Cumone

> ***"The Cumone, to me, are the cutest of Haven's many furry critters. They are so miniature, it's often times hard to even see them. And the little squeaking noise they make as they flap their tiny wings melts my heart whenever I hear it."-William Tancard's: Guide to Haven's Glorious Creatures.***
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## Biological Information

### Native Environment:

* Temperate Forests
* Plains
* Meadows
* Groves
* Tropical Islands
* Rainforests
* Wetlands
* Swamps
* Marshes
* Bushlands

### Behavior:

* Skittish
* Group mentality
* Territorial

## Physical Information

### Possible Skin/Fur Colors

* Tan
* Brown
* Black
* White

### Possible Eye Colors:

* Red
* Yellow
* Brown
* Orange

## Description

**Cumone** are a common species of areal rodent prey mammals native to the many temperate forests across planet **Haven**, that resemble a small ball-shaped aerial rodent. They are most famous for being the smallest mammal species on the planet, only having a maximum length of one inch, and an average weight of around two grams. As well, Cumone are well known for their extreme commonality, with a global population of around eight billion individual Cumone, and as a result, they have become a fundamental pillar of many forests' respective food chains.

They are often kept as pets by Haven's intelligent populace, with large amounts of the creature being kept in large colonies of hundreds of individual Cumone. However, wild Cumone have been labeled by most of the world as an invasive pest species, as they travel in large numbers and pose a risk to crops of produce, moving along the world's countrysides in massive clouds, eating thousands of tons of foodstuffs across hundreds of acres of farmland.

## **Physical**

Cumone have a rounded, spherical shape with a bipedal build. They have two small legs that are obscured by the thin fur that surrounds them, each having a bird-like talon appendage at the end, which the Cumone uses to dig into small leaves and branches to stabilize itself. A Cumone's body evolved in a rounded shape in order to better insulate the internal heat within their bodies, as the thick winds they traverse would otherwise freeze them. It also gives them a fairly aerodynamic build, being able to travel across strong wind currents with relative ease.

Unlike most prey species, Cumone have two front-facing eyes, which a Cumone uses to see nearby areas in which to land with expert precision, being able to assess the perfect landing spot by just giving a brief glance at its surroundings. Despite their expert attention to detail, however, their vision range is not very far, only being able to see about thirteen feet in front of themselves. However, their hearing range is very impressive, being able to hear things up to a kilometer away, allowing them to pinpoint any would-be dangers. A Cumone has small, thin whiskers on the side of its face, which it uses to stabilize itself when it lands on an object.

Located at the sides of their bodies are two butterfly-like wings, that can be retracted into their thick fur coating at will. Once unfurled, these wings take on a translucent, see-through appearance. On the wings themselves, various miniature scales are located all across them, which are used to decrease the amount of drag given to them by the wind current the respective Cumone flies through. Long crack-like patterns are spread across the wings as well, which are used to allow the wings to bend and flap against the wind, allowing the Cumone to fly. They are extremely fast when flying, being able to fly up to forty kilometers an hour. A Cumone moves so quickly when it takes flight, that it often times needs to land to get a rough idea of where it is currently located, as its brain is unable to perceive the light around it when going at maximum speed. These wings have a diameter of only around half an inch in length, making it very hard to see.

Cumone lack wings at birth, and during their early years, these wings will slowly begin to grow from the sides of their bodies. As a result, a Cumone is utterly dependent on its mother as they grow into adulthood, as without its wings, it is unable to locate any kind of food on its own, as well as avoid would-be predators. It will typically take around a standard year for a Cumone to fully grow.

## **Behavior**

Most Cumone will spend their entire lives foraging for food and water, as well as finding a mate. During the day, a Cumone will fly about its native forest, searching for optimal leaves to feed upon, as it is expertly able to determine the water content within said leaves. While a Cumone searches for food, it will also in tandem attempt to locate a mate of the opposite gender, as it constantly emits an endless stream of small squeaking sounds from its mouth, in the hopes that it will attract this desired mate. This eternal search for both food, and the desire to breed is a trait that all Cumone share, and they as a collective do so each and every day, leading to the species' large population count.

A Cumone will also have a specific nest located atop of a small branch. These nests are typically made out of small twigs, leaves and grass gathered by the Cumone, and will only be about five inches in diameter, allowing for plenty of space for two adult Cumone and a clutch of litter. During the winter months, the Cumone will hibernate in these nests, creating a small cover for the nest out of thick leaves to provide a barrier from the cold.

Cumone exist in large colonies, spread about several trees and nests. These communities of Cumone range widely among different colonies, with some as small as about twenty Cumone, to as large as a few thousand. Collective Cumone are extremely territorial as well, as when an adult Cumone from a foreign colony attempts to encroach on their respective territory, then they will viciously attack the intruder en masse.