Siege Lizardworm
From Sagan 4 Alpha Wiki
| Siege Lizardworm | ||
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| (Entomotarascus magnus) | ||
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| 19/125, ice comet impact event | ||
| Information | ||
| Creator | Neoskel Other | |
| Week/Generation | 17/117 | |
| Habitat | Ovi-Hydro Plains | |
| Size | 2.4 m Long | |
| Primary Mobility | Hexapod, Semi-Erect Legs | |
| Support | Endoskeleton (Chitin) | |
| Diet | Carnivore (Greater Fortresscrab) | |
| Respiration | Active (Microlungs) | |
| Thermoregulation | Ectotherm | |
| Reproduction | Sexual (Hermaphrodite), lays broods of around 150 eggs of which around 10 will usually reach maturation | |
| Taxonomy | ||
| Domain Kingdom Subkingdom Phylum Clade Superclass Class Order Suborder Family Genus Species | Eukaryota Binucleozoa Symbiovermes (info) Thoracocephalia Coluripoda Ossicancer Saurovermes (info) Reptilovermiformes Teratentomosauria Ankhegosauridae Entomotarascus Entomotarascus magnus | |
| Ancestor: | Descendants: |
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The siege lizardworm evolved from and replaced the gladiator lizardworm to cope with the evolution of stickyball fortresscrabs into greater fortresscrabs. It has become twice as large as it's ancestor to continue to hulk over their now larger prey and it's arms are also a good deal stronger than it's ancestor's to crush and pierce the thicker, sturdier shells of the greater fortresscrabs. To cope with it's new size and expenditure of energy, the siege lizardworm has developed four lungs near the base of it's neck. Air is brought in both through the mouth and through nostrils at the back of it's head, the crests on it's headplate help to direct air into these nostrils. It's serrated 'teeth' have also developed and are now constantly replaced as they are worn down by the tough fortresscrab shells. They have developed feet at the end of once pointed legs to better support their increased girth. They still have incredibly tough shells, even tougher than their ancestors'. The plates near the end of the tail can separate to reveal their reproductive organs to allow mating.
Siege lizardworms continue to use the strategies of their ancestor's to take down prey. They'll enter into the 'dead zone' surrounding a greater fortresscrab mound and wait for the irascible fortresscrabs to futilely attack them. They will then swipe at their attackers with their great claws and crush, impale and toss the fortresscrabs. Greater fortresscrabs with superstickyballs on their back tend to stick to the ground when they land on their backs, which makes them an easy meal. If the fortresscrabs do not come out and play, or if they retreat before the lizardworm has satisfied it's hunger, the siege lizardworm will live up to it's name and attack the mound itself. They will either scale the sides of the mound to reach the entrances, or just rip open a new entrance at ground level. When it has been satiated the lizardworm will leave, allowing the many remaining fortresscrabs to rebuild their partially damaged mound. Siege lizardworms still won't touch anything other than fortresscrabs living in mounds, and will not attack new mounds as there wouldn't be enough fortresscrabs to eat at the smaller mounds.
The siege lizardworm still has a mutualistic symbiotic relationship with a descendant of the emulsifly, the spitting emulsifly. The siege lizardworm protects the spitting emulsifly and helps it to find superstickyballs, while the spitting emulsifly keeps superstickyballs from gumming up the lizardworm's armor and helps in assaults on greater fortresscrab mounds. Spitting emulsiflies will spit their emulsive saliva on superstickyballs thrown onto and around the lizardworm's eyes and superstickyballs stuck to the lizardworm's claws during battle to keep the lizardworm in top condition. They also help to dissolve superstickyballs holding together the part of the mound the lizardworm is attacking. Outside of battle, the siege lizardworm will search for superstickyball encrusted creatures and areas to allow their passengers to feed themselves.
Siege lizardworms produce many many eggs after they mate and will bury these eggs near their favorite 'larders'. When the lizardworms hatch, they will search for and follow an adult siege lizardworm and pick off the leftovers of the adult's rampages. This also allows them to get their own group of spitting emulsiflies as they grow larger from the adult's emulsiflies. However, the adults do not protect the young lizardworms and so many are picked off by predators such as the entomosuchus and even by greater fortresscrabs when they are still very small.
The siege lizardworm is very specialized in killing and eating greater fortresscrabs, their heavy armor makes them too slow to chase down other prey and their teeth and digestive system are unsuitable for other flesh. Their digestion allows them to consume relatives of the greater fortresscrabs, but their behavior prohibits it. As such, the population of siege lizardworms is closely tied to the greater fortresscrab population. Never would an entire mound of greater fortresscrabs be destroyed by siege lizardworms.
Living Relatives (click to show/hide)
