Knuckle Walkers

The great wanderers of the savannah, moving in massive herds that number in the hundreds. While they are small in comparison to the many other beasts in their environment, they are still tall and powerful, being infamous for their long arms and claws which they walk upon. One swipe is enough to send any normal mortal flying, and their claws can easily tear flesh. Despite this, they are a very calm species, using their claws only to defend themselves and to use them for their real purpose, to reach up to trees and pull down the branches so they can eat the leaves growing on them.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Knuckle walkers have a strange form to their bodies, at least when it comes to their limbs. They have two sets of limbs, arms and legs, which by itself is strange but on top of this, their arms are far lengthier than their legs are and are much more bulky. Their hands have long claws on the end, which are used for pulling down leaves but can easily tear through much denser material. Their stubby legs help it stand up on its hind legs, so their long and thin face can chew the leaves.

Genetics and Reproduction

The knuckle walkers have a very specific mating season, with females coming into heat at the start of the wet season for the savannah, meaning that there isn't just a dash for water, but also for females. Males quickly sprint from female to female, mating with as many as possible. Much unlike other species however, it is very much first come first serve, as males will rarely ever fight each other over females. It is however theorized that within the herds, there is an alpha male to claims ownership over a small harem within the herd.
That is not to say that fighting over females do not happen, as some males can become increasingly desperate as there are fewer and fewer fertile females as time goes on. Thus it can happen that males compete for the last few females, usually by hitting each other with their long arms, with even a single strike capable of shattering bone. Despite this, these males usually end up failing any way, as its common for some males to simply sneak past the fighting males and impregnate the females while they fight.
As females are quick to be pregnant, males only need to mate with them once, meaning any effort afterwards is just wasted energy and material. Females then up being pregnant for about one year, most commonly with one child being born, while twins are exceptionally rare. Females then take care of their offspring through feeding them milk for four to six months, helping them survive the dry season, where then the connection between mother and child seperates as the mother forces away their child to have more children.

Growth Rate & Stages

After the long pregnancy, the offspring learn to walk a very short time after they are born, with their arms already developed enough to support their bodies. Growth for walkers are very quick, as even soon after they are born they must be able to move and keep up with their mother, as the herd never slows down for anyone not even new borns and if they are unable to keep up then they are quickly abandoned and left to be killed by the predators commonly following the herds around.

Ecology and Habitats

The walkers call their home in the infamous savannah, which is the ideal environment for their large bodies, though there are some smaller herds who live further north or south in the forests and jungles. In the savannah however, they are not large enough to not be bullied by the larger species, and are not dangerous enough to keep themselves safe from predators, and hence why they move in massive herds to keep themselves safe, with the sick and old and those unable to otherwise keep up being the meal for patient predators.

Dietary Needs and Habits

The walker is a herbivore, eating whatever greens its able to get access to. It does this in a unique way however, as it uses it incredibly long arms to reach up and pull down or tear off the leaves atop the trees, allowing them access to a different resource for most other species living within the savannah.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

While most of their senses are nothing too noteworthy but are also not negative to any capacity, their eye sight has been shown to be exceptional, being able to see the green leaves of trees from a great distance. Along with this, they also have a great sense of smell, which helps the leaders of the great herds sense when they are encroaching onto another herd's territory, or to simply smell out vegetation to consume in the savannah.

Lifespan

40 years

Average Height

2.6 meters tall

Average Weight

500 kg