Disclaimer: What? Pokemon belongs to Nintendo? Oh darn.
Common Name: Ambipom, Eteboth
Scientific Name: Macroura sphiximocheris
Description: Ambipom are large primates, standing almost 4 feet tall on two legs. Females tend to be larger than males. Their fur is deep purple in color, and does not cover their face, tail tips, or underbelly. They have longer fur on their heads, often forming bangs, and tufts of fur at the base of the tails. Their hands and feet are small, with sharp claws. Their eyes and ears are both very large, and they have a blunt muzzle with an upturned, snub nose.
Ambipom display a complex form of multicaudality. They have two main tails, and each one splits into three at the tip, with a hairless, fatty pad at the junction. The very tips of the tails are reddish and very sensitive to touch. Each prong of the tail, or 'finger,' can be moved independently to grasp.
Range: Ambipom are distributed throughout most of lowland Sinnoh.
Habitat: Ambipom live in dense forest, favoring habitats with large trees.
Call: Ambipom let out hiccupping squeals and shrieks when excited.
Diet: Ambipom are frugivorous, eating a wide variety of forest fruits. They will also eat flowers, nuts, and the occasional pokemon egg. These pokemon can crack even hard-shelled nuts in the surprisingly strong grips of their tails.
Life Cycle: Ambipom mate promiscuously in fall, before the winter snows hit, and hold their eggs in their bodies over the long winter. In spring, females lay one egg in a tree nest, and it hatches quickly. Ambipom mothers are highly devoted to their infants, usually keeping one tail hand on them at all times.
Ambipom may live several decades, and the oldest one ever recorded was 53 years old.
Relationship with Humans: Ambipom are surprisingly strong, in addition to being agile and intelligent, and there is a demand in the arena. However, due to their adaptability, these pokemon are still common over much of Sinnoh.
Naturalist's Notes: Ambipom are very social, and the females are dominant in their social hierarchy. They live in mixed groups of interrelated individuals, with some unrelated hangers-on, and while they may not always feed in the same area, they often sleep and socialize together. Social cohesion is very important for Ambipom, and they are often seen grooming each other with their tail hands. Some Ambipom have even be seen to 'hold hands' with their tails while grooming or playing, possibly due to the touch-sensitive nature of their these appendages.
Ambipom are generally peaceful within their social group, but can be aggressive to members of other groups. It is very difficult for a lone Ambipom to integrate itself into an established group, but it can be done.
These pokemon are highly curious and intelligent, and have been seen to use leaves as sponges to absorb water, and even as umbrellas! They will often pick up and examine all new objects they encounter.
Ambipom use their tails for almost all their object manipulation as well as climbing aids, and their forelimbs lack opposable thumbs.
Ambipom are mostly nocturnal, and have keen eyes and ears. They are predated upon by Gliscor.