Leech Plateworm

The leech plateworm arose when over-population pushed some aquatic plateworms to channels, and eventually, to the Martyk Sandstone Caves. The plateworms have lost their iron shell externally. They have a thick covering on the plates made out of cells similar to skin-like red blood cells. Instead of collecting oxygen for the body to use, these cell collect oxygen an redirects it to other parts of it's body to protect the iron plates from rust. The most dramatic change besides their apearance is their diet. They feed off of the blood of creatures living in the caves that have iron-based blood. They wait in the pools of water until a suitable creature passes by, then they jump out, in a manner similar to Earth's crocodiles, and latch on to their hides and suck their blood until they are satisfied. If they cannot find a good host they will attack a crusher worm to keep their iron supply stock.