Rainforest Earback

The rainforest earback split from its ancestor when some threshhold earbacks ventured out of the caves and into the rainforest. They found an abundance of prey there and have become one of the top predators in their ecosystem. Along with doubling in size, most of their senses have improved. Their back ears are now capable independently turning 360°. Their vibration sensitive foot pads have improved drastically; it can now sense movement around itself at a radius of about 10 ft. It mainly uses its ears and feet to locate prey, though its sense of smell is useful for tracking. The hairs on its tail are now used mainly for identifying terrain and interspecies socialization (individuals will brush each other with their tails as an endearment behavior); individuals form groups of about 3-4 for hunting, but a whole pack can have as much as 8. Its eyes are no longer used and have shrunken in size. It has gained even more of its pigment; it now utilizes the purple splotches of its distant ancestor for camouflage. Females lay their eggs in puddles on the ground, groups of earbacks will identify "nesting grounds" and defend them until the young develop.