Spiny Piloroot

The spiny piloroot has developed rows of spines. These spines protect it from its chief predator/herbivore, the desert phantomshell. As it takes a while for the spines to grow, younger spiny piloroots rely on their small size to protect themselves. Since they are much smaller than adult desert phantomshells, they can avoid detection by being too low to the ground for the "antennae" to brush against.* After several years at a certain size, they undergo a growth spurt, in which they become twice as big and grow spines in a relatively short amount of time. Only after they are taller and have spines in place do they grow fruits.