Flood Shellworm
| Flood Shellworm | ||
|---|---|---|
| (Obscuricochlea redundo) | ||
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| 21/137, Replaced by Descendant | ||
| Information | ||
| Creator | BioCat Other | |
| Week/Generation | 17/112 | |
| Habitat | Huck Limestone Caves | |
| Size | 16 cm Long | |
| Primary Mobility | Unknown | |
| Support | Unknown | |
| Diet | Coprophagic (Dung and Feces), Detritivore (Decaying fauna and flora), Herbivore (inswept seeds) | |
| Respiration | Unknown | |
| Thermoregulation | Ectotherm | |
| Reproduction | Sexual, Two Sexes, Eggs laid in mucus-sacs floating in cave pools | |
| Taxonomy | ||
| Domain Kingdom Subkingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species | Eukaryota Binucleozoa Symbiovermes (info) Conchovermizoa (info) Euconchovermes Crustavermiformes Crustavermidae Obscuricochlea Obscuricochlea redundo | |
| Ancestor: | Descendants: |
|---|---|
The flood shellworm split from its ancestor when swept by floods into the Huck Limestone Caves. There it found a barren cave filled with decaying flora that were swept in by floods and generally lots of possible food. It has adapted to its new environment in many ways. It can fold its legs, horns, and scraping back legs into its shell. It uses this ability in case of a surprise flood for protection. It can also survive without air for a few days by lowering it's metabolism to almost nothing by an immediate emergency hibernation. Its main use for this ability though is in times of no food. In the dry season when all the food in the cave is already eaten the flood shellworm climbs the cave walls, digs a small hole, and folds itself down in it appearing as part of the wall there it hibernates. When it feels the humidity raising due to the flood it waits for a few days and wakes up to a food filled cave. It now can feed with its entire body as its whole lower part is filled with tiny licking hairs that release digestive materials and suck the food in.
Living Relatives (click to show/hide)
