- Continuing to develop this for funsies
Mmkay so these guys are insectivores. They have large ears to pick up on the very small sounds emitted by insects, as well as a very powerful sense of smell to help them track down their prey. Large curved claws on their forelimbs are used to dig up insect colonies, which they quickly decimate with the help of their long, sticky tongue. Their saliva contains a very minor toxin which is harmless to us and most vertebrates, but basically puts invertebrates to sleep. Powerful hind legs are used for rapid movement and bounding, allowing them to make great leaps and move quickly. The tail grows long, coarse hairs, similar to a horse tail, which acts to cover their tracks. The toxin in their saliva helps neutralize their scent, so they will often thoroughly groom their tail to make it difficult for predators to track them down.
The babies take a while to develop their eyesight, and will leave their burrow and start traveling with their parents while still unable to see, relying solely on their hearing until they are about 6 months old. They are covered in a very dense, bristly coat to help protect them from insect bites and stings as they do not yet produce toxin in their saliva. Parents will meticulously groom their young in order to mask their scent from predators.
