Robust Chromanke

While the Chromanke did well enough within the Drake Boreal biome, their young were faring poorly in the Slarti Polar River as the cold winters were really bad for their ectothermic metabolisms. Those that would better resist the cold would prove more successful, which eventually led to the chromanke populations to become the robust chromanke, which ended up replacing their ancestral stock. The adults have hardly changed at all from their ancestor, still living as an arboreal ambush predator that uses its broad and sticky toe pads along with a sticky prehensile tail to climb around. Their eyes still have limited mobility in a similar fashion to their ancestor, though they still help it focus in any direction without moving its head. The eyes can also look in multiple directions independently of one another, allowing some eyes to scan the area behind and above them for predators while others look forwards to look for potential prey.

The main differences in the adult forms from their ancestors is that the robust chromanke are noticeably larger and more stocky, their larger size meaning they can tackle slightly larger prey such as the young of certain Phlyers. While the hindlimbs are still small, they are slightly larger than their ancestor’s hindlimbs and they are noticeably stockier. With the hindlimbs also assisting in moving around the branches, the robust chromanke can distribute its weight on more “limbs” which then means they can traverse on thinner branches than a scaled up version of their ancestor. Even with the usage of their hind legs, however, the larger size of the robust chromanke does still limit just where they can go so they tend to stick to thicker branches or tree trunks when possible.

When it does spot prey, the eyes of the robust chromanke will focus on it while the saganisuchian shoots out its long sticky tongue to ensnare the target so it can then be pulled back towards its mouth where the robust chromanke’s well-developed jaws can quickly dispatch it. It still can change the color of its skin pretty well, typically being a mixture of greens and yellows which in turn reflect the prominent crystal flora species in its range. The robust chromanke can still change their colors for communication as well, turning black to intimidate threats or potential rivals for space.

Reproduction starts off similarly to their ancestors, with the robust chromanke laying their eggs in foamy nests to keep their developing young moist until they hatch. After the nest is made, they will abandon the nest since they do not exhibit parental care. The tadpoles spend the warmer months of the year living like their ancestors, hunting aquatic and semi-aquatic prey as they grow quickly. By the time the cold from winter starts to arrive, they have front limbs developed well enough for them to dig into the side of the river. Within this burrow the tadpole will seal itself in and go into a state of torpor, relying on fat reserves gathered from their summer feasting and antifreeze proteins with its tissues to survive the winter. Once the warmth of spring arrives, it will emerge and continue growing, eventually being well-developed enough to leave the water and climb up into the trees before the next winter arrives.