The giant sand worm is a species of sand worm that resides primarily in the Rolling Dunes Desert on the continent of Aegiyari, and has become an invasive species in other deserts due to poorly managed conservation efforts.
Biology
Size
A newborn giant sand worm is usually around 5-9 inches in length and weighing 3 pounds or less, while an adult worm is capable of growing to upwards of 20 feet in length and weighing in excess of ten tons (>20,000lbs).
Diet
Giant sand worms are omnivores, their bodies evolving to accommodate the lack of either type of food source that exists in the harsh desert sands. They tend to prefer meat when they can get it, but will frequently resort to eating plants to avoid wasting more energy than is necessary.
Habitat
As mentioned, the giant sand worm originated in the Rolling Dunes Desert in Aegiyari, though they were believed to have been hunted to extinction somewhere around the late Second Era due to their hides being valuable material for Eladrin research.
Recently, however, a small pocket of giant sand worms were found living within the Rolling Dunes Desert, and environmentalists attempted to raise young worms in captivity, before releasing them back into the Rolling Dunes as adults. A series of management and planning errors eventually saw the species increase in population outside of their native desert, causing irreparable damage to countless ecosystems and animal populations.
How To Fight
Should you ever find yourself in a situation where you might need to fight off a giant sand worm, attempting a head-on encounter is ill-advised. As mentioned, their diet is based largely off the energy they have access to, so making yourself as hard to catch as possible will reduce their interest in you as a meal. Running in jagged patterns and sudden tight corners will help you stay ahead of the worm. Should fighting be necessary, focus as best you can at keeping it at range. The giant sand worm, unlike many of its close relatives, does not have an ability to attack its prey at range.
