That makes sense to me. Harpies should have cloacas. Elves, though? Why elves?

That’s gotta depend on the type of elf or origin, right?

I’m trying to think of a type related to birds. Got one?

No, but I’m not big on elven mythologies ☹️

I think @wolvendamien.bsky.social needs to elaborate on his thinking here

It wasn't my question to begin with; you'll wanna take that up with @mayawest.online 🤷🏾‍♂️

Do you have an opinion though? I think I’m going to go with ‘probably not’

I was asking about North Pole elves, but we can extend to Keebler (since they live in a tree and thus are related to birds)

I like it. Keebler elves likely have cloaca, but the data are inconclusive as to whether other types of elves also have cloaca — just as some mammals do have cloaca but not all. 🤓 This seems so reasonable to me.

Same, same. I have mid knowledge of the elves in maybe five specific series’ canons, but I’m no expert!

in my defense I'm asking for science

Either they’re humanoid or we’re elf-oid as a species. They’ve gotta be mammalian, right?

Platypus are egg laying mammals. There is precedent.

True, but platypuses are also not humanoid or elf-oid. There is a precedent in the echnidas/monotremes, but it’s more of an exception unless elves are also retaining a trait from an extremely ancient ancestral species that mammals share but from which most deviated.

Given how long they live - possibly immortal? I’d say that has a high chance though

Yeah, I did consider that, so I suppose cloacas aren’t out of the question. Do we think they also lay eggs then?

I like to think so. Decorated like Xmas tree ornaments due to maaaagic

Okay, that is slightly less horrifying to me than cloacas, but I’m going to continue considering them mammalian in a less bizarre sense for personal comfort. 😂

I was thinking like magical penguins but I'm realizing now that's the wrong pole

So you're telling me this question has raged for two years without a definitive answer!? Bluesky scholars lend me your ears! The question must be settled for all time!

I think we’ve settled it. She thought they were descended from penguins or something, but that’s the wrong pole. They must be mammalian, so no eggs and no cloaca. 😂

A part of me is almost disappointed but ty

I don’t know, someone has posed the argument that they could be related to echnidas, which are monotremes. Stay tuned over on that sub-reply thread. 😂

👀

Do you have a link to the thread?

hur hur elf pole

elves are monotremes

Such a disturbing assertion…