Vandroutine

Digging through the sands of the Ittiz-Ovi Desert, it was only a matter of time before the teproutines began to stumble upon the vandriswoops and their puddles. While many drown in these puddles, a number eventually adapted to thrive in just these environments, and thus the vandroutine species was born. Since they don't need to travel anywhere in any big hurry, their flagella have switched functions. Now only swimming with one, two of the others trail behind it, and are little more than stiffened rods. The fourth and final flagellum has moved forward some, and now has fine hairs that act as tiny barbs, which it can use to hold itself into place, although it is normally free swimming. Also, the hardened 'head' has grown the ability to grow fine hairs on it as well, but will only develop these once in contact with water. If not kept wet, they will begin to dry out and will be reabsorbed into the vandroutine until they are useful once again. These adapted flagella come into play during certain parts of the year, during which the vandroutines will press themselves against the plant itself, using these two rods to support its minuscule weight and allow it to climb, which it does using its fourth flagellum. They will slowly shimmy up the bodies of their host plants, until they reach its reproductive parts, where they will wait to be blown away with each potential new host. While they do not absolutely require the water in the puddles to breed (which protects them from devastation due to droughts and the like), they breed much more successfully while swimming in one. If there is no other particles or cells they can consume around, they are not beyond nibbling a little on their host, and can even resort to cannibalism during harsh times. Due to the nature of their species, while they initially began life in the desert, they have spread to any and all regions where the vandriswoop exist. They are occasionally found even in pallenidust puddles.