Singing Leaper

Singing Leaper

*Clarexhibuit Cantor*

Animal, Primate

* Largest Recorded Height: 1.5 metres

* Average Life Expectancy: 19 years

* Longest Recorded Lifespan: 25 years

## Description

Singing Leapers are aboreal primates living in the jungle of Kuateoha, amongst the canopies of the vast trees. They are the only extant members of the *Leosimia* (lit. "Lion-monkey") family, which belongs to the *Platyrrhini* parvorder (New World monkeys) - though they differ from other New World monkeys in that they have trichromatic vision and opposable thumbs. Numerous other species of *Leosimia* are known of, but they went extinct in the Annihilation. Singing Leapers are alternatively sometimes known simply as Lion Monkeys.

Singing Leapers, like all *Leosimia*, sport a strong mane around their face, which is snouted like a lemur, though with proportionally smaller eyes which are structured similarly to those of a feline. They have white faces, light blue eyes and brightly coloured fur (the genus name *Clarexhibuit* literally translates as bright-climber). They are coloured orange aside from their underside, which is coloured white, and their prehensile tail which is striped orange and white.

Singing Leapers, as their name would imply, are best known for their singing behaviour, which is used for a wide variety of communication, from merely relaying information to wooing mates to competing with others for resources and partners. The style of their signing can vary greatly depending on what they are trying to accomplish; when seducing mates or comforting children they typically sing softly and at a high pitch, whereas when intimidating opponents they sing powerfully and in a low bass pitch. The singing of the males is generally lower pitched than the females, and only the males are capable of throat singing, which they use for intimidation.

Some short melodies are ingrained as containing specific pieces of information, and it was only recently in 1996 that the "singing language" of the Singing Leapers was comprehensively understood. By combining short melodic "syllables" into a longer musical "sentence", Singing Leapers can quickly inform their clan of food sources, potential shelter or incoming threats, and give specific details about these. In other cases, though, when specific information is not intended to be conveyed, such as when intimidating competitors, wooing mates or calming children, Singing Leapers will make up melodies on the fly. When attempting to charm mates, a large part of how the candidate will be judged is on their ability to improvise a good melody.

The extent of intelligence which Singing Leapers possess is debated, though it is generally considered to be high, perhaps the highest out of any animal not considered to be one of the "intelligent folk". Physically, their brains are large compared to their body size, almost as large as those of Humans, but they have fewer neurons and fewer wrinkles and folds in their brain compared to Humans.

Though their method of communication is limited compared to proper languages, they are still capable of conveying relatively complex information in a rapid and efficient manner. They can quickly learn through observation and they possess sophisticated problem solving skills, including the ability to solve problems which do not exist in the wild. They are remarkably dextrous with their fingers, which they can use to manipulate tools and communicate through basic sign language, and there are claims they can be taught to write, but most scholars are dubious about this and consider it to be merely mimicking movements and shapes rather than truly understanding written language. They are clearly socially and emotionally intelligent, experiencing a wide range of emotions, clearly loving their monogamous partners, enjoying time with friends and grieving the loss of loved ones. Singing Leapers cannot be truly domesticated, but they can be befriended and taught to carry out tasks in return for a reward.

## As Food

Singing Leapers taste much like monkeys; not particularly flavourful, tough and lean and a little greasy. The relatively low quality of their meat combined with their uncomfortable similarity to hominids means they are not often eaten.

## Conservation

Singing Leapers are classified as Near Threatened. Though their numbers are stable, they are increasingly threatened by the expansion of civilisation in Kuateoha.