Very good!
 

Download

By Al_B_Bach
01/15/2009 - 08:10:56

Type: Creature
Rating: 15 (Very good!)
Tags: al_b_bach, alien, insectoid, omnivore, tangre

• Details
• Comments

• Analysis
• View on Spore.com

Description

Dina-Mites are capable of an explosive burst of leaping speed when fleeing a predator, hence their name. They live in dark areas that are secluded by or protected by large wetlands and are very passive creatures. Primarily nocturnal, they live in small groups of up to ten. Mostly eating fruit born by trees, but they will eat a hapless creature that gets to close. They are not much on predation, but will never turn down an easy free meal. They are not very large in size and weigh around 15 kilos and have a life span of about 10-12 years. Tangre scientist like them as they are good source for study as a basis reflection on the ecology of the worlds temprament. They are very sensitive to climatic and ozone changes. When changes occur in the planets T count, the populations are affected by the resulting accrued imbalance. When populations climb or drop in mass, the scientists will know something is awry in the ecosystem. In many ways they are a natural barometer to the planet. Proper population balance is argued for in leading scientific circles and begged to be strictly watched so world balance is maintained, though funding is rare. Aside from their sesitivity to climatic changes they have very unique social orders, or family groups as observered by naturalists and entomologists. It has been argued whether they have any self awareness rather than that of natural survival instinct. Many studies have shown that they exhibit forms of higher animal behaviors, though they are insectoid. Though crude in aspect, for instance, they do use tools such as long sticks to dislodge fruit from branches, plus they tend to pick those fruit that are at the right stage of ripeness rather than those on the ground. They even seem to exhibit a limited vocal language. There is a debate ongoing as to if this is a cross over to a group becoming 'tribe' like. They also show a strong family bonding in rearing the young rather than just protective behavior. It is a shared duty. One could relate them to a behavior cross of Earth sapiens and suricates even though they are mammals instead of insectoid. Males are generally the groups protector and usually consists of two or three where as the females are the tenders of social order and share the young, but both sexes share watch/rearing duties. Young are born in private so little is known of this part of their social behavior. Young are not allowed to venture into the open till they are at least, by best guess, six months old. As the group expands it may share individuals to other groups in a social form of sharing territory and possible alliance or splinter off into two groups. Much more study is required to understand these unique creatures and funding is always sought after in the Empire, but with funds spread thin, sadly only one or two expeditions can be mounted a year. Limited data is collected by private entomologists and the study of radio tracking devices, but it is only through funded research can the on sight studies be fully exploited. [Creature design by Al B. Bach]