Pickclaw

The pickclaw replaced the denclaw and moved out into the underground. Unlike its ancestor, the claws are no longer used for fighting, but are instead used for digging. In order to this, its claws had to evolve a spade-like shape that can dig away dirt. Its tail-leg has also adapted to being able to move up over its back like Earth's scorpions. Most of their lifetime is digging underground or foraging for food. The only times the pickclaw is ever outside of its tunnels is when it is finding food or mating. The pickclaws have evolved sexual dimorphism. The males have white patches around their eyes while the females have none. One extremely important adaptation the pickclaw went through is that it will sun-dry and store lots of violetgrass, hermangrass, and hugograss before times of famine. This is so that they will have something to eat. The pickclaws dig a main cave system, while a velishroot opportunist will often take its time to extend the tunnels. This is a form of symbiosis known as commensalism. The pickclaw does most of the digging, while the velishroot digs deeper. The velishroot gets free food during times of famine. When some pickclaw eggs are left behind or a baby pickclaw dies inside the tunnel, the velishroot steals the tasty treats.