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.

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

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.

Taxonomic classification
Tree: Xenosulivitae
Domain: Rhytocaryota
Kingdom: Xenosulizoa
Phylum: Hydratozoa
Superclass: Tripoda
Clade: Sucodermata
Class: Trignathita
Order: Vyrmiformes
Family: Kudophidae
Genus: Dumuchi
Species: D. ribulatu

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