Dingaloid

The **Dingaloid** is a fictional oviparous creature created by AldrineRowdyruffBoy (formerly known as AldrineRowdyruff and Aldrine2004), resembling a blue version of Kirby without the arms, the blue areas on the bottom of the eyes and the cheek blushes, as well as having a long prehensile tail.

According to a comment by AldrineRowdyruffBoy here, he said that he was inspired to make the Kirby-esque creature from the Shmoo of *Li'l Abner* fame. He also had a lot of trouble coming up with a name for the creature before finally settling on "Dingaloid".

## Biology

### Physical description

Dingaloids, as said before, are small blue creatures resembling the video game character, Kirby, but they lack arms and their eyes are entirely black save for a white area on the top. Just like the pink puffball that they are based on, they are quite squishy and can withstand being stepped on or squashed by accident.

Males and females are identical in appearance, but the female has a tuft of hair on the tip of her tail like a lion's tail, similar to how lions have manes on their heads while lionesses don't.

The tail of a Dingaloid is prehensile and, aside from being used to grip onto branches like a monkey's tail does, acts as a hand of sorts to compensate for their lack of hands. Dingaloids can even curl their tail into a spring and bounce with them, ala Tigger from *Winnie the Pooh*.

They are usually colored baby blue with navy blue feet (and the tail hairs in the female's case), but other Dingaloid colors exist as well, as proven in this drawing by SVTPuffedUp.

### Behavior

Dingaloids are very adaptable and are often found in almost any environment, like forests, beaches, deserts, tundras, cities, etc. They are more friendlier and social compared to other wild animals, so anyone who happens to come across a wild Dingaloid will find that the creature likes them and means no harm. However, Dingaloids are capable of attacking when they feel that they are being threatened, and they do so by jumping in the air and delivering a massive, agonizing yet usually non-fatal kick that's almost as hard as an ostrich's kick.

Dingaloids that have been domesticated as pets are just as friendly, often following their owners wherever they go, observe their routines and sleep with them in bed. They can even be taken out for walks.

### Communication and vocalization

Dingaloids often make noises that are nearly indistinguishable from a Morse code's beeping, and communicate with each other for either one of several reasons:

* To warn other Dingaloids of nearby predators.
* To catch the attention of a mate.
* To scare away predators.
* If the Dingaloid is domesticated, to get their owner's attention, either by asking for food or showing their love for them.

Dinagloids can also make other noises, like a trilling noise when they're relaxed and a playful growl when they play with humans.

### Diet

While Dingaloids can eat anything that they can find or are given by humans, they are mostly frugivorous and insectivorous. They eat fruits ranging from the tiniest watermeal to the biggest jackfruit, while they eat insects like ants, flies, beetles, cicadas, crickets, grasshoppers, butterflies, moths, cockroaches, mantises, etc.

### Lifespan

Just like tortoises and other long-living animals, Dingaloids can live well over 100-150 years old, although some Dingaloids can live even older before dying.

### Reproduction

Dingaloids procreate sexually and lay small spherical, hard-shelled eggs just like birds. Once mating is done, the eggs develop inside the womb for 5-10 weeks before coming out of the female's vagina. Finally, the male and female then take turns incubating their eggs while the babies develop, and after a few more weeks, the eggs hatch and newborn Dingaloids, which resemble miniature copies of their parents, come out and are looked after by the adult Dingaloids.

However, just like chickens and other birds, female Dingaloids are capable of laying eggs even without the presence of a male, in which case they are unfertilized and never develop into a baby Dingaloid.

### Relationship with humans

Due to their harmless and docile nature compared to other untamed animals, Dingaloids are often domesticated by humans to be kept as pets. They form deep bonds with their owners, are easy to socialize with other house pets (i.e. cats and dogs) and will happily delight themselves in playing with pet toys intended for cats and dogs. Sometimes, they even allow their owners to cook their eggs for breakfast, and the yolk is described as being more delicious in comparison to other egg yolks.