Soripredator

On the continent of Koseman, over four different species of soriparasites and sorites live alongside one another in close proximity, meaning competition over hosts is fairly high. In this competition for space, some Smirking Soriparasites would nip at other soriparasite species to monopolize feeding spots, sometimes drawing blood. Some of those individuals would then learn that these other soriparasites already consume large amounts of blood and that it was easier to just eat them rather than parasitizing the host they were on. Overtime, these groups of Smirking Soriparasites would further specialize for this lifestyle, splitting off from the rest of their species and evolving into the Soripredator.

Also known as the Traitorous Sorite, this species does not differ that much from their direct ancestor in terms of physical anatomy aside from being larger. This is because their ancestral physical adaptations translated well into their new lifestyle, that of a specialized soriparasite hunter. Seeking out megafauna in their range, the bold band of gold along the Soripredator’s flank as well as the black stripe above it help distinguish it from its more cryptically colored relatives and thus allows megafauna to quickly identify it as a helper rather than a parasite. As it uses its large claw on the forelimbs and the gecko-like pads to climb on these megafauna, the Soripredator uses their keen eyesight and good sense of smell to find their ideal targets; either sniffing for any traces of blood that would be left behind as a soriparasite feeds or looking for the familiar silhouette. As nearly all soriparasites only have sharp eyesight from the first pair of eyes, Soripredators will try to sneak up to their target from behind to maximize the chances of ambushing them. Once it gets close enough, the Soripredator will pounce, using their flexible forelimbs to restrain the target and avoid injury as much as possible. When the victim is subdued, the Traitorous Sorite will use its well developed back teeth to deliver a killing bite, either to the throat or to the skull.

When the kill is made, the Soripredator goes for the stomach, slicing it open with their backteeth before then pressing their lips against the cut to suction feed. Since the prey was almost certainly sucking up blood before their violent demise, this gives the Traitorous Sorite the high energy meal without as much effort to obtain it. When there is no more blood being sucked up, the Soripredator will then begin to feed on the flesh of its kill. By feeding on blood and meat, the Soripredator maximizes the amount of energy they can get from a single meal.

As they climb on megafauna to find other soriparasites, Soripredators may also come across other parasites like a Bludblug feeding on saucebacks or Corkscrew Kruggs living on a Rainforest Phlock. While soriparasites make up the bulk of their diet, since they are the most common group of parasites, Soripredators will also happily feed on these other types of parasites as well. For the Bludbug, Traitorous Sorites employ a similar hunting method to the one they use on soriparasites, ambushing the krugg from behind and aiming for the head. Corkscrew Kruggs are a much more circumstantial food source, as the larvae are typically buried deep into their hides and thus out of reach. Instead, Soripredators usually kill Corkscrew Kruggs when they are emerging and getting ready to become adults, or adult females getting ready to lay their eggs into a fresh wound.

While Traitorous Sorites are specialized for hunting parasites behaviorally, they still often need to make long treks between megafauna. During these trips, the Soripredators still need to eat, in which time they will opportunistically hunt whatever small fauna they can safely tackle, employing a similar hunting method to what the Smirking Soriparasites they both evolved from and regularly hunt utilize when they themselves were moving between hosts.

Like their ancestors and many other varieties of soriparasite, the Soripredator only has one pair of fully-functioning eyes, though the other two pairs are still used to sense light. Like most other varieties of soriparasites, the Soripredator lacks a pouch, its young instead climbing on their mother’s back when not nursing. The species still mates during the treks they make between megafauna, though they sometimes will mate when on the megafauna as well. Similarly to the majority of other soriparasites and sorites, the Traitorous Sorite is an ectotherm, basking on rocks to regulate its body temperature.