Streobug

Mid morning on Yama sees a diversity of of life going about their business. Some of the medium sized organisms going about their business are bug like organisms with spindly legs, armor plates, and four pincer like mouth parts. These are the streobugs. Pictured here, a streobug chases a Lutolacerta while another reaches for some succulent leaves of a spiral bush. [creature design by Dapper Dino]

Basic Information

Anatomy

The streobug is so named for its resemblance to an primitive insect of earth. The rearmost limbs which in the ancestral streozal were sued for rapid bursts of speed in the water, are here adapted to be sensory organs which help warn the organism of threats approaching from the rear. The legs are elongate and contain 3 major joints, one at the spot where the limb connects to the body, one about mid way down, and one near the end before the distal most portion forms a foot with a wide nearly circular base. The armor of the streozal is little changed in the streobug, and the abdominal tagma has 3 plates, with the head tagma having one. While this armor does help streobugs avoid predation their primary means of defense is simply to run away quickly and in an erratic manner. The four cephalic appendages surround a jawless mouth and each ends in a bifurcation allowing the streobug to grasp and manipulate food and other objects in the environment. The 4 eyes are split into two pairs, one pair is forward facing with wide stereoscopic overlap, giving the streobug excellent depth perception. The second pair face to the sides of the heads are and are primarily sensitive to motion. These are for identifying potential threats in wide field of view. The spiracles are set in a row of fourr spiracles on each side of the abdomen.

Genetics and Reproduction

Streobugs mate around the time of the vernal equinox. Males will compete with each other in wrestling matches with the winners gaining a territorial monopoly on local females. He will then dig several holes into which females will lay eggs, which he then fertilizes. Each clutch of eggs numbers around 300.

Growth Rate & Stages

Streobugs hatch after 10 to 12 local days. They are small unarmored versions of the adults. Most of these newly hatched streobugs will be eaten, even by other streobugs. But those who manage to make it to a year old will be almost adult size and will have strong armor and the ability to move quickly enough to avoid most predation.

Ecology and Habitats

Streobugs live along the coasts and inland wetlands on Yama, feeding on just about anything they can catch, including retinalphytes, but also more active prey such as Lutolacerta.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

The mouth parts still function for chemo reception, although only weakly. Additionally they have microscopic hairs that detect vibrations and air currents, giving the streobug a sense of hearing. The streobug also has both a wide field of view and an acute sense of depth for things in front of it.

EXTINCT

Genetic Ancestor(s)