Snowshoe Pedesorm
| Snowshoe Pedesorm | ||
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| (Podostracon arcticum) | ||
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| Information | ||
| Creator | Bufforpington Other | |
| Week/Generation | 27/167 | |
| Habitat | Lamarck Prairie, Lamarck Rocky, Lamarck Steppe, Lamarck Highvelt, Lamarck Alpine, Lamarck Tundra | |
| Size | 28 cm Tall | |
| Primary Mobility | Unknown | |
| Support | Unknown | |
| Diet | Omnivore (Redmosses, Orangemosses, Testudiatoms, Miniswarmers, Pioneeroots, Marbleflora, Chitjorns, Chainswarmers, Cryobowls, Cloudswarmers (larvae), Glaalgaes, Larands, Toxiglobes, Swarmerweed (young), Sunstalks (young), Supershrooms, Terrestrial Cloudbubble, Pilunoroot (fruits), Pilonoroot (fruits)), Detritivore, Scavenger, Coprophagic | |
| Respiration | Unknown | |
| Thermoregulation | Ectotherm | |
| Reproduction | Sexual, Two Sexes, Snail-Like Eggs Buried Underground or in Large Flora, Fast Breeder | |
| Taxonomy | ||
| Domain Kingdom Subkingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species | Eukaryota Binucleozoa Symbiovermes (info) Conchovermizoa (info) Euconchovermes Cursorilimaces Podostracidae Podostracon Podostracon arcticum | |
| Ancestor: | Descendants: |
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Over millions of years, the mountain pedesorm slowly adapted further to the cold climates it called home. This population grew larger to retain more heat. However, a new competitor appeared in the form of the Atholat. Its ability to snip foliage off the plant with its fangs was far more efficient than the mountain pedesorm attempting to hack off foliage with its fairly dull trunk-claw. As a result, they specialized further into their coprophagic and detritivorous habits, resulting in the evolution of the snowshoe pedesorm. The mountain pedesorm has been replaced wherever the snowshoe pedesorm and atholat co-exist.
The snowshoe pedesorm's most notable change is in its trunk. The trunk is now much longer, increasing its range and allowing it to reach where its ancestor wasn't. In order to negate the effect of the increased surface area, the snowshoe pedesorm normally folds its trunk under its body using its larger forelimbs to press it against its body, reducing its profile. An extension in the back of the snowshoe pedesorm's shell acts as a counterbalance to its longer trunk. the trunk-claw is something of a serrated scoop. This scoop is used to dig up small genus group flora, dung, and detritus. It also can rasp flesh off of carcasses and soft-bodied flora with some success. It is also known to scoop small flora out of meltwater puddles and greedily slurp up almost all of the contents of large cryobowls. This behavior has led to an odd development where the snowshoe pedesorm has developed a degree of omnivory, as it often accidentally consumes cloudswarmer larvae and miniswarmers when feeding on small planktonic flora and cryobowl fruit. However, the largest component of its diet are small, soft-bodied terrestrial plants like marbleflora, toxiglobes, and pioneeroots and dung.
Snowshoe pedesorms are known to consume soil to help fortify their shells, giving them a dull red or black color. Green and blue-shelled individuals still occur, though. The proportion of shell colors is approximately 30% red, 30% black, 30% blue, and 10% green. The red and black coloration is region-specific and depends on the color of the soil in the area. The snowshoe pedesorm's broad feet allow them to stride over snowy and muddy ground without sinking into it.
Snowshoe pedesorms are nomadic and sometimes migratory. If food becomes scarce or too hard to obtain in one area, they will move to another. They often follow behind herds of large herbivores in the winter, feeding on their dung and any scraps of small flora and detritus that are uncovered. Once the spring arrives and the snow melts away, the snowshoe pedesorms following the herd often disperse. Snowshoe pedesorms will also congregate at carcasses whenever available. However, this is a somewhat rare occurrence, as they are often pushed away by more competitive scavengers.