Kintica Races

Rainforest mer, or Leaper
While all races of mer are able to breathe water and air equally and can spend small amounts of time out of the water, leapers are especially amphibious. They live in coastal regions and major rivers in heavily forested, jungle areas, both in freshwater and saltwater. They are most commonly found in the Amazon basin, the Congo basin, and Southeast Asia. Patterns and colors vary by region, but match natural fish patterns rather than landscape scenes. For example, Llas has a pattern like that of the leopard bushfish from the Congo basin.

Leapers have very long, narrow tails, about 1.5-2x the length of a typical mer. They more resemble a sea serpent or an anaconda than a dolphin, and their tail is prehensile with gross motor control.The fin at the end is narrow and powerful, and vertical rather than horizontal, and they swim with a side-to-side slither instead of a dolphin's paddle.

Leapers are so named because of the powerful leaps they can make out of the water. Leapers will lunge from the water to grab unsuspecting drinkers, much like a crocodile or alligator, and they can also propel themselves up to 10 feet straight up from the water. They will often leap from the water into the branches of overhanging trees, which they will then climb. Because of this, leapers have much more powerful clas, arms, and shoulders than most mers, with by far the highest upper body strength.

Leapers are one of the most truly feared creatures of the world, even though they are civilized, falling into the same kinds of categories as tigers, sharks, and anacondas. The terrifying leap of a rainforest mer is a familiar sight, and there's an element of fear to the fact that spotting the tail fin of a leaper peeking above the water will in no way indicate its position. Leapers are the most fond of all races of hunting, and will continue to hunt for food even when it is unnecessary. They are also the most aggressive, physical, passionate, and sometimes affectionate of all mers.

Lefra
This jungle cat is native to South America and resembles the jaguar in size and power. It is also a member of the Panthera family and is a purring, non-roaring cat. Its coat resembles an Abyssinian cat, ruddy cinnamon colors hidden underneath dusky tan tips with dark brown/black stripes similar to a tiger's stripes. They also have tufted ears. Lefras are accomplished climbers and swimmers, and enjoy staying up in the trees or paddling in the water. The lefra is a fearsome ambush predator that will drag prey down and crush them, or drag them into the water to death roll them.