The whipskipper split from its ancestor and still inhabits Ichthy Swamp. Unlike its relatives, the whipskipper ventures onto land to get closer to its prey. Due to the energy needed to travel across land and carry out the energy-exhausting poison-making process, it has shrunk to half its original size. The whipskippers name comes from the whip-like tendril emanating from its head. This tendril used to be part of a fin, but it has evolved into a form of sensory perception. Clusters of taste buds resting on the whip allow the whipskipper to taste the air. This comes in handy when locating prey, or avoiding predators.
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)
