Prickworm

Prickworms evolved from their buryworm ancestry when some of them moved upstream in the Bone River and eventually reached Gec Lake, where they nestled in amongst the local fauna and flora, against the great southern glacier. It was here that they transformed into the prickworms, and since they were far from their initial biome, they could not replace their ancestors, despite living the same lifestyle.

Many creatures inhabited Gec Lake, and so the prickworms evolved into aggressively defensive organisms. The hook-legs are now much sharper as well as curved; these are a prickworm's main defense. When a potential threat gets far too close to one of their kind, it will wrap itself around its leg or similar limb and puncture into it with its hook-legs. It will then get a firm grip on its skin, having wrapped around the limb so that its ventral side is against the trespasser's body and using newly-formed armored toe spines to again pierce into the flesh of the foe, where the front-most limbs will be curled inwards for better staying power. If a creature tries to remove it, it will face both an extended head shield and the regrown dorsal spines. It will stay attached and try to dig its spurs in deeper until the threat attempts to flee, and even then they will hang on for a few seconds before letting go and dropping off. Once left alone, they will begin licking their filter legs again for sustenance.

Prickworms can still seal themselves away into a mucousy seal, known as a tomb, during times of famine or colder winters. At this point their body will enter a state of dormancy, during which they can survive for quite some time. Once awakened, they will use their hook-legs, toe and dorsal spines to tear open the sac and emerge.