Grasping Teci

The grasping teci split from its ancestor, the teci, with the evolution of the towering stiltbulb. The flora was one of the most abundant species owing to its size, but few species could take advantage of this food source due to its great height. The grasping teci evolved to fill that niche. It gained proto-claws on all four pairs of front legs, with extensions behind them to grasp onto the root systems of the stiltbulbs. In addition, they became longer and more flexible for best maneuverability in the stiltbulb 'forests.' Their hind legs became equipped with suction-cup like pads, covered in a sticky goo derived from that covering their sensory appendages. Utilizing these suction-cups aids in preventing muscle fatigue, allowing them to move longer distances before resting. To move, they fasten their hind limbs firmly onto a stilbulb root and stretch their bodies forward to grab hold of the next root with their grasping claws. Due to the lack of any arboreal predators and an untapped food source, the grasping teci grew greatly in size, becoming one of the largest land organisms on Mason.