The gestation of the Chaurus, from the sealing of the vaginal canal to the moment of birthing is a remarkably swift process, spanning only seven to ten days. Such a brief period is likely an

evolutionary adaptation meant to aid survival in the dangerous subterranean environments these creatures inhabit. Once the leathery cover over the female’s reproductive tract degrades, she

deposits her clutch of eggs—usually numbering between twelve and twenty. Usually, they come out in clusters of 3 to 4, usually still attached to each other.

    The eggs themselves are tough like leather, but pliable, a bit tougher than one might imagine an egg to be. They are on average about half again as big as a chicken egg. It is peculiar, however,

that only a small fraction of these eggs possess true viability. The lighter-hued ones, often with a pale, almost sickly sheen, have little hope of developing into healthy offspring. It is the darker

eggs, dense and robust in color, that show the promise of life.

    Curiously, even among these promising specimens, viability remains low. My observations suggest that one to three percent of all eggs yield viable offspring. Even more troubling, a large

percentage of the viable eggs are male eggs. This pattern, observed in one cave suggests the  species is teetering on the edge of extinction. From a distance, all females seem to have narrower

tails- whereas the horns of the males are often thicker, and longer.

    From the few records that exist in the solitude library, all seem to lend credence to these observations. Past accounts speak of a time when these creatures seemed to swarm in greater numbers,

supplying armorers and craftsmen with near-unbreakable carapace materials. The species’ present struggle with fertility could well be a lingering consequence of relentless harvesting, the

repercussions echoing through each generation. Though, some records suggest that an ancient race- the falmer - used to raise these creatures.  While there is no known information on their

practices of raising chaurus, it doesn't seem that over harvesting is the cause. As raising anything - cows, chickens, etc incurs practices which increase growth and population.

    Females, on average, lay up to four clutches per year, though they are capable of producing as many as nine if conditions are exceedingly favorable. Yet, such abundance is rarely seen. The strain

on their numbers is evident, and the downward trend is clear to those who look close enough: fewer females, fewer clutches, and fewer young with each passing season.