Īnībakīl

The īnībakīl is a small mouse-like rodent with a long tail and exceptionally long hind legs and short fore legs. It also has relatively large ears. It moves primarily by hopping or jumping, but it can sprint at speeds of up to 30 km/hr.
These small creatures are typically colored tan to yellow, with a white tuft at the end of the tail and dark rings around the neck and eyes.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Īnībakīl are 65 mm–85 mm long, with a tail roughly twice this length, between 115 mm and 155 mm. Their hind legs measure 30 mm–40 mm long and provide a greater ability to jump. They weigh from 22 g to 33 g.

Genetics and Reproduction

The īnībakīl mates once a year. They leave their burrows in the burrow cactus after the cactus sheds its pollen, roughly a month before the spring equinox. They then travel to Ti'ilik Votoshī, home of the yilik tree, the female counterpart to the burrow cactus.
The creatures run up the trees, which have flowers along the length of their trunks. As they go up the trees, they leave behind the pollen form the burrow cactus, pollinating the flowers.
At the tops of the trees, they look for mates. The males emit a chirping sound, which a female will respond to with a lower purr. When an pairing is made, the male runs back down the tree they're in and up the tree the female is in. The form a sort of nest and remain there for several days, mating once or twice a day. They then leave the yilik trees, females first, just as the fruit is starting to grow.
Upon returning to her burrow, the female will give birth to two or three live babies about five weeks later. The young remain with their mother until after the fall rains, when they leave to find their own burrows.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Īnībakīl primarily eat insects and plant fruit. They can capture jumping or flying insects in mid-air by performing direction changes in mid-jump. Most of their water intake is from the insects and fruit, although they also obtain moisture from the plants containing their burrows.
During their mating period, males will generally fast. The stop eating when they first arrive at a yilik until they descend for the last time when mating is over. As a result, males are often emaciated by the end of the mating period and may remain in the oasis, where food and water are more abundant, for two or three days after the females have left.

Additional Information

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Īnībakīl live exclusively with a 30 km radius of Ti'ilik Votoshī.

Lifespan

6.3 years

Average Height

72 mm

Average Weight

28 g

Average Length

72 mm, 212 mm with tail