Tunnelglutt Cadoverm

As the relationship between the violet cadovermi and uksor grew over time, the populations of violet cadovermi living on drake would eventually give rise to the tunnelglutt cadoverm. These cadoverms ended up replacing their ancestors in the area, and are entirely reliant upon the uksors for their survival.

Million of years of mutualism has resulted in the uksors native to Drake being different in habits as well. Since these cadoverms no longer come out onto the surface, the local uksors can merely bring their scraps of food to them. Anything the uksors do not finish eating gets eaten by the cadoverms, who will also feed upon their waste for nutrients. Not only does it mean the tunnelglutt cadoverm acts as a cleanup crew that ensures there will be little to attract scavengers like certain vermees species, but it also results in the cadoverms becoming large and plump.

Much like their ancestors, the tunnelglutt cadoverms sit in a specialized chamber within the nests and will secrete a sap-like substance when stimulated. While it is still bitter-tasting to predators that get into the tunnels, uksors still find it delicious. When an individual gets really old and is no longer able to feed itself properly, uksors will shepherd it away from the others and butcher it as a food source. After the uksors eat what they can from the carcass, any scraps are given to the other tunnelglutt cadoverms as they will not turn down bits of food. Uksors will also butcher tunnelglutt cadoverms if they become too great in number and require more resources then the uksors can provide.

While the efficient respiratory system of their ancestors allows them to get as much oxygen as they can from the tunnels, living underground their whole lives means they have no need to see. Due to this, while their eyes can technically still work, they are functionally vestigial in their day-to-day lives within the tunnels. With coloration not being important to these cadoverms at all, their bodies have paled and most of their patterns have disappeared. The bottom two “teeth” are still mobile but have flattened to act like scoops, which helps the tunnelglutt cadoverm to shovel food into their mouths.