Black-Backed Treegoblin
1 meter long (head to tail).
The Chromaptera arborealus forages on the ground for the fruit, seeds, and foliage of most terrestrial Crooksoluis species. C. arborealus spends most time in plorts and other polyphs when not foraging. Crooksoluis have a protective seed pod around their seeds and unripe fruits, so when the ancestors of the Treegoblin adapted to digest the seed pod, foliage like the stem and leaves became digestible allowing them to feed on non-fruiting Crooksoluis. The Treegoblin’s digestive tract is longer than its ancestor’s to digest tougher vegetation.
Male C. arborealus have a deeply black back, this is a true shade of black and not simply a very dark green, with red spots and two small yellow patches on the hindwings. Females and immature males are a dull shade of green. Male display takes place in the canopy and involves a lot of showing of their dorsal surface to the females, who will judge the male on how many spots there are, how well he shows her his back, and his general health. Due to their larger adult size they tend to do this on sturdier leaves. The colors of C. arborealus are more vibrant allowing females to better assess males during display. Femalestend to choose males with darker blacks since, to survive to adulthood with these, they must be healthy.
Treegoblins' larger size dissuades most predators but they are still vulnerable when immature. They are too large for local predators by around half a foot when mature allowing adult males to devote time to displays and foraging without vigilance for predators, though weak and sick adults are vulnerable. Young forage with adults to protect themselves from predators. Mature individuals will snap at or whip bold predators if they are unable to take off or climb up a tree to evade them.
Though Crooksoluis yellionuis has spines on its stem, the hard beak present in some Chromaptera species is able to crush them,.