Mantiskipper

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Mantiskipper
(Latro tripudio)
Artwork of Mantiskipper
Species is extinct.
20/130, Replaced by Descendant
Creator Blarg Other
Taxonomy
Domain
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
Eukaryota
Mancerxa
Konydonta
Arachnopoda
Eleovenatoriformes
Eleovenatoridae
Latro
Latro tripudio
Week/Generation 13/83
Habitat Ichthy Swamp
Size 10 cm Long
Support Unknown
Diet Carnivore (Slugworm)
Respiration Unknown
Thermoregulation Unknown
Reproduction Sexual, Eggs in Water, Two Sexes


The mantiskipper split from the swamp hunter, this time to specialize in hunting the slugworm, an extremely plentiful source of food. It has developed all of its body simply to hunt this small, slug-like creature.

Its previous upright walk has been abandoned, so that it could become much more stealthy. Its hunting methods have changed greatly. Instead of actively searching for food, it looks for a carcass (or rotting plant). After it finds one, it will bury itself into the carcass (or plant) and mud, and waits. When a slugworm comes around, looking for a meal, the mantiskipper just pops out, and grabs onto the worm, quickly killing and eating it. It will continue to do this, sometimes for days, or even weeks, depending on how quickly the dead thing it keeps residence in deteriorates.

The body has also changed. The front apendages are now only used for killing, and serve no purpose for locomotion. Its back legs have become much shorter, now only used for "skipping", because it does not have to actively hunt any longer, it just has to wait it out. The fins have gotten bigger, to allow it to "skip" better. Its tail is only just more than a stub now, for it no longer needs it to balance. (Although it will still swim, it is only to escape from its cousin, the swamp hunter)

Living Relatives (click to show/hide)

These are randomly selected, and organized from lowest to highest shared taxon. (This may correspond to similarity more than actual relation)
  • Ukrequin (order Eleovenatoriformes)
  • Mikuks (class Arachnopoda)