Shrockal

The shrockal split from its ancestor and left the trees. It has taken up a scavenging generalist role and wanders Lamarck in small bands of related individuals, eating whatever they can find and sometimes hunting large prey in groups. It is able to compete with large carnivores such as the tyrannical corvisnapper and the lunging camoback, as although it is physically weaker, in the face of too much competition it can fall back on other food sources. It retains the ability to use spears to hunt, though the powerful jaws are also used. It is largely bipedal and has an asymmetrical bipedal gallop using its long tail for balance, but it is also capable of walking on its knuckles. It lost most of its osteoderms for speed.

The shrockal has a striking, colorful crest on its face derived from the front-most crown spike. Keratin covers the top, while the sides are exposed skin, consisting of a structurally colored blue patch framed by skin that can be flushed bright red for communication. The other crown spikes frame the top of its head, which is white, allowing it to also signal to others by bowing. It also has a mane on its neck, which can similarly be raised and lowered for communication. Needless to say, it is quite the social creature with generally improved non-vocal communication. Mane-signaling has replaced the vocal calls to chase and to wait, so as to not alert prey, while other vocalizations remain intact.

The shrockal is nomadic, and juveniles that have graduated from the pouch will frequently ride on the backs of the adults so that they do not slow them down. It is among the few shrogs to completely abandon nest-making, as the nomadic lifestyle is completely incompatible with it. Somewhat uniquely among shrogs, but similar to the unrelated-but-also-bipedal wolfcollar shrog, the shrockal has a forward-facing pouch so that babies won’t fall out, but unlike its distant cousin it’s also the same in males. This is because the pouch has been additionally exapted for food and tool storage when it is not occupied by babies. Only foods which will not spoil too soon, such as fruit, shrooms, and soft-shelled eggs, are stored in the pouch; meat is always eaten immediately.

The shrockal’s social hierarchy and mate selection are both determined by the ability to flush the crest red, as it indicates health. It will select one mate each season. It retains bisexuality, which helps limit population growth. It will give birth to 4 joeys, which live in a pouch until they grow too large. They take about 6 years to mature. To avoid inbreeding, some young males will leave the band as they mature and join others, keeping populations genetically healthy. They can live for up to 30 years.