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Predatory Knucklehead (Camursoma articulus)

Creator: Kopout
Ancestor: Knucklehead Plentscraper
Habitat: Adults: Dixon Subtropical Woodland, Dixon-Fermi Temperate Woodland, Adman Temperate Riparian, Seal Subtropical Riparian; Juveniles: Seal Subtropical River, Dixon-Fermi-Southern Temperate Watershed, Seal Subtropical Watershed, Adman Temperate Watershed
Size: 24 cm
Support: Exoskeleton (Chitin)
Diet: Adult: Carnivore (Grassterplents juveniles, Flopleaves, Fern Asterplents juveniles, Deep Moleherbs juveniles, Asterplent juveniles), Photosynthesis; Juvenile: Detritivore, Photosynthesis
Respiration: Semi-active (Tidal tracheae)
Thermoregulation: Ectotherm
Reproduction: Sexual Spawning (Simultaneous Hermaphrodite)

The predatory knucklehead has split from its ancestor and adopted a more active and predatory lifestyle. They are much faster than their ancestors thanks to the development of arches formed from limbless segments. These arches allow them to gallop, as well as to more effectively ‘step’ over obstacles. The two pairs of limb bearing segments at the base of each arch act like a foot with four toes, providing traction and support.

Prey is captured using the head and neck as a raptorial limb to snatch small organisms and squeeze them against the first post neck segment. Once trapped a combination of pressure and grinding motion kills the prey and renders its body into a chunky paste. Esophageal muscles then swallow the crushed and ground pulp.

Predatory knuckleheads are primarily crepuscular hunters though in the warmer months they may remain active all night. They spend their days sleeping and photosynthesizing, storing energy and oxygen for nightly hunts. While capable of impressive bursts of speed they usually lope along more slowly. As their primary prey are fairly slow, they only need to reach their top speed when fleeing here own predators such as the dancerplent.

Respiratory tracheae are located primarily on the neck and the limbless segments of the body. These are pumped by the surrounding muscles during periods of activity, increasing their respiratory efficiency. These are not there only source of oxygen, however. During periods of inactivity they may generate more oxygen from photosynthesis than they use, which is then stored in their blood for latter.

Reproductive openings are located on the limb-bearing ‘foot’ segments. During spawning they only need to get their feet wet, and often do so to prevent accidental drowning. While juveniles resemble miniature adults, they are aquatic and for their first few weeks and will not be large enough to hunt for three to four months.

Much like their ancestor they enter a period of hibernation during the winter and can enter shorter periods of torpor in response to food shortages.

This post has been edited by kopout: May 14 2023, 01:59 PM

"Predatory" is misspelled in the name.

Approval Checklist:
Art:
Art Present?: Y
Art clear?: Y
Gen number?: Y
All limbs shown?: Y
Reasonably Comparable to Ancestor?: Y
Realistic additions?: Y

Name:
Binomial Taxonomic Name?: Y
Creator?: Y

Ancestor:
Listed?: Y
What changes?:

• External?: Specialized inchworming segments
• Internal?: Respiratory muscles
• Behavioral/Mental?: Predatory behavior

Are Changes Realistic?: Y
New Genus Needed?: Y, For passing the Monty Python certification exam from The Ministry of Silky Walks

Habitat:
Type?: 2 (Subtropical & Temperate)
Flavor?: 4 (woodland, riparian, watershed, river)
Connected to Ancestor?: Y
Contiguous?: Y
Wildcard?: Amphibious Exception

Size:
Same as Ancestor?: N
Within range?: Y
Exception?: Disaster Gigantism

Support:
Same as Ancestor?: Y
Does it Fit Lifestyle?: Y
Does It Fit Size?: Y
Reasonable changes (if any)?: N/A
Other?:

Diet:
Same as Ancestor?: N
Transition Rule?: ....Ish
Reasonable changes (if any)?: That is the iffy one... The ancestor was a Herbivore, this is a predator, but both are planimal eaters.

Respiration:
Same as Ancestor?: N
Does It Fit Habitat?: Y
Does it Fit Size?: Y
Reasonable changes (if any)?: Active pumping
Other?:

Thermoregulation:
Same as Ancestor?: Y
Does It Fit Habitat?: Y
Reasonable changes (if any)?: N/A
Other?:

Reproduction:
Same as Ancestor?: Y
Does It Fit Habitat?: Y
Reasonable changes (if any)?: N/A
Other?:

Description:
Length?: Fine
Capitalized correctly?: Y
Replace/Split from ancestor?: Split
Other?:

Opinion: Approved; Up to the mods to decide how to treat the diet, but I think it crawls the grey area with a wormy grace