Longacrura
Longacrura is a “crab-like” carnivorous descendant of Caerulecanis porcus found in warm tidal habitats. It feeds mainly on Dyamisa minospina and any other small creatures less then 4 cm, it is also known to supplement its diet with small pieces of photosynthetic plants. Its similar in some ways to its bobird ancestor but longacrura has changed quite a lot in the past 10 million years. Longacrura lived 470 million years ago. Pictured here, a longacrura attacks a lortub at high tide around sunrise. [Creature design by Ben Fiction]
Basic Information
Anatomy
Longacrura has four main appendages used for walkling across the seabed and three jaw-like protrusions used for consumption. Longacrura has no skeletal system and purely relies on muscle mass and a blood pumping system to move its legs. It has an open circulatory system but also has small circular muscles at the beginning of its limbs to constrict blood flow and expand them as well as simple smooth muscles throughout its limbs and body. The antenna-like protrusion on its back is mainly used as a secondary gas exchange organ. The creature pumps blood into it to regulate oxygenation in its body. Additionally it can serve as a location for extra blood to be stored, which is necessary since blood pressure is one of the main ways the limbs are moved. It can also be used as sexual display and a way to distinguish its species among themselves. This structures is called a "villus."
Longacrura’s foot pads are covered in small fleshy hairs that are used to help stick to the sides of photosynthetic plants as well as a sticky mucus substance that excretes from its foot pads. Its front two jaw protrusion are used both to feel the surrounding environment and to pick up small prey, it also uses its snout as a sort of “thumb” to help stabilize its two jaw protrusions. Its two chemoreceptors on each side of the snout can “smell” things like decomposing tissues, other members of its species and even some predators. The horizontal gas exchange structures take oxygen from the water to the blood stream by waving the tail up and down.
Genetics and Reproduction
Longacrura, unlike their ancestors, only have two gonads, one female and one male. Once sexual maturity has been reached (usually around the age of three local years) longacrura will start searching for a mate, which will usually be the first of its species it encounters. Dominance between mates, and on rare occasions rivals, is demonstrated in an opening of the mouth parts and locking them together with the opponents. Once dominance is established, the less dominant longacrura will lay a membranous egg sac containing 10 to 50 eggs, which will then be fertilized by the domiant longacrura.
Growth Rate & Stages
Longacrura start out as small plankton sized creatures (around 0.2 cm in size) with a simple flagellum for locomotion that is also used as the breathing apparatus. They eat mostly tiny particulates in the water and on the sea floor. At around 0.2 local years of age they lose most function in the flagellum and their fins start to work as simple legs for walking on the sea floor. Between then and sexual maturity they mostly just graze the sea floor until large enough to swallow larger prey.
Ecology and Habitats
Longacrura is found in the tidal and neritic zones of Almaishah’s oceans. They stay in areas where prey is abundant, and waters are warm. They also go into small caves or crevasses in rocks to mate and lay eggs
Additional Information
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Found in shallow waters throughout Almaishah except in the polar regions.
EXTINCT
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Genetic Descendants
Scientific Name
Cruspueri longacrura
Origin/Ancestry
Pseudotetrapoda
Average Height
4.5 cm
Geographic Distribution
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