Tube Phlyer

The tube phlyer split from tis ancestor the long-beaked phlyer. It now has adapted to life in the lava tube caves. It eats the igneous stonehorns which walk around in the cave. Like its ancestor its long beak can get inside the shell and kill them. It can pick up its prey in its beak and drop them from the ceiling in order to break the shells open and get to the soft meat inside. They will stay in flocks and sleep and raise young in the rocky crevices in the tubes. They give birth to 2 to 3 babies and their parents will take turns bringing them food until they can fly on their own. Usually, this species mates for life and males will do elaborate courting displays in the air, showing off their bright wings. Another adaptation is their ability to "toot" to each other using their butt-nostrils. Since most of the cave is dark they will gather upside down near the mouth of the cave sunning them selves while they digest their food. They have developed pincer-like claws on each foot which help them hang upside down. They eye have also grown larger to see in the dark parts of the cave.