Gladiator Lizardworm

The gladiator lizardworm evolved from and replaced the bulette lizardworm. As its prey became more aggressive and dangerous, the gladiator lizardworm also had to evolve. It has a more upright stance to keep its one vulnerability, its eyes, out of reach of the claws of the aggressive stickyball fortresscrab. The gladiator lizardworm's hard armor has become too tough for the stickyball fortresscrabs to have any hopes of penetrating, and it has become somewhat larger to boot. Only the most fit of predators would attempt to take down one of these monsters with any chance of success, but it only preys on the stickyball fortresscrab. Its one weakness is the superstickyballs, which can gum up the joints in their armor. To combat this they have formed a symbiotic relationship with the emulsifly, which will clean the superstickyballs off in return for protection.

The gladiator lizardworm's hunting technique has changed to match the new ferocity of its prey. It will stand inside a stickyball fortresscrab colony's territory until it gets the attention of the irascible fortresscrabs. When the fortresscrabs swarm out to attack it, the gladiator lizardworm will smash and sweep away droves of the attacking crabs with powerful swipes of its claws. When the fortresscrabs retreat, it will devour the dead and wounded left behind by the foolish rush. In addition, if the fortresscrabs do not attack, it will attack the colony with the assistance of its emulsifly allies which will dissolve the adhesive holding the nest together while eating the superstickyballs. When the gladiator lizardworm has had enough, it will wander around looking for superstickyball infested creatures and allow the emulsiflies to clean them off. It will then attack a different colony when it again hungers. Gladiator lizardworms generally do not attack newer colonies or stickyball fortresscrabs when they are traveling to make a new colony.