Maineiac Shailnitor

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Maineiac Shailnitor
(Brachyukus maineiacensis)
Artwork of Maineiac Shailnitor
Species is extant.
Creator Disgustedorite Other
Taxonomy
Domain
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Subclass
Order
Family
Genus
Species
Eukaryota
Mancerxa
Konydonta
Echinopoda
Euechinopoda
Pneumatostraca
Zephyricisternidae
Brachyukus
Brachyukus maineiacensis
Week/Generation 26/163
Habitat Maineiac Temperate River, Maineiac Temperate Riparian
Size 25 cm long
Primary Mobility Unknown
Support Unknown
Diet Scavenger (Maineiac Rivershrog food stores), Coprovore (Maineiac Rivershrog, Cleaner Borvermid, False Cleaner Borvermid), Detritivore
Respiration Active (Lungs inside shell)
Thermoregulation Ectotherm
Reproduction Sexual (Male and Female, Eggs in Water)
Descendant of Ancestor of

The Maineiac Shailnitor split from its ancestor. It co-evolved with the Maineiac Rivershrog, as such gaining the ability to survive and reproduce in a freshwater environment. It retains an inherently cute appearance with a face like that of a baby Maineiac Rivershrog. It lives primarily inside Maineiac Rivershrog nests, where it consumes dung and spoiled meat. It is notably more active and social than its ancestor, to fit the stationary, close-together nests which the rivershrogs construct, commonly leaving its home nest to socialize with others of its kind outside of mating season. It lives exclusively in Maineiac Rivershrog nests, being completely dependent on them for survival.

The Maineiac Shailnitor has a mating season in the spring. A male and a female will enter water and mate side to side facing opposite directions. The eggs are laid in pools created by spring floods, hidden in flora which prevents them from being swept away by currents. The aquatic hatchlings survive on detritus early in their lives, but gain their terrestrial adaptations quickly and soon make their way towards a Maineiac Rivershrog "village". A Maineiac Rivershrog may allow as many as 10 Maineiac Shailnitors to live inside its nest, but there is often still a surplus of shailnitors each year; it is not uncommon for juveniles to be killed and used as bait when they become overpopulated, keeping their numbers in check.

Similar to its ancestor, the Maineiac Shailnitor has active respiration through a lung in its shell, which differs from that of non-shailnitor uktanks in that it is filled with air instead of water. It has desiccation-resistant chitinous skin, and ears derived from its shell.