Oxcolotl/Webspinners

I love seeing the horror on tourists' faces when they see what they'll be riding on. Some of them flat out give up and refuse to go. Their loss. Imagine missing out on the wonders of the Ebony Falls because one happens to be a bit squeamish about insects?

Eldred Thom, Web Shepherd

Basic Information

Anatomy

Webspinners look like an unholy merging of spider and insect, with hard carapace, eight legs, light sensitive eyes, and spider shaped bodies.

Genetics and Reproduction

Webspinners reproduce by laying eggs in clusters of webbing. After five weeks the eggs hatch, releasing 50 polyps per egg.

Growth Rate & Stages

Egg - Soft, white, and slightly sticky. This stage lasts five weeks
Polyp - soft shelled, tiny skittering version of adult web spinner, but with longer, leaner bodies. This stage lasts two weeks
Skitten - Soft shells just beginning to harden at the edges. Body begins to fill out a bit, legs growing longer. About the size of a small cat. This stage lasts five weeks.
Climber - Shells have hardened, body beginning to look like a miniature version of the adults, about the size of a medium to large dog. Beginning to climb the walls and create the early stages of webbing. This stage lasts four weeks.
Youngling - Completely identical to adults save for lighter coloring and thinner legs. They have more energy than adults, are faster, and are more prone to moving around. This stage lasts five weeks.
Adult - Fully grown adult capable of producing large amounts of silk, but less quick and more prone to sitting in one place for long periods of time. This stage lasts the rest of their life.

Ecology and Habitats

Dark caves with a small amount of moisture and craggy outcroppings on which to spin their webs.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Decaying leaves and vegetable matter.

Biological Cycle

Webspinners shed their carapace as they outgrow the last one. The typical webspinner sheds their carapace every couple of weeks.

Additional Information

Domestication

Domestication of Webspinners involves a lot of handling and contact at the early stages to keep the creatures used to the humanoid touch. Once they reach the Climber stage, the trainer will begin to place them in the harness and allow them to skitter around and climb in it, getting them used to wearing it. They will also begin harvesting small amounts of the webbing, giving them time to get used to that as well, before their webbing becomes ready for use.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Raised and domesticated under Mount-drin for their silk and webs.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

The Backridge Mountains

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Darkvision, Blindsight, Echolocation

Lifespan

1 year

Average Height

4.5 - 5 ft.

Average Weight

160 lb.

Average Length

8 ft.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Dark greys and blacks, with lighter undersides and striping on their sides and legs.

Geographic Distribution

• Flindreck