Spietsenwurm

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Spietsenwurm
(Spietsenwurm kwalijkaanvliegen)
Artwork of Spietsenwurm
Species is extinct.
22/?, unknown cause
Creator Maineiac Other
Taxonomy
Domain
Kingdom
Subkingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
Eukaryota
Binucleozoa
Symbiovermes
Thoracocephalia
Optidorsalia
Aculeiptera
Spietsenwurmidae
Spietsenwurm
Spietsenwurm kwalijkaanvliegen
Week/Generation 20/131
Habitat Huggs Marsh, Huggs River, Darwin Chaparral, Darwin Temperate Rainforest, Darwin Temperate Woodland, Darwin Tropical Rainforest, Elerd Temperate Beach, Chum Tropical Beach
Size 40 cm Long
Primary Mobility Unknown
Support Exoskeleton (Chitin)
Diet Carnivore (Mud Nizzard, Jumping Finworm, Dartir, Phlyer, Worm Phlyer, Fruit Phlyer, Frabooball, Savanna Dunghorn, Night Slasher, Raiding Plent, Tuft Currybug, Scurry Currybug, Noleap, Nogbarrel, Bonecrusher, Leaffer, Migrating Phlyer, Shroom Lover Plent, Norat, Fraboohorn, Grattle, Masked-Bandit Hoofplent, Pink Phlyer, Moonflower Xenobee, Diamond-Leaf Ketter, Monofoot, Gliding Ketter, Lardworm), Scavenger
Respiration Semi-Active (Unidirectional Tracheae)
Thermoregulation Heterotherm (Basking, Muscle-Generated Heat)
Reproduction Hermaphrodite, Eggs
Descendant of Ancestor of


After millions of years, the flying dart was out-competed and replaced in most of its range and 150 million years into its era, it had to adapt. Therefore, it evolved into the spietsenwurm, replacing its ancestor and spreading across half of Darwin. Its common name means "impaling worm" in Dutch, with its scientific name meaning "bad fly" in that same language.


The first major change is the spietsenwurm's armor, which has become much tougher while remaining flexible, so that not only can the spietsenwurm fend off predators but can also remain agile. Its wings have become more efficient, due to the wing muscles becoming much more powerful, allowing it to hover and fly at speeds up to 72 kph. It has developed primitive eyes, no more than light sensors, to sight predators and prey, and so it knows where it's going. Its tail is now flexible, able to straighten up or curl downwards. It has developed a spike the size of a small knife at the tip of its armor plated tail, which can stab its prey. The tail is straightened when flying at high speeds, and curled into attack position when it dive-bombs its prey.


Its mouth has split into two parts. The upper one is shaped like a double-sided bayonet with the hole the mouth that dissolves its prey with digestive enzymes. This mouth assists the tail spike in stabbing its prey. Its method of killing its prey has changed slightly. For instance, say a spietsenwurm were to find a phlyer on the ground, minding its own business. The spietsenwurm, hidden, would study its prey, using its eyes to find a good place to stab its victim. It would probably be faster and more agile than the phlyer if both were in the air. So it curls its tail into attack position and then dive-bombs and stabs its prey in a hit-and-run fashion. This is so it can avoid injury. It then follows its injured prey until it bleeds to death, then devours its remains. It may also scavenge if given the chance.


Like its ancestor its tail has a cloaca. When they mate it look like kissing. This spread the reproductive material inside each other. After a week or so, it lays one or two eggs into an abandoned burrow; they hatch shortly thereafter. The 5 cm long maggots are born with several simple legs to move around. The maggots are fed remains of its parent's kills. The parents must remember which nest its young are located in. As the maggots mature into adults, their legs harden until they become part of the shell, and can no longer be used nor function.

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)
  • Nightcrawler Borvermid (class Optidorsalia)