Ts’ok-ga

Ts'ok-ga (family lavatiosimidae, washing monkey) are a family of arboreal mammals descended from the common raccoon. They evolved in the mixed forests of Canada and Alaska and migrated into the rainforests and saltree forests of Central America. The name Ts'ok-ga (pronouced ts-awk-gah) comes from the Hän language in Canada and Alaska, "ts'ok" meaning tree and "ga" meaning rabbit.

Biology

Ts'ok-ga measure in at about 18 inches in length (not including the 8 inch long tail) and weighing about 15 pounds. Their coats are of a grey-brown coloration with a black mask and striped tail. Ts'ok-ga have a thinner coat that's just enough to keep them warm at night. 

Ts'ok-ga have fully opposable thumbs coupled with long, clawed fingers. Their arma are long and their hands can both pronate and supinate. Their feet have no opposability but their long toes still have the ability to grasp. Their legs are long and very muscular with elastic tendons that give Ts'ok-ga the ability to jump to lengths of up to 15 feet. Due to their long legs, Ts'ok-ga also have a long tail to help them stay balanced. Their legs and tail allow them to stand on their hind legs and walk, albeit poorly, bipedally.

Ts'ok-ga have an omnivorous diet, although most of it consists of fruit. Occasionally, Ts'ok-ga will actively hunt and eat squirrels for protein. Some species of Ts'ok-ga living in saltree forests and near the coasts usually have waterproof coats and partial finger webbing in order to catch fish and invertebrates to add to their diet of leaves and the occasional fruit. 

Most Ts'ok-ga species are diurnal, with only one genus consisting of nocturnal Ts'ok-ga. Ts'ok-ga don't have the best eyesight, they are colorblind and their view is slightly blurry. Despite their poor eyesight, Ts'ok-ga have very strong senses of smell and hearing.  Ts'ok-ga can smell food from a mile away and pick up where of what any sounds are coming from with their bat-like ears.

Behavior

Ts'ok-ga are highly intelligent creatures, being about as intelligent as a 4 year old.   They form friendships with other Ts'ok-ga as juveniles that last throughout adulthood. As juveniles, Ts'ok-ga play with other juveniles and are taught life skills by their parents. Ts'ok-ga kits are raised by their mothers, and occasionally by other females while their mother forages.

Ts'ok-ga females live in loose groups with each other as well as kits. The kits are sometimes left to stay with another female and her kits while their mother is out. This helps the kits be more sociable and helps them develop their scent identification. Even though females live in groups, the males are off on their own. Male Ts'ok-ga are solitary, but they come back into the fold during mating season.  The males often mate with the same partner as they know that the female they mated with last time is still a suitable mate.

Ts'ok-ga create camoflagued nests in the trees. Ts'ok-ga mothers will either nest in tree holes covered with leaves of a nest made of twigs and leaves. Just as they have nesting grounds, Ts'ok-ga also have defecation grounds. These grounds are usually just a latrine pit dug into the ground that is as far as possible from food and water sources. 

Ts'ok-ga's social system is heavily based on scent. Each individual has a unique scent that other Ts'ok-ga remember and use for identification. This scent bond keeps members of a female's group from getting hostile with each other. Whenever Ts'ok-ga ever find themselves in danger from other individuals or predators, they throw sticks, pinecones, or rocks to try and ward them off. Since rabies is common among Ts'ok-ga, any Ts'ok-ga found with rabies will have rocks thrown at them in order to protect other Ts'ok-ga, this is for the better as it gives the rabid Ts'ok-ga a quick death.