Ipotane Crossbreeds

Ipotanes have a greater genetic dissimilarity to their sister species, and thus have the greatest frequency of complications when crossing with them. If brought to term, though, the child will usually survive to adulthood. There is much variation in physical expression of traits, leading to a wide variety of phenotypes displayed, especially in regard to hair, fur, and tails. Ipotane crosses typically experience slight malformations of the hoof, ranging from a fused cloven hoof to an unnaturally split mule-hoof. Both can lead to trouble walking, but both can also have no effect on the efficiency of the hoof. As with all crossbreeds, the extent to which the physical traits are expressed and/or affect the individual is varied and highly contextual.

Children of an ipotane and a satyr are known as hinnies. Female hinnies may look completely like one species or the other, depending on which traits are expressed, but it is more likely for them to exhibit a combination of, or spectrum of, parent species traits. Male hinnies almost always have antlers, but have been known to lack them, in some cases. Male hinnies lacking antlers have a higher cancer rate. Female hinnies will never grow antlers.

It is common for hinnies to display patterns in their two-toned skin that is atypical of saytrs, from whom the trait is passed. Such patterns may be asymmetrical striping or patching, blocking, or may follow Blaschko's lines. Contrast this to satyr's symmetrical, striping patterns.

Ipotane-faun crosses are known as mules. They will almost always have horns, the style of which is largely consistent with sex as in fauns. Mules are typically born in singles, unlike fauns, which are usually twins. That being said, if the mother is a faun, there is an increased likelihood of twin mules, though it is still a smaller chance than in truebreed fauns. If the mother is an ipotane, the likelihood of twins is almost the same as with truebreed ipotanes- that is, small. Fur patterns are widely variable, but typically do not extend past the pattern limits of the trait expected for a faun of the same sex.