Shroom Hoofplent

The shroom hoofplent split from its ancestor, taking advantage of the growing spread of berry arbourshrooms, it has spread to all areas this shroom grows. In order to more effectively feed it has become half its ancestor's size. It hasn't come into competition with the other primary consumer of this shroom, the arbourundi, because it tends to eat the caps of the shrooms rather than the berries. In this way it actually helps the arbourundis by eating the older shrooms which no longer bear fruit, allowing newer shrooms to take their place; the dung they produce also helps provide food for the shrooms. However if they tread on the arbourundi's territory, such as tended fruiting shrooms or too near their living chambers, they will be soundly rebuked and quickly repelled by soldiers.

Their other main adaptation is the spur on their hind legs: not only has it become longer, but it has evolved extra muscles, so that it can be flicked up like a switchblade, giving them a greater defense against predators. This is especially useful in the Rapid Sandstone Caves, because the cave hateech will sometimes kill berry hoofplents when they can't get cave honkers.

Individual berry hoofplents live for about 8 years, reaching sexual maturity at about 2 years. They live in small groups of 3-4, usually a male with his mates and children. Other than these changes, its the same as its ancestor