Burrback Krugg

The burrback krugg are notable for their spiny, burr-like backs. These spines discourage predators, chiefly the flutuga, from eating it. The spines also provide a means of transport. Despite the name, Burrback Kruggs aren't exactly like burrs. Rather than harmlessly attaching to the fur of animals, burrback kruggs' spines puncture the skin of larger fauna. This causes great discomfort, especially if the burrback krugg latches on with its mandibles for extra grip. After a while the burrback krugg disembarks by opening its mandibles and wiggling out from the wound. If an adult burrback krugg has used the large fauna for transport, the wounds are large and prone to infection, while puncture wounds made by a larval burrback krugg are less severe. Using bigger organisms for transport allows the burrback krugg to have a wider distribution than its slowness would suggest. The burrback krugg uses its huge mandibles to snip off crystal flora sprouts from the roots of the parent flora. It then takes the sprouts to its burrow, eating them at daytime. (The burrback krugg is usually nocturnal.) It does not make its own burrows, but uses preexisting burrows instead. In the Huggs Temperate Riparian habitat, its burrows are ringtailed ketter burrows, while in the Darwin Temperate Rainforest, it uses greater plentshirshu burrows. It may even use greater plentshirshu burrows that are not abandoned, which is unfortunate for the residents. The burrback krugg has two clawed toes, one facing forward and one facing backward, as its ancestor had. However, the feet are now hidden by greatly expanded lower-leg segments.