Ma’antis (SciiFii)

The ma’antis (Ichthyovenatrus mantodeoraptor) is a species of hominid ape, about the size of a rhesus macaque, that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the rainforests and wetlands across Southeast Asia and India to help boost biodiversity. Most of the ma’antis' body is covered in grey fur with light grey fur covering its underside, while the neck, face, and the lower half of its forelimbs and legs are hairless. Its feet are wide and feature opposable toes, which it uses to grasp slippery surfaces while hunting. Like the closely related ryuka (Ryukaraptor terriblis), the ma’antis is a more specialized bipedal walker and runner, with a thick lower spine and heavy posterior to support a vaguely bird-like horizontal body posture, giving it a thick, bony protrusion that resembles a short tail. However, unlike the ryuka, the ma’antis' diet consists mostly of fish, amphibians, and reptiles that live in and around the water. Like the ryuka, the ma’antis is a predator, using its two free forelimbs that it uses to catch its prey. As an ambush predator, the ma’antis hunts by standing close to, or wading into, shallow waters, and waiting for the prey to come close. When its target is within sticking distance, the ma’antis uses its long forearms to quickly strike, much like a praying mantis insect, hence its name. Its hands are equipped with sharp claws lined with tiny barbs, which are used to spear its prey. The ma’antis has large, forward-facing eyes, which it uses to spot and track prey. Large ears provide excellent hearing and feature low-hanging earlobes that are used for stimulation during pair bonding. Mating pairs can often be seen gently nibbling each others' earlobes during courtship. A thin layer of hair covers the ma’antis' scalp, while a tuft of thick black hair grows from the crown of its head. The ma’antis has a narrow muzzle, and its jaws are lined with sharp teeth. Unlike many other terrestrial hominid species, the ma’antis lacks facial hair. The only natural competitor of the ma’antis is the fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus), however, despite filling the similar ecological niches, the fights between ma’antises and fishing cats are a rare occurrence. The conservation status of the ma’antis is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts, the ma’antis' wide range and its tolerance to many of the human activities.