Clabbert (klah-behrt)

Clabberts were a cross between a monkey and a tree frog. They traversed the treetops and giant flower petals with gleeful primate agility and leapt so high it was almost like they could fly. When it came to mating, clabberts were one of several creatures who practiced a polygamist group structure. Reproduction was seasonal and occurred immediately following the monsoon season. Females laid eggs beneath the roots of trees on the forest floor to hide them from predators. Baby clabberts were able to climb immediately after hatching. It was not unheard of for clabberts to form an attachment to the tree they hatched under; called “birth trees.” These birth trees were very important to a clabbert clan and females would usually lay their eggs under their own birth trees.

With a tongue that had a two meter reach, clabberts could catch just about any insect that buzzed by. The long tail was almost like a fifth hand as it was capable of doing just about anything they could do with their primate like hands and feet. The tail was strong enough to keep them hanging up in the treetops for days. 

A sharp blast of air through the lungs and into vocal sacs as the vocal chords vibrated released a croak. Clabberts croaked to either attract mates or to drive away predators. Croaking could be heard constantly in the trees, making them more desirable targets for annoyed hunters. Their skin did not have to remain as moist as the merfolk, but it did need to be hydrated. This could be achieved through waiting for it to rain or dropping down to wet themselves in puddles during long droughts.