Brookside Leisterpom

The Brookside Leisterpom split from its ancestor the Needlewing to take on a more specialized niche. They've spread into the Dixon-Darwin Boreal, settling along the edges of waterways, tarns, and marshes. Taking advantage of the abundant aquatic prey around them they became more piscivorous in nature. Lacking a significant neck, and preferring not to lunge face first into the water, they've taken on attacking prey with their foot. Initially it was a matter of waiting and scooping out tiny items that came too near. Gradually those with longer claws were better able to scoop prey, since they had further reach and a larger tool. This is still the go-to method for smaller prey that can be dispatched easily, but the long straight claws became good weapons for spearing larger fauna, similar in use to a pronged fishing spear. Typically they are "right footed".

Their skin is striped with yellows and purples to break up their appearance on the water's edge. They bob as they move during hunting to prevent things in the water from noticing them. Leisterpom have kept their front limbs and developed them into simple balance organs, adjusting their position constantly while standing on one leg. The posterior spines have been lost: they rely on their long legs to sprint away from danger and hide. Their wings have simplified into counterbalances and became more flexible. Tension can be applied by muscular contraction that causes them to curl or straighten and shift their center of gravity. They can also be pivoted at their base for less fine adjustments. This is most useful when the Leisterpom needs to handle proportionally heavy prey, or when skewered items are held far from the body.

Offspring are reared similarly to their ancestor: with the females holding their young in a pouch to allow for further development, and their mate bringing them food. Females can still hunt during the early period of this, but as the young grow they become more cumbersome, and reliance on her mate increases until their brood is expelled.