Megaborvermid
Megaborvermid | ||
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(Vermivipera navigandus) | ||
Information | ||
Creator | Jvirus Other | |
Week/Generation | 26/165 | |
Habitat | Driftwood Islands Chaparral, Driftwood Islands Tropical Woodland, Driftwood Islands Temperate Woodland, Driftwood Islands Tropical Bank, Driftwood Islands Temperate Bank | |
Size | 40 cm long | |
Primary Mobility | Unknown | |
Support | Segmented Exoskeleton (Chitinous Plates) | |
Diet | Carnivore (Kakonat, Shailnitor, Stowaway Harmbless, Shingo, Young Stegomizer, Infilt Pewpa, Teacup Saucebacks, Minikruggs, Silkruggs), Detritivore (Young) | |
Respiration | Semi-Active (Unidirectional Tracheae) | |
Thermoregulation | Ectotherm | |
Reproduction | Hermaphrodite (Live Young) | |
Taxonomy | ||
Domain Kingdom Subkingdom Phylum Class Subclass Order Suborder Superfamily Family Genus Species | Eukaryota Binucleozoa Symbiovermes (info) Thoracocephalia Optidorsalia Polyptera (info) Odontosynoptera Euodontosynoptera Cadovermoidea Lignitrepanovermidae Vermivipera Vermivipera navigandus |
Ancestor: | Descendants: |
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Having been spread to the Driftwood Islands by the seashrog, false cleaner borvermids were introduced to a developing ecosystem with many unoccupied niches available for the taking. Populations could spread throughout the islands while facing little competition, slowly becoming bolder feeders every night and growing larger than ever before.
Megaborvermids split from their ancestors and were subject to the phenomenon of island gigantism, filling the niche of a relatively small inland nocturnal predator on the floating islands. During the day, megaborvermids sleep beneath logs and foliage, becoming active as night falls. They will boldly slither through the undergrowth in search of prey, using their extendable eyestalks to peer over obstacles without revealing themselves.
While small prey is easily dispatched by the megaborvermid's pointed jaws, the worms have developed a particular hunting strategy when dealing with larger targets. Using the night to their advantage, megaborvermids prey upon larger fauna which are either sleeping or drowsy, giving them the upper hand in a struggle. The worms will quickly wrap themselves around their prey to prevent its escape while puncturing it with their jaws. The anticoagulants in the saliva of their ancestors are still used, now causing their prey to gradually bleed out. megaborvermids have a larger appetite than their ancestors, and will consume most of their prey's carcass.
Megaborvermids breed during new moons, coming out of the undergrowth in large numbers. Each mated individual will give birth to around a dozen live offspring, with each being 8 inches in length at birth. These young are detritivores and are coated with a sticky mucus, allowing them to adhere to various flora. This allows young megaborvermids to travel between islands by sticking to driftwood, floating across long stretches of sea while feeding on various organic materials. After several months, the young will grow much larger and develop pointed jaws, allowing them to become predators.