Kooarrel
Phascolosciurus arborigidus
Stats
Behavior
The Kooarrel exhibits a unique blend of its parental lineage's behaviors. While possessing the boundless curiosity and agile movements of a squirrel, it also inherits the koala's propensity for extended periods of rest. They are often observed in short bursts of frantic activity – gathering leaves, cracking nuts, or darting up trees – followed by long, deep sleeps, often clutching onto a sturdy branch. Their movements are a graceful, yet deliberate, climb, lacking the outright speed of a squirrel but possessing a koala's secure grip.
Predominantly solitary, Kooarrels mark their territories with a distinctive musky scent derived from a gland similar to a koala's. They construct loose, leafy dreys for sleeping, but will often simply cling to a comfortable fork in a tree for their long naps. While their primary diet consists of a wider variety of leaves than the koala, including eucalyptus, they supplement this with seasonal nuts and berries, often storing them in their cheek pouches (a squirrel trait) for later consumption during their more active phases.
Fun Facts
- 🔬 Kooarrels possess a rudimentary, non-marsupial pouch-like fold of skin on their abdomen, which they occasionally use to carry small bundles of leaves or large nuts for short distances.
- 🔬 Their fur is a dappled grey-brown, providing excellent camouflage against tree bark, and is remarkably soft, almost wool-like, on their underbelly, but coarser and wiry on their back.
- 🔬 Unlike koalas, Kooarrels do not smell strongly of eucalyptus, but rather a faint, earthy scent mixed with a hint of their last meal, whether it be nutty or leafy.