Crusher Worm

The crusher worm evolved when some of the aquatic plateworms began to become too aggressive and forced these worms out of the water table. They have developed sharp forearms that are capable of latching onto desert shellwalkers. When large numbers of crusher worms latch onto a single shellwalker they begin to eat away at it, slicing it to bits. Once they've done this they rest and lay on the flesh, absorbing the nutrients through their 'skin'. In order to protect their young they have developed a simple reproductive system by budding. They are only capable of budding from the small organ hidden in their protective shell. The shell isn't filled by the crusher worm, but by its slowly growing young. When the young are still in their protective shell they eat the remains of their parent's iron rich meals, but when the parent dies and the young are able to escape they must do so by eating their parent, giving them the vital nutrients to grow more than they had before. The crusher worm also has small spots on its back that are more magnetic than the other spots because of small iron filled bladders it has. These enable it to create an even more protective shell by creating menacing spikes or iron compacted together by the magnetic forces.