Wading Scoopclaw

The wading scoopclaw split from antlerclaws living in Flisch Temperate Forest and moved into Flisch Lakes as there were no herbivores there. They have adapted feet with larger surface areas to spread out the pressure on the mud, preventing them from sinking into it. The horn on their head has split partway up its length, so it now has one large forked horn. Their antlers have become scoops and have moved back down to help it to drink and eat plants growing on the bottom of the lakes. They are taller than their ancestors, but this is mostly due to a change into a more upright stance.

They mostly wade around in the shallower areas of the lakes where most of the plants grow and they keep an upright stance to keep their heads above water in the deeper parts of the lake and to reach the leaves of the taller plants. The shorter scoopclaws will rear up on their back leg to reach higher leaves; the individual pictured here is one of these. They use their scoops to carry water and plants from the bottom up to their mouths. They also use these scoops to make their nests, which are made on floating leaf shrubs or on the shore. They can still change their skin, horn, scoop and hoof colors and mostly mimic the colors of the water and the plants around them. Males will take on garish colors such as green or red to compete for mates during the breeding season, and mothers and offspring will change colors to keep track of each other.