
  protection, called the guard hair, and 
  an under coat that is soft and dense 
  for insulation, called the under hair.  
  Surprisingly, man-apes, much like 
  true apes and humans, have very 
  little along the lines of under hair.  
  Compared to other mammals, their 
  hair is actually somewhat sparse, 
  especially in the face, chest and 
  belly regions.  The exception to this 
  rule is found in the shaggy variety 
  of man-ape inhabiting the Himelian 
  Mountains south of the Vilayet Sea.  
  These creatures do possess long, thick 
  hair (including both guard hair and 
  under hair), which is not surprising 
  considering the frigid regions in 
  which they exist.
  The Feet and Hands:  The feet 
  and hands are incredibly important 
  features in the every day lives of 
  man-apes.  As in true monkeys, 
  apes and humans, these appendages 
  are designed, speciﬁ cally, to allow 
  manipulation of objects and superior 
  locomotion.  Their uses are incredibly 
  diverse, allowing the hands, for 
  example, to be wielded in combat to 
  batter objects, or for tasks requiring 
  the ﬁ ne motor skill necessary to peel 
  fruit and crack nutshells (if necessity 
  deems it).  The hands of both black 
  and grey man-apes have opposable 
  thumbs, which can be used to 
  securely grasp and hold most objects, 
  and improve climbing ability.  The 
  largest difference among black and 
  grey man-apes in regards to these 
  appendages lies in the feet.  Grey 
  man-apes, being more prone to dense 
  forests and jungles, where they climb 
  frequently, also have a large inner-toe 
  that is opposable.  Thus, the feet can 
  be used to grasp items as efﬁ ciently 
  as the hands, making these beasts 
  superior climbers to their western 
  relatives.
  The Claws:  The presence of 
  enlarged nails, or claws, is a feature 
  ubiquitous among man-apes (be they 
  black or grey).  In fact, their claws are 
  reported to be so long and sharp that 
  they are often referred to as appearing 
  ‘talon-like’.  Despite this, however, it 
  is likely that a variation exists in the 
  length and sharpness of these claws 
  among individuals, and they range 
  in length from 3 to 4 inches (7.5 to 
  10 cm).  Like most ﬁ ngernails and 
  claws found in vertebrate animals, 
  they are made primarily from keratin 
  (a protein-based substance similar 
  to that used found in the horns of 
  bull cattle).  However, what is most 
  interesting about these claws is that 
  their upper surface (for example, 
  the surface on the same side as 
  the knuckle) has an extra layer of 
  protective enamel compared to the 
  bottom surface.  This added enamel 
  better protects the nail from breaking 
  off at the base during daily use, 
  limiting breakage to the most distal 
  points of the nail.  This effectively 
  keeps the nails long and sharp, which 
  is important for man-ape survival.  
  After all, a man-ape with many 
  broken claws cannot as adequately 
  defend or feed itself.
  The claws evolved their shape 
  primarily for hunting prey, rather than 
  protection.  Although a formidable 
  hunting adaptation, there is little 
  doubt that man-apes employ these 
  claws as offensive weapons as 
  well, should the need suit them.  
  In nearly all reports of attacks on 
  humans, the man-apes in question 
  used their claws frequently: both to 
  help secure their grip on the victim, 
  while inﬂ icting signiﬁ cant amounts 
  of damage through lacerations or 
  disembowelment.
  Unique Skeletal 
  Unique Skeletal 
  Structures
  Structures
  The Skeleton: Because they are 
  related to modern humans, there 
  should be little surprise that man-
  ape skeletons are very similar 
  in appearance to those of most 
  Hyborians (this is especially true 
  in the case of the black man-apes 
  of Zamora).  However, unlike the 
  relatively delicate skeletons of 
  humans, those of man-apes are 
  remarkably dense.  There are several 
  advantages to this enhancement: 
  ﬁ rstly, it makes the beasts more 
  robust to damage from falling or 
  being attacked by prey.  The skull, 
  for example, is so thick that it is very 
  resilient to attacks from bludgeoning-
  type weapons.  The downside to this 
  quality is that such thickness in the 
  brain case leaves less room for the 
  brain itself.  Many scholars believe 
  that the evolution of thick skulls in 
  these creatures is inversely related 
  to the size of the brain, and probably 
  the size of their intellectual capacity.  
  Secondly, having dense bones is an 
  adaptation that helps support the great 
  weight that these animals posses.  
  The orientation of these bones is 
  also believed to be for supporting the 
  added stress and weight associated 
  with a bipedal (in other words, 
  walking upright) stance.
  The Teeth: Most vertebrate animals 
  have teeth that are unique from the 
  rest of the Animal Kingdom.  This 
  ‘Its feet and hands were more manlike than those of a 
  gorilla, the great toes and thumbs being more like those of a 
  man than a anthropoid.’
  -The Flame Knife, R. E. Howard and L. S. de Camp
  ‘The black talons of the monster and the awful grasp of those 
  misshapen hands ripped and tore at him.’
  -Rogues in the House, Robert E. Howard
  
  2020
  other words, 
  the mouth is 
  ﬁ lled with teeth 
  of different 
  shapes and sizes 
  that represent 
  their speciﬁ c 
  functions.  For 
  example, canines 
  and incisors are 
  sharp and used 
  to tear of bits of 
  food, while pre-
  molars are multi-
  cusped and used 
  to shear bits of 
  food into more 
  manageable 
  sizes, and so 
  on.  Man-apes, 
  and primates 
  in general, are 
  no exception 
  in this regard.  
  However, the 
  teeth of man-
  apes are unique 
  enough that they 
  are probably 
  the skeletal 
  feature that 
  most separates 
  them from other 
  primates.  The 
  majority of 
  primates are 
  omnivorous (in 
  other words, 
  consuming both 
  plant and animal 
  material), which 
  is reﬂ ected in the 
  shape of their 
  teeth: relatively 
  large canines and 
  sharp incisors 
  for tearing off 
  bits of ﬂ esh, yet 
  relatively ﬂ at 
  and broad molars 
  for grinding 
  vegetation.  
  Man-apes, in 
  contrast, are 
  strict carnivores.  
  They eat no 
  vegetation and 
  their dentition 
  reﬂ ects that.  In fact, the shape of 
  their teeth more closely resembles 
  that found in other strict carnivores 
  that are of no relation to primates 
  (for example, dogs, wolves, lions and 
  tigers).  Man-apes have sharp, pointed 
  incisors and very large, yellowish 
  canines designed for tearing large 
  chunks of ﬂ esh from their prey.  They 
  have uniquely shaped premolars and 
  molars in both the upper and lower 
  jaw that, when brought together while 
  chewing, creates a shearing action 
  (like that of a meat scissors).  This 
  helps these beasts chew their usually 
  tough food to the point that it can be 
  easily swallowed.  Only the last set of 
  molars in each jaw vaguely resemble 
  those found in omnivorous primates.  
  Although it is believed that they are 
  residual (their shape coming from 
  human ancestors) the function of 
  these teeth is no longer for grinding 
  vegetation, as is the case in humans.  
  Instead, in man-apes these molars are 
  shaped as such to crack open bones 
  for acquiring the nutrient-rich marrow 
  within.
  Unique Internal 
  Unique Internal 
  Anatomical Elements
  Anatomical Elements
  In many ways, the organ systems 
  of man-apes are similar to other 
  mammals, especially humans.  For 
  example, the respiratory system, 
  while very complex and efﬁ cient, is 
  very similar to that found in many 
  mammals, especially primates.  
  The glands, including sweat, scent 
  and sebaceous glands, in their 
  morphology are also not largely 
  unique among mammals.  Thus, these 
  organs will receive little attention in 
  the following paragraphs.
  The Digestive System: The digestive 
  system of man-apes is somewhat 
  unique compared to that of other 
  large primates, such as gorillas.  This 
  is because gorillas eat large amounts 
  of vegetation, which requires a unique 
  digestive system.  For example, 
  properly digesting vegetation usually 
  requires a large or even multi-
  chambered stomach that is specialised 
  for breaking down the tough cellulose 
  found in plant material.  Creatures 
  with diets consisting mostly of 
  
  2121
  animal material, such as man-apes, 
  have digestive systems that are 
  comparatively simple, as animal-
  based foods are mostly soft and easier 
  to break down.  Thus, carnivorous 
  digestive systems usually have a 
  single-chambered, bag-like stomach, 
  with intestines that have many twists 
  and bends.
  The Brain: This is believed to be 
  the man-ape’s most extraordinary 
  organ.  Compared to their simian 
  cousins, such as gorillas, these beasts 
  have exceptional intelligence, which 
  is especially true of the black man-
  apes of Zamora, with an amazing 
  memory and the ability to learn from 
  past occurrences.  Yet, in relation 
  to humans, most scholars consider 
  their intelligence to be as humans are 
  compared to Gods.  These scholars 
  cite the fact that man-apes create 
  neither tools nor weapons, and have 
  no knowledge of ﬁ re.  They also 
  do not build shelter, aside from 
  the most rudimentary types made 
  from gathered leaves and grasses.  
  Despite this, there is little denying 
  that these creatures possess cunning 
  beyond mere animal instinct.  Those 
  who have run afoul of them know 
  that their ability to stalk their prey 
  through observation and learning of 
  the prey’s habits is uncanny.  The 
  man-ape’s aptitude to perform in such 
  a fashion, most scholars believe, is 
  the result of a brain that has evolved 
  from those of humans (albeit in a 
  degenerating fashion).  Thus, the 
  capacity of their brain is far superior 
  to any other animals’, and may even 
  rival the brain of humans who have 
  been stricken dumb through illness 
  or misfortune.  Not only does this 
  large brain offer man-apes incredible 
  ’At any rate, he struck when I least expected it.  Last night 
  he appeared to go suddenly mad.  His actions had all the 
  appearance of bestial insanity, yet I know that they must have 
  been the result of long and careful planning.’
  ’Apparently, his semi-brain retained impressions of hate, 
  resentment, and some sort of bestial ambition of its own.’
  -Rogues in the House, Robert E. Howard
  cunning, it also makes complex 
  coordination, behavior and even 
  rudimentary language possible.  The 
  speciﬁ c portions of the brain that are 
  of greatest interest in man-apes are 
  the cerebrum and cerebellum.  Both 
  are large and convoluted, similar to 
  humans.  This results in man-apes:
  # 
  Having the ability to learn by 
  remembering
  # 
  Being able to possess simple 
  emotions
  # 
  Being capable of ﬁ ne motor 
  function
  This combination of abilities is 
  surpassed only by humans.  The 
  downside to having a brain that 
  supposedly evolved from those of 
  humans is that man-apes 
  are believed to retain 
  shadows of certain human 
  emotions (such as anger 
  and hate).  It is believed 
  that these ‘pseudo-
  emotions’, coupled with 
  raw animal instinct, are 
  what make man-apes 
  incredibly dangerous and 
  unpredictable.
  The Sensory Organs:  
  The eyes of man-apes are 
  particularly interesting in 
  many regards.  Although 
  they have little ability 
  to see great distances, 
  their eyes are on the 
  front of their skulls 
  (rather than the sides), 
  creating superior depth 
  perception.  Within the 
  eyes of most vertebrates 
  are two types of photoreceptors: rods 
  (which function better at low light) 
  and cones (which function better 
  under intense light).  Man-apes, being 
  fonder of incredibly dark habitats, 
  have a much higher number of rods 
  than cones.  Furthermore, man-apes 
  have very acute colour vision.  All 
  of these adaptations are thought to 
  have evolved as a means of aiding 
  these beasts in climbing and hunting.  
  There is, however, an aspect of these 
  beast’s eyes that is perplexing to 
  many scholars: they are very light 
  sensitive (possibly due to the low 
  number of cone photoreceptors in 
  their eyes).  In general, this means 
  that man-apes shun the bright sun 
  and moon, preferring very shrouded 
  and dark habitats.  What advantage 
  man-apes gain from being physically 
  uncomfortable in bright light is not 
  wholly understood.  It should be 
  noted that Yahtis are occasionally 
  seen out in the open during the day, 
  and it is believed that these creatures 
  feel no negative effects from light.
  The senses of hearing and smell in 
  man-apes are acute, but no more 
  so than in true apes or humans.  
  Although these senses are used 
  
  2222
  incidentally while hunting, they do 
  not seem to be of great importance.  It 
  is believed that the advanced nature 
  of their brains compensates for these 
  relatively deﬁ cient senses.  Thus, 
  they receive no penalty for not being 
  able to smell as acutely as wolves, 
  another carnivorous hunter, because 
  their intellect makes up for this 
  shortcoming.
  Unique physiological 
  Unique physiological 
  characteristics
  characteristics
  The Metabolism:  As has been 
  stated previously, man-apes are 
  mammals and, thus, endothermic (in 
  other words, warm-blooded).  This 
  means that their body produces its 
  own heat internally, through the use 
  of physiological processes.  This 
  is in contrast to ectothermic (cold-
  blooded) animals, such as reptiles, 
  which must rely on an outside 
  heat source to warm their body 
  temperatures to an acceptable level.  
  Often, this outside heat source is the 
  sun, or a warm substrate of some 
  form.  There are many advantages 
  to endothermy.  Endothermic 
  animals are not restricted in their 
  geographic distribution by the annual 
  air temperature of the region.  They 
  also generally have higher levels of 
  activity, resulting in more complex 
  behaviors and extended periods 
  of sustained action.  For example, 
  man-apes can run for much longer 
  amounts of time than a crocodile.  
  Although the crocodile is capable of 
  quick, explosive movements, it cannot 
  sustain them.  The downside to 
  endothermic metabolisms, however, 
  is that any animal possessing them 
  must fuel that constantly working 
  metabolism with a steady supply 
  of food.  Thus, endotherms must 
  eat constantly, and man-apes are 
  no exception.  Therefore, food is a 
  limiting resource for these beasts, 
  and often leads to territorial bouts 
  among man-ape tribes living in close 
  quarters.
  III. The 
  III. The 
  Ecology of 
  Ecology of 
  Man-Apes
  Man-Apes
  Geographical Distribution- As was 
  mentioned previously, man-apes, as a 
  group, have a much wider distribution 
  than they are given credit.  Although 
  rarely common in the lands where 
  they exist, man-apes can be found 
  throughout most of the regions south 
  of Stygia, from Zamora east to the 
  coast, and are even reported in the far 
  north and northwest.  The only areas 
  where they have not been reported to 
  exist during the Hyborian Age are the 
  mid-latitudes from the Western Sea to 
  Brythunia, Corinthia, Koth, and only 
  rarely in Shem.  As was also hinted 
  at earlier, there are some interspeciﬁ c 
  differences in where types of man-
  apes will be found, however.
  Black Man-Apes: Black man-
  apes are reported to prefer the 
  mountainous regions along the 
  eastern border of Zamora (not far 
  from Shadizar) and into Turan.  They 
  are also reported sporadically in 
  the Pyrrhenian Mountains east of 
  Khoraja and the Taiain Mountains 
  near Sygia’s northeastern border.  
  Reports are plentiful of isolated black 
  man-ape populations in the lands of 
  Kush, Darfar and Keshan, as well 
  as the Black Kingdoms.  However, 
  because a qualiﬁ ed individual has 
  never witnessed one in this region, 
  most scholars refuse to acknowledge 
  that black man-apes are common in 
  the south.  Nevertheless, any traveler 
  who has visited these lands frequently 
  reports witnessing them as commonly 
  as birds in some regions and will, 
  without hesitation, call such scholars 
  fools.
  Grey Man-Apes and Yahtis: The 
  idea is generally supported that 
  grey man-apes exist in much greater 
  abundance than their relatives to 
  the west.  They also have a larger 
  geographic distribution, being found 
  throughout Hyrkania, Iranistan, 
  Vendhya, Khitai and eastern 
  Hyperborea.  Though rumors 
  exist of them being found as far 
  to the northeast as Nordheim and 
  even Cimmeria, these reports are 
  unsubstantiated.  It should here be 
  noted once more that grey man-
  apes come in two varieties: the 
  shorthaired and the longhaired (also 
  called Yahtis).  While the shorthaired 
  variety is found both in the plains 
  and forest of Hyrkania and Khitai 
  and Vehdhya, the Yahti is found 
  strictly in mountains (preferably in 
  colder climes or snow-capped peaks).  
  Thus, the Yahti is often encountered 
  among the Ilbar and Himelian 
  mountains south of the Vilayet Sea, 
  and in the Mountains of the Grey 
  Apes north of the Vilayet sea.  They 
  are also reported in the mountains 
  surrounding Panthenia.
   ‘His people dwell far to the east, in the mountains that 
  fringe the eastern frontiers of Zamora.’
  -Rogues in the House, Robert E. Howard
  ‘A gray man-ape,’ he grunted.  ‘Dumb, and man-eating.  They 
  dwell in the hills that border the eastern shore of this (the 
  Vilayet) sea.’
  -Iron Shadows in the Moon, Robert E. Howard
  ‘Conan knew it for what it was: the monster named in myth 
  and legend of the north - the snow ape, the desert man of 
  forbidden Panthenia.  He had heard rumours of its existence 
  in wild tales drifting down from the lost, bleak plateau 
  country of Loulan.’
  -The Flame Knife, R. E. Howard and L. S. de Camp
  
  2323
  Habitat Preferences: Man-apes are 
  highly variable in their preferred 
  habitats, ranging from semi-open 
  plains to dense forest to snow-capped 
  mountains.  It is believed that the 
  adaptability of man-apes as a whole 
  stems from their large brains and ﬁ ne 
  motor skills.
  Black Man-Apes: The traditional 
  description of black man-ape habitat 
  includes open steppe, grassland and 
  mountainous crags.  While there is 
  little doubt that this species does 
  indeed exist in these habitats, they 
  are also reported in dense southern 
  jungles as well.  In mountainous 
  regions, they are more 
  common on westward- and 
  southward-facing slopes.  
  This is probably because 
  these slopes receive more direct 
  sunlight and are usually warmer, 
  which is particularly important 
  during colder months.  Most black 
  man-ape family groups have a large 
  home range that they continuously 
  patrol.  Within these home ranges, 
  several different habitat types may 
  be found.  Although variation exists 
  among family groups, the majority of 
  the territory in question will almost 
  always consist of protected craggy 
  slopes among high mountain passes.  
  These areas are nearly impossible 
  to traverse for other vertebrates, 
  including humans, making them 
  very secluded spots.  Such slopes 
  are usually moderately to heavily 
  vegetated with mostly evergreen 
  trees and scrubby shrubs (such 
  as mountain heath) that prefer 
  higher elevations and rocky soil.  
  Although not known to be as 
  adept at climbing as their eastern 
  relatives, the man-apes of 
  the region are known to 
  use evergreen trees 
  to ambush prey and 
  those who would 
  do them harm.  A 
  much smaller 
  portion of the 
  territory 
  usually 
  consists of 
  rolling 
  mountain foothills and some sparsely 
  vegetated grassland.
  Furthermore, several areas used as 
  refuges by the beasts will also be 
  placed sporadically throughout the 
  territory.  These refuges usually 
  consist of a cave that is either hidden 
  or difﬁ cult to access that offers the 
  beasts protection.  A water source 
  is always nearby, and may even run 
  out from the mouth of the cave itself.  
  Furthermore, these caves are almost 
  always strategically placed in hidden 
  areas near game trails.  Thus, both 
  food and water are readily available.
  Although not substantiated by 
  qualiﬁ ed scholars, there are reports 
  of southern black man-apes from 
  extremely dense jungles along rivers 
  and tributaries in Kush and the Black 
  Kingdoms.  These habitats are said 
  to contain mostly large, old growth 
  trees with massive trunks.  The 
  canopies of such regions are usually 
  choked with branches and thick vines, 
  all of which can be used to aid in 
  climbing.  Surprisingly, a fair number 
  of reported attacks from these beasts 
  occur on the ground, and not from 
  treetops.
  Because a fairly substantial difference 
  exists between the habitats where 
  black man-apes are seen in the south 
  and where they are encountered in 
  the north, there is some speculation if 
  the individuals existing in each region 
  are not separate species in their own 
  right.  This notion is further supported 
  by individuals who claim to have 
  witnessed man-apes in these southern 
  regions whose hair is more reddish, 
  or rust-colored, than black.
  Grey Man-Apes and Yahtis: Grey 
  man apes are almost always classiﬁ ed 
  as a forest species.  However, along 
  the eastern shores of the Vilayet Sea, 
  and some distance inland, they are 
  almost exclusively found on semi-
  open plains and at the craggy bases 
  of mountains and their associated 
  foothills.  Yet, in most of Turan, 
  Hyrkania, and the like, grey man-apes 
  seem to prefer 
  It was no tree dweller but a beast bred on great plains and 
  gaunt mountains.
  -The Flame Knife, R. E. Howard and L. S. de Camp
  ’These creatures always lurk in the deepest woods they can 
  ﬁ nd, and seldom emerge…I’d have had no chance with him 
  among the trees.’
  -Iron Shadows in the Moon, Robert E. Howard
  
  24
  24
  dense forest with large old-growth 
  trees.  Although spending much time 
  on the ground, this type of man-ape 
  is probably more at ease in trees than 
  their western and longhaired cousins.  
  The home ranges of these beasts in 
  the far east contain almost exclusively 
  dense forest or jungle, with thick 
  canopies and ample branches for 
  climbing.  In the regions closer to 
  the Vilayet Sea, the home ranges 
  of grey man-apes include a nearly 
  50:50 ratio of plains and mountain 
  foothill or hills, with less than 10% 
  of the habitat consisting of forest.  
  As in black man-apes, they have 
  multiple refuges located sporadically 
  throughout their home ranges for 
  shelter.
  Yahtis are found almost exclusively 
  in the high snowy crags of mountains.  
  They never venture into grassland or 
  dense lowland forest.  Their home 
  ranges include almost homogenous 
  habitat, consisting of very sparse 
  vegetation, open plateaus, and cold 
  mountain streams.  In very rare 
  occasions, they are found among 
  stands of evergreen trees found along 
  mountainsides.  Yet, it is obvious 
  that they prefer open habitats.  Their 
  refuges are always along high cliff 
  faces that are very difﬁ cult to reach 
  by conventional means.
          
  Territories: Home range sizes are 
  large due to the fact that acquiring 
  sufﬁ cient food for family groups can 
  be difﬁ cult.  These territories can be, 
  on average, anywhere from one to 
  11 square miles (2.6 to 28.5 square 
  km).  As one would imagine, defense 
  of this territory (and its limiting 
  resource: food) from conspeciﬁ cs and 
  other large carnivorous predators is 
  aggressive.  Gray and black man-ape 
  groups will travel throughout their 
  home ranges during the evening, 
  watching for intruders and feeding 
  until reaching one of the many secure 
  refuges positioned sporadically 
  within.  Here they will rest during 
  the daylight hours, returning to their 
  nomadic habits once evening comes 
  once more.  Despite the type of man-
  ape being discussed, man-ape refugia 
  are almost always a cave consisting 
  of a single chamber large enough to 
  house the entire family group.  The 
  entrance to the chamber is almost 
  always somewhat concealed by 
  vegetation, or is at such a height as to 
  make it difﬁ cult to reach by creatures 
  that are not man-apes.  Furthermore, 
  the chamber may be lined with 
  vegetation of some sort, and a refuse 
  pile will always be present, either in 
  or near the chamber.  Refuse piles 
  will contain both excrement and 
  remains of food.  No attempt is made 
  to hide these and the scent from 
  them can often be overpowering.  
  Territorial boundaries are marked 
  by the pheromones present in urine.  
  Many man-apes are also known to 
  smear excrement on the trunks of 
  trees along the edge of their territories 
  to warn potential intruders.
  Although no rigorous data has been 
  collected on the subject, black man-
  apes of the south would appear to 
  have signiﬁ cantly smaller home 
  ranges than those of their northern 
  counterparts.  The sporadic and 
  isolated existences of these southern 
  man-apes may be a possible reason 
  for the comparatively low number 
  of encounters that humans have with 
  them.  Small home ranges may also 
  be a result of the incredibly dense 
  vegetation in the habitats where 
  they reportedly make their homes.  
  Such density of plant material could 
  inhibit quick and broad dispersal 
  of this creature.  From what reports 
  that have been made, it would seem 
  that this southern cousin spends 
  most of its time on the forest ﬂ oor, 
  or in the lower limbs of trees.  It is 
  believed that they have none of the 
  sporadically placed refuges in their 
  home ranges that their counterparts 
  do, but supposedly traverse the 
  borders of their territory at night, then 
  sleep off of the ground, in whichever 
  tree bough is closest during the day.
  Yahtis, it is believed, also 
  differ slightly in their territorial 
  requirements from other man-apes.  
  They are reported to live in smaller 
  social groups than do other types of 
  man-apes, thus needing less food 
  to sustain them as a unit.  Although 
  this might lead one to believe that a 
  smaller home range is required, this 
  is not the case.  Yahtis, in fact, have 
  no deﬁ ned home ranges, but instead 
  live nomadic-type lifestyles (with no 
  refuges) in which they follow herds 
  of game animals for great distances.  
  It is also believed that the need to 
  constantly roam has made Yahtis 
  grow accustomed to being active in 
  daylight, thus they are not negatively 
  affected by light sources as other 
  man-apes are.  There has been little 
  evidence to support the occurrence of 
  territorial disputes among Yahtis.
  Communication and Social 
  Interactions: Most communication 
  among man-apes is expressed 
  vocally in the form of grunts, deep 
  scream-like calls, and clicks.  Along 
  with the use of urine and feces to 
  mark territory, dominant male man-
  apes will frequently release a long, 
  resonant bawl while patrolling their 
  territories as a warning to rivals to 
  stay clear.  This call is said to be 
  incredibly unnerving and many 
  a traveler has had his blood run 
  cold at its sound.  Man-apes also 
  communicate vocally among each 
  other using clicks and soft grunting.  
  Although it is likely that these types 
  of communications are common, 
  man-apes are very secretive when 
  interacting within their groups and 
  humans have seen these behaviors 
  only sparingly.
  Aside from vocal cues, man-apes 
  use a signiﬁ cant amount of facial 
  expressions and gestures to express 
  their mood to one another as well 
  as potential threats.  To assert 
  dominance or in response to a threat, 
  man-apes will bear their teeth and 
  beat their chests.  If this does not 
  work, they will raise their arms above 
  their heads and scream.  Finally, as 
  a last resort, man-apes will ﬂ y into a 
  violent ﬁ t.  This ﬁ t usually includes 
  screaming, leaping up and down 
  while tearing up vegetation and 
  ﬂ inging it at the threat, and also mock 
  charges towards the threat.  Generally 
  
  2525
  such displays are only for show and 
  rarely end in violence (especially 
  when among conspeciﬁ cs), because 
  the result of injuries acquired during 
  such bouts would surely end in 
  the eventual death of the creature 
  harmed.  Yet, for reasons unknown by 
  scholars, man-apes rarely back down 
  from humans and almost always 
  attack them on sight.  This is perhaps 
  because man-apes view their simian 
  relatives as either: (1) food, or (2) 
  a threat so substantial that outright 
  attack is always deemed necessary.
  There are also physical forms of 
  communication that are used to 
  reinforce social bonds within family 
  groups.  This physical communication 
  usually consists of grooming.  Among 
  juveniles, ‘play ﬁ ghting’ occurs.  Play 
  ﬁ ghting not only strengthens social 
  bonds and establishes a hierarchy 
  among juveniles; it also helps them 
  work on their dexterity and strength 
  from an early age.
  Reproduction and Development: 
  Among groups, reproductive 
  privileges are available ﬁ rst and 
  foremost to dominant males, who 
  sire most of the juveniles in a given 
  family group.  Subordinate males and 
  females do reproduce and sire some 
  of the offspring in family groups, but 
  these juveniles are not common.
  Reproductive cycles vary depending 
  on the type of man-ape in question.  
  Black man-apes of the south are 
  believed to time reproduction so 
  that the birth of their offspring 
  corresponds with the increased food 
  available after the rainy season.  In 
  the north, black man-apes generally 
  breed in late winter/early spring and 
  offspring arrive by late summer.  
  Grey man-apes follow a similar 
  pattern as northern Black man-apes.  
  This pattern is largely unknown in 
  Yahtis; however, they have been 
  witnessed with juveniles at several 
  different times of the year.  Thus, it is 
  believed that breeding seasons among 
  Yahtis follow no speciﬁ c pattern and 
  reproduction occurs when conditions 
  are favourable.
  The breeding system of these 
  creatures is largely polygynous (one 
  male and many females), yet the 
  alpha female is always ﬁ rst in line 
  to breed with the alpha male during 
  the breeding season.  Subsequently, 
  he will breed with one or two other 
  females.  The alpha male then 
  jealously guards all of the females 
  he has copulated with, not allowing 
  them to re-mate with others.  It 
  is during the mating season that 
  subordinate males most quickly are 
  taught their place in the pecking 
  order, as the alpha male tolerates no 
  contact between them and his harem 
  of females.  Polygyny is not seen 
  in Yahtis, who generally live with 
  only one other female, and perhaps a 
  single offspring.
  All man-ape offspring grow quickly.  
  Infants are dependant on their 
  mothers for approximately six months 
  only.  After which, they are able to 
  feed on their own, as well as keep up 
  with the group during daily patrolling 
  of home ranges.  Male man-apes 
  reach sexual maturity at four years 
  of age.  If strong enough, they will 
  be able to contend for the position of 
  dominant male in a group by age six.  
  Females, on the other hand, do not 
  become sexually active until they are 
  at least ﬁ ve years of age.
  Mother man-apes, it should be noted, 
  vehemently defend their infants, 
  ﬁ ghting even to the death to save 
  them from a potential threat.  A 
  threatened female man-ape with 
  infant is one of the most terrible and 
  spectacular sights that the natural 
  world has to offer.  Usually, a quick 
  and decisive action is taken against 
  any creature (aside from members of 
  the female’s family group) to enter 
  her space.  The end result usually 
  includes dismemberment of the 
  threat.
  Prey, Hunting, 
  Prey, Hunting, 
  Feeding Habits, 
  Feeding Habits, 
  and Combat
  and Combat
  Man-apes are strict carnivores.  This 
  curious fact about their eating habits 
  is what separates them most from 
  other primates.  Strict carnivores 
  (excluding piscivorous, or ﬁ sh-eating, 
  mammals) have evolved in only 
  one other group of mammals: the 
  taxonomic Order Carnivora, which 
  includes dogs, cats, weasels and 
  so on.  The reason for this obvious 
  example of convergent evolution 
  between two vastly different groups 
  of animals is unknown.  However, as 
  stated previously, the teeth of man-
  apes clearly reﬂ ect their carnivorous 
  diet and more closely resemble the 
  teeth of tigers and dogs than other 
  primates.  In the wild, man-apes will 
  consume almost any warm-blooded 
  animal that they can capture.  While 
  there is a preference for larger prey, 
  they will consume animals as small 
  as rodents, if necessary.  Large 
  prey is preferred as it is more likely 
  to offer enough sustenance for an 
  entire family group.  Regardless of 
  the region in which they exist, man-
  apes seem to spend the majority 
  of their time hunting large grazing 
  herbivores.  In mountainous regions, 
  these are primarily mountain goats 
  and sheep, as well as deer.  Hares, 
  pikas and similar animals will also 
  be consumed if need be.  In open 
  habitats, elk or caribou will be 
  consumed by man-apes in northern 
  climes, while animals like buffalo and 
  antelope are taken in southern climes.  
  In areas of dense vegetation, smaller 
  deer-like animals, as well as wild 
  peccary and tapirs, are consumed.
  Male man-apes engage in all hunting 
  activity for a family group.  Male 
  man-apes rarely hunt alone (the 
  exception being found among Yahtis 
  whose family groups are too small 
  Then the rocky walls of the ravine echoed to the ape’s high, 
  penetrating scream as it charged, low-hanging arms swinging 
  wide, yellow fangs bared and dripping.
  -The Flame Knife, R. E. Howard and L. S. de Camp
  
  This Epic Article 
  This Epic Article 
  Continues Next 
  Continues Next 
  Month!
  Month!
  2626
  he reproduces with.  Beneath him 
  live anywhere from three to seven 
  subordinate males, who are either 
  offspring or relatives that were not 
  strong enough to leave their natal 
  family group and found their own.  
  The remainder of a man-ape’s family 
  group consists of subordinate females 
  and newborns.  Conversely, Yahtis 
  that are not solitary usually exist 
  in small groups consisting of one 
  female, and occasionally their single 
  offspring.
  Once reaching sexual maturity, male 
  man-apes are given a choice by the 
  current dominant male: fall into 
  line, or leave.  Some young males 
  select a third option: usurping the 
  current alpha male and taking his 
  place as leader of the group.  Bouts 
  for leadership of a man-ape family 
  group are violent and rarely end with 
  both contestants still living.  For 
  man-apes that do not wish to ﬁ ght 
  for the leadership of their current 
  family group, they may elect to leave 
  and found their own family group 
  with other subordinate individuals, 
  or attempt to enter a different family 
  group.  Existing family groups 
  occasionally adopt new members 
  as long as these outsiders take on a 
  submissive posture when approaching 
  the alpha male and female.
  Female man-apes are generally not 
  treated as roughly upon reaching 
  sexual maturity as males.  Often 
  females will remain with a group as 
  it can potentially increase the number 
  of partners for the alpha male to mate 
  with and spread his seed.
  the best interest of those confronting 
  man-apes in combat to keep the 
  animal at sword’s length from himself 
  or herself.  This can prove difﬁ cult, 
  however, as man-apes will often use 
  their incredible leaping ability to 
  quickly come into grappling range 
  with their opponents.  These truths 
  must all be considered carefully by 
  anyone wishing to enter man-ape 
  territory.
   
  Predators:  Adult man-apes 
  are believed to have few natural 
  predators.  Although it is believed 
  that they may be eaten by larger 
  carnivores, no substantiated reports 
  exist on the subject.  Although very 
  rare, dragons possess the size and 
  power to consume man-apes (even 
  adults) very easily, and it is probable 
  that they do so.  Juveniles and infants, 
  should they be separated from their 
  parents, are likely to be taken by 
  predators more frequently.  It can be 
  imagined that animals such as the 
  large constrictor-type snakes (such as 
  pythons) in the south will eat them, 
  as well as large felines (for example, 
  lions, mountain lions, sabre-tooths) 
  and perhaps boar-things.
   
  Longevity:  Compared to other 
  vertebrates, man-apes are fairly 
  long-lived.  If they do not meet a 
  premature and violent demise, man-
  apes can live into their 40’s.
  Society and Allegiances:  Man-apes, 
  whether of the black or grey varieties, 
  usually live in family groups of ﬁ ve 
  to 20 individuals.  The only exception 
  to this rule is found in Yahtis, which 
  are generally solitary, or living in 
  groups of three.  Within the larger 
  family groups of most black and 
  grey man-apes, a hierarchy exists.  
  There is always a dominant (or alpha) 
  male who has one alpha female and 
  several subordinate females that 
  to permit group hunting).  Most 
  man-ape hunting parties consist of 
  two to four large adult males and 
  four to six sub-adults.  Generally, 
  the younger males ﬂ ush the selected 
  quarry towards the older individuals 
  who remain hidden, waiting.  When 
  the prey is close enough, the older 
  males strike, often leaping down 
  from tree branches or overhead rock 
  ledges onto the backs of unsuspecting 
  victims.  It is during this ambush 
  that the claws are most beneﬁ cial.  
  Ambushing man-apes strike ﬁ rst and 
  with deadly accuracy to the region 
  at the base of the victim’s skull.  The 
  hope is to immediately severe the 
  spine, causing instantaneous death, 
  or piercing the jugular vein/carotid 
  artery, causing the animal to quickly 
  bleed out.
  Yahtis hunt alone or in groups of 
  two.  They will also ambush prey, but 
  instead of using trees and coordinated 
  attacks, they wait along game trails 
  in the craggy mountain ranges for 
  prey to come to them.  Most often, 
  they will hide in crevices or on ledges 
  above game trails, remaining upwind, 
  with large boulders that they throw 
  down at the prey, aiming for the head.
  If man-apes are not successful 
  in an overhead ambush attack to 
  the neck, they may then attempt a 
  frontal attack.  In this situation, the 
  claws are employed in the hopes of 
  making a swift strike to the throat, or 
  a disemboweling strike to the mid-
  section.  Man-apes rarely grapple one 
  on one with prey items, preferring to 
  use their claws to bring down quarry.  
  Man-apes are, however, incredibly 
  adept grapplers, if the need arises.  If 
  ambush attacks are unsuccessful, they 
  will not hesitate to confront human 
  opponents in close-quarter combat.  
  Anyone unfortunate enough to be 
  caught in a wrestling match with a 
  man-ape will likely end up severely 
  maimed, crushed or dead.  If able to 
  grab hold of an opponent, man-apes 
  can rip limbs from sockets, slam 
  victims into trees with incredible 
  force or crush them to death in their 
  powerful arms.  Therefore, it is in 
  But its manlike features merely increased the dreadfulness of 
  its aspect, and the intelligence which gleamed from its small 
  red eyes was wholly malignant.
  -The Flame Knife, R. E. Howard and L. S. de Camp
  
SOURCE: textdata/thevault/Deduped  Shit/3rd Party/Conan Creatures of the Hyborian Age Part I.pdf