Sagan 4 Forum [Menu]

Prutarbor (Arbullitus primus)
Creator: Bufforpington
Ancestor: Prutabula
Habitat: Maineiac Temperate Woodland, Maineiac Volcanic
Size: 6 m Tall
Diet: Photosynthesis
Reproduction: Asexual, Hydrogen Filled Seed Bubbles, Seed-Filled Fruits

The prutarbor split from its ancestor and moved from Maineiac Volcanic into Maineiac Temperate Woodlands and Maineiac Volcanic. It has grown taller than its ancestor and no longer is covered in branches. These branches are instead concentrated near the top of the tree. The trunk and branches have become even thicker to the point in which the bubble leaves are barely used to support the tree. The prutarbor forms relatively dense forests alongside the bristlebranch treebion in Maineiac Temperate Woodland, but they are also found sporadically dotting the landscape in Maineiac Volcanic. They now produce even larger fruits that will attract frugivores when they fall. The fruit's seeds can survive inside of the digestive tracts of frugivores, allowing seeds to travel far from its parent.

Medajaw (Exitiumodon primus)

Creator: Rhinobot
Ancestor: Great Megalaukjaw
Habitat: Darwin Temperate Rainforest, Vivus Temperate Rainforest, Darwin Temperate Woodland, Vivus Boreal
Size: 6.5 m long
Diet: Carnivore ( Rainforest Phlock, Greater Plentshirshu, Scrubland Hornface, young Westward Haglox, Haglox, Rainforest Flunejaw, Goliath Flunejaw, Nagraj, Greenscale, unusually small groups of Bubblewraptors)
Reproduction: Sexual, Two Genders, Hard-Shell Eggs in Dirt Nest

The Megajaw has spilt from its ancestor the great megalaukjaw and has evolved towards an apex predator. Its jaw has become super strong in relation to its ancestor's, so much so that the Megajaw can almost bite small prey in two. Along with stronger stomach acid, this has allowed the megajaw to be efficient hunter, which led to the megajaw hunting larger prey. This in turn caused megajaw to grow larger to handle its new prey. With its super powerful jaw, it no longer needed spikes for protection. Now only males have spike on their back as sign of their health. Also hatchlings to nestlings have a full covering of spikes. They have moved to areas with larger plants to hide themselves while hunting. Their sense of smell has improved to help them in their search for prey. The megajaw's top tail finger has grown larger to be used to anchor into the flesh of prey while the other fingers have become small and vestigial.

Their social order has partially dissolved, with megajaws living in mating pairs for life. The two are referred to as a king and queen megajaw. The megajaw being in such a prey rich environment does not have to spend all its time hunting for food. If they are not out roaming the area for food they are resting under the trees saving their energy for when they are hunting. When they find prey, they will position themselves on opposite sides of the prey. One of the megajaws will start chasing the prey and panic it where it will then run into the other megajaw who will either bite or anchor the prey.

The pair will mate every spring to produce 1 to 4 offspring. The eggs will be buried in a protective pile of dirt and debris. When they hatch, they look like immature versions of the adults. It takes 8 years for offspring to mature. New adults will compete with each other for the best mates both male and female. After which, the two will mate for the first time.

Fruitsnapper (Ebrisaurus fructus)
Creator: Bufforpington
Ancestor: Mountsnapper
Habitat: Maineiac Volcanic, Maineiac High Grassland, Maineiac Chaparral, Maineiac Temperate Woodland
Size: 1 m Wingspan
Diet: Frugivore: (Pilunoroot, Maineiac Glasstower, Prutabula, Prutarbor)
Reproduction: Sexual, Two Genders, Hard Shelled eggs

The fruitsnapper split from its ancestor, the mountsnapper and has taken advantage of Maineiac's fruit-bearing flora. It has become more streamlined and its wings have become much more powerful, allowing it to fly properly. Their feathers and membranes have turned purple in order to blend in with the trees they often times roost in. Their eyelids are no longer thick and slitted because they no longer have to deal with rocks falling into their eyes. The skin on their feet are not as thick because they spend most of their time on tree branches, which are not as rough as a rocky mountainside. However, their lungs have not changed. This is because they will migrate to another biome if they cannot find any food. Their efficient lungs help them conserve energy during these migrations. They have lost some fingers on their 'hands' because it does not rely on climbing as much as its ancestor did. They now nest in trees in order to protect their young from most predators. The composition on their nests vary between biomes, depending on what flora is available. They have gained a pair of backward-facing toes in order to help them grip the branches of tree-sized flora.
When mating season begins, the males will build their nest. The females will chose the males who made the largest, sturdiest nests. After the female approves of the male's nest, they will mate in it, as it can be potentially dangerous to mate on the ground. The female will then lay her eggs in the nest and sit on them. The male will have to gather food for the female, as she cannot leave the eggs unattended. When the eggs hatch, both the male and female will care for they hatchlings. They will alternate between searching for food and caring for the young. If the nest is attacked by a small predator, the parent watching the chicks will attack it. While most of it's teeth have adapted to eating fruit, some of the teeth near the tip of the beak are still very sharp and used to defend against predators. The teeth can also help with tearing up large fruits, making them easier to eat. Their claws are also sharp and capable of harming predators. However, some predators are impossible to fight against, such as the camoback and the coalskin skywatcher. If the young fall from the nest, they will try to climb back up the tree with their claws if they are not too injured. However, most fallen hatchlings are eaten by predators, as the parents are incapable of helping them. When the young grow large enough, they will learn how to fly and leave the nest. Fruitsnappers are monogamous, as the males and females staying together for the rest of their lives after mating. Because they live in more favorable conditions, they usually live for nine years. Their young take slightly longer to hatch and mature.

Shikaaree (Callidusvenator primus)

Creator: Rhinobot
Ancestor: Great Megalaukjaw
Habitat: Darwin Temperate Woodland, Darwin Chaparral, Dixon-Darwin Rocky, Darwin Plains, Dixon-Darwin High Grassland
Size: 2.5 m long
Diet: Carnivore (Dungshell Fraboo, Barkback, Rainforest Phlock, Greater Plentshirshu, Scrubland Hornface, Thornmole, Fluninzee, Striped Phlock, Snoofloo, Sitting Dundi, Dusty Spelunkhoe, Ouranocorn, Leafplate, Tigmow, Cragagon, Plehexapod, Dualtrunk, Giant Hornface, Binsnoo, Scrub Barkback, Oviaudiator, Gulperskimo, Xatazelle, Pickaxe Tamow, Desert Tilecorn, Xatagolin, Tasermane, Briarback, Hedgimal, Varant, Grassland Lizatokage) Scavenger
Reproduction: Sexual, Two Genders, Hard-Shell Eggs in Dirt Nest

The shikaaree replaced its ancestor the great megalaukjaw. The shikaaree has furthered its evolution as a swift social hunter. It has developed larger eyes and more complex ears. The brain of the shikaaree has become more advanced to better socialize and plan strategies. They became slightly smaller since they live in bigger groups. Being lighter, they can move faster to maneuver around prey. More of their body is covered by spikes which are finer now.

Shikaarees live in social packs of 20 to 30 members. They have many forms of vocalization to communicate with each other. Packs have hierarchy established by social interactions.

During the spring, shikaarees will mate based on their social status. After mating, each female will make a nest of dirt and debris. When born, the offspring look like immature version of adults. Males will help take care of nests and raise offsprings of females they mated with. The females will bring their offspring partially digested meat and later chucks of meat until they can hunt with the pack. Offspring will play and practice socializing. It takes 10 years for a shikaaree to mature.

Sormsnapper (Ebrisaurus contegovenator)
Creator: Bufforpington
Ancestor: Mountsnapper
Habitat: Maineiac Volcanic, Maineiac High Grassland, Maineiac Rocky, Maineiac Chaparral, Maineiac Temperate Riparian
Size: 1.5 m Wingspan
Diet: Carnivore (Pedesorm, Sprinting Pedesorm, Armored Pedesorm, Harvester Pedesorm, Mountain Pedesorm, Miner Pedesorm, Pedemuk, Minikruggs, Belumbias, Scuttlers)
Reproduction: Sexual, 2 Genders, Hard Shelled eggs

Ever since the rapid speciation of pedesorm species on Maineiac, species have begun to exploit this now abundant group of binucleozoans. One of these species is the sormsnapper. Splitting from its ancestor, its flight has improved greatly, now capable of traveling over long distances in search of prey. Their feathers are still black, as it helps them keep warm in cooler climates, like the boreal. However, they cannot tolerate extremely dry or cold environments. This prevented them from spreading into Maineiac's peak, alpine, desert, high desert, tundra, and polar scrub. They have lost some fingers because they aren't used as often. The claws on the ends of these fingers have proven to be effective against prey if their bite doesn't kill them immediately. Like the fruitsnapper, it has lost most of its ancestor's adaptations, other than its powerful lungs and thick leg skin, as their superior respiratory systems help them fly long distances and their thick leg skin helps them resist grassland subspecies miner pedesorm attacks. Their beaks are now dominated by sharp, flesh-tearing teeth. However, because most pedesorm species possess a strong shells, the teeth in the back of their beaks are flat and well suited for crushing even the strongest shells. It usually sits atop high places and uses them alongside its keen eyesight to spot prey. When it spots prey, it will take off and approach its prey. It will then suddenly land next to its prey, attacking it while it lands. If its prey lacks a shell or has a weak shell, it will bite their neck or head, usually killing it instantly. In the case of hard-shelled species, it will use their beaks to grab and crush the pedesorm's shell, causing serious injury, if not death. After killing its prey, it will pick it up with its taloned feet (or if it's small enough, it's beak) and fly to a safer place, where predators are less likely to attack it while it is feeding. It's stomach is incredibly strong, capable of digesting fragments of crushed, stony pedesorm shells. The only pedesorm species they can't eat is the poison pedesorm, which can be potentially lethal if eaten. Due to their large size, they usually nest on the ground, as most trees can't withstand the combined weight of the male and female sormsnappers, nest, and the hatchlings. Because many species of predators would easily be able to kill and eat the eggs and hatchlings, parental care is vital. After laying her eggs, the female will sit on the eggs while the male gathers food to feed the female. If a predator attacks the nest, the female will attack the predator with its sharp talons and toothy beak. If the male is around while the nest is being attacked, it too will fight off the predator. The only species that are a challenge to fight off are camobacks, coalskin skywatchers, and riparian scorpodiles. However, with all of these species being ambush predators, they rarely attack sormsnapper nests. Harvester pedesorms are also known for raiding sormsnapper nests, but this is rare because they are eaten by sormsnappers, and there is almost always a sormsnapper guarding the nest. When the young hatch, the parents continue to guard the hatchlings. In the mountains, sormsnappers will nest atop high ledges. This keeps predators away from the hatchlings. If a hatchling were to fall off the ledge, it will use its claws to help it scale the mountains and return to the nest if it isn't too injured. The male and female will take turns catching prey to feed the hatchlings and guarding the nest. This method of parental care has proven to be quite effective. After the young learn to fly and leave the nest, the male and female will part ways.

Emeraldfir (Supercrystallus berylabies)
Creator: Bufforpington
Ancestor: Crystalfir
Habitat: Drake Taiga
Size: 5 m Tall
Diet: Phtosynthesis, Detritivore
Reproduction: Hermaphrodite, fruits with spores suspended in sugary jelly

The Emeraldfir split from its ancestor. As competition between crystalfirs increased in the taiga, some grew taller. This gave them a slight advantage over the shorter specimens. One of these specimens reverted to their distant ancestor's green coloration, and this gene randomly spread across the population of taller crystalfirs. It wasn't long before they became their own species, the emeraldfir. While the crystalfir and emeraldfir are very similar species, in exception of their size, color, and fruits. The emeraldfir failed to replace its ancestor since it takes longer to grow to full size and reach sexual maturity. They have co-evolved with the green uktank, which rely on the emeraldfir for easy food. Because they have to use much more of their energy to grow and stay alive than their shorter ancestor, they only bear fruit during the end of spring, summer, and the beginning of fall, when it is warmer and rainier. However, when they bear fruit, they grow a lot of it. The emeraldfir usually produces twice as much fruit as its ancestor. Its fruits have found another way around the taiga's cold weather. In addition to their fruits' thick flesh, the emeraldfir's fruit is also filled with a sort of sugar-filled jelly, which helps prevent the spores from freezing.

Green Uktank (Conchotic viridis)
Creator: Bufforpington
Ancestor: Festive Uktank
Habitat: Drake Taiga, Soma Temperate Beach, Soma Temperate Coast
Size: 80 cm Tall
Diet: Herbivore (Marbleflora, Pioneeroots, Cryobowls, Glaalgaes) Frugivore (Crystalfir, Emeraldfir, Cryobowls)
Reproduction: Sexual, Two Genders, Eggs

The green uktank split from its ancestor and has become better adapated to the taiga. They have grown larger in order to retain more heat and have an easier time reaching low-hanging crystalfir and emeraldfir fruits. They have turned green in order to blend into the emeraldfir. However, this camouflage is not perfect, as they can be easily spotted when standing near crystalfirs and glountains. Thus, they have begun to form herds, providing safety in numbers. They primarily rely on this defense when they come to the beach to refill their tank-shells. The males have lost their extravagant santa-hat shells because their bright red and white colors stood out against the emeraldfirs they live around. Their shells now resemble that of their distant ancestors', the drake uktank, but green. They primarily feed on emeraldfir fruits when they're available to avoid competition with festive uktanks. During the late fall, winter, and early spring, when the emeraldfir does not fruit, it will rely on crystalfir fruits and global genus flora. Like their ancestors, they stay in the taiga over the summer, as they use the rainwater to fill their shells.

False Poison Pedesorm (Contegovermis bates)
Creator: Bufforpington
Ancestor: Armored Pedesorm
Habitat: Maineiac High Grassland, Maineiac Volcanic
Size: 5 cm Tall
Diet: Herbivore (Octovinbion, Brieneux, Maineiac Glasstower, Mainestalk, Pilunoroot, Glassbarrel, Pioneeroots, Marbleflora, Glaalgaes, Cryobowls) Frugivore (Prutabula, Prutarbor) Coprophagic, Detritivore, Scavenger
Reproduction: Sexual, Two Genders, Snail-Like Eggs Buried Underground, Very Fast Breeder

The False-Poison pedesorm split from its ancestor. It has developed the ability to dye its shell with pigments it naturally produces, which is excreted with the materials that create its shell. Some of these pedesorms started excreting dye in patterns and colors similar to that of the poison pedesorm, confusing predators into thinking they were actually poison pedesorms. Over the generations, these mutant armored pedesorms began to evolve to look extremely similar to its dangerous cousin, ultimately leading it to becoming the false poison pedesorm. In order to better mimic the poison pedesorm, its body and trunk-claw has become shorter and it developed claws on its tiny hind limbs. It also has darker skin, similar to that of the poison pedesorm. Even the shape of its shell and legs has become similar to the poison pedesorm. However, it still is relatively different, as its trunk-claw is better suited for cutting than digging, and it has far more developed eyes. One of the most striking differences though is its diet. Unlike the poison pedesorm, which only eats detritus and dung, the false poison pedesorm is also an herbivore, like its ancestor.

Logcrusher (Shinglesaurus oblidicarius)
Creator: Bufforpington
Ancestor: Pebbleback
Habitat: Maineiac Volcanic, Maineiac Temperate Woodland, Maineiac Chapparal, Maineiac Boreal
Size: 2 m Long
Diet: Herbivore (Drooping Orbion, Bristlebranch Treebion, Baebula, Prutabula, Prutarbor, Octovinbion, Maineiac Glasstower, Glassbarrel)
Reproduction: Sexual, Two Genders, Amniotic Eggs

The logcrusher has split from its ancestor. With the evolution of predators on Maineiac island, some pebblebacks began to evolve defenses. One of the first was the re-emergence of its plates. They also became larger, making them available to fewer predators. Some began to become more aggressive, developing sharp beaks and a horn-like protrusion from its skull, which they use to attack smaller predators that are foolish enough to attack it. They no longer graze on low-growing vegetation, but rather eat the leaves of trees. Unable to reach them, they now use their very powerful jaws to gnaw through the trunks of trees and cut them down, sometimes eating the wood in the process. They also feed on the fruit of the prutabula and prutarbor. They also will graze on larger glassflora species. Their destructive tendencies often put them at odds with fruitsnappers, who will openly attack them as soon as they 'realize' the tree their nest is on is being cut down. Fruitsnappers are usually able to chase off individual logcrushers. However, they can do little to a herd, as the herd will strike back, eventually forcing the fruitsnapper to abandon its nest or killing it by crushing the fruitsnapper with their beaks. They have become purple in order for them to blend in with the forests they are commonly found in. logcrushers live in herds consisting of a single dominant male, females, and the females' offspring. When adolescent males reach maturity, they are forced out of the herd. These solitary males will search for other herds and challenge the males of said herd, attempting to take over. Males usually fight to the death, with the victor taking over the herd. Males will fight by biting, headbutting, and clawing. The same could be said when logcrushers fight smaller predators and fruitnsnappers in general. Their mating season normally begins in the summer. Because they now live further inland, they have developed amniotic eggs in a similar manner to the camoback. Females will dig out nests and lay their eggs into them. The eggs incubation period is rather short, due to the logcrusher's nomadic lifestyle. When the eggs hatch, the young are able to stand up and walk quickly. This allows them to keep up with the herd, which will leave as soon as all of the eggs hatch. While they are generally more aggressive than their ancestors, they still tolerate maineiac uktanks, as they allow the logcrushers to detect predators with greater ease. In return, the uktanks get protection from the logcrusher herd.

Hearthead (Strutiotherium primis)
Creator: Disgustedorite
Ancestor: Harnessback
Habitat: Dixon-Darwin Rocky, Dixon-Darwin High Grassland, Darwin Plains, Darwin Chaparral, Vivus Rocky
Size: 1.2 meters long
Diet: Omnivore (Gracilxata, Lizatokage, Egg Lizatokage, Fat Lizatokage, Thin Lizatokage, Xatazelle, Pickaxe Tamow, Tigmow, Proto-Uksoar, Neuks, High Grassland Ukback, Montemsnapper, Ramchin, Pagoda Crystal, Crystamble, Xatagolin, Grovecrystal, Signpost Crystamboo, Fruiting Grovecrystal, Capped Brystal, Woodland Grovecrystal, Crystal Brambley, Crystalpine), Scavenger
Reproduction: Sexual (Male and Female, Hard-Shelled Eggs)

The Hearthead split from its ancestor and became an omnivore. The Hearthead is named for its distinctive heart-shaped head--its tusks are modified into a more powerful, triangular sideways beak, creating the point, and its head is full of powerful muscles so that it may crush bone and hard flora, creating distinct bulges on either side of its head.

The Hearthead is a good sprinter, capable of chasing down small prey which it can quickly kill with its powerful beak not unlike a Terran cheetah. It will use its beak to break open the bones of its prey, giving it access to the marrow inside. Its beak also proves useful in eating crystal flora, breaking through the hard shell to access the fungal core. The inside of its mouth is lined with chitinous, troodontid-like teeth. The complex plumage on its tail and legs help to improve its running ability by allowing it to make quick turns, and it additionally uses its leg plumage to help it incubate its eggs and larvae.

In the presence of the Opportunity Shrew, which abuses sauceback echolocation to find nests to raid, the Hearthead has developed adaptations that allow it to get away with using echolocation less often while around its communal nesting grounds. The insides of its nostrils are lined with dark light-sensitive pigment, which allow it to detect light and shadow; in combination with the 3d shape of its nostrils and how many nostrils it has, this allows it to detect a blurry monochrome image so that it may navigate around obstacles and locate its babies without echolocating, as long as it is in daylight. Because of this, it is forced to be diurnal to reduce the chances of it potentially having to give away its nest location. Its nostrils have taken on keyhole shapes, which improves the detail it can see while also improving its sense of smell--not unlike a Terran dog, though simultaneously completely unlike one due to it being powered by the pressure of its jaw muscles, it can push air out the sides of its nostrils by tensing its jaw muscles so that it does not smell outdated air when it scents. It still uses echolocation while on the hunt, as the “image” it “sees” with it is much crisper than its eyesight.

Unlike its ancestor, the Hearthead is not usually a pack hunter, though individuals may group together and attempt to take down larger prey in desperate times. Still, it is a social creature, making use of communal nesting grounds with others of its social group. Its larvae are helpless, naked, and legless and must be fed regurgitated food early in their lives.

Bludblug (Plumaphagoides sanguinem)
Creator: Nergali
Ancestor: [[Minikruggs]]
Habitat: [[Dixon-Darwin Rocky]], [[Dixon-Darwin High Grassland]], [[Darwin Plains]], [[Darwin Chaparral]], [[Vivus Rocky]]
Size: 2.5 cm long
Diet: Adult: Hemovore ([[Hearthead]], [[Harnessback]], [[Stride Sauceback]]); Larvae: Detritivore, Dermatovore (Hearthead, Harnessback, Stride Sauceback)
Reproduction: Sexual, Thin-Shelled Eggs

The minikruggs are a large and diverse genus group, covering most of the terrestrial surface of Sagan IV in one way or another. They occupy many niches, but for the most part their diets consist of herbivory or the consumption of the eggs of other small organisms. The bludblug, however, has gone down a different route. Its ancestors were originally detritivores, consuming small bits of detritus that littered the soil like many other minikruggs do. Some, though, began to incorporate the discarded skin scales of various larger organisms into their diets. This eventually led to one lineage that began to climb said organisms, in this case the mighty saucebacks, in search of this nutrition. Over time they adapted, developing more specialized limbs for gripping onto their plumage, a longer proboscis to reach the bare skin beneath, and similar such traits. But this was not all. A taste for blood, developed from consuming the life-sustaining fluids expelled from fresh wounds, was acquired. Further adaptions to exploit this diet soon evolved, the most prominent of which is pair of serrated vertical "beak" for cutting the skin so that the bludblug may think drink of the blood beneath.

Unlike the minikruggs, the bludblugs spend their entire lives on their hosts and thus no longer return to beneath the soil in order to lay their eggs. Instead they lay smaller, thin-shelled eggs into the very plumage of their hosts, ensuring that their young will have a readily available food source, which typically consists solely of skin scales and small bits of trapped detritus until they reach maturity at around three to four weeks. Of course when things get too crowded on a sauceback, they will readily take advantage of the social behavior and/or maternal nature of their current hosts in order to find new ones. While not particularly deadly on their lonesome, a fairly large infestation of bludblugs can lead to stress, anemia, and even potentially death in very young individuals.

Bludblugs possess a very fine feathery fuzz that projects from in-between their chitinous body segments. This fuzz helps to lock in pheromones, which aid in finding mates. They also serve a role in mating displays, as males with larger, more vibrant fuzz are more likely to attract females.

This post has been edited by Nergali: Apr 23 2020, 11:04 AM

Cleaner Ukneuk (Lautusicornu mollisamica)
Creator: Nergali
Ancestor: [[Neuks]]
Habitat: [[Dixon-Darwin Rocky]], [[Dixon-Darwin High Grassland]], [[Darwin Plains]], [[Darwin Chaparral]], [[Vivus Rocky]]
Size: 20 cm long
Diet: Adults: Carnivore ([[Bludblug]]s), Ovivore (Bludblugs); Larvae: Detritivore
Reproduction: Sexual, Two Genders, Oviviparous

Splitting from a more arboreal species of gliding neuks, the cleaner ukneuk gets its name from its habit of living on the bodies of saucebacks and cleaning them of bludblugs infestations. This example of symbiosis provides mutual benefits to both parties: the saucebacks are cleaned of a bothersome parasite, while the ukneuk gets access to a steady supply of food as well as protection and, eventually, transportation as well. Unlike the various species of neuks, the ukneuk has become ovoviviparous: while producing far fewer eggs than their kin, these eggs hatch inside their bodies, mature on a diet of unfertilized eggs, and are eventually "birthed" as miniature versions of the adults.

Life for the cleaner ukneuks typically consists of colonies that tend to inhabit large, highly visible structures such as [[Bloodsap Melontree|melontrees]] and [[Scrubland Quhft|scrubland quhfts]]. They openly display their presence, making taping sounds with their beaks hitting solid surfaces and such, in order to draw in "customers" in need of a good cleaning. These populations have little fear of predators due to few creatures would dare attack them in the presence of so many saucebacks. Subadults seeking to create new colonies will typically hitch a ride on a sauceback, such as a [[hearthead]] and be carried around. When they detect a suitable new home, they will leave their host and begin to establish themselves. With time, a healthy new colony is likely to form, wherein it can be easily identified by the near-constant presence of various species of sauceback gathering around it.

Some cleaner ukneuks, however, never leave their hosts, instead forming lifelong bonds with as they live on their backs and keep them clean. Such a lifestyle does have its benefits for the chosen sauceback outside of regular cleaning services. Ukneuks, possessing eyes, are capable of keeping watch for further away threats that might be outside a sauceback's range of echolocation and thus be able to warn them of it. In return, the ukneuk is protected from predators and other various threats to their lives.

Cleaner ukneuks display a wide degree of color morphs depending on the environment they grow up in. This occurs due to the presence of specialized pigment cells, akin to chromatophores, that develop while they are still larval and then "settle" when they reach full maturity, ceasing to further function and retaining whatever coloration was best suited for the environment at the time. As such, those that dwell in regions that abound in melontrees, for example, will often display red skin patterns, while those that dwell on crystal flora or quhfts will display green and dark purple colorations respectively. The most common color morph, however, is a light purple in hue and tends to be abundant wherever purple flora flourish. This unique form of color polymorphism serves as a form of camouflage, allowing the cleaner ukneuks to hide from potential predators while establishing their colonies, and improves with each generation which follows and remains within them.

- - -

Common examples cleaner ukneuk color polymorphism:

Silkruggs (Sericimex spp)
Creator: Disgustedorite
Ancestor: Minikruggs
Habitat: Global (Sagan 4)
Size: 4-8 cm long
Diet: Omnivore (smaller species of Neuks, Minikruggs, Sapworms, Vermees, and other terrestrial mesofauna; various non-poisonous flora)
Reproduction: Sexual (male and female, snail-like eggs)

Silkruggs are various Kruggs of the genus Sericimex, which are distinguished by their predatory habits. They can produce silk from their forelegs, which they use to construct nets. These nets can be used for a variety of purposes, such as being thrown over small prey to capture it, not unlike some Terran spiders, or to construct a comfortable den anywhere they like. They are omnivorous generalists, happily eating flora just as readily as they do small fauna.

There are numerous species of Silkrugg, too many to list individually, as is typical for mesofauna. In general, they are terrestrial and prefer to live in habitats where they have access to small flora to perch on. Those in colder regions often hibernate over the winter, and desert species are usually only active at dawn and dusk. They vary in color to match their habitat, usually coinciding with the colors of the local flora.

The Silkruggs’ mouthparts have been modified. The jaws themselves are now inside the mouth, allowing for more effective muscle attachment and therefore better biting and chewing ability. Otherwise, however, they are much like other Kruggs. They have 6 legs, leathery exoskeletons, and lay snail-like eggs which they bury in soil.

hi I have edit perms here

Tummorsuses (Gastromorsus spp)
Creator: Disgustedorite
Ancestor: Morsuses
Habitat: Global (Sagan 4)
Size: 10-20 μm long
Diet: Detritivore
Reproduction: Binary Fission

Tummorsuses split from their ancestor. To increase the efficiency of their feeding ability, they have become motile and developed a specialized external digestive fold. The inside of this fold is lined with feeding spines, and they apply digestive enzymes to break down the detritus they have taken into their fold before absorbing it. Detritus is drawn into the digestive fold using a pair of flagella derived from modified spines, which also pull them along. This is more efficient, and therefore allowed them to get larger than their ancestor.

Tummorsuses, as decomposers, participate in the ammonification stage of the nitrogen cycle. They have also developed the ability to use nitrate as an electron acceptor, which helps them to thrive in low-oxygen environments such as mud, abyss, and deep underground while also causing them to participate in the denitrification stage of the nitrogen cycle. Species in environments with fewer predators often have shorter defensive spines than those in environments with more predators.

Tummorsuses are otherwise much like their ancestor. They are simple, unicellular, and reproduce via binary fission.

Swap with MNIDJM


Flumpus (Arthroshinglesaurus marimagno)
Creator: Nergali
Ancestor: [[Larlap]]
Habitat: [[Fermi Temperate Beach]], [[Fermi Temperate Coast]], [[South Jujubee Temperate Ocean (Sunlight Zone)]], [[Dass Temperate Coast]], [[Wind Temperate Coast]], [[Dass Temperate Beach]], [[Wind Temperate Beach]]
Size: Male: 6 m long; Female: 3.56 m long
Diet: Omnivore ([[Sunstalks]], [[Beach Colony Stalks]], [[Mangot]] fruit-leaves, [[Crowngea]], [[Olltooka]], [[Greater Droopgea]], [[Scuttlers]], [[South Polar Shardgill]], [[Southern Gillfin]], [[Southern Strainerbeak]]))
Reproduction: Sexual, Two Genders, Oviviparous

Splitting from its ancestor, the mighty larlap, the flumpus has taken to the ocean as the once prominent lands of Fermi island have shrunken due to rising sea levels. It is there, in those very waters, where it can now support its great, blubbery girth even further, allowing them to grow even larger and more rotund. Such weight provides protection from both the elements and potential predators that would otherwise be more than willing to take a bite out of them. To support this growth, the flumpus gorge themselves upon the abundant aquatic black flora, as well as supplementing their primarily herbivorous diet with a bit of carnivore, which oftentimes involves some of the smaller shoaling species that inhabit their habitats.

The flumpus have evolved several adaptations for an aquatic lifestyle. The most obvious of these is the slight webbing present in-between their toes, which aids them in swimming. Their third pair of eyes is now situated on a small stalk, allowing the flumpus to view objects above the waterline, such as predatory species on the shore, while still remaining submerged and thus hidden. Finally, their nostrils have begun to move further up their skulls, and are no longer situated further down the snout as they they are in the majority of their close cousins.

Flumpus males are nearly twice as large as the females, and possess more brilliantly colored, prominent neck flaps compared to them, which they proudly display to one another as they rest upon their beachside colonies. Males will often be surrounded by a harem of seven or so females, as well as up to two dozen offspring of various ages. They will guard them with great ferocity, though will typically defend their harems by displaying their neck flaps and clacking their club-spikes together. Should this fail to deter a would-be challenger, the males will then repeatedly slam into each other until one either inevitably backs down or dies from internal injuries.

While their ancestors laid eggs that were nurtured within [[cryobowls]], the flumpus now instead have evolved to allow their eggs to hatch while still within the wombs of their mothers. While far fewer eggs are produced, leading to approximately three to six young being born, they are both more developed and noticeably larger than the offspring of their closest relatives, and resemble miniature, paler versions of the adults by the time they take their first breath.

Since first taking to the water, the flumpus has extended its range to the Dixon-Darwin supercontinent. They have established several colonies along their long stretches of beaches, each containing populations of roughly several thousand individuals.