Toma
Toma, also called Thomases, are animals that exists in the Trigun universe.
Overview
Toma are large, bipedal bird-like animals used by the humans of No Man's Land as pack animals, riding animals, and for food.
Biology
Toma are large animals with brown feathery fur. They stand on two legs. In the manga continuity, they have horse-like hooves. In the anime continuity, they have bird-like clawed feet with three toes. They have small vestigial wings. Toma have long necks with a very small head consisting of a beak-like mouth and small round eyes, one on each side of their heads. Their tongues are skinny and very long. They have a long tail with a scaly underside and a rounded end with spiky protrusions on the top.
Stampede
In Stampede, the toma look much different than the ones seen in the manga and anime continuities. They are far more birdlike and look very similar to emu.
Gear
Toma are typically seen wearing a large shield-like cover over their neck and head with a harness attached below the head. These shields often have eye-like patterns on the wider portion near the base of the neck that resemble eyespots. Toma used for riding are equipped with saddle blankets, saddles, and saddle bags, similar to those used for horses. Additional luggage can be loaded and carried behind the saddle.
Non-Canon
Toma make a cameo appearance in the Gungrave anime. They are seen being used in place of horses in horse racing.
In episode 5, Brandon, Gary, and Widge are running a betting operation around these races. They are seen watching one of the toma race on television, with two of the racing toma being named "Michael Stampede" and "Black Chapel."
- Episode 5
-
"Underdog #3, Michael Stampede, is closing in on #2, pre-race favorite Black Chapel!"
-
Gary watches the race.
-
The racing toma.
In episode 7, Harry and his associates are watching a toma race from an executive suite at the top of the grandstands. The toma in this episode have eye-like patterns on their neck shields very similar to the design on Meryl's toma's gear in the 1998 anime.
- Episode 7
-
Three racing toma.
-
Green toma pulls ahead.
-
Green toma takes the lead.
