Greater Deathlance Worm
Describe a weird animal in your world. Why do people consider it "weird"?
Basic Information
Anatomy
The creature looks like a cross between a velvet worm and a roly-poly. It uses the velvet worms same strange limb liquid exchange to move, grabbing at the ground with its clawed feet, pulling the liquid in that foot up and back, and pushing it into the next foot in the serious to extend it out so it can grab the ground. It also has the armor like shell of the roly-poly which scientists believe evolved to protect it from a now potentially extinct enemy. Scientists find the creatures body to be far larger than it should be considering the higher gravity of the planet. However, the creature has one remarkably terrifying feature, apart from its appearance and size; the creature has a proboscis that delivers a deadly neurotoxin to anything it comes into contact with. The way the proboscis works is simply fascinating; the creature will get close to its target prey, and will open a spout like protrusion above its mouth. This spout sprays forth the proboscis which appears like a white liquid. As the proboscis comes into to contact with the surrounding air, it spreads outward like the roots of a tree and falls upon the prey. The neurotoxin is then rapidly absorbed through the skin, paralyzing the creature and allowing the worm to feed. The worm consumes both the prey, and the remains of the proboscis.
Genetics and Reproduction
Currently unknown.
Growth Rate & Stages
Currently unknown.
Ecology and Habitats
The fully grown creature lives in the lowland plains and jungles of the planet. They are primarily found on the continent labeled as Continent C, and live on the south eastern side of the mountains that seem to split C in two. The creatures are primarily nocturnal, however, during what the galotians call "the Time of the Hunt," they cannot be found despite this being the time when their prey is most active. Scientists theorize that it may become to cold, and so they seek an place of warmth.
Additional Information
Uses, Products & Exploitation
Dead members of the species are collected by galotian artisans. From the dead, they strip the shells and give them a wash in a weak acid to help make the colors of the shell stand out more. From these pieces of shell they make jewelry.
Average Intelligence
The creatures average intelligence cannot be determined at this time. But it appears, like forms of wildlife on other planets, to be a creature of instinct.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
The greater deathlance worm's eyesight is extraordinarily poor, it can barely see more than a meter in front of it. What it lacks in eyesight, it makes up for with its ability to perform echolocation and its sense of smell, millions of times stronger than our own. The creatures actual ability to hear cannot be determined, since it seems to rely on its echolocation, but it doesn't seem to respond to any other forms of sound (perhaps it can only hear a range of frequencies).
Scientific Name
Chromocillia Agrofora
Lifespan
???
Average Height
1.3 m
Average Weight
840 kg
Average Length
2.44 m
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
The armor of the creature is grey, and the flesh underneath appears grey as well. But when viewed under certain conditions, the shell appears to swirl with a metallic oily sheen. The patterns of this sheen differ from individual to individual.
Geographic Distribution
