Iceslider Lizardworm

The iceslider lizardworm has split from its ancestor. Its main adaptations are for it to move faster on the ice. The front limbs are larger and have spikes on their sides. It uses these to pull itself along and can lift them up to slide along. Its other legs are also larger and stronger, with spikes on the last segment. It uses these to push itself along. Using all these limbs together, it can slide at high speed. The limbs are also closer to the front of its body to provide more control. It can turn using the front limbs, and stop using its hooked tail. Its body size is smaller to enable it to move easier. Its shaggy fur can be retracted in and the top shell plates closed, to make it more aerodynamic when sliding. Its body and head are also lower to the ground. To hunt, it waits for its target to come close enough. It then closes its shell plates and pushes off. It chases its prey by using its front limbs to turn quickly, and uses its rear limbs to provide more speed. If the prey changes direction than the direction it is going, the problem is solved with a quick, clever solution. It quickly raises all limbs and its tail off the ground. It then curves its tail to the side and hooks it into the ground. It uses the momentum to swing its body in a 180 degree turn. It re-releases its tail grip and slides off again. The "swing-turn process" takes only 3 seconds. The iceslider lizardworm can keep the chase for up to a few minutes because it doesn't actually carry its body when pursuing prey. Only when its limbs get tired does it give up. It can also use sliding to avoid its larger ancestor, which has become its only predator. The iceslider lizardworm reproduces in a similar way as its ancestor, but closes its shell plates when it has eggs. It also produces eggs during the onset of winter. It hibernates with the eggs protected by the shell plates, developing over winter and hatching in spring.