The Common Fraggle

The Common Fraggle

Petrosaurus fraggalus

First described c. 

Biology: Fraggles are a subterranean species, usually living their entire lives in large natural caverns which have been substantially expanded by either themselves or by members of the two species they are most closely related to, the far larger Gorgs and the much smaller Doozers (more about their association with these species below). These primates (their family seems to be distantly related to lemurs) are covered with fine hair, though they also tend to have larger tufts around the neck and head, manes that are carefully coiffed and dyed to relate their status, gender, and personal preferences, Their tails are highly opposable, much like those of Old World monkeys, though they are more frequently used in display than work - usually these are adored with tail-wigs.

Their primary sources of food are, on the one hand, radishes and "Doozer sticks" - Doozer excrement which has been molded using their saliva (Doozers principally consume fungal and insect matter, farmed within their cavern homes and then reformulate their feces to use as building materials, similar in many regards to the building techniques of termites, bees, and leaf ants).  Fraggles rarely barter or pay for these goods - rather, they typically raid Gorg (where their radish supplies are usually acquired) and Doozer settlements in a kleptoeconomic relationship reminiscent of Central Asian steppe peoples relationship with Chinese polities in the pre-modern world.

Fraggles are regarded as having a genuine symbiotic relationship with a semi-sentient, unrelated species known to them as ditzies, a bio-luminescent species which are particularly attracted to Fraggle music (see more on this below).  They therefore serve as the principle source of light for Fraggles while Fraggles believe that ditzies acquire their sustenance from converting sound vibrations into chemical energy, a side product of which is their bio-luminescence.

Geography: Fraggles are native to the area in and around Fraggle Rock, located in southern Ontario, though there are believed to be colonies throughout southern Canada and the upper midwestern United States. They often build under or near human settlements which they regard as both fascinating and potentially useful sources of finished goods to steal.

Polity-Economy-Society: Fraggles have very limited political institutional development, largely because their economy is almost entirely based upon raiding meaning that adventurism and military prowess are essentially the only measures of success and basis for political leadership.  They typically generate very little original property, this being highly mobile and disposable - usually limited to certain tools, clothing (though they will often raid human and Gorg homes for these as well), and their highly prized musical instruments.

In terms of art, Fraggles are particularly known for their music which is diverse, complex, and often haunting - one musicologist described it as "lamaistic chants twining with classical European folk music and 20th century African-American spirituals."  Indeed, other than adventurism for the sake of adventurism and medical skills essentially no other activity carries similar weight in Fraggle society.