Well, I don't know about character traits, but here are some interesting species you could work with.

Lungfish (<3)
Moth
Chimera
Blind Shark
Hoatzin
Sugar Glider
Coelacanth
Raven
Chameleon
Lamprey
Horseshoe Crab
Firefly
Feathered Serpent
Hagfish
Harvestman
Koala
Peafowl
Tarantula
Ophiotaurus
Butterfly
Vampire Squid
Salamander
Lyrebird
Okapi
Scorpion
Phoenix
Komodo Dragon
Tuatara
Frilled Shark
Dragonfly
Manticore
Velvet Worm
Genet
Bird Of Paradise
Armadillo
Kirin
Thorny Devil
Lory
Wolpertinger
Beetle
Leafy/Weedy Sea Dragon
Alphyn

I have more, if you feel like being exotic. |P

Koala sounds like a good idea. So one of the characters is gonna be a koala. :3