The Deargaidh are large primates with dull orange fur and are most recognizable by their unique faces which starkly contrast the rest of their hairy bodies with their smooth and furless texture. They have specialized cells in their faces capable of color shifting in several dramatic directions, most notoriously a bright red. With a uniquely flexible spinal cord and extra muscles around the neck Deargaidh are capable of rotating and placing their heads in a range of ways few other creatures can compete with.
A group of Deargaidh is called a Shnam (first coined by the Rugadh) and they can be found throughout the Southern Wilds with their density peaking around the Twilight Estuaries.
Behaviors
Color Based Communication
The minimal research and observation done on Deargaidh in large agrees that Shnams appear to communicate heavily through subtle changes in facial pigmentation as opposed to the more common verbal elements found in most other primate groups.
Pack Hunters
The Deargaidh are omnivores, but are highly selective of the plant material they eat being described by some researchers as the “pickiest primates second to Humans”. Most often the adults of a Shnam will hunt in the denser portions of forest near their current home. They will hunt almost anything besides fellow Deargaidh but seem to be most fond of hunting wild Nopine outmatching the creatures uncanny speed with their Shnam’s teamwork.
Facial pigmentation appears to pay a surprisingly pivotal role during hunts as well. Usually hunting in groups of three to six each member of the hunting party takes one of two roles: Ambusher and Driver. Ambusher’s change the color of their faces so as to better blend in to their natural environments while Driver’s will use bright harsh colors such as purples, teals and reds to get the prey’s attention at set distances so as to control the path of escape taken.