Grand Prickworm

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Grand Prickworm
(Palustripluma crustaesomnus)
Main image of Grand Prickworm
Species is extant.
Information
CreatorHydromancerx Other
Week/Generation24/152
HabitatHuggs Temperate River
Size80 cm Long
Primary MobilityUnknown
SupportMixed Endoskeleton and Exoskeleton (Chitin)
DietPlanktivore, Detritivore
RespirationActive (Microlungs)
ThermoregulationEctotherm
ReproductionSexual, Eggs into the Water
Taxonomy
Domain
Kingdom
Subkingdom
Phylum
Clade
Subphylum
Class
Order
Family
Subfamily
Genus
Species
Eukaryota
Binucleozoa
Symbiovermes (info)
Thoracocephalia
Coluripoda
Vermitheria (info)
Crurivermes
Remihelminthes (info)
Dipnoivermidae
Stratagaleinae
Palustripluma
Palustripluma crustaesomnus
Ancestor:Descendants:

The grand prickworm has replaced its ancestor, the shellback prickworm. Its colors mimic the golden mud, black flora and purple flora which grow in the river. Their tail fins have grown bigger and resemble their distant ancestor the murkworm. Its pectoral fins have become more webbed to help stabilize it when swimming. Its front "filter-horns" now face forward. Despite their large size they are very light and hollow. this keeps them from being front heavy.

Like their ancestor they will lick up plankton caught on the tiny filtering hairs. Their large spines and larger size help protect it from predators like the elegant emperor phibisian and flunejaw. They no-longer hibernate and will mate in the spring.

After mating the female will release the fertilized eggs into the water. Very few survive to adulthood, however since they lay hundreds of eggs some are bound to survive. Like most Sagavermes they have a worm-like larval form. This form mainly eats rotting material at the bottom of the river until they grow their "filter horns".