Urkamen

The urkamen split from its ancestor and migrated south-east to the Slarti Salt Flats. It has a symbiotic relationship with the urshowad, an organism it protects. The two organisms share whatever food they get by integrating their circulatory systems. The integration is much more intimate than in their ancestors', who would consume each-others sap and blood. In the urkamen and urshowad, the sap and blood flow in the same vessels, mixing together. The urshowad itself has no sensory organs. All of the organs are found on the urkamen, which itself is incapable of interpreting signals nor act upon them. The urkamen sends all it receives to the urshowad for interpretation. The two organisms are connected through openings in the urshowad's back. The urkamen has four compound eyes, which are more pronounced than in its ancestors. The urkamen's crystal protrusions are longer, and more flexible at the base. They are filled with receptors, and can detect if it is touched. The crystals on the front of the urkamen are smaller and sparser, creating a smoother appearance. The crystals on the front serve as whiskers, or antennas, being able to sense both movement and the smell of dead fauna. Like its ancestors, it reproduces through spores, which it coats urshowad eggs with. Urshowads lay several eggs at a time inside large carrion. The parent will guard the carrion during this time to ensure that no other organisms come along and eat it.