Plains-dweller (SciiFii)

The plains-dweller (Chortoupithecus campifabricatus) is a species of australopithecine ape that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the open woodlands, grasslands, shrublands, and scrublands across Eurasia and Africa to help boost biodiversity. The plains-dweller is a rather tall ape, growing on average of about 4.11 feet (1.2 meters) in height and weighing about 150 pounds on average. The plains-dweller, like other species of australopithecines, is a bipedal animal and is able to stand, walk, and run entirely on its back legs. The dark skin and mane of hair across the plain-dweller's body protects its body from ceaseless sunlight. The long feet are extensions of the legs, adding to the primate's speed. The legs are long and slim, like those of veldt-running animals such as deer and antelope. Besides adding to the plains-dweller's swiftness, the long developed feet enable it to see over tall grass. The bladelike callouses provide the plains-dweller with some degree of protection, as well as cutting through tough stems. Unlike most apes, the plains-dwellers have massive teeth that are replaced if they wear out chewing tough silica-rich grasses and, more importantly, a specialized stomach within the abdomen containing bacteria that can break down cellulose (a substance not normally digestible by the common human (Homo sapiens) frame). Plains-dwellers are entirely herbivorous and primarily feeds on grasses, roots, and stems. Like humans, plains-dwellers are capable of altruism, compassion, empathy, kindness, patience, and sensitivity. Plains-dwellers are unique among nonhuman apes for a lack of male dominance and relatively high social status of females, due to the latter forming long-lasting, powerful alliances among each other. Although a male plains-dweller is dominant to a female in a dyadic interaction, depending on the community, socially-bonded females may be co-dominant with males or dominant over them. At the top of the hierarchy is a coalition of high-ranking females and males typically headed by an old, experienced matriarch who acts as the decision-maker and leader of the group. Female plains-dwellers typically earn their rank through age, rather than physical intimidation, and top-ranking females will protect immigrant females from male harassment. While plains-dwellers are often called matriarchal, in many communities there is an alpha male who is co-dominant to the highest-ranking females and will run the group alongside them. His role involves disciplining other males, defusing conflicts, and helping maintain order and cooperation in the group. He alerts the group to any possible threats, protects the group from predators such as pythons, leopards, and other predators, and in some cases, plays a decisive role in deciding where the group travels to, and where they feed. Aggressive encounters between males and females are rare, and males are tolerant of infants and juveniles. A male derives his status from the status of his mother. The mother–son bond often stays strong and continues throughout life. While social hierarchies do exist, and although the son of a high ranking female may outrank a lower female, rank plays a less prominent role than in other primate societies. Relationships between different communities are often positive and affiliative, and plains-dweller are not a territorial species. Plains-dwellers will also share food with others, even unrelated strangers. Plains-dwellers exhibit paedomorphism (retaining infantile physical characteristics and behaviours), which greatly inhibits aggression and enables unfamiliar plains-dwellers to freely mingle and cooperate with each other. The conservation status of the plains-dweller is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts, the plains-dweller's wide range and its tolerance to many of the human activities.
Category:Animals
Category:Species
Category:SciiFii