Ferox
Basic Information
Anatomy
Ferox has retained much of the biology of its ancestors. But due to the rise of predatory pressure and new niches being open they have adapted to a new role in the environment. Ferox, is one of these organisms, having adapted to be an ambush predator hiding under the sand.
Their eyes are now positioned at the top of the body, and they're legs have turned into a spade-like appendage, while good at digging is difficult to use in locomotion. However, they are still of necessity able to support the full weight of the creature above the surface.
Their bodies have become wider and flatter, for an easier task of digging, although their stomach can expand to accommodate larger prey. The proboscis has been enlarged, to the point of being a third of the body total length, this, in turn, allows it to have a greater suction power to catch passing prey. Within it lines barbs along the walls, these are used to stop the prey from escaping and to kill it, without putting the predator in danger.
The what were antennae like appendages have been lengthened in order to stick out of the sediment, and the end of each are protrusions made to resemble the "plant" material surrounding them, akin to lures.
They only way to identify one among plant matter at the bottom is by searching for their characteristic gill-like plumage. These organs stick out of the sand since at this time there's no creature that correlates them with danger.
Genetics and Reproduction
When it's time to reproduce males of the species will search for the buried females. However, they must be cautious with the approach for which the females are twice as large and will gladly make a meal out of the opposite sex. In order to be both able to reproduce and keep the female from eating him, he will do a display with it's modified appendages by inflating them while waving them in front of the female's exposed eyes. This may take minutes to do and 8 out of 10 attempts end up the male being eaten. Although if they are pleasing to her or she is just not hungry, the female will dig herself out and allow the lucky male to fertilize her eggs. This is done by the couple transmitting gametes internally, the male has evolved a specialized eversible intromittant organ that allows him to transfer directly to the female gamete chamber.
A few weeks after mating, the female will release strings of fertilized eggs into the water, where they will be own their own. At the same time, the lucky male will undergo a transformation, becoming a large female and then it will be it turns to attract would-be males/meals.
Growth Rate & Stages
Like most pseudotetrapods the young hatch as essentially miniature adults, and grow mostly isometrically.
Ecology and Habitats
Often found buried with the only signal of they're existence being the gill-like organ on their backs, these patient predators are often found among or near their prey's food source, each having adapted lures to mimic them for a greater chance of success. Most species prey on protamisanids, although they have great eyesight, the creatures have yet to develop the brainpower to link the weird protrusions on the sand as danger. Although they will eat anything small enough to be eaten, often cannibalizing on smaller individuals of the species.
Additional Information
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
The distal end of the trunk and the antennae/lures remain quite sensitive to scents and pressure differences. Additionally the eyes are more advanced than in bobird, and are sensitive to movement, although their ability to focus is a bit limited.
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