Xenosulia

Wednesday, December 15, 2021

Akasaran Desert

East of the mountain range separating most of Mesogea from Occimesogea – the continent’s western “horn” – is a large, seemingly unending region of arid desert, splitting northern and southern Mesogea in half. The mountain range is one of the largest on the planet, forming only relatively recently following the collision of Occimesogea with the mainland. Normally, mountains don’t last as long as they do on Earth, with the more acidic rain eroding them away quicker. Although the greater level of tectonic and volcanic activity – a result of the tidal influences the planet is subjected to – makes up for this to an extent.

With moist air from the tropical west blocked by mountains, and the cooler, drier prevailing winds from the east travelling over much land and a few low-lying volcanic mountains before reaching this region, the Akasara Desert is one of the driest places on the planet’s dayside. Most of the rock and sand in the desert is a reddish-orange colour, composed largely of iron-oxide.

Akasaran Coneback

(Pikonu conoton)

Size: Males; 1.1 – 1.4 meters in height, 1.7 – 2.2 meters in length. Females: 1.4 – 1.8 meters in height, 2 – 2.5 meters in length

Diet: desert shrubs, roots

Habitat: desert

Reproduction: Protandrous sequential hermaphroditism. Lays large, hard-shelled eggs, from which undeveloped larvae hatch

With the prevalence of open, flat plains on Xenosulia, hopping is far from an uncommon means of locomotion, especially among cursorial herbivores. One group of tariforms, the pikonids, or “tribbits”, specialises for this. While most animals that incorporate hopping into their movement are relatively small, this family contains among the largest of hopers, rivalling cavids in terms of size, although smaller species do exist. The Akasaran coneback is one of the larger members of the group, as well as being among the largest animals in Akasaran Desert.

By storing energy in their tendons, these tribbits are able to reach high speeds while expanding comparatively little energy, an invaluable adaptation in the energy poor environment they inhabit. They tend to live in small herds for protection for help finding food, with predators picking out only the slowest among them. These predators almost always consist of the East Lituan kipon and other related species, as well as some smaller desert-dwelling onychodons and other dromeiforms to a lesser extent. Also, Lophopteryx, while primarily scavengers, have also been known to take down larger tribbits occasionally. But in general, there are few predators large enough to hunt them, with the desert unable to support many large carnivores.

While not as good at conserving moisture as laminites, the coneback is able to survive long periods of time subsisting only on the water contained in their food. Many of the hardy plants found in the Akasaran Desert store large quantities of water to get them through drier periods, which are often found in bulbous growths underground. These animals will use their dextrous proboscis to dig these growths out of the ground, favouring these parts of the plant. With a thin body, loose skin, and large ears, they are also very good at loosing heat, the constant desert day giving them no reprieve.

Taxonomic classification
Tree: Xenosulivitae
Domain: Rhytocaryota
Kingdom: Xenosulizoa
Phylum: Hydratozoa
Superclass: Tripoda
Clade: Sucodermata
Class: Spinoptilita
Order: Tariformes
Family: Pikonidae
Genus: Pikonu
Species: P. conoton

East Lituan Kipon

(Kubu lituensis)

Size: 0.9 – 1.2 meters in height, 1 – 1.3 meters in length

Diet: meat, primarily medium to large herbivores and filter feeders

Habitat: desert, shrubland

Reproduction: protogynous sequential hermaphroditism

The armoured laminites are especially successful in desert environments, able to more effectively conserve moisture than the sucoderms due to a variety of factors. While in most parts of the mainlands, they are limited to relatively small and inactive carnivores and omnivores, much larger species can be found in the Akasaran Desert, less limited by competition.

The order Kiponiformes constitutes some of the largest and most active laminites. While most laminites adopt a sprawling posture, kiponiforms hold their limbs erect benefit them. Most, including Kubu lituensis, are predatory, preferring tripodans over the spherozoans and cardozoans most other laminite clades focus on. With the difficulties of hiding in the open landscape they inhabit, at least at their size, they are primarily pursuit predators, eschewing the sit and wait tactics of their smaller relatives. Their front limbs are used for holding down prey, and the inner claws are especially sharp, held up above the ground to protect them from being blunted from walking. The killing blow is usually dealt with a bite, however.

Taxonomic classification
Tree: Xenosulivitae
Domain: Rhytocaryota
Kingdom: Xenosulizoa
Phylum: Hydratozoa
Superclass: Tripoda
Class: Laminita
Order: Kiponiformes
Family: Kubidae
Genus: Kubu
Species: K. lituensis

Sponge Bison

(Oocephalus rhisopus)

Male sponge bison

Size: Males; 2.5 – 3 meters in height. Females: 2 – 4 meters starting at the ground

Diet: aeroplankton

Habitat: desert

Reproduction: protandrous hermaphroditism, with individuals born as male and becoming sedentary hermaphrodites. They give birth to live young that crawl out of their mother

While aerobic filter feeders are common in most open places, the winds can get especially strong in the desert, facilitating this lifestyle. However, like plants, the sedentary xenospongozoans do not grow as well as they do in grasslands, with less water available to them. This provides filter feeding animals with less competition, with sitostome species especially prevalent here. While the lack of water poses and issue for them, they’re able to occupy a greater variety of niches, with a large assortment of different mouth structures found here specialised for catching different aeroplankton and algae species.

With aeroplankton providing a plentiful source of food, sitostomes are less limited in size than most of the desert’s inhabitants. Among the largest of the Akasaran sitostomes is Oocephalus rhisopus, their herds found roaming the deserts in large numbers. While they do face some risk of predation from some of the desert’s larger carnivores, predators generally ignore older individuals in favour of smaller prey like pikonids. Their size provides them with plenty of protection, so they tend to be slow moving, with little else in the way of defence. For greater stability, their bodies are compact, their legs roughly forming an equilateral triangle, at least during the male phase.

Like most sitostomes, they are protandrous, becoming hermaphroditic later in age. In the hermaphroditic life stage, among those who live long enough, they grow much larger, burying themselves half in the ground and becoming sedentary. This way, the niche they inhabit is similar to that of large xenospongozoans in other areas. In the desert, the sponges tend to be smaller, and much less numerous, so they don’t face too much competition.

The sedentary hermaphrodites are visited frequently by herds of males, who provide them with water in exchange for injecting male gametozoans. With the specialised structure of their oral proboscis, using this to mate is impractical, with the males’ tentacles used to deposit gametozoans instead, after extracting them from the proboscis. During the process of mating, the larger hermaphrodites will also leave gametozoans on the males, which will remain until they journey to another hermaphrodite. This allows the hermaphrodites to mate with each other despite being sedentary, the males acting as pollinators.

Hermaphroditic sponge bison

Taxonomic classification
Tree: Xenosulivitae
Domain: Rhytocaryota
Kingdom: Xenosulizoa
Phylum: Hydratozoa
Superclass: Tripoda
Clade: Sucodermata
Class: Spinoptilita
Order: Sitostomatiformes
Family: Ooglossidae
Genus: Oocephalus
Species: O. rhisopus

Akasaran Crestbird

(Lophopteryx psammus)

Size: 1 – 1.2 meters in height (not including crest or wings), 5.9 – 6.4 meter wingspan

Diet: carrion

Habitat: desert

Reproduction: individuals are female most of the time with seasonal maleing

The flying entomopterites are a diverse group, and can be found throughout the world in almost every biome and habitat. The order Asikapteriformes includes many larger and often carnivorous species, which, while not particularly agile in air or able to take flight quickly, are specialised for low energy soaring. With a six meter wingspan, the crestbird is larger in size than most other bugbirds. But it’s far from the largest, and actually on the smaller end when it comes to asikapteriforms.

While many asikapteriforms are predatory, Lophopteryx gets most of its food through scavenging, spending long stretches of time souring over the desert in search of carrion. They able to search for food more effectively this way than many other scavengers, especially in the Akasaran Desert where food is rare, so they dominate this niche. Still, their beaks aren’t able to bite into some of the harder parts like bone, which are picked off by more specialised scavengers, especially some of the smaller tusk-dog species that inhabit the area.

While it is common for entomopterites to become colourful during maleing, there are some bugbird species that remain colourful all the time. The Akasaran crestbird is easily identified by its green or green-blue hue, as well as the head crest. While attracting a mate and enhancing social status may play a factor, identifying other members of the same species may also be important. Not facing much predation, being easy to spot by other individuals may be more of a priority, especially considering their tendency to fly in flocks when searching for food. This increases their chances finding carrion, and also means that each individual doesn’t need to put as much effort into the search.

Despite being colourful even outside of the mating “season”, crestbirds do undergo some changes during maleing. Being on of the few Xenosulian species able to see blue (although this isn’t that rare among entomopterites) these changes include the changing of the wing membrane to a bright bluer colour and the development of blue stripes and spots in some individuals. Also, in near infrared the difference between individuals who have undergone maleing and those that remain female is more apparent.

Top-down view of a crestbird in flight

Taxonomic classification

Tree: Xenosulivitae
Domain: Rhytocaryota
Kingdom: Xenosulizoa
Phylum: Hydratozoa
Superclass: Tripoda
Clade: Sucodermata
Class: Entomopterita
Order: Asikapteriformes
Family: Lophopterygidae
Genus: Lophopteryx
Species: L. psammus

Sand Chilu

(Pisozumi michiku)

Size: 30 – 60 cm in length

Diet: small animals

Habitat: desert

Reproduction: simultaneous hermaphrodites

Of the numerous laminite lineages to lose their limbs, the polyplaciforms are by far the most widespread and diverse. Their greatly elongated bodies, providing them with a cryptic form, is ideal for hiding from predators and prey alike. This serves the sit-and-wait hunting tactics of most species well. Although they do run into competition from many of the smaller, similarly sized trignathites, namely the serpentiforms, they do tend to go after much smaller prey due to their inability to open their jaws as wide.

Desert dwelling polyplaciforms like the sand chilu tend to live in the sandier areas, spending hours or even days hiding beneath the sand and waiting for their moment to strike. Finding a good place to hide can be difficult in such an open space, so they’re not really left with many options other than burying themselves.

Taxonomic classification
Tree: Xenosulivitae
Domain: Rhytocaryota
Kingdom: Xenosulizoa
Phylum: Hydratozoa
Superclass: Tripoda
Class: Laminita
Order: Polyplaciformes
Family: Ammophidae
Genus: Pisozumi
Species: P. michiku

Bristletoothed Horseshell

(Hippocelyphus tracheodus)

Size: 40 – 60 cm in length, 50 – 75 cm long proboscis

Diet: detritus

Habitat: desert

Reproduction: protogynous, with females capable of parthenogenesis

Detritus from aeroplankton is an abundant source of food in most open biomes, deserts being no exception. With the lack of as much plant or animal life, many species are forced to make greater use of this. Countless flat-bodied pulusiform species roam the Akasaran desert, but there are many other animals that have developed a similar diet, given the greater evolutionary pressures to do so.

The chilipiforms, a sister clade to the pulusiforms, are characterised primarily by the hardened, segmented plates on their backs, and share the muscular foot of their relatives. While the majority are herbivorous or sometimes omnivorous, mainly eating still-living plant matter, some like the horseshell, have convergently evolved to be more like pulusiforms. In addition to having a diet primarily consisting of detritus, their bodies are also a bit more flattened than other chilipiforms, making them better suited for roaming open and windy landscapes.

Unlike their pulusiform relatives, the bristlestoothed horseshell has a far longer oral proboscis, allowing them to sweep a wide area for biomatter while moving comparatively little. This method of feeding is especially useful in a desert where conserving energy is important. Although the proboscis is too large to be retracted, for protection they’re able to pull it underneath their body, lifting themselves up with their two legs to make room while doing so. They usually only do this when they feel threatened, assuming this defensive posture when they spot potential predators approaching, although they do also sleep in this position.

Their leaf-shaped radula, which can’t be retracted into the proboscis, has teeth specialised for sweeping up different types of detritus of a different size than most pulusiforms, preventing them from running into too much competition except when resources are scarce. They also tend to inhabit areas where predators are more common, their armoured bodies providing them with a greater deal of protection. While the majority of their diet does consist of detritus, like other chilipiforms they will eat vegetation when its available.

For protection, in addition to their shell, their compound eye is also greatly hardened, a feature they have in common with other chilipiforms. The lenses, rather than consisting of a more transparent cupitin variant as in most hydratozoans, actually consist of silicate, like their bones. This quartz compound eye is almost as resistant to damage as the shell, meaning the only real weak spots are the oral proboscis and the underside.

Taxonomic classification
Tree: Xenosulivitae
Domain: Rhytocaryota
Kingdom: Xenosulizoa
Phylum: Hydratozoa
Superclass: Tripoda
Clade: Sucodermata
Class: Xenosquamita
Order: Chilipiformes
Family: Hippocelyphidae
Genus: Hippocelyphus
Species: H. tracheodus

Thorny Springhopper

(Acanthopus sunaziensis)

Size: 20 – 30 cm long

Diet: hingeflies, occasionally spherozoans or small tripodans

Habitat: desert

Reproduction: protogynous sequential hermaphroditism

Sulaciforms are an order of laminites specialised for preying on the small flying cardozoans, or “hingeflies”. Their hopping movement serves them well for this, allowing them to move quickly in short bursts to catch their rapidly moving prey. Their long, extendible tongue has a sticky pad at the end, although once caught they will usually need to bite into the hingefly to break open their hard wing-shell with their strong jaws.

Desert dwelling species like tend to be more heavily armoured, with the thorny springhopper having a number of spines and horns growing out of the exoskeleton. Despite this, the exoskeleton is also thinner than normal to more efficiently disperse heat. The shape of their exoskeleton is still enough to make them unpleasant to eat, in spite of it being softer, and they are slightly poisonous. Although they’re not toxic enough to kill most species, many predators will still avoid them for this reason.

Taxonomic classification
Tree: Xenosulivitae
Domain: Rhytocaryota
Kingdom: Xenosulizoa
Phylum: Hydratozoa
Superclass: Tripoda
Class: Laminita
Order: Sulaciformes
Family: Acanthopodidae
Genus: Acanthopus
Species: A. sunaziensis

Drylands Microtribbit

(Puliki akasarensis)

Size: Males; 20 – 30 cm in height, 30 – 40 cm in length. Females; 50 – 70 cm in height, 60 – 80 cm in length

Diet: shrubs

Habitat: deserts, shrublands

Reproduction: protandrous sequential hermaphroditism. Lays large, hard-shelled eggs which larvae hatch from

Smaller pikonids are far more common than larger ones like the coneback. While most species are found in grassland, focusing on different plants and plant parts to avoid competition with the larger tariforms, desert dwelling species do exist including the drylands microtribbit.

Regulating their body temperature isn’t as much of an issue as it is for their larger relatives, with their body size providing them with a high surface area to volume ratio. Still, they do have a number of adaptations to deal with the heat, like a thinner body than most other pikonids of similar size, and they loose most of their heat through their thin oral proboscis. Their elongated dermal spines provide them with a great deal of defence from predation, making them less pleasant to consume.

Tuesday, October 26, 2021

Mesogean Forests

The forests of Mesogea are much like those of Arunia, with similar plant life and found primarily near the eastern, windward coast. However, since forests are more isolated on Xenosulia, there is more difference in the fauna than you’d usually find in the grasslands of these continents. Much of the forest-dwelling fauna that developed in Arunia was unable to migrate across the vast open savannas separating the two forested regions. Still, there are similarities, and many of the same taxa can be found in both places. Some species are similar enough to the ones in Arunia that they don’t need to be covered here, but the more noteworthy wildlife is discussed here.

There are some environmental differences; the forests here tend to be colder, and since they’re further from the sub-stellar point, they receive less sunlight. The forests here tend not to be as dense as a result. The terrain is also generally flatter in this part of Mesogea, so the forests here can get swampy in some places.

Hump-sailed Wormdeer

(Kumatu fulakatu)

Size: Males; 1.3 – 1.6 meters up to the tip of the hump. Females; 1.6 – 2.0 meters to the tip of the hump

Diet: leaves, seeds

Habitat: temperate forests

Reproduction: protandrous sequential hermaphroditism, with females much larger than males, young hatch as undeveloped larvae

The hump-sailed wormdeer is much more similar to fin-backed taruses than other polycuphid species, convergently developing a similar social structure. Herds consist of a single dominant female, much larger than the others, and numerous males, although herds do tend to be smaller than those of fin-backed tarus species.

The flap of skin between their oral proboscis and back is used for display, and is only present in males. Their large hump serves to raise this flap and likely reached its current size due to sexual selection. Unlike taruses, this hump isn’t to accommodate their hydraulic pump, which is no larger than that of other polycuphids.

They share other features common to polycuphids in general, such as the five balancing tentacles, shortened body compared to other tariforms, and the positioning of the oral proboscis higher on the head. In addition, they have digestive systems well adapted for processing the leaves of cardiophytes.

Staghorn

(Lanucerus hippoelaphus)

Size: Males; 1.2 – 1.6 meters high (not including hump or spines). Females; 1.6 – 2 meters high

Diet: leaves, seeds, iculophyte vegetation

Habitat: open woodland, forest outskirts

Reproduction: protandrous sequential hermaphroditism, young hatch as undeveloped larvae

While most members of the family Cavidae are primarily grassland-dwelling grazers, there are some groups that have evolved to take advantage of other niches, such as the forest dwelling staghorn.

Although their primary hydraulic pump isn’t as well developed as that of Tilusu species, they are still relatively fast and agile runners. One of their main defining features is the nose horn’s branching structure; this horn, present only in mature males, is used primarily for display purposes. They have a similar social structure to other related taruses, with groups consisting of a large dominant female and multiple males.

Their diet primarily consists of browsing low vegetation from trees and bushes, as well as occasionally grass. Iculophyte grass and bushes are very different to the leaves of cardiophyte trees, and require a different set of adaptations to digest, so the transition from focusing on one to the other is difficult. Because of this, the larger iculophytes that grow in the forests make up a large portion of their diet.

Mesogean Whiteflower Buzzer

(Albifloriphilus nudirinus)

Size: 7 – 9 cm long

Diet: nectar

Habitat: temperate forests

Reproduction: sequential hermaphrodites with temporary seasonal “maleing”

One of the most prevalent, and perhaps most diverse, groups of entomopterites found in the mainland forests are members of the clade Leptoglossidae, known colloquially as buzzers. They consist of a large range of specialised nectivores, which play an major role in the reproduction of many plants. Their importance in this regard is second only to the tripterans, which aren’t as common in the colder parts of Mesogea, reducing competition.

Their wings beat rapidly, allowing them to hover for long periods of time; as a result of spending so much time in the air, they are much less adapted for walking than other bugbirds, and they have lost the soft walking pads on their wings. They have a very high metabolic rate, since flying this much requires a lot of energy, which is obtained from the energy-rich nectar they feed on. Their diet is very inflexible, and most species, like Albifloriphilus nudirinus, rely on specific tree species for food.

Taxonomic classification
Tree: Xenosulivitae
Domain: Rhytocaryota
Kingdom: Xenosulizoa
Phylum: Hydratozoa
Superclass: Tripoda
Clade: Sucodermata
Class: Entomopterita
Order: Dimutliformes
Family: Leptoglossidae
Genus: Albifloriphilus
Species: A. nudirinus

Wetland Slug

(Molaratus bulu)

Size: 60 – 80 cm long main body, 110 – 150 cm length including tail

Diet: small tripodans, fish

Habitat: temperate forests

Reproduction: hermaphroditic

The order Vyrmiformes is a diverse one, consisting not just of the large leopardsnakes but also smaller carnivores too, including molaratids like Molaratus bulu. Colloquially known as slugs (salac in Occasian Gontanic), due to their resemblance to their namesakes on Earth, molaratids have similar sit-and-wait hunting tactics as other vyrmiforms. Their smaller size and the forested environment they inhabit serve them well, affording them better opportunities to hide. They spend a lot of their time resting between meals or roaming the forest floor in search of food.

Molaratids have a number of anatomical features that set them apart from other vyrmiformes. One obvious distinction is the presence of a muscular, lubricant-secreting foot under their body, which is used in locomotion rather than the wave like movements leoserpentids engage in. This means they usually move quite slowly, but their leaping bladders are well developed, allowing them to quickly lunge at prey when necessary.

A particularly significant adaptation in this family is the presence of carnassial molars along their mandibles, developed from a hardened and ossified edge of the limb. These assist in their meat eating, making them especially well-suited to carnivory compared to the often jawless wildlife of Xenosulia.

Molaratids are intelligent compared to other vyrmiforms, and especially so when compared to trignathites in general. Since the genus Molaratus is more sociable than other molaratids, who tend to be solitary, they were relatively easy to domesticate. As a result, they are popular pets, owning in large part to their similar behaviour to that of cats, in spite of their radically different appearance.

Taxonomic classification
Tree: Xenosulivitae
Domain: Rhytocaryota
Kingdom: Xenosulizoa
Phylum: Hydratozoa
Superclass: Tripoda
Clade: Sucodermata
Class: Trignathita
Order: Vyrmiformes
Family: Molaratidae
Genus: Molaratus
Species: M. bulu

Zebra Tusk-dog

(Zebracyon striatus)

Size: 100 – 130 cm in height, 120 – 150 cm long

Diet: medium-sized herbivores

Habitat: temperate forests

Reproduction: become male or female upon reaching sexual maturity, undeveloped larvae hatch from eggs

While this is perhaps the most common feeding strategy, not all tusk-dogs are scavengers. The group consists of very few fast-moving pursuit predators, but there is still some variety in how they obtain their meat.

Zebracyon striatus sits in wait, their striped body providing them plenty of camouflage against the off-white exoskeleton of the surrounding trees, striking when their prey come near. Lacking the molars and cheeks of the osteovorids, they do a bad job of grinding the harder parts of their kills, leaving plenty of remains behind for the numerous scavengers that also inhabit the forests. Flesh is primarily cut up with their claws, with their teeth mainly used for taking down prey. Like other tusk-dogs, they use the horn at the end of their oral probiscis for spearing smaller targets.

They are territorial animals, and in addition to marking their territory by placing the inedible remains of their prey out in the open – something that also has the side effect of making things easier for scavengers – they mark their territory with scent. The tentacles at the backs of each leg secrete a liquid that drips down onto the ground as they walk, and they can often be seen intentionally rubbing them on things. Other tusk-dogs will smell this and avoid the area. They tend to place prey remains around the perimeter of their range, so they’re not left too close to where they hunt and alert prey, arranging them in an almost artistic manner.

Taxonomic classification
Tree: Xenosulivitae
Domain: Rhytocaryota
Kingdom: Xenosulizoa
Phylum: Hydratozoa
Superclass: Tripoda
Clade: Sucodermata
Class: Spinoptilita
Order: Culodontiformes
Family: Bifidae
Genus: Zebracyon
Species: Z. striatus

Kiran Ypsop

H. telmatus

Size: 2.3 – 2.9 meters in height, females tend to be a bit bigger on average

Diet: aquatic iculophytes

Habitat: rivers or lakes in forested swamps and wetlands

Reproduction: protandrous, undeveloped larvae hatch from eggs

These animals belong to a group of large-bodied, semi-aquatic tariforms called hypsopids. The Kiran ypsop can be found throughout the wetlands of Mesogea, feeding on aquatic plants as well as some surface vegetation. One of their most notable features is their compound eye splitting in four, with the upper pair raised on stalks to see above water, and the lower pair positioned to allow them to see underwater when wading through rivers and lakes. The common name, ypsop, comes from the pronunciation of the genus in Occasian Gontanic, with “Kiran” referring to the Kira River where many can be found.

Mesogean Forest Knucker

(Helophus kirensis)

Size: 2 – 3 meters in length

Diet: entomopterite bugbirds, fish, occasionally larger animals

Habitat: bodies of freshwater in forested wetlands

Reproduction: hermaphroditic

Helophus kirensis belongs to a group of aquatic trignathites called Nuceriformes, characterised by the presence of long fins on either side of their body as well as a rigid and hardened, toothy beak. They live near lakes and rivers, but are able to move on both land and underwater, moving across land in the legless snake-like manner of other trignathites.

They spend long periods of time lying in wait partially submerged, with their second and third eye pair raised above water to watch for prey. With only their eyes and breathing spiracles above the water, they are difficult to spot, especially with their red colouration allowing them to blend in with the surrounding aquatic iculophyte species. When an animal comes near to drink, they are able to jump out at alarming speed, biting them with their powerful beaks. Their biting strength is incredibly strong, supported by a series of anchor points inside their head, with the brain moved further back to facilitate this.

While this hunting strategy is typical of nuceriforms, different species go after different prey, with the shape of the beak facilitating this. The elongated beak of the Mesogean forest knucker is well suited for catching bugbirds and fish.

Taxonomic classification
Tree: Xenosulivitae
Domain: Rhytocaryota
Kingdom: Xenosulizoa
Phylum: Hydratozoa
Clade: Sucodermata
Class: Trignathita
Order: Nuceriformes
Family: Helophidae
Genus: Helophus
Species: H. kirensis

Blue Tree Lyndworm

(Fituli maximus)

Size: 40 – 70 cm in length

Diet: gyrinozoans (tiny tadpole-like animals), aquatic plants, seeds, spherozoans

Habitat: ponds, lakes, and rivers in heavily forested areas, trees

Reproduction: hermaphroditic, release gametozoans into water

Like laminites, polypalites belong to a separate branch of tripodans than the sucoderms. This third major branch is primarily characterised by the presence of multiple digits both on the front limbs and rear foot or tail, which tend to be webbed. These digits developed from the fin supports of their fish-like ancestors, which weren’t retained in other tripodan lineages. Having multiple webbed fingers aids in swimming, and polypalites are Xenosulia’s closest equivalent to the amphibians of Earth.

While it isn’t particularly big by the standards of some other groups, the blue tree lyndworm is larger in size than many other laminites, inhabiting the rivers and lakes of the forested wetlands of Mesogea. For safety, they often climb trees, using the opposable thumbs of their front limbs and hand-like rear foot to aid them. Another tactic to avoid predators is the presence of toxins in their blood, with bright colours serving as a warning.

Rather than mating directly, most polypalites reproduce by releasing gametozoans into bodies of water. Their gametozoans have one extended, tail-like arm that allows them to swim effectively and search for a mate, after which they’ll burrow into the earth to give the polypalite larvae a chance to grow. Larvae are small and worm-like, and usually fully aquatic.

Taxonomic classification
Tree: Xenosulivitae
Domain: Rhytocaryota
Kingdom: Xenosulizoa
Phylum: Hydratozoa
Superclass: Tripoda
Class: Polypalita
Order: Phylluriformes
Family: Fitulidae
Genus: Fituli
Species: F. maximus

Common Drill-rabbit

(Dendrovorus usu)

Size: 25 – 30 cm in height

Diet: soft tissue of cardiophytes, mycozoan fungi, iculophytes

Habitat: forests

Reproduction: hermaphroditic

In contrast to Earth, where trees are supported by trunks made of fibrous wood, the trees on Xenosulia are soft on the inside, surrounded by a harder exoskeleton. The inner flesh is a rich source of nutrients, although since it’s hard to get to few animals make use of this food source. Among those that feed on this tissue is the common drill-rabbit from a group of polylutiforms called dendrovorids.

These small herbivores use their drill like tooth to make a hole in the exoskeleton of trees, at which point they will begin pulling the softer tissue out with their front claws for consumption. Although the noise this produces can make hiding difficult, as polylutiforms they have ear pinnae which gives them good hearing for avoiding predators. Their primarily hydraulic pump is enlarged similarly to many taruses, which aids in the hopping locomotion they favour, another means of quickly evading predation.

Taxonomic classification
Tree: Xenosulivitae
Domain: Rhytocaryota
Kingdom: Xenosulizoa
Phylum: Hydratozoa
Superclass: Tripoda
Clade: Sucodermata
Class: Spinoptilita
Order: Polylutiformes
Family: Dendrovoridae
Genus: Dendrovorus
Species: D. usu

Tuesday, September 14, 2021

Arunian Temperate Forests

Southern Mesogea, most of Occasia, and eastern Arunia tend to have a similar assortment of biomes. Much of these areas are temperate savannas and steppes, largely because the planet’s strong winds interfere with the growth of vegetation. However, forests do exist in these places, but only in areas particularly conductive to the growth of plants. In such areas, an outer layer of especially wind-tolerant plants protects those deeper in the forest from the wind, with vegetation gradually getting denser towards the centre of the woodland as more wind is diverted.

In Arunia, temperate forests can be found near the eastern coast, where the prevailing winds carry moisture that facilitates plant growth. They are especially common near the rivers of this region, although not every area suitable for forests necessarily has them; the appearance of forests is largely due to positive feedback loops of forest growth facilitating more forest growth.

The temperate forests in the east of Arunia are very similar to those of Occasia and southern Mesogea, with many of the same plant and animal taxa, although there are differences in the specific species found in these places. The fauna varies more in forests than they do in grasslands, since forests tend to be more isolated whereas most of the grasslands are interconnected.

Deep inside the forests, trees tend to be more radially symmetrical, since there’s a lot of light being blocked by and reflecting off of other trees. Light doesn’t dependably come from the same direction in the same way it does in more open areas. Essentially, trees focus on optimising surface area in all directions rather than just along a single plane. Trees here also have more branches; because of this, animals can climb them more easily than trees in other places, greatly benefiting arboreal life.

Striped Arunian Tailbeak

(Sutidu pulusa)

Size: females; 1.5 – 2 meters tall, males; 1.75 – 2.5 meters tall, not including tail, with legs bent

Diet: seeds, fruit

Habitat: open woodland

Reproduction: protogynous sequential hermaphroditism, with much larger males that mate with multiple females

The absence of jaws in the herbivorous tariform lineages can prove to be an obstacle in the consumption of certain vegetation. While it causes few problems for them when it comes to gathering grass and leaves, many of the fruit-like and nut-like growths of plants have hard shells.

In the order Noculiformes, a jaw of sorts has developed from the rear-leg claw, with a second cupitinous outgrowth giving the digit something to push against. This “beak” is effective at crushing the hard seeds found among the trees, which are consumed by the oral proboscis after being gathered and crushed by the foot.

Locomotion

The striped Arunian tailbeak is known for being a fast and fairly agile runner, and they tend to live in the more open outskirts of forests or in forest clearings. As with most noculiforms, with their rear leg dedicated to food gathering they are entirely bipedal, with their two extremely muscular front legs making up a large portion of their body volume. Their enlarged hydraulic pumps create a noticeable bulge on their backs, which given their unusual body plan can be seen on the front of the animals. In addition to running, the strength of their legs allows them to leap great distances if necessary.

Defence

While they depend largely on their speed to escape predators, they are able to fight back if the need arises, kicking with their powerful legs. They can be quite aggressive when they feel threatened and unable to escape, and there are even cases of them fighting humans, few of which remained conscious even after a single kick. They likely would have died then and there if it wasn’t for modern medical technology.

In addition to this, living in groups provides them with a greater degree of protection, and although large they’re adequately camouflaged that they will often escape the notice of predators. Their compound eye wraps around in such a way that they’re afforded 360 degree peripheral vision along a horizontal plane, and it bulges out enough that they even have a wide angle of view above and below themselves. Because of this, it’s difficult for predators to sneak up on them.

Feeding

The “beak” is the primary means by which fruit and seeds are gathered, although the oral proboscis is used for more than simply ingesting food gathered by the beak. Drinking, obviously, is done with the proboscis rather than the beak, and as food is being gathered from trees these tailbeaks can also often be seen picking food up off the ground with their true mouths, mainly “fungi” (mycozoans).

While other noculiforms have different body arrangements, the striped Arunian tailbeak and most other megalochenids have their tail positioned above their heads, almost as if they’re doing a handstand. This trait has actually been gained and lost numerous times within the order, and allows the animals to browse higher branches.

In addition to the hairs at the tip of the oral proboscis, which is found in many other groups, there are numerous long sensory hairs at the end of the tail near the beak. These hairs are not only sensitive to touch, but have been found to have also developed taste receptors.

Social structure and reproduction

Like many other tailbeaks, the striped Arunian lives in herds centred around one male and numerous females. The male mates with all the fertile females of the heard, who look after their young until they’re old enough to find their own herd. All individuals are born female, and once they reach sexual maturity they find other females to form a herd with and will mate with the dominant male of that herd.

Individuals become male later in life, once they reach a larger size. When this happens, they will either become the herd’s new male if there isn’t already one present, or leave the herd in search of their own mates.

Although females outnumber males, there are still a number of males that haven’t managed to gather a herd of females yet; these males typically group together with other such males for safety. They can get quite competitive with each other whenever they come across females, and violence within such all-male herds is common. Because of the relative rarity of males, all-male herds tend to be smaller than female ones, and they don’t last as long.

Males in these herds still have strategies for reproducing, even if they don’t have a female herd of their own yet. Fertile gametozoans will be sent out to infiltrate a herd, where the tiny animals will find a suitable female to crawl into and fertilise. Females have measures in place to prevent fertilisation in such cases, so this isn’t always successful; namely, the reproductive ducts in their oral proboscis are filled with chemicals hostile to gametozoans, and a substance is released to neutralise these toxins when mating.

Taxonomic classification
Tree: Xenosulivitae
Domain: Rhytocaryota
Kingdom: Xenosulizoa
Phylum: Hydratozoa
Superclass: Tripoda
Clade: Sucodermata
Class: Spinoptilita
Order: Noculiformes
Family: Megalochenidae
Genus: Sutidu
Species: S. pulusa

Western Wormdeer

(Polycuphu haploderma)

Size: 0.9 – 1.1 meters at the shoulder

Diet: leaves, seeds, mycozoan “fungi”

Habitat: forests

Reproduction: protandrous sequential hermaphroditism. Lays large, hard-shelled eggs, from which undeveloped larvae are hatched.

As very successful large herbivores, different tariform lineages can be found in a wide range of environments, adapted to exploit different niches. While large grazers are a common sight in the open plains, Polycuphu haploderma belongs to a family primarily consisting of more gracile browsers known as polycuphids.

Polycuphids

This herbivorous lineage is characterised primarily by the presence of multiple tentacles – or “tails” – for balancing, in addition to a digestive system more suited for the breaking down of leaves. Many species have green, yellow or off-white colouration to better blend in with the surrounding vegetation (off-white colouration allows them to blend in against tree-exoskeleton), and some are known to be covered in stripes.

Another feature of many members of this group is the positioning of the oral proboscis higher on the head, which allows them to reach high vegetation with greater ease. They also usually hold their head in a high posture which allows them to more easily detect predators with their well-developed oral eyes.

Polycuphu haploderma

This species is fairly typical of polycuphids, and was among the first to be extensively studied following the reindustrialisation of Occasia. While many other polycuphid species exist in the forests of Arunia, each inhabiting a slightly different niche, P. haploderma is by far the most prevalent. They’re smaller than the dominant polycuphid of Occasia, and since they’re easier to tame and less afraid of humans, research has been a lot easier before probes and more advanced long-range 3D imagining technology meant coming so close to them wasn’t as necessary.

However, there are certain features that sets it apart from many other polycuphids, such as smaller oral eyes – likely due to Arunia’s greater proximity to the sub-stellar point – and a greater density of leg spines. In many related species spines are absent below the knees to reduce drag, since this is the part of the body typically subjected to the most. It’s unknown why Polycuphu haploderma has such an unusually high density of spines here, but fossil evidence suggests this is the ancestral state of Polycuphidae, with many lineages developing bare skin here independently.

As tripedal animals, balance is more of an issue in longer bodied organisms than it is for quadrupeds, with the ideal body shape being one that allows the feet to form an equilateral triangle arrangement. This provides the most stability, but at the cost of needing a more compact body. The body of Polycuphu haploderma is shorter than that of some other tariforms that inhabit the open planes, such as the fin-backed tarus. A more elongated body plan seems to benefit the galloping, rear leg pushing off movement of these animals more than a more stable body plan would, whereas Polycuphu, which is unable to build up as much unidirectional speed in its environment, opts for stability. While other polycuphids do tend to have shorter bodies than most taruses, there is a great deal of variation among species.

Reproduction

While Polycuphu has a social structure roughly similar to that of many other taruses, it tends to live in smaller groups. Each group is led by a dominant female, a small number of reproductive males, and many younger infertile males. While the females are larger than the males are, and hold onto more body fat, there is nowhere near as much sexual dimorphism as in many other tarus species like Tilusa nusulu. In fact, males and females can be difficult to tell apart by the untrained eye.

Western Tusked Kaloc

(Distorthunx maximus)

Size: 1.75 – 2.25 meters in height

Diet: seeds, mycozoan “fungi”

Habitat: open woodland

Reproduction: protogynous

This more heavily armoured relative of Sutidu pulusa specialises in browsing from lower vegetation, so the two species run into little competition. They eat a different selection of seeds too, and rarely eat the larger more fruit-like growths that are found higher up. A difference in body structure has resulted; while the tails of S. pulusa are stretched out above them, Distorthunx maximus keeps their tail between their legs, reaching forward gather food in front of them.

As relatively poorer runners, they opt for a different strategy of defence. Ridges of hardened plates line their backs, providing them with protection from predators. This, coupled with their size, means many predators ignore them in favour of smaller prey, but this isn’t to say they’re entirely safe from predation.

Just like their relatives, they live in herds to increase their changes of survival. However, there is more intraspecific conflict, especially among the males, who use the two horny growths on their lower face to fight each other.

Taxonomic classification
Tree: Xenosulivitae
Domain: Rhytocaryota
Kingdom: Xenosulizoa
Phylum: Hydratozoa
Superclass: Tripoda
Clade: Sucodermata
Class: Spinoptilita
Order: Noculiformes
Family: Clovoxidae
Genus: Distorthunx
Species: D. maximus

Arunian Daymoth

(Dimutili aruniensis)

Size: 15 – 20 cm length, 20 – 30 cm wingspan

Diet: fruit

Habitat: trees

Reproduction: protogynous with temporary “maleing” in some individuals during mating season

These small entomopterites belong to the order Dimutiliformes, also known as daymoths, and differ from other bugbirds in a number of respects. Most of these features are a result of their adaptation to dayside forests. The large number of dimutiliform species can be found in a wide variety of places from the temperate forests of Dimutili aruniensis, to tropical rainforests, and even cooler montane woodland. Some varieties can be found in open planes, and occasionally twilight forests.

Anatomy

Existing almost entirely on the planet’s day side, and rarely entering caves or other dark areas, they have lost their frontal sonar spiracles, relying more on their well-developed sight. While other members of the order have retained them, their echolocation capabilities are rarely ever strong.

Other features present in this species, and typical of other dimutiliforms, are the low aspect ratio wings, as well as the retention of wing claws – these claws have since developed a similar locking mechanism to that of the rear foot. These adaptations make them well suited to their lifestyle as largely forest dwelling frugivores.

Diet

The diet of the Arunian daymoth largely consists of what Xenosulia’s locals refer to as fruit – that is, the hard, nutrient-filled “eggs” of the motile larvae of certain alloradiopsid plants. The radula-beaks of these bugbirds is well adapted to breaking into the shells of this fruit. Rather than biting them open, they usually bore a smaller hole into the fruit, before entering the hole with their proboscis and emptying it of its contents. As a result, their beaks are not only strong, but elongated too, although short enough that they can be retracted into the oral proboscis.

Some plants make use of this diet, relying on the various dimutiliform species to spread their seeds. The fruit of such plants have softer shells, and the seeds have smaller and weaker legs, although they’re still functional to an extent. The seeds also resist digestion better, with tougher shells that aren’t as easily broken down by the sulphuric acid of a bugbird’s stomach.

Reproduction

As entomopterites, the daymoth is female most of the time, only ever becoming male during the mating season. The mating season usually begins in response to changes in the surrounding plant life rather than changing temperatures.

Many trees undergo changes in preparation for solar winters or solar summers, and some schedule their reproductive cycles around these seemingly random events. So they can be used as a good sign for future changes in temperature. Because of seasonal lag, there’s usually some gap between the sun becoming brighter or dimmer and the weather becoming hotter or colder, so they can be used to predict these changes in advance. As such, it’s common for entomopterites like the daymoth to make use of this, especially those living in forests.

Unlike most other bugbirds, Dimutili aruniensis isn’t limited to the option of undergoing maleing or remaining female during the mating season. Some also become simultaneous hermaphrodites, usually when the success they’d have with a male or female reproductive strategy are similar, or it’s unclear which will work better. This leaves the option open for both, at the expense of specialisation.

Taxonomic classification
Tree: Xenosulivitae
Domain: Rhytocaryota
Kingdom: Xenosulizoa
Phylum: Hydratozoa
Superclass: Tripoda
Clade: Sucodermata
Class: Entomopterita
Order: Dimutiliformes
Family: Dimutilidae
Genus: Dimutili
Species: D. aruniensis

Banded Hooksnake

(Dumuchi ribulatu)

Size: 0.8 – 1.1 meters in length

Diet: small animals

Habitat: trees

Reproduction: hermaphroditic

These vyrmiform trignathites are more arboreal than most, spending the majority of their time in trees. Similar species can be found in the forests all across Mesogea, Occasia and Arunia, and while they’re not as large as many other vermiforms like leopard-snakes, they are far more widespread and diverse.

Anatomy and locomotion

One of their most distinctive features is their inchworm-like means of locomotion, using the long claws that line either side of their bodies to grip onto the exoskeleton’s of trees. These claws – extensions of the rib cage within a cupitinous sheath – can move slightly at the base, grabbing tightly onto a surface before pulling themselves forwards or up. Their body is very flexible in the middle, able to bend to a far greater extent than either the front or rearmost portion of the body, facilitating this way of moving.

The claws are very sharp and curved at the tips, able to easily dig into trees. To keep them sharp, the outer sheath is constantly shed, exposing a new sharper layer underneath. The old layer is usually broken off by normal climbing, but the animals can also be observed scratching trees, rocks or other surfaces to keep their claws in good shape.

Diet and hunting

Their diet primarily consists of small tripodans, usually tree dwelling animals, and they will sometimes go after bugbirds. Their biting strength is strong, so once they’ve got their grasp on their prey the prey rarely ever survives. In fact, it’s strong enough that they’ll eat animals that many other predators will avoid eating, such as the armoured laminites.

As ambush rather than pursuit predators, they are far better when it comes to quick bursts of speed than endurance. They’re solitary hunters, with a strategy consists largely of ambushing prey, and the trees provide them with plenty of places to hide. When their suitable prey comes near they use their hydraulic pumps to spring forwards towards it, piercing their flesh with their powerful jaws. Like other vyrmiforms they’re incredibly adept at leaping, and even outside of hunting they can be observed jumping between trees.

While most of their jumping ability comes from features they share with other vyrmiformes in general, there are some differences. Of particular note, there is a tube attached to the primary hydraulic pump that extends into the flexible mid-section of the body, straightening it out when filled with pressurised fluids. This likely developed from an extension of the primary hydraulic pump.

Social structure

Banded hooksnakes tend to be quite solitary, although they aren’t particularly territorial. However, interpersonal conflicts do occur, which are usually settled by fighting. Their claws are used a great deal in these fights, something they rarely do when hunting, where they prefer to use their powerful jaws. Using their claws probably prevents fatality, with most fights ending with one side forfeiting.

Despite being fine on their own they will occasionally form small groups, especially among multiple pregnant or child rearing individuals. Groups can also form among individuals that are quite young, or when they’re old and infirm. In each of these cases, this is likely done for protection. Also, the fact they tend to spend most of their time alone doesn’t mean interactions with other members of their species are uncommon. They usually make an effort to form good relationships with those who live nearby, to ensure they’re aware of each other’s boundaries and are unlikely to run into conflict with each other.

East-Arunian Hook-clawed Onychodon

(Ancistrosaurus lunatipus)

Size: 1.3 – 1.6 meters in height, 2 – 2.5 meters in length

Diet: larger animals, including tailbeaks and polycuphids

Habitat: forests, open woodland

Reproduction: protogynous

Dromeisaurids are widespread throughout the mainlands of Xenosulia as the dominant pursuit predators. They owe their success in large part due to their running ability, but also their intelligence and ability to hunt cooperatively. In addition to the species that inhabit the more abundant open plains, there are also forest species, such as Ancistrosaurus lunatipus, built more for agility just running speed alone. Forest species tend to be smaller than their plains dwelling counterparts, but are no less efficient hunters.

They are well known for their large claws, which are an important part of their hunting strategy when going after larger prey. Once they come close enough to their target, they lunge at it, piercing its vitals with their claw. Because of this they’re less reliant on the use of spears than other species, although they do still engage in a great extent of tool use. After their prey is killed they use their claws to cut up their flesh, lacking any kind of teeth or jaws; it’s for this reason that they were originally named Onychodon lunatipus, although they have since been moved into the same genus as their similar Mesogean relatives. The name onychodon has caught on in popular culture, however, a label people apply to all large dromeiforms.

Smaller prey are also caught. A large part of the diet Ancistrosaurus consists of bugbirds and other small animals, which they catch using their quick oral proboscis, constricting them to death.

Taxonomic classification
Tree: Xenosulivitae
Domain: Rhytocaryota
Kingdom: Xenosulizoa
Phylum: Hydratozoa
Superclass: Tripoda
Clade: Sucodermata
Class: Spinoptilita
Order: Dromeiformes
Family: Dromeisauridae
Genus: Ancistrosaurus
Species: A. lunatipus

Arunian Kibadu

(Kibadu sukachutu)

Size: 70 – 100 cm in length, 50 – 70 cm in height

Diet: small animals

Habitat: forests

Reproduction: protogynous

Although dromeiforms are the most successful order of the clade Xenocarnivora, a previously much more diverse group, they’re not the only xenocarnivorans to survive to the present. Kibadu sukachutu is a small, tripedal relative of the dromeiformes, roaming the forest floor in search of small prey.

The most immediately obvious features they have in common with their more successful relatives is the splitting-in-two of the compound eye, as well as the enlargement of a pair of simple eyes. Perhaps more significant, however, are various features of their digestive system related to the processing of meat, which don’t make themselves apparent at a glance.

The Kibadu does differ from the ancestors of dromeiformes, however, with a number of derived traits. They have long claws they’re able to keep tucked to their body, and their oral proboscis is shorter than that of most spinoptilites, but able to stretch to considerably greater lengths. In addition, while the pointed shape of their faces might resemble that of onychodons, fossil evidence reveals the ancestors of modern dromeiforms to have a more rounded face like tackypods. It seems likely this shape developed independently to increase aerodynamics.

Taxonomic classification
Tree: Xenosulivitae
Domain: Rhytocaryota
Kingdom: Xenosulizoa
Phylum: Hydratozoa
Superclass: Tripoda
Clade: Sucodermata
Class: Spinoptilita
Clade: Xenocarnivora
Order: Kibadiformes
Family: Kibadidae
Genus: Kibadu
Species: K. sukachutu

Eastern Anteater Sloth

(Mulafi lifini)

Size: 50 – 80 cm in length

Diet: spherebugs, seeds

Habitat: trees

Reproduction: simultaneous hermaphrodites

The tiny spherozoans are one of the most successful phyla on Xenosulia. With such a high abundance in virtually every location on the planet, it’s no wonder that a large number of clades have become specialised to take advantage of this rich and plentiful energy source. The spinoptilite order Dendroglossiformes is one such group, and this specialisation can be most clearly seen in the very derived structure of their oral proboscis. With numerous branched tentacles at the tip, rich in sensory hairs, they are particularly adept at catching tiny and fast-moving prey, and can extract them from small spaces. Dendroglossiformes is a very speciose group, with the large number of spherozoan species allowing for a wide range of specialised diets.

The anteater sloth focuses on arboreal spherozoans, using its branched proboscis to search for them among the feathery leaves. They also supplement their diet with vegetation such as seeds, although most of their energy comes from spherebugs, with seeds mainly providing nutrients they can’t get elsewhere.

Taxonomic classification
Tree: Xenosulivitae
Domain: Rhytocaryota
Kingdom: Xenosulizoa
Phylum: Hydrozoan
Superclass: Tripoda
Clade: Sucodermata
Class: Spinoptilita
Order: Dendroglossiformes
Family: Dipilosanidae
Genus: Mulafi
Species: M. lifini

Hedgehog Mole

(Rutu tulaluku)

Size: 25 – 40 cm in length

Diet: spherebugs

Habitat: burrows in forests

Reproduction: simultaneous hermaphrodites

Dendroglossiformes is a very large order, comprising countless different families and genera filling a diverse array of ecological niches. The hedgehog mole differs greatly from anteater sloths, adapted to a fossorial lifestyle rather than tree dwelling.

They exhibit remarkable convergent evolution with Earth moles, with short limbs, reduced eyesight, and a compact cylindrical body. The single claw on each of their front limbs is enlarged and spade-like, suited for excavation, and they have a well developed sense of smell. Rutu tulaluku has lost the primary compound eye, as well as most secondary eyes, retaining only one lenseless pair.

Taxonomic classification
Tree: Xenosulivitae
Domain: Rhytocaryota
Kingdom: Xenosulizoa
Phylum: Hydratozoa
Superclass: Tripoda
Clade: Sucodermata
Class: Spinoptilita
Order: Dendroglossiformes
Family: Ericitalpidae
Genus: Rutu
Species: R. tulaluku

Arboreal Beakuana

(Kufonu dumandanensis)

Size: 20 – 35 cm in length, not counting tail and neck

Diet: fruit

Habitat: trees

Reproduction: start off as simultaneous hermaphrodites but become specialised as male or female later on

Yet another example of the independent development of jaws among hydratozoans, the beaks of kuluiforms make them very successful frugivores. While they can be found in a large variety of habitats, filling various different niches, most are herbivorous, although there are some that specialise for eating eggs or hard-shelled animals. Kufonu dumandensis inhabits trees deep in the eastern Arunian forests, but it is far from the only kuluiform species that can be found in these woodlands.

Anatomy

The lower jaw is an actually an enlarged and hardened radula, with the individual teeth becoming indistinct, and the upper jaw is a cupitinous extension of the head. Their necks are elongated, allowing them to reach fruit from nearby branches with little exertion. While this would ordinarily be a weak spot, an extension of the shoulders shields it when the neck is tucked away.

They are effective climbers, griping onto the branch with a prehensile tail at one end, and their two front limbs at the other. Not only is the single digit on each leg strong and lengthy, but there is also an extension of the wrist bone serving as a kind of thumb. As they move along a tree branch, they walk along with their front limbs, periodically loosening their grip with their tail to move it forwards.

Taxonomic classification
Tree: Xenosulivitae
Domain: Rhytocaryota
Kingdom: Xenosulizoa
Phylum: Hydratozoa
Superclass: Tripoda
Clade: Sucodermata
Class: Xenosquamita
Order: Kuluiformes
Family: Suchilidae
Genus: Kufonu
Species: K. dunamdanensis

Longclaw Laminite

(Dilidu lituturi)

Size: 15 – 35 cm in length, from “nose” to the tip of the rear leg

Diet: spherebugs

Habitat: burrows in forests

Reproduction: protogynous sequential hermaphrodites

Most herpetiforms are small, cold blooded spherovores, making them analogous to lizards on Earth. They belong to a separate tripodan branch than sucoderms do; the laminites. Laminites have a hard jointed exoskeleton, in addition to their endoskeleton, protecting them from desiccation. In those with harder exoskeletons they serve as defence against predators.

The oral proboscis of herpetiforms, and most laminites in general, is completely retractable and plays a minimal role in digestion. Hydraulic pressure allows them to shoot their proboscis out rapidly, catching fast-moving spherozoans, and a pair of well-developed oral eyes assists in their aim. Most herpetiforms have a sticky pad at the end of their proboscis to aid in catching their prey. Their hunting strategy is primarily sit-and-wait, with the majority of their time spent relatively inactive.

Dilidu lituturi is specialised for burrowing, with two elongated, spade-like claws on either of its front limbs. Although laminites do only have a single digit on each limb (or what is typically regarded as a digit on Xenosulia), as is the norm for tripodans, each finger has retained a second claw lost in the majority of sucoderms. They mainly hunt for prey on land, using their burrows to lay their eggs and as protection against predators, although they may also use their burrows to hide as they wait for spherebugs to come near. They are more social than most herpetiforms, who are mostly solitary, living in large groups and sharing their burrows with a number of other individuals.

While most laminites are simultaneous hermaphrodites, the longclaw engages in the sequential hermaphroditism more common in “higher” tripodans. They’re protogynous, and males are much larger than females and possess enlarged claws on one arm, usually the left. This claw only appears periodically when the male is ready to mate, and is shed after mating a few times. Competition between males is common, and females show a strong preference for males with larger claws. Since it interferes with tunnelling, males in heat rely on burrows they’ve dug prior to their claw growing or those made by other individuals.

Taxonomic classification
Tree: Xenosulivitae
Domain: Rhytocaryota
Kingdom: Xenosulizoa
Phylum: Hydratozoa
Superclass: Tripoda
Class: Laminita
Order: Herpetiformes
Family: Dulididae
Genus: Dulidu
Species: D. lituturi