Grattle

The grattle has split from its ancestor. When some of the greeper moved into Krakow Temperate Forest, the only available food was the nogger. As the nogger is similar to the norat, it was easy for the greeper to switch its diet. Eventually it evolved into the grattle.

Its black spots now help it blend into its environment when hunting at night. The grattle has become mainly nocturnal, waking up at sunset and resting at sunrise. This is because these are the times when the grattle is more likely to catch food. At night, male noggers are out hunting. The grattle has maintained its ability to chase down its food and it often gives chase to nogger males. But it will also go for females and young Noggers in their tunnels. The grattle has evolved strong front legs which it uses to dig out nesting noggers.

Grattle still live in family groups. Adults use their strong front legs to excavate their home. Each grattle has its own sleeping area. At sunset, all the adults will leave and go their separate ways to hunt. This way there is more of a chance of catching prey for the family. The adults return in the morning and share any of their catches. Whilst the adults are away, any adolescents look after any young.

In the breeding season, the male’s shoulder blades turn a shade of pink as a result of the surge of hormones. In a family group, there is only one breeding male at a time, but each year the males have tournaments to find the strongest male. They use their sharp front tooth and thick, bulbous head to try and injure the other male, which often leads to a shoving war, with both males trying to push each other into submission.