Mooncalf

A Mooncalf is a shy magical beast that emerges from its burrow only during a full moon. It is known for its large, bulging eyes, timid nature, and a unique dancing ritual performed in moonlight, which is believed to be a prelude to mating. Information about this creature is primarily detailed in the textbook Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

• Ministry of Magic Classification: XX (Harmless / may be domesticated)
• Native to: Worldwide (Pottermore)
• Distinguishing Features: Smooth, pale-grey skin; large, round, bulging eyes situated on top of its head; four long, spindly legs with large, flat feet.
• Valuable By-products: Silvery dung that, when collected before sunrise, serves as a powerful fertilizer for magical plants.

The Mooncalf is a very shy creature that spends most of its time hidden in its underground burrow. It has smooth, pale grey skin and four long, delicate legs ending in large, flat webbed feet. Its most prominent feature is its enormous, round eyes, which are located on the top of its head, allowing it to look upwards without turning. Under the light of a full moon, Mooncalves will leave their burrows to perform a complex and intricate dance on their hind legs in secluded areas. This behavior is considered a mating ritual. The geometric patterns left behind in wheat fields from these dances have often been a source of puzzlement for Muggles. The dung of a Mooncalf is a valuable magical substance. If the silvery pellets are harvested before the sun rises, they can be used to make herbs and magical flowers grow exceptionally fast and strong.

Mooncalves are mentioned during Harry Potter's fifth year at Hogwarts. In a Care of Magical Creatures lesson taught by the substitute professor, Wilhelmina Grubbly-Plank, the students were tasked with sketching Mooncalves. In a letter to Sirius Black, Ron Weasley humorously mentioned that he had mistaken a Fanged Geranium for a Mooncalf, suggesting it was part of their ongoing study in Professor Grubbly-Plank's class.

The name “Mooncalf” is a direct reference to the creature's connection with the moon. The word calf typically refers to the young of cattle, evoking an image of a gentle, perhaps slightly clumsy, and innocent animal. Historically, “mooncalf” is an archaic English term for a foolish person or a congenitally deformed creature, once believed to be influenced by the moon. This may allude to the creature's strange appearance and unusual behavior.

• In the Fantastic Beasts films, Newt Scamander keeps a small herd of Mooncalves in his magical suitcase. They are depicted as gentle, wide-eyed creatures that he feeds from a bucket. (film)
• In the video game Hogwarts Legacy, the player can rescue Mooncalves from poachers and care for them in a vivarium within the Room of Requirement. Their fur can be collected to upgrade equipment. (video game)