Urelings

Ureling is the common name for a small, intelligent, arboreal mammal native to the temperate rainforests of the Crescent Archipelago. They have a prehensile tail and a coat that ranges from slate gray to copper-brown, with keen hands and large eyes that aid in night activity.

Adults measure 40 to 60 cm in body length, with tails of similar length. They possess forward-facing eyes, sharp hearing, and tactile pads on their fingers. Their fur is dense but short, and some individuals display faint bioluminescent markings during mating displays.

Ureling habitats include old-growth and secondary forests, often near streams. They build leafy nests in the canopy and travel by climbing and leaping between branches. Their diet is omnivorous, including fruit, seeds, insects, and occasional small vertebrates.

Socially, ureling form multi-generational groups of 5 to 30 individuals, with complex social hierarchies led by a breeding pair or a dominant female. They communicate with a range of vocalizations, gestures, and scent markings, and practice cooperative care of young.

In regional folklore, ureling are regarded as forest stewards. They figure in ecotourism and biodiversity studies, and conservation efforts focus on protecting forest canopies and maintaining habitat connectivity. They face threats from deforestation, invasive predators, and climate-driven habitat shifts.