Plehexapod

The plehexapod split from its ancestor the needlewing. It has grown much larger and now uses its "wings" as front legs. Its real atrophied front legs have developed into digging claws for getting to burrowing prey. Like their ancestor, nearly their entire body is photosynthetic and they have a waxy coating on its skin helps reduce water loss as well as insulates it. Its butt-nostril now has many wooden thorns around it to keep predators from suffocating them by covering it up. Like its ancestor, it uses its wooden beak to both impale small prey or dig up larva. Their pouch is very stretchy, yet strong with elastic ribs. The "needles" on their ancestor have evolved into woody spines on their front legs. They will use these to defend against predators or fight over mates. Rather than building a nest for their young, the females simply do not give birth when they are fully developed. The female fills the organ that her young developed in with air so that they do not suffocate, she keeps her mouth open to let air flow in. Her young can poke their heads out of her mouth and beg for the food that her mate gives them, she will survive mainly on her fat during this time though her mate may feed her as well. Eventually she will force the offspring to leave, her jaw will often unhinge to make this difficult task a little easier. If she does not shove them out then they will grow too big for her and they will essentially explode out of her and kill her.