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Ferry Quail (Volucris frugivorus) (fruit-eating winged creature)
Creator: Disgustedorite
Ancestor: Quail Raptor
Habitat: Darwin Bush, Dorite Rocky, Dorite Chaparral, Dorite Subtropical Woodland, Darwin Highboreal, North Darwin Rocky, North Darwin Highvelt, Darwin Veldt, North Darwin Plains, Central Darwin Rocky, South Darwin Highvelt, South Darwin Rocky, South Darwin Plains, South Darwin Chaparral, South Darwin Subtropical Woodland, South Darwin Temperate Woodland, Central Wallace Veldt, Wallace Plains, Wallace Volcanic, Wallace Bush, Wallace Chaparral, Verserus Rocky, Central Wallace Highboreal, Verserus Highvelt, West Wallace Veldt, Raptor Plains, Raptor Veldt, Raptor Chaparral, Raptor Highvelt, Raptor Volcanic, Raptor Highboreal, Iituem Plains Archipelago, Martyk Temperate Woodland Archipelago, Koseman Temperate Woodland, Vivus Highboreal, Vivus Rocky; Atmosphere (Troposphere) while crossing stretches of water
Size: 30 cm long
Support: Endoskeleton (Chitin)
Diet: Omnivore (Ferry berries, Feroak berries, Cragmyr berries, Robust Arid Ferine berries, Bristlepile berries, Fuzzpile berries, Scrubland Quhft berries, Sandy Orbibom berries, Cliff Bristler berries, Quilbil berries, Twin-Tail Orbibom berries, Woodyshroom achenes, Shaggy Volleypom megaspores, Bangsticks seeds, Yuccagave seeds, Snow Windbulb seeds, Quone nuts, Coniflor capsules, Vermees, Floraverms, Teacup Sauceback larvae, Minikruggs, Silkruggs, Whiskrugg, Cleaner Borvermid, False Cleaner Borvermid, Communal Janit, Grub Krugg, Nightcrawler Borvermid, Corkscrew Krugg)
Respiration: Active (Microlungs)
Thermoregulation: Endotherm (Feathers)
Reproduction: Sexual (Male and Female, Hard-Shelled Eggs in Nests)

The ferry quail split from its ancestor. It has taken to an arboreal lifestyle making use of its splayed tail spurs and elongated, clawed toes to grasp the branches of trees. Unlike its ancestor which lives deep in the old growth dark forests, the ferry quail lives in the younger growth forests, open shrublands, and plains where sun-loving purple trees such as ferries can be found. It also feeds on ferry berries, as long as they are in season where it resides, and contributes greatly to their distribution. In fact, it is thanks to the ferry quail that ferries exist on the Koseman landmass, as it will fly over short stretches of ocean to nearby islands when there’s too much competition and carries ferry seeds with it in its gut. It will also consume other kinds of berries, but ferry berries are its favorite, as it nests in their branches. Outside of the fruiting season, it mostly eats worms and seeds.

The ferry quail is a better flier and is streamlined compared to its ancestor. It has rubbery skin surrounding its spiracles where its ceres once lay, and its external sauce plate appears as only a scute on its back. There are no feathers directly on the top of its back, but its broad contour feathers cover it up. It can cool down on a hot day by spreading the feathers to expose its back. It has lost its central tail spike and its tail fan is flatter. It has also, in a more figurative sense, streamlined its vision; its many eyestrils, each corresponding to an oral spine as a consequence of their origins as gums, are now gathered into compound eyestrils. This occurred as a result of the scent line tightening into a zigzag on the side of the head. This is imperfect, as 2-6 additional clusters of eyestrils with little functional use form on top of its head.

The ferry quail has a call which sounds similar to a door creaking, with which it communicates with other ferry quails, establishes territory, or attracts a mate. It is no longer capable of echolocating, as preferring more sunlit environments has completely eliminated the need for such an ability, but it is still capable of producing high-pitched clicks and chirps with its tongue. The skin around its eyestrils is colorful in the ultraviolet spectrum and its underbelly is conspicuous, traits which aid in species identification, social interaction, and sexual selection.

Image caption: Chick.


The ferry quail no longer nests on the ground. Instead, it constructs a nest in a ferry tree or some similar tree or shrub, hidden among the branches. Like its ancestor, it uses twigs, feathers, hair, trichomes, and plent cotton to construct the nest. It mates in the spring. It lays 3-5 eggs per clutch which take roughly 2 weeks to hatch, with both parents taking turns incubating the eggs. Unlike its ancestor, the ferry quail’s offspring are blind, naked, and helpless, vaguely resembling passerine nestlings. This is because the safety of the trees made well-developed young no longer advantageous, so it was selected against. The nestlings are mostly fed small binucleid worms by both parents, and they reach the fledgling stage after just 2 more weeks. They take another 2 weeks to build up enough strength to be independent. They begin breeding the following spring. As small creatures susceptible to predation, very few survive their first year and they have a life expectancy of only 2, but an especially lucky individual can live for as long as 20.

Name: Secretive Lizarduiker (Moschohyus fugax)
Creator: OviraptorFan
Ancestor: Steppe Lizalope (Alloarietes currenstilios)
Habitat: Drake Temperate Woodland, Drake Bush, Drake Lowboreal, Drake Frostwood
Size: 25 centimeters long
Support: Exoskeleton (Chitin), Endoskeleton (Chitin)
Diet: Omnivore (Wub, Fuzzpile berries, Communal Janit, Infilt Pewpa, Crysfortress Walker, Crysfortress Shell, Crystank Flasprout, Creab Walker, Creab Shell, Fuzzweed, Thorny Hedgelog, Lahnworm, Eastward Luroot, Greater Lahn, Glountain fruit, Crystalfir fruit, Emeraldfir fruit, Xidhorchia, Mini-Flower Ketter, Snow Puff, Toxplage, Toxplage Ketter, Windbulb, Frostmelter, Plowskunik, Pioneeroots, Marbleflora, Xenobees, Cryobowls, Minikruggs, Vermees, Glaalgaes, Larands, Silkruggs, Xenowasps, Teacup Saucebacks, Supershrooms, Sapshrooms, Dartirs, Sapworms, Toxiglobes (occasionally)), Scavenger
Respiration: ?
Thermoregulation: Endotherm (Setae)
Reproduction: Sexual, Hermaphrodites, Lays Brood of Eggs in mounds

While most species of lizalope are adapted to living within the open prairies and scrub that cover much of Drake, one species has broken the mold by adapting to live within woodlands and forests. Having split off from their ancestor, the Secretive Lizarduiker differs from their ancestors in several different ways. For one, it is completely solitary, as they can rely on the dense foliage for cover to avoid predators and thus traveling in groups was not necessary. The Secretive Lizarduiker has also shrunk down in size, which helps it move unnoticed within the undergrowth, its smaller size also makes it by far the smallest lizalope yet to have evolved. The coloration of the Secretive Lizarduiker provides better camouflage to help it hide in dense undergrowth, though the lizalope can still flee if it needs to.

The Secretive Lizarduiker also differs from its ancestor and cousin in terms of diet, as while other lizalopes are strict herbivores the Secretive Lizarduiker is comfortably omnivorous. When it comes to consuming flora the Secretive Lizarduiker is pretty similar to its ancestors, being highly generalistic and feeding on a wide range of flora species. The long forelimbs can still help aid the lizalope with digging up nutritious roots, but they are also now used for a different task related to foraging. If the Secretive Lizarduiker spots a small fauna with its sharp vision, it will begin to run towards it and chase it down. As the silk glands have long since been lost in the lizalopes, the Secretive Lizarduiker instead relies on its long forelimbs to capture the target so it can then bite down on the head or spine. The fangs are well developed in both sexes of this species, as they help with delivering the killing bite. Once the kill is made, the front teeth of the Secretide Lizarduiker rip off chunks of flesh (since they have become sharper than those of other lizalopes) so they can then be swallowed whole. The back teeth, meanwhile, are flat like those in their ancestor and cousins since they are still used to crush hard shells of crystal flora or the spines seen in organisms like the forest quone.

Much like their ancestors, the Secretive Lizarduiker digs a mound for its eggs, usually within dense cover to improve their chances of survival in that they are not noticed by predators. The parent will lay their several dozen eggs within the mound before adding foliage that will help keep the eggs warm through their decomposition. Once the mound is fully set up, the Secretive Lizarduiker will abandon the eggs to their fate. When the young eat their way out of the egg casing, they will begin to dig out of the mound which can still take about ten minutes or so. When they finally emerge, they are fully independent and strike it out on their own.

Alright boys! Here is my third species of lizalope for this generation! It will probably also be the last one as well, though I could be very wrong there. What do y'all think of this species? Any comments or suggestions will be appreciated!

This post has been edited by OviraptorFan: Aug 26 2022, 12:57 PM

Sweetworms (Saccharoamanspherus spp.) (sugar-loving ball)
Creator: Disgustedorite
Ancestor: Sapworms
Habitat: Wallace, Koseman, Fermi, Vonnegut, Barlowe, Drake, Lamarck, Ramul, Steiner, Driftwoods, Jujubee Ocean (floating flora), LadyM Ocean (floating flora), Mnid Ocean (floating flora), Atmosphere (flying flora)
Size: 3-10 mm long
Support: Exoskeleton (Chitin)
Diet: Frugivore, Sapivore, Nectarivore, Mellivore
Respiration: Semi-Active (Unidirectional Tracheae)
Thermoregulation: Heterotherm (Basking, Heat from Muscle Activity)
Reproduction: Sexual (Hermaphroditic, Sticky Eggs)

Sweetworms split from their ancestors, diversifying into a new genus of shell-winged worm. They have a taste for all things sweet, including fruit, nectar, sap, and honey. Originating in Wallace as a result of the rise of ferries and thus of more abundant sweet berries, they rapidly spread all over Sagan 4. They were able to cross oceans to reach other landmasses because of floating flora on the open ocean (particularly fuzzpalm derivatives on the driftwood islands), and some species even inhabit the sky, feeding on the sap of flying flora. Their tongues can be retracted into their mouths, but they are usually seen with them out, always tasting around for something sweet to eat.

During flight, sweetworms curl their abdomens under their bodies so that they can see where they are going more easily. Their hind wings are smaller and help with stability while the middle wings do most of the work keeping them aloft. When on the ground, mucus on their underbelly helps them cling to surfaces and they crawl with a slow rippling of their segments. When they find a potential food source, they “tap” it a few times with their sharp-tipped tongue to pierce the surface and verify the sweet flavor. If it is to their liking, they will use their lips to form a seal and use the tongue to draw the sweet fluid into their mouth. They are somewhat of a pest to xenobees, as they will drink their honey supply and their armor makes it difficult for the xenobees to drive them off. Sometimes, they will mistake photosynthetic surfaces on plents for a food source, as the blood in these areas is sugar-rich; they generally learn of their mistake pretty quickly, as the plent will flick them off on detection.

Sweetworms breed several times a year and lay their eggs on flora. They are winged from hatching. This is true of most wingworms, with larvae such as those of flugworms being the derived state. Hatchlings will stretch their wings out as their carapace hardens so that they don’t dry into a useless shape, and they can fly within an hour. Species in regions with cold winters will often have a breeding frenzy in the fall where all adults breed and lay eggs which stay dormant over winter, and their springtime hatching creates a population boom that many insectivorous creatures take advantage of.

There are many species of sweetworm. They come in different colors for blending in with bark and stems, or sometimes to appear as a spot on a piece of fruit they are feeding from. Some are specialists for specific food sources, but most won’t pass up any sweet meal. Some species are important pollinators, flicking their tongues into the nectar but doing no harm to the flower, but there are also nectar thieves among the genus’ ranks which pierce nectaries from the side to drain them. They can be found just about anywhere with some kind of sweet food source, though they are rare in polar biomes.

Stinkers (Fetidusvermis spp.) (stinky worm)
Creator: Disgustedorite
Ancestor: Odor-Spray Wingworm
Habitat: Wallace
Size: 2-8 cm long
Support: Exoskeleton (Chitin)
Diet: Herbivore (Wallace Puffgrasses, Crystal Entourage Swordgrasses, small Ferries, Sunstalks, and other small leafy flora), Scavenger (while breeding)
Respiration: Semi-Active (Unidirectional Tracheae)
Thermoregulation: Heterotherm (Basking, Heat from Muscle Activity)
Reproduction: Sexual (Hermahroditic, Eggs)

Stinkers split from their ancestor and diversified. They have returned to herbivory and modified their leech-like three-jawed mouths for chewing. They are named for a trait which they inherited from their ancestors; when disturbed by a predator, they will fly away, spraying odorous fluid behind them. Like a skunk, this leaves a strong stench on their unlucky attacker, which then might itself become the target of predators. If the spray gets in the eyes, it can also cause temporary blindness. They never fly far, but they rarely need to--most predators will think twice before bothering them again.

Stinkers are generally found in small ground flora such as “grasses” and small shrubs, making them most numerous in the plains and shrublands. They can also be found in younger stretches of forest that have not yet been taken over by shade trees, feeding on the undergrowth. They are less common, but not nonexistent, in deserts, where they flutter between patches of flora. They cannot be found in trees because they are too weak of fliers to consistently scale and stay in them. They cannot survive cold winters, so species in such regions have eggs that can lay dormant in soil until spring arrives.

Though primarily herbivorous, there are circumstances where stinkers will consume meat. When they breed, they will seek out protein sources to help them produce their eggs. This can lead to them scavenging for fresh meat from carcasses or open wounds. Species which mostly eat crystal entourage swordgrasses don’t usually need to do this, as the crystals are very rich in protein.

There are many species of stinker. They nearly all have warning coloration, which manifests in mostly black coloration with white, yellow, or green stripes or spots on their backs, somewhat like a skunk, as well as bright colors on the undersides of their wings. Species which mostly eat black flora such as sunstalks may be entirely white. Many species are generalists, but some will specialize for a specific genus of flora; for example, there are species which specialize in ferry bushes and have more robust jaws for chewing through the tougher leaves. They speciate too readily for every single one to be feasibly recorded. They are rare in polar biomes, but they can still be found shockingly far south, their ability to remain dormant in eggs allowing them to colonize small pockets of the polar barrens where flora can grow in the summer.

Though they are existent in islands very close to Wallace, because they can’t fly far, stinkers have failed to colonize Koseman.

Name: Malladact (Bipollex albauris)
Creator: Cube67
Ancestor: Leemalla
Habitat: Barlowe Tropical Rainforest, Barlowe Subtropical Rainforest, Barlowe Subtropical Woodland, Time Subtropical Rainforest Archipelago, Barlowe Tropical Mangal, Time Subtropical Mangal, Time Subtropical Beach, Barlowe Tropical Beach
Size: 1.2 meters long (including tail)
Support: Endoskeleton (bone)
Diet: Omnivore (Mainland Fuzzpalm fruit, Penumbra Fuzzpalm fruit, Tluvaequabora fruit, Topship Fuzzpalm fruit, Fuzzpile fruit, Parasitic Branch-Lantern nectar, small Minikruggs, Cloudswarmers, Xenobees, Sapshrooms, immature Obsidibarrage spore chambers, immature Obsiditall spore chambers, Qupe Tree fruit (uncommonly))
Respiration: Active (lungs)
Thermoregulation: Endotherm (fur)
Reproduction: Sexual (male and female, viviparous, offspring reared on milk in pouch)


While the leemallas do resemble Terran koalas in many respects, their occasional foraging of fruit gave them a source of easy energy not seen in their Earthling counterparts. Those that ate even more fruit did not have to waste as much energy digesting tough, nutrient-poor foliage, allowing them to have more energy for reproduction and fast movement. Eventually, this population became so different that they were no longer able to mate with other leemallas, resulting in the speciation of the malladact.

Physiological adaptations
Compared to their ancestors, malladacts are quicker and more nimble, owing to their higher metabolism and loss of the large gut that their ancestors needed to digest leaves. This not only makes them better at avoiding predators and competitors, but also allows them to supplement their diet with small, fast-moving fauna. Their jaws have become longer and less robust, helping them snap up fruit and ‘bugs’ instead of masticating leaves.
Since malladacts spend most of their lives in the canopy, a climbing mistake can be very dangerous, resulting in injury if not danger from predators. Because of this, malladacts have evolved many adaptations that help them with climbing. Their longer limbs and digits help them reach food and climbing surfaces from further away, and their sharp claws help them cling to branches. They also have two opposable digits on each front paw and one opposable digit on each back paw, allowing them to grip more firmly. Additionally, malladacts’ tails also aid in gripping branches, as they are somewhat prehensile and bear a claw-like tip derived from the vestigial keratinized paddle of their ancestor. Because the tip of the tail-claw points dorsally, the tail grip is actually most effective with the underside of the tail facing outwards.

Behavioral adaptations
Unlike the more helpless offspring of their ancestors, baby malladacts are able to cling to their mother after leaving the pouch, staying with her and learning to forage for a short period before being able to forage on their own. Because of this, baby malladacts are no longer restricted to a nest, prompting significant changes to their mode of parental care. Malladacts no longer build nests, with solitary malladacts of any age using abandoned leemalla nests as shelter or using no nest at all. Adult male malladacts are now polygamous, forming loose groups consisting of one male and a small harem of females. The larger number of females allows a given male to sire more offspring than he would otherwise be able to, and also protects the group as a whole from threats via the principle of safety in numbers.
While malladacts aren’t vocal outside of their mating calls and don’t usually need to communicate, they are able to move their ears as a limited form of nonverbal communication, especially during a conflict between two males. These ear gestures are made more apparent by the large white tufts running down the upper edges of the pinnae. When being aggressive or asserting dominance, the ears flare out to the sides, with the tufts pointing laterally. When displaying fear or submission, the ears point backwards, the tufts pointing towards the rear. When relaxed the ears point in a direction intermediate to these two extremes. Malladacts also possess a small dewlap on their neck. In mature males, this dewlap is larger and has a more apparent red marking than in females and juveniles.
Malladacts are not fond of swimming, but they are able to paddle around should the only escape from danger be through the water. The proximity of mangal reefs to the shore and the frequency of water-related mishaps on wooded beaches means that malladacts often form semi-isolated populations in offshore mangal forests.

This post has been edited by Cube67: Nov 30 2022, 03:12 PM

Plexgender (Pinnaeplenthexus genustribus)

Creator: Hydromancerx
Ancestor: Plehexapod
Habitat Wallance Dunes
Size: Males: 40 cm Tall, 80 cm Long; Nocturnal Female: 80 cm Tall, 160 cm Long; Diurnal Female: 80 centimeters Tall, 150 cm Long
Support: Endoskeleton (Jointed Wood)
Diet: Male: Omnivore (Vermees, Sapworms, Minikruggs, Desert Tilecorn eggs, Falcophreys eggs, Desert Carnofern berries, Sandy Orbibom berries and seeds, Bristlepile berries), Scavenger, Photosynthesis; Nocturnal Female: Carnivore (Pink Scrambler, Sabulyn, Undergroundi, Vermees, Sapworms, Minikruggs), Photosynthesis; Diurnal Female: Herbivore (Bangsticks roots, Coniflor roots, Desert Carnofern berries and leaves, Sandy Orbibom berries and seeds, Yuccagave leaves and seeds, Bristlepile berries and leaves, Sunstalks roots and leaves), Photosynthesis
Respiration: Active (Lungs)
Thermoregulation: Heterotherm (Basking, Muscle-Generated Heat)
Reproduction: Sexual, Three Genders, Pouch

The Plexgender split from its ancestor the plehexapod. It now lives in the oases in Wallance Dunes. These act like islands cutting them off from the rest of the population. As a result they developed sexual trimorphism; it serves to let them have a higher, more genetically healthy population in the same amount of space. Males are smaller and brightly colored. They are crepuscular, only active at dawn and dusk. Males are still omnivore but mostly scavenge carrion. This takes them away from the the oasises and thus spreading genetic diversity to the females who mostly stay at their home oasis. Males also will eat fruit when the season s right or even eggs when the opportunity presents itself.

Females on the other hand are now split into two types; nocturnal carnivores and diurnal herbivores.The night morphs have adopted large eyes to see in the dark and darker coloration to blend in with the darkness. Their beaks are more like an Earth bird of prey and can rip flesh easier. Their front claws are also sharper and body lighter and leaner. Their back legs are much stronger allowing them to sprint after prey. When they sleep they tend to be out in the open where they can photosynthesize.

The day morphs have a purple coloration to blend in with the purple flora. Their stomach has grown larger to help them digest flora better. Their beaks are stronger to chew the tough arid flora. Their front claw have grown bigger in order to help dig up roots. And its middle legs have spikes to fend off predators.

All sexes have improved spikes around their butt-nostrils, which keeps predators from suffocating them. They also have developed leaf-like earlobes to help funnel sound to their ears. Like their ancestor their skin is photosynthetic and they have a waxy coating on its skin helps reduce water loss as well as insulates it.

Both female's pouches are very stretchy, yet strong with elastic ribs Rather than building a nest for their young, the females simply do not give birth when they are fully developed. The female fills the organ that her young developed in with air so that they do not suffocate, she keeps her mouth open to let air flow in. Her young can poke their heads out of her mouth and beg for the food that her mate gives them, she will survive mainly on her fat during this time though her mate may feed her as well. Eventually she will force the offspring to leave, her jaw will often unhinge to make this difficult task a little easier. If she does not shove them out then they will grow too big for her and they will essentially explode out of her and kill her.

All juveniles are omnivorous and only narrow their diets when they reach adulthood. Juveniles that have left the pouch but haven't sexually matured tend to follow the more mobile males. Thus spreading them to different oases. Once grown the females will generally stay at whatever oasis they end up at. Depending upon the population at the oasis two morphs emit a pheromone suppressing the development into their morph to reduce competition and the stronger signal drowns out the weaker one. If they are not exposed to any pheromones they will default to herbivores.

This post has been edited by Hydromancerx: Sep 7 2022, 03:12 PM

Uniwingworms (Unipteryx spp.) (one-wing)
Creator: Disgustedorite
Ancestor: Odor-Spray Wingworm
Habitat: Wallace, Koseman, Driftwoods, Barlowe, Drake, Fermi, Lamarck, Ramul, Steiner, Vonnegut, LadyM Ocean (Floating Flora), Jujubee Ocean (Floating Flora), Mnid Ocean (Floating Flora)
Size: 3-4 cm long
Support: Exoskeleton (Chitin)
Diet: Frugivore, Detritivore
Respiration: Semi-Active (Unidirectional Tracheae)
Thermoregulation: Heterotherm (Basking, Heat from Muscle Activity)
Reproduction: Sexual (Hermaphroditic, Eggs)

Uniwingworms split from their ancestor and diversified. Contrary to their name, they do not have only one wing nor only one pair of wings. In fact, in a rare case of atavism, they actually have all twelve ancestral wings. However, the wings are all zippered together, like barbs on a feather, producing a single pair of flight surfaces. All the wings making up the “compound wing” grant them great flexibility, similar to the wings of a batworm. This makes them stronger and better fliers than most wingworms, and the broad surface allows them to soar somewhat like a terran butterfly. They have switched to frugivory, biting distinctive triangular holes in larger fruits and sucking out flesh with their leech-like mouth structure. If there is no fruit available for whatever reason, they remain capable of consuming detritus.

Uniwingworms are one of the several kinds of wingworm that fly backwards, abdomen-first, to better see where they are going. They will land on top of a fruit, abdomen-up, allowing them to watch for predators while they nibble. They have replaced their odorous fluid with a bitter one secreted from a gland only visible on close inspection, which they spread over themselves rather than spraying out. This makes them taste bad, so some predators will leave them alone. However, their defense isn’t perfect, so they must always keep an eye--or six--out.

Uniwingworms can bite through fruit with fairly thick skin. This often attracts the attention of sweetworms, some species of which will follow uniwingworms to lap up the sweet juices that dribble out of the fruits that they would otherwise be incapable of consuming. The uniwingworms tolerate this, as they themselves primarily consume the flesh.

Uniwingworms breed several times a year and lay their eggs in soil. Like other wingworms, juvenile uniwingworms are capable of flight just like the adults. After hatching, they climb up onto flora and stretch their wings out, separated rather than joined, so that the barbs on the wings can harden into the correct shape. Once dry, the wings zip together with only a little bit of shuffling.

Uniwingworms are migratory. They cannot survive cold winters, so in the fall, temperate species will migrate to the tropics or subtropics, sometimes crossing the ocean to do so using their ability to soar. Those in Drake and Dingus migrate to Darwin and Ramul, those in Lamarck migrate to Barlowe, those in Fermi migrate to Raptor, and those in Vonnegut and Koseman migrate to the Driftwoods. When spring arrives, they migrate back to take advantage of the fruiting season and remain until the following fall. No species can survive alpine or subpolar conditions.

There are many species of uniwingworm. Strong fliers capable of soaring and with a fairly untapped niche for their size range, they have spread to many landmasses through both island hopping and taking advantage of floating flora. They usually have coloration that allows them to hide among flora. Some species have preferences for specific kinds of fruit, such as only consuming shroom berries.

Dragonworms (Centipediopteryx spp.) (centipede wing)
Creator: Disgustedorite
Ancestor: Odor-Spray Wingworm
Habitat: Wallace, Koseman
Size: 5-10 cm long
Support: Exoskeleton (Chitin)
Diet: Carnivore (smaller wingworms), Scavenger
Respiration: Semi-Active (Unidirectional Tracheae)
Thermoregulation: Heterotherm (Basking, Heat from Muscle Activity)
Reproduction: Sexual (Hermaproditic, Eggs)

Dragonworms split from their ancestor and diversified. They have taken up carnivory, using a hunting strategy similar to that of both a dragonfly and a centipede where they catch their prey in mid-air by wrapping their many-legged abdomen around it. Unlike their ancestor, they are very strong fliers, and their wing segment is quite bulky in proportion to the rest of their body to fit large wing muscles. Their leech-like three jaws are fully external and modified for biting and tearing flesh, and their mouths can no longer create significant suction. A mutation has placed an eye on the wing segment, allowing them to detect when their prey makes an evasive maneuver and adjust accordingly.

To hunt, dragonworms perch on some kind of flora using their many legs and watch the sky with their many eyes. When they see a potential prey item, they let go of their perch and take off. They aim to fly above their prey, and they swing their abdomen forwards to snatch it from the air. Still in flight, they wrap their body around their prey and drop to the ground, hidden from their own predators so that they may consume their catch in peace.

Dragonworms breed several times a year. Like nearly all flight-capable wingworms, they have wings as hatchlings and can fly all throughout their lives. Juveniles usually hunt even smaller wingworms, but the smallest species have few food options at such a young age and will also scavenge.

Dragonworms lack the ability to spray odor. The odor glands are tiny and instead secrete pheromones. However, the “nozzle” structure remains quite large. On close inspection, the pheromone gland is off to one side while a membrane of skin stretches over the inside of the tube. Part of the respiratory system runs under here, and the membrane is sensitive to vibration. The dragonworms have transformed their odor-spewing nozzle into a primitive ear, complete with a mobile ear canal.

There are many species of dragonworm. They vary mostly in size and color, but some species have more robust jaws for crushing shell-winged worms and others have longer jaws for more effectively grappling with smaller prey. Temperate species are migratory and those in Koseman and the temperate islands are capable of soaring over short stretches of ocean. They cannot survive in alpine or subpolar conditions; otherwise, they are present anywhere in Wallace or Koseman and the surrounding islands where other kinds of wingworm can be found.

Hexatrunk (Netebaku hexaproboscis)
Creator: Disgustedorite
Ancestor: Dualtrunk
Habitat: Wallace Plains, Central Wallace Veldt, Central Wallace Tropical Scrub, Central Wallace Tropical Woodland, Darwin Tropical Scrub, North Darwin Chaparral, Darwin Veldt, North Darwin Plains, Darwin Bush, Dorite Chaparral, Dorite Subtropical Woodland, Darwin Tropical Woodland, Wallace Tropical Scrub, West Wallace Tropical Woodland, Dixon Subtropical Woodland, Raptor Chaparral, Raptor Veldt, Raptor Plains, West Wallace Veldt, Wallace Savanna, Wallace Chaparral, Wallace Bush
Size: 1.6 meters long (excluding trunk)
Support: Endoskeleton (Jointed Wood)
Diet: Herbivore (Ferry leaves, shoots, and fruit)
Respiration: Active (Lungs)
Thermoregulation: Endotherm
Reproduction: Sexual (Male and Female, Live Birth)

The hexatrunk split from its ancestor, spreading over much of the Wallace supercontinent. It lives in the tropical, subtropical, and temperate plains, shrublands, and intermediate forests, feeding mostly on ferries using its twin trunks to pick leaves and occasionally fruit. It has regained function in its remaining barbels, the middle pair serving to taste and manipulate food close to its mouth and the hind pair being held out to taste the air for scent.

Much like its ancestor, the hexatrunk moves in herds of 7-10 adult members. Unlike its ancestor, though the herds usually consist of several females and a male, these are not really “led” by the male. There is, instead, usually a dominant female which will pick and choose what males are allowed near her herd to mate. This is because an aggressive or rowdy male might put the herd in danger while a weak male is likely to be picked off by predators, so it is in the herd’s best interests to be very selective.

Lacking insulating integument, the hexatrunk does not stay in temperate regions over winter, instead migrating to the subtropics and competing with the subtropical population for the duration of the season. During migration, all herds often gather together and move in groups of hundreds or even thousands of individuals. Come spring, they migrate back to the temperate regions to take advantage of new growth. It is highly nomadic in general, moving from place to place feeding on different species to ensure it can take full advantage of new growth to meet its nutritional needs and never staying in one region for long. It has subspecies with slightly different color patterns, such as being more striped in the wooded parts of its range.

As a relatively small browser, the hexatrunk is innately anxious especially while alone, as it is very vulnerable to predation. This anxiety is alleviated by physical touch from other members of the herd, such as from grooming behavior, as the touch of another’s trunk is a physical confirmation of safety from their presence. It is common to see juveniles clutch their mother’s trunks with their own, and in some cases the mother hexatrunk may pick up and hold the juvenile to comfort it.

Like other plents, the hexatrunk mates mouth to mouth and gives live birth. It gestates for about 7 months and gives birth to only one or two well-developed offspring at a time, temporarily deforming its jaws to accommodate the birth of a baby more than twice the size of its skull. Juveniles are able to stand soon after birth and can run within hours, allowing them to stay close to the herd as it moves along. Juveniles typically stay slightly apart from the main herd while young, hiding in tall puffgrasses and other ground flora, making it more difficult for predators to locate and target them based on the herd’s position. Juveniles don’t have complete control over their trunks right away and have to be brought food while they learn. They take about a year and a half to reach maturity but usually don't begin breeding until their third year.

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sorry nergali for neglecting the swap

Phlinch (Steineravis insulam)
Creator: Hydromancerx
Ancestor: Soaring Phlyer
Habitat: Sparks Tropical Beach, Steiner Tropical Beach Archipelago, Steiner Subtropical Beach Archipelago, Steiner Tropical Mangal, Steiner Subtropical Mangal, Steiner Tropical Rainforest, Steiner Tropical Rainforest Archipelago
Size: 1 m Long
Support:: Endoskeleton (Unjointed Wood)
Diet: Omnivore (Teacup Saucebacks, Vermees, Minikruggs, Silkruggs, Scuttlers, Xenobees, Xenowasps, Frabukis, Sunstalks, Supershrooms, Pioneeroots, Glaalgaes, Chitjorns), Scavenger, Photosynthesis
Respiration: Active (Lungs)
Thermoregulation: Heterotherm (Basking, Muscle-Generated Heat)
Reproduction: Sexual, Live Birth, Two Genders

The Phlinch split from its ancestor the Soaring Phlyer. It has come down from the atmosphere and colonized the islands of Steiner. As one of the first colonizers it didn't have to worry about predators and it's population boomed. Spreading to every island and nearly every biome expect for the drier parts.

It is now a generalist omnivore eating anything it can. Its wings are smaller since they no longer soar all day, just enough to hop from island to island. Most of the time they walk on the ground feeding. Their legs are less stubby than their ancestor due to the increase in ground feeding. They nest on the ground both due to lack of predators but also lack of trees. The flora on the islands are no bigger than 20 cm currently.

When they do fly the double wings use very little energy. While their entire body is photosynthetic, their wings in particular are highly concentrated with chloroplasts, which make them bright green. This helps them get the energy they need even on a diet of small things. Their keen eyesight looks out for prey or carrion that washes up on the beaches.

This post has been edited by Hydromancerx: Sep 9 2022, 09:53 AM

Thanks to the Sagan 4 Taxonomy group for helping with the scientific naming of this species.

Fuzzbelly Seaswimmer (Phocaserpens trichioventris)
Creator: Nergali
Ancestor: Rusty Seaswimmer
Habitat: Oz Subtropical Coast, Fly Tropical Coast, Hydro Tropical Coast, Time Subtropical Coast, Oz Subtropical Mangal, Barlowe Subtropical Mangal, Time Subtropical Mangal
Size: 1 m Long
Support: Endoskeleton (Bone)
Diet: Carnivore (Royal Scylarian, Snapperbeak Hookphlyer, Sindohve, Greater Wolley, Hemodohve, Sinduhk, Scuttleball Gillfin, Diamond Pumpgill, Globespot Gilltail, Plump Gillfin), Scavenger
Respiration: Active (Lungs)
Thermoregulation: Mesotherm
Reproduction: Sexual, Two Genders, Live Birth

The fuzzbelly seaswimmer split from its ancestor, the rusty seaswimmer, and has since spread throughout the waters off of the island continent of Barlowe. Inhabiting the productive subtropical regions, they hunt a variety of prey native there, consisting essentially of anything that they can fit into their powerful jaws. The tropical waters around Barlowe are inhabited by these seaswimmers, though due to the less productive waters and thus less abundant food sources, only very young individuals avoiding competition with more capable adults, or older individuals that have been pushed out of their territories by younger rivals, tend to dwell in these regions. Visually, compared to their ancestors they have grown in both size and girth, though they have nonetheless evolved a significantly more streamlined body than what their lineage is typically known for. Also of note, the elongated tusk (a specialized fang) that has so distinguished seaswimmers and their close kin has significantly shrunk in this species. In contrast, its opposite paired fang, which is often undeveloped in comparison, has enlarged to the point of almost being equal in size. This dental arrangement has led to the species relying more on their bite force rather than skewering their prey, though the tusk is still utilized in bouts of combat between individuals over such things as territory or between males fighting over females.

The fuzzbelly seaswimmer gets its name from the hairs that sprout from its underside. While in its distant ancestors these hairs helped to aid them in gripping onto surfaces while climbing them, in this species they have grown and serve a new purpose. As there are no surfaces to grip onto for a free-swimming species, these hairs have become more specialized, and now function in detecting vibrations in the water column, allowing them to sense both prey and predators alike from greater distances than what their vision alone would allow them to. This is especially useful when they stalk the shallows around dusk and dawn, when lighting is poor and vision less reliable, as well as when hunting in murkier water, such as what might occur following a tropical storm passing through the region.

They possess a thick, protective layer of insulating fat that is rich in oils, not unlike that of leatherback sea turtles native to Earth. These oils help them to maintain buoyancy while swimming, as well as further aiding them by providing some small degree of insulation, though given the waters they inhabit, this function tends to be of less importance to them. Fuzzbelly seaswimmers power their way through water with the mighty sways of their paddle-like tails. Internally, the fins of these tails are supported by a series of cartilaginous rods. The cartilage offers them a degree of flexibility compared to the solid bone that makes up the rest of their skeletons, though this comes at the cost of an extended recuperation period should their fins ever be significantly damaged.

Mating occurs year-round, as the warm waters off of Barlowe mean that food is plentiful. The nasal crests of the males are slightly larger and more developed than those of the females and are a more vibrant shade of orange. Males with particularly large and vibrant ones are seen as especially attractive to females and will often attract the most mates, though males may occasionally joust with one another over territories, utilizing their tusks for this task. Following the act, males take no further role in parenthood. The females, meanwhile, undergo a gestation period that lasts for roughly half a year, after which they will approach the shallower mangral regions in order to give birth to four to six offspring live. Showing their foot-long pups no further parental care, they will return to deeper waters following this, allowing their young to hunt within the shallows, rapidly gaining weight and size as they feast on a variety of gilltail species and similar prey. Within two years, these offspring will have reached early adulthood, being nearly half a meter in length and ready to return to deeper waters themselves. If they should manage to avoid potential predators or succumbing to disease or injury, fuzzbelly seaswimmers can potentially live for up to thirty years.

This post has been edited by Nergali: Feb 7 2023, 04:18 AM

Quilled Wigglemaw Slippicus splatticus

Ancestor: Marocta
Creator: colddigger
Habitat: Rhodix Trench Zone, Rhodix Midnight Sea Mounts, LadyM Ocean Abyss Zone, LadyM Ocean Midnight Zone
Diet: Carnivore (Shimmering Marephasmatises, Blubdub, Deep Glowswarmer, Mini Whorls, Miniswarmers); Larvae: Detritivore (Marine Snow)
Size: 20 cm long
Support: ?
Respiration: ?
Thermoregulation : Ectotherm
Reproduction: sexual, gametes covered by gelatinous material

The Quilled Wigglemaw split from its ancestor the Marocta. It moved into the open waters surrounding Rhodix Vents. Their frontmost and rearmost ribbon-like fins have changed into four short and highly mobile fins to allow the organism to more easily maneuver in its open water home. Meanwhile the other ribbon-like fins have changed into a selection of movement sensitive quills toward the rear of the body, to detect motion through the water, and to deter predators. The tips of the quills are dark and hardened.

The body is divided into two distinct pieces, the rear having a well-defined exoskeleton where the majority of the organs are located, and the front section which is mainly mouth, crop, and stomach and supported by flexible but firm semi-external and notochord-like structure of both living cells and cuticle. The supporting structure extends all the way to the front of the body where it rings the toothless mouth and provides an anchor point for the muscles that control the front fins, pincers, and eye nubs.

What had once acted as the nubby bases for short teeth in its ancestor now support the eyes that have traveled from deep inside the mouth forward. They are now located on the back side of these nubs which must be flared outward from the mouth in order to see its surroundings. On either side of the mouth are very sharp and hard pincers that carry a venomous bite, these weapons are essentially the only means that this organism has for subduing prey. Once prey is captured then it's drawn toward the mouth opening and the nubs are used to pull the body into the mouth and force it down into the crop where it's stored and processed until passing to the stomach.

The spore reproduction of its ancestor has been replaced with gamete reproduction, the gametes simply being the result of spore production having switched over to meiosis. Gametes are kept on the ventral side of the rear portion of the body, and when a second member of the species is met then they will couple up and exchange gametes. The resulting zygotes are not actually fed by their parent but continue to stick on their body for safety until they're ready to venture off on their own in a planktonic form.

This post has been edited by colddigger: Nov 8 2022, 06:45 PM

Littoral Cillibilli Cadaveroraptor microlittori

Ancestor: Vultoph
Creator: colddigger
Habitat: Iiteum Temperate Beach, Iiteum Plains Archipelago
Diet: Scavenger, Carnivore (young Lesser Bloisters, young Gulperskunik, Minikruggs, Trailblazer foragers)
Size: 25 cm long
Support: Endoskeleton (Chitin)
Respiration: Active (Unidirectional Macrolungs)
Thermoregulation: Endotherm (Feathers)
Reproduction: Sexual (Male and Female, Hard-Shelled Eggs)

The Littoral Cillibilli split from its ancestor. It's scavenging time comprises primarily of things found on the beach, such as dead Gilltail or dead Bloisters. Sometimes larger bodies wash ashore and large clusters of the scavengers will descend upon it. The majority of their time is spent scurrying around on the upper Beach picking apart the beach wrack for decaying morsels, or flitting about among the rocks during low tide to hunt the tiny Bloisters trying to hide.

Their wings are no longer meant for soaring, as they don't need to scour far for food, and rather specialize in quickly escaping predators and maneuvering in the air. Breeding and nesting are done away from the beach in spring. Parents take turns bringing food from the beach to their chicks once they're hatched. They grow quickly and are capable of flight three weeks after hatching, at which point their parents bring them to the beach so they may learn to find food.

During the breeding season the males will grow long iridescent feathers from their ears. These feathers shimmer in the blue hues and ultraviolet to draw attention from potential mates. Females and males outside of breeding season look the same, minus the blue coloration and long ear feathers.

This post has been edited by colddigger: Sep 4 2022, 10:20 PM

Leepi Meepi Krunkusgunkus ssp.
Creator: colddigger
Ancestor: Teacup Saucebacks
Habitat: Wallace, Koseman
Diet: Detritivore
Size : 0.5 cm - 1 cm
Support: Endoskeleton (Chitin), Skin Mesh (Chitin)
Respiration: Active (Microlungs)
Thermoregulation: Exothermic
Reproduction: Sexual (Male and Female, Eggs and Larvae)

The Leepi Meepi split from its ancestor. It shrunk in size by 10 times, taking on the somewhat empty niche of very small detritivore, this allows its larvae to take advantage of much smaller sources of debris than its ancestor, such as simply existing in layers of leaf litter. Lessening the burden of obtaining fuel for metamorphosis into adult forms the Leepi Meepi remains exothermic it's entire life. Its brain has shrunk considerably from similar selection. Preferred habitat are areas that have decomposing Flora matter, as well as a continual source of moisture. They can often times be found in crevices under rocks or logs where moisture from the soil keeps the air more humid, and daylight is less likely to overheat or desiccate them.

Their endoskeleton is rather minimalistic at this point, actually mainly as connection points for organs and muscles as opposed to a robust support system. The tissue that comprises their hooves has developed into more of a mesh basket that is fused with the skin of their soft tissue, this remains a fairly flexible amalgamation for the tips of their digits but becomes more rigid and supportive for the legs. Their torso and tail gain most of their support from the sauce and cere, the latter of which has become more of a semi rigid sheet of chitin rather than remaining defined segments.

The head has become very small and narrow and elongate, no longer needing to house heavy muscles for processing tough foods and rather relying on the decomposition process to break down its food before shoveling the soggy debris piece by piece into its mouth. It only has the two tusk-like mandibles on the sides of its mouth plus two teeth remaining inside its mouth, the mandibles being used for gentle chewing and tearing while the inner teeth mainly provide a means of preventing food from falling out of its mouth. The related nostrils, paired in embryonic development with the teeth of the oral ring, develop into more of a strip-shaped pit of sensitive membrane that capture wafts of scent out of the air as opposed to a deep nostril. Around at the very base of the mandibles remains what's left of its feathers in the form of whiskers for tactile investigation of its surroundings.

The microlungs toward the back of the torso are rather minimal in their active collection of oxygen. Due to their size the movement of air from inside to outside and back requires less assistance. Upon adulthood females begin producing eggs parthenogenically, these individuals can make up a large portion of the larval population in an area. Males a few days after reaching adulthood are able to reproduce, unceremoniously and rather briefly they couple with females in their vicinity before moving to a new area in a rather nomadic lifestyle. From egg to adults usually takes about 1 to 2 months of time, most species have several consecutive generations in a given year with each of those generations producing gratuitous amounts of eggs upon maturity and continuing to do so for the rest of the active season.

They are capable of walking around normally, though are a little slow, and when undisturbed will do so while seeking moisture and debris to eat. If they are disturbed however they on their legs are capable of flinging them any particular direction many times their own body length, some even being able to throw themselves 20 cm away before very quickly leaping again.

This post has been edited by colddigger: Jan 2 2023, 10:45 PM

Name: Regalian Fossorundi (Agriregina dominans)
Creator: OviraptorFan
Ancestor: Undergroundi (Megadelphimyermex tunnelicusdigus)
Habitat: Raptor Highvelt, Raptor Chaparral, Raptor Veldt, Raptor Plains, Raptor Badlands, West Wallace Veldt, Wallace Chaparral, Wallace Bush, Wallace Volcanic, Verserus Highvelt, Verserus Rocky, Wallace Plains, Central Wallace Veldt, South Darwin Highvelt, Central Darwin Rocky, South Darwin Rocky, South Darwin Chaparral, South Darwin Plains
Size: Worker (2 centimeters long), Soldier (6 centimeters long), Architect (4 centimeters long), King (8 centimeters long), Queen (24 centimeters wide)
Support: Endoskeleton (Jointed Wood)
Diet: Non-King Castes: Omnivore (Supershrooms, Vermees); Kings: Omnivore (Undergroundi workers and kings, Supershrooms, Gamergate Gundis, Minikruggs, Silkruggs, Neuks)
Respiration: Active (Lungs)
Thermoregulation: Ectotherm
Reproduction: Sexual, 2 Genders, Live birth, Hive (1 Queen)

At a casual glance, one might think the Regalian Fossorundis live in a similar fashion to their ancestors, who they had split off from and became a distinct taxon. The species still lives underground for the most part, with their network of tunnels and chambers getting as expansive as 10 meters wide and 5 meters deep near the end of a queen’s reign. The main difference from their ancestor, however, revolves around the fact they have begun to practice agriculture of a sort. This originally started with Supershrooms that grew on the food workers brought back, thriving on the decaying organic matter. As the ancestral Regalian Fossorundis defended their burrows ferociously from potential invaders, these Supershrooms faced less significant predation than those on the surface and flourished, which in turn provided the nodents with an additional food source. Overtime, these noants would begin to feed less and less on lower nutrient flora like the windbulbs and feed more upon these Supershrooms until they actively farmed them. At around the same time, some species of the abundant Vermees genus group would feed on the feces and dead of these nodents, which would also lead to a positive relationship between the two groups that gave rise to the Regalian Fossorundis actively farming these little Cadovermoids.

Much like their ancestors, the worker caste is the most abundant caste of a Regalian Fossorundi colony, and fill various roles. Their lives first begin by being birthed out of the immobile and blind queen as relatively helpless young, who then get taken to a nursery chamber. Here, they will be fed a healthy balance of Vermees and Supershrooms to develop into a worker. In their early years, these workers act as foragers, leaving the safety of the tunnels and going into the outside world to gather various bits of foliage like the leaves of puffgrasses or wildbulbs. As they gather these resources to bring back to the hive, the workers are vulnerable to potential predators and have to be constantly on alert. Camouflage patterns do provide some protection, and the entire species vary in color depending on the area they live in (being black in areas with black soil, being gold in areas with golden soil, etc.), but a good portion of the foragers still fall victim to predation. If they survive these trips, the workers will return to the colony with whatever foliage they collected to then put them in a chamber dedicated towards their Supershroom crop. These will be tended to by the caretakers, who are workers that have survived for about 5 months and outgrow the role of a forager. These caretakers also tend to the Vermees livestock in the colony, which live within the waste chamber (where Regalian Fossorundis excrete waste and bring their dead to be eaten by the livestock). The caretakers will examine the state of the colonies’ resources and see what needs more food, what needs to be removed due to potentially being sick, and what is ready to be harvested.

After about a year with the role of a caretaker, the workers will then graduate to the role of a nurse, whose job is to care for the members of the colony. This can range from feeding the queen and assisting her with birthing offspring, to taking care of the newborns and aiding their growth into specific roles. A notable change seen in the Regalian Fossorundi’s development is that the young will develop into specific castes depending on the quantities of the food given to them. If they are given small amounts of both Supershrooms and Vermees by the nurses, they will develop into another worker. If they are fed very little Supershrooms and a high portion of Vermees meat, the newborns will instead become soldiers. The sole job of a soldier is to protect the colony from threats. They camp around the tunnels that lead to the surface, where they will block off the entrance with their own bodies if a predator shows up. Their powerful forelimbs with enormous claws are well suited to grasping onto a threat. If the intruder is small, like perhaps a Teacup Sauceback, these prevent its escape as it is then dragged into the tunnel for the other soldiers to tear it apart with their buck teeth and claws. The upper buck tooth of the soldiers have three large projections, which assist them with tearing flesh, making the process of killing small predators relatively quick. If the soldiers face a larger predator, like perhaps a Harndsum Prickleshrew, they will still latch on with their claws to cause as much pain as they can. As the soldiers will all work together to attack the intruder, the high amounts of “stings” can usually deter larger predators from continuing their advance, even if the soldiers who directly attack the threat are usually killed. The soldiers possess bright colors on their faces and forelimbs to provide a visual warning to threats that they will do whatever it takes to protect the colony, even if it means sacrificing themselves.

If the young are fed a high concentration of Supershrooms, meanwhile, they will grow into the Architect caste. This caste is technically derived from the workers of the Undergroundi and thus shares many traits with Regalian Fossorundi workers. The main differences are their stockier builds, reduced eyes and ears, as well as forelimbs and teeth better suited for digging. While the worker caste can technically dig, and they have to when the queen first establishes the colony, the architects are specialized for this task. Their buck teeth help dislodged soil that then gets pushed back with the broad claws on their forelimbs. This caste will help dig out new chambers and expand tunnel systems as the colony grows, alongside maintaining the tunnel system to make sure it's in good shape.

The lifespan of these three castes is generally short, with soldiers only living for about a year, architects for two, and workers living for about three years. These castes are also all female and sterile upon birth, never being able to reproduce. The two remaining castes are a bit different in two major ways, being the king and queen. Kings are completely different from all the other castes in that they mostly live on their own without any sort of help. In many ways, the kings resemble the more basal looking yellowdundis, having long cursorial limbs that give them a large stride and help them with scurrying away from threats. They possess excellent camouflage patterns to blend in with the foliage and soil around them, alongside sharp senses to both find food and detect predators. The upper buck tooth and lowermost hind spur possess large serrations to help deal as much damage as possible to threats if they are backed into a corner, as this can distract the predator with the pain caused and buy the nodent some time to flee. To better obtain resources and fend off threats, the kings have become four times the size of the kings in their direct ancestors, making them the second largest caste within the Regalian Fossorundis.

These kings will regularly enter the colonies of other Regalian Fossorundis, producing an oily secretion that gives off a distinct odor. As the colony recognizes the smell as belonging to a king, they will let him enter instead of tearing him apart as if he were a typical intruder. From there, the king will enter the chamber that the resident queen dwells in and proceed to mate with her. After that, he will visit the chambers housing both the Vermees and Supershrooms being farmed by the colony and eat a few of them to satisfy his hunger before moving on. When the king does leave, the spores of Supershrooms will be carried in his gut and the larvae of the Vermees hitch a ride on his back, with both of these types of passenger being dropped off at the next colony the king visits. This behavior of regularly entering colonies to mate and feed on some of the crop and livestock means the kings play a vital role in preserving genetic diversity among the Regalian Fossorundis and the organisms they cultivate. Though a king can sometimes live as long as ten years, they usually don’t last more than around four to six due to predation.

When a queen mates with a king, she will stop producing sterile females. Instead, this is the only time a queen will give birth to males and females that can reproduce. These newborns will be raised by the nurses until they grow into kings and immature queens. From there, both will leave the colony to start lives of their own. For the immature queens, a few workers from the old colony will follow her to aid her with starting a new colony while also taking some of the colony's crop and livestock. As they dig out the beginnings of a tunnel system, the workers fulfill the jobs of a forager, caretaker, and a nurse all at the same time as well as the role of diggers. The queen will continue to resemble an abnormally large worker and help with maintaining the colony until a king comes along and mates with her. Afterwards, she will undergo a transformation into her mature adult form and begin producing young right away. These will be raised by the workers that followed the queen until they themselves grow into the new workers and replace them, alongside becoming proper architects and soldiers. Queen Regalian Fossorundis can live for quite a long time, living for as much as a century and producing millions or sometimes even billions of offspring.


An example of the Worker caste.


An example of the Architect caste.


An example of the Soldier caste.


An example of the King caste.


An example of the Queen caste.

Alright fellas! Here is my end of a swap with @colddigger! Thoughts on the first species of nodent this week? Will say this is the first time I have ever done a eusocial species, so I may have messed some stuff up, so any feedback is appreciated!

This post has been edited by OviraptorFan: Oct 27 2022, 03:01 PM