The long-tailed moki is a keystone predator in the swamps of Murkmir. A keystone predator is an animal that keeps the local prey and even predator population in check, preventing a new trophic cascade. The long-tailed moki fits this role by hunting and eating most small-to-medium-sized prey, especially those with abundant populations. However, it still needs defense mechanisms, as it is not an apex predator and has larger predators to fear. Click here to learn More about keystone species. Click here to learn More about trophic cascade. Click here to learn More about apex predators.
Unlike most mammals (though similar to primates and some marsupials), long-tailed mokis have opposable thumbs and hand-like front and back paws. These thumbs are essential for long-tailed mokis, as they use them to climb trees and pick up and manipulate things. They are also plantigrade, meaning they walk on their palms rather than toes. Click to learn More about plantigrade
Mokis have a well-developed sense of smell and use it to track places they have been. However, this is not their finest sense; they only partially rely on it to hunt.
Long-tailed mokis are nocturnal and hunt at night, not unlike many predators. Thus, they have specially adapted eyes for low-light environments. Their eyes are large with big pupils, which allows them to take in as much light as possible. Click to learn more about nightvision
Mokis have excellent hearing and can detect a wide range of sounds. Their ears are finely tuned to help them balance, locate prey, and avoid predators.
Mokis have fur patterns reminiscent of small plants and fungi—when they crouch, ready to pounce, they are nearly invisible to unaware animals. They also have a ringed tail, a feature many real animals have (ringtails and raccoons are two prominent examples), which acts as an attention-getting target for other predators to ensure they do not get attacked somewhere vulnerable. Click to learn More about ringtails
Long-tailed mokis have two types of fur: underfur and guard fur. Guard furs are long, coarse hairs that give their fur its color, and underfur is dense and insulating, keeping them warm. (Mammals in the real world have this, too!) Click to learn More about guard fur and underfur
Long-tailed mokis, as observed in their name, have very long tails. They use these prehensile appendages to maintain balance via their weight or by wrapping them around trees or other nearby objects (similar to some primates). Click to learn More about tails
The ankles of long-tailed mokis can rotate up to 180°, allowing them to climb trees easily and even go down them head first!
Long-tailed mokis have evolved retractable claws, a trait seen in animals that climb and use their claws as their primary weapon—the retractability keeps them sharp. Retractable claws work by having the last digit of their fingers, called a distal phalanx, be ‘pulled back’ by two tendons. One tendon keeps it ‘in,’ which is its resting position, and one pushes it ‘out,’ which is its flexed, protracted position. One animal most known for having retractable claws is the cat, but many species have them! Click to learn more about claws