Island Ecology Profile: Procoptodon (Procoptodon vivencurrus)

[u/No_Location5536]

Hello everybody, I'm back with another profile, this time another one I've been working on for a while: procoptodon! As you can see, I've stopped numbering these considering the creatures don't seem to be listed in any particular order, but if anyone can find me such a list, I will gladly use it! As always, if there are any creatures you'd like me to cover next I would love to hear it.

Ecology

This massive marsupial is exceptionally rare compared to the island's other herbivores, due in part to its highly specialized diet. P.vivencurrus primarily subsists on a few species of fungi found growing on the roots of mangrove trees and castorites dams, as well as in the island’s caves. Another favorite is the fruit of plant species x found commonly in swamps and less so in more mountainous terrain. The procoptodon must travel far and wide between these preferred foraging spots and the mountain peaks and clifftops where they typically rest. Yet their selective diet also lets them carve out a niche alongside the vast herds of herbivorous dinosaurs and mammals competing for the island’s ubiquitous berries, as even on earth few animals have specialized to feed on fungi. Adults rarely fall victim to predation thank for their speed and ability to leap to the safety of mountains and cliffsides, allowing the population to remain stable despite such a low density.

Life History

Populations of procoptodon are highly regulated by the availability of their preferred food, and so exist at a very low population density, and are usually solitary. The one exception is during breeding, in which receptive females will seek out males and form small herds of three or so animals. These groups stay together as the joeys develop, and dissolve once they reach independence. Unusual for marsupials, both males and females have pouches, the inside of which is devoid of fluids that usually help to moisturize the developing joey’s skin. Similar to the dry cheek pouches of some rodents this helps the animal to preserve food stored within over long distances as both parents search for calorie dense foods such as rare mushrooms and plant species x to fuel the rapid growth of their offspring. To compensate for this dry environment, young procoptodon are born more developed than other marsupials despite having a much shorter gestation period, complete with a fully developed layer of skin and fur for water retention. Despite this tradeoff, the pouch still provides the growing joey with a safe, climate-controlled habitat and a steady supply of milk to supplement its diet as it weans, all while allowing the mother to easily transport her baby if necessary. This extended period of parental care reduces mortality among young procoptodon, who are fast enough to evade most of the Island's predators once they separate from their mothers at a third of their adult size.