Chalicoala (SciiFii)

The chalicoala (Koalarctos australis), also known as the giant ground koala, is a species of massive koala that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the rainforests, wetlands, forests, open woodlands, wooded grasslands, wooded shrublands, and wooded scrublands across Australia to help boost biodiversity. The chalicoala is ecologically similar to the ground sloths of the Americas, the chalicotheres of both Afroeurasia and North America, and the giant ground lemurs of Madagascar. The chalicoala is among the largest browsing herbivores of Australia, being comparable in size to a large horse and weighing more than half a ton. The chalicoala, depending on a subspecies, has either a deep gray fur, a brownish-gray fur, or a deep brown fur, based on the habitats in which it lives in. Unlike most other koalas, the chalicoala lives entirely on the ground, as a result of its larger size and build, making it far less vulnerable to many Australian predators. Chalicoalas are known to travel long distances in search of foliage across the Australian bush, using their large claws both for foraging and for defense against predators. As such, they are more aggressive and active at defending their young and themselves against potential threats than arboreal koala species. The chalicoala feeds on a much wider array of eucalyptus leaves than the gray koala (Phascolarctos cinereus), being a more generalistic herbivore. The chalicoala is known to live in small family groups of around 5 to 18 specimens, usually between 7 and 9 at a time. Adult males communicate with deep, loud bellows that intimidate rivals and attract mates. Males mark their presence with secretions from scent glands located on their chests. The gestation period of the chalicoala is slower than other koalas due to its larger size, and gives birth to underdeveloped young that crawl into their mothers' pouches, where they stay for the first nine to ten months of their lives. These young chalicoalas, known as joeys, are fully weaned around 3 years old. The conservation status of the chalicoala is Vulnerable due to some habitat loss, however, thanks to the conservationists, the chalicoala is a protected species.