Cave Batworm

From Sagan 4 Alpha Wiki
Cave Batworm
(Vespertiliovermis antrum)
Cavebatworm.jpg
Extinct.png
16/104, replaced by descendant
Creator Blarg Other
Taxonomy
Domain
Kingdom
Subkingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Suborder
Family
Genus
Species
Eukaryota
Binucleozoa
Symbiovermes
Thoracocephalia
Optidorsalia
Cataleipoptera
Membranopennes
Pauliivermidae
Vespertiliovermis
Vespertiliovermis antrum
Week/Generation 15/97
Habitat Ferret Limestone Caves
Size 15 cm Wingspan
Support Unknown
Diet Carnivore (Batworm Catcher young), Ovivore (eggs of the Smaraslim Bubblehorn)
Respiration Unknown
Thermoregulation Unknown
Reproduction Hermaphrodite (eggs)


The cave batworm split from its ancestor, the batworm, when an odd mutation gave some batworms extra sensory organs near their mouth. These organs were similar to a snake's "heat vision", allowing the batworm to get along much easier in the dark. They moved into the pitch-black cave when their poison became potent enough so that their predators, the batworm catchers, would leave them alone and chase after their larger cousins instead.

The cave batworm's sensory tentacles soon developed a new use after the smaraslim bubblehorn was introduced to the environment. These tentacles soon not only became small graspers, but also devices to melt the hardened goo that the bubblehorns kept their eggs in. Combined with their ability to rest on completely flat surfaces allowed a traveling male bubblehorn into a buffet table for the cave batworm. Yet another small adaption was to spawn in much smaller groups than before, now numbering only about 30 or so individuals. They needed to do this so that their food supply would not disappear entirely. The cave batworm is exactly alike to its ancestor in every other way.

Living Relatives (click to show/hide)

These are randomly selected, and organized from lowest to highest shared taxon. (This may correspond to similarity more than actual relation)
  • Xenowasps (suborder Membranopennes)
  • Lickworm (order Cataleipoptera)
  • Floraverms (class Optidorsalia)