Scorpodile

The scorpodile split from it's ancestor, the toothbrush arthrofin. As Sagan 4 continued to warm, so did Maineiac River, as it entered the temperate zone. The toothbrush arthrofin found itself preyed upon frequently, and so it sought out strategies to fight back. Thanks to island gigantism, the scorpodile was able to evolve, and grew ten times larger than before. As a result of higher food demand for a much larger stomach, the scorpodile has become a carnivore as well as a scavenger, and has spread to both the temperate and polar coasts around Maineiac Island.

It developed tough, segmented armor, protecting it's abdomen, back and tail from predators, and the body overall became more streamlined to become faster. It's three eyes have enlarged, giving it better eyesight, and it's toothy mandibles have become longer, with sharp, pointy teeth. It's outer mandibles, attached to the mid-underside of the head, have become powerful swimming legs now located behind the leg; it's brushes fused together forming fins. 3 pairs of small legs have formed on the sides of it's head, and help paddle it's way through the ocean currents. Also, the scorpodile has adapted to live in both salt and fresh water, lost 2 pairs of it's caudal fins (the last pair fusing together into a pectoral fin used for propulsion) and now swims through the currents up-and-down like a whale, rather than side-to-side like it's ancestor.

The scorpodile has developed strategies in order to now catch it's prey, mainly by burying into the black, volcanic mud for concealment, waiting to ambush passing prey. It's able to do this thanks to it's camouflaged body, and it's bigger eyes that allow it to watch for unsuspecting prey that come close enough to catch. Thanks to it's big size, this strategy enables it to attack prey as big as emperor seaswimmers, giving the scorpodile the potential to become top predator. Whenever it cannot find suitable prey, it resorts back to scavenging on the riverbed/seabed. They are mostly solitary, but during the summer mating season, they congregate en mass to the breeding grounds where the river begins flowing. Like it's ancestor, there are three sexes needed to complete the reproduction process: one sperm, one egg and one hormone cell. They release their eggs in the mud, which then hatch in a few days. The hatchlings spend a few weeks in the safety of the riverbed, before maturing and going out to sea. They can live to be 30 years old.