Adorned Tamow

The Adorned Tamow split from its ancestor and became the Driftwood Islands’ first large herbivore. It is a grazer, mowing down the grasses which cover the floating islands. It even grazes in the forests, as there are no shade trees to inhibit the growth of the grasses. In order to island hop, it retains its ancestor’s ability to swim and will regularly swim between islands, as, in a sense, it instinctively believes that the grass is "purpler" on the other side (that is, crossing water will lead it to better grass). This instinct can occasionally cause a single Adorned Tamow to swim back and forth between the same two islands every few hours until ocean currents push them too far apart. It has hoof-like nails to support its weight and uses fermentation with help from symbiotic microbes such as Guttoplaques to digest the large amount of grass it consumes daily. The Adorned Tamow retains its ancestor’s flat tail. It can still use it to swim, but it also uses it to pat down mud so that it can walk across surfaces it would otherwise sink through. Its body is covered in keratinous armor, similar to its distant ancestor the Scaleback Tamow, making it difficult to attack. Though prolific, it is solitary, as having armor means it doesn’t benefit from living in herds, though a female’s offspring will follow her. Large and nomadic, it no longer constructs nests like its ancestor did. Due to its large size, wide tail, and sharp armor plates, mating is an awkward and difficult process for the Adorned Tamow. Like its ancestor, it gives birth to helpless fetal young. Males do not participate in parental care at all. Joeys will live in their mother’s pouch and drink milk until they start to grow in their armor, at which point they leave the pouch already able to run from predators. They are fast as juveniles, but slow down considerably as they age and their armor finishes growing in. Juveniles will continue to suckle from their mother for up to a year after leaving the pouch before they are weaned and begin eating grass instead.