Twigdorse

Twigdorses are protected by sharp spines on their back, allowing them to spend more time at the predator-filled surface than their ancestor. The snapjaw sandcrock is their chief predator, but snapjaw sandcrocks that have once attacked a twigdorse are unlikely to do it again. This is because a twigdorse's spines are similar to a porcupine's, if more primitive. Unlike porcupine spines, they come out easily: there's no need for hard-to-remove spines when the spines lodge in the sensitive flesh of a predator's mouth. Unfortunately for them, their defense is of little use against snapperkies, which have tough, toothy beaks and can knock twigdorses over to disembowel them.

Twigdorses' nose spikes have expanded, covering more of the upper jaw. The lower jaw has also been fortified by a keratin sheath. The keratin sheath of the lower jaw wears away faster than the nose spike, thus making it self-sharpening. Its strong, sharp beak lets it eat whole greyblades, snip off spinetower spines, crunch through the shells of gourjorns, and break apart the lids of meltbowls to drink the water inside. Though they have a broad diet, they prefer eating blackflora, especially the bulbs.