Canotu
The Canotu is a species on the planet Olivarenith. It is characterized by a dome-like shell and 4 large feet. It is used by Ibrovinids for transportation and battle. It has no eyes, noses or ears, and its feet are donned with hard shells of bone and fitted with anywhere from 10 to 24 claws, each of different sizes.
Taxonomically, the Canotu refers to members of the Ascivont genus. This encompasses 5 dinstinct species, who differ in very subtle ways, like the number of claws on its feet and the pattern on its shell. These two names, Canotu and Ascivont, are neither Illibrivroni nor Eldrond in origin. Rather, they were nicknames given by members of the Fariniath Family when they discovered them off the coast of the Merios Lake.
Taxonomically, the Canotu refers to members of the Ascivont genus. This encompasses 5 dinstinct species, who differ in very subtle ways, like the number of claws on its feet and the pattern on its shell. These two names, Canotu and Ascivont, are neither Illibrivroni nor Eldrond in origin. Rather, they were nicknames given by members of the Fariniath Family when they discovered them off the coast of the Merios Lake.
Basic Information
Anatomy
The Canotu is a beefy creature. Like the Ibrovinid, it is circular in shape and armored. It consists of a dome-like skeleton with 4 large legs attached to it. The skeleton can measure around 6.5-7.9 meters in diameter, and the legs, like those of the Ibrovinid, are jointed once at their junction with the main body and another in the middle of the limb. The Skeleton is surrounded by a layer of flesh and muscle, which covers up to a certain part; the top of the dome is uncovered, revealing the white bone below. The flesh itself is covered with tiny hairs, with which it can sense its surroundings via echolocation.
Growth Rate & Stages
After birth, the Canotu measures 15-20 cm in diameter, and every single part of its skeleton is covered in a 5 cm thick layer of skin. Its skeleton is extremely dense in this stage.
As it eats and takes in nutrients, its brain will grow, which will push against the skeleton, enlarging it much like a balloon. This stage is often marred with intense pains as a result. The skin, on the other hand, will not enlarge, causing the skeleton to burst out of the skin, which marks the beginning of adulthood. This burst is very painful, and requires up to 12 months of rehabilitation, during which the affected skin will heal and form a ridge around the bony shell. This ridge's echolocation hairs are jumbled around in the process, rendering them useless and ultimately unable to pick up any stimulus.
As it eats and takes in nutrients, its brain will grow, which will push against the skeleton, enlarging it much like a balloon. This stage is often marred with intense pains as a result. The skin, on the other hand, will not enlarge, causing the skeleton to burst out of the skin, which marks the beginning of adulthood. This burst is very painful, and requires up to 12 months of rehabilitation, during which the affected skin will heal and form a ridge around the bony shell. This ridge's echolocation hairs are jumbled around in the process, rendering them useless and ultimately unable to pick up any stimulus.
Dietary Needs and Habits
The creature, like the Ibrovinid, feeds off of energy by breaking rocks; however, in the Canotu's case, the mere act of stomping its legs is enough to crack rocks and therefore release their energy, which is collected via small pads on the soles of the feet that absorb energy from the impact.
The rock chunks are also swallowed up; by using a set of muscles to move the pad to the side, the hole in the foot is used to create a vaccuum, which sucks the bits up into an acid bath below the brain.
The rock chunks are also swallowed up; by using a set of muscles to move the pad to the side, the hole in the foot is used to create a vaccuum, which sucks the bits up into an acid bath below the brain.
Additional Information
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Because it does not have ears or eyes like that of the Ibrovinid, it instead relies on its legs for echolocation. The sound waves are produced when the creature stomps its legs, and they then bounce off of nearby objects and back to the creature, where they interact with tiny bristle-like hairs. These hairs are only located below the skin line, and as a result, the creature has a massive blind spot where its hard bone shell is.
Civilization and Culture
History
The Canotu was first discovered by the Fariniath Family when they arrived at the Merios Lake in 24997 AYM. For the first 4 years of the Family's stay, they used the Canotus for food, and reduced their population to around 11. However, for the majority of their history, the Family did not interact much with them. It was only in 22894 AYM when the first Canotus were tamed by Lotao, and only 6 years later, during the Tayzem Campaign, the Canotus were used during the Battle of Jauuvain.
However, years after that conflict, the Fariniath Family kept the Canotus from anyone else. Around 22880 AYM they hid them deep underground, and constructed a massive chamber around 1 km beneath the Arbin Mountains. There, the Canotus' rapturous nature caused great earthquakes and rockslides. As they fostered underground, they enlarged the chamber from a 4x4x2 meter to around a 13x14x5 room. During their stay their population more than tripled, to a grand total of around 35.
In 22721 AYM the Canotus' digging combined with the erosion caused by the Arbin River caused the chamber to become exposed to the outside, and river water flowed in, draining the River. This led to the rediscovery of the Canotu in 11 Geta-Eimarae of that year. After they were let out, the Canotus were left to themselves and they eventually spread east and south. Nowadays, the population has risen to around 24,000, and they can be spotted on all three continents and some species have even developed the ability to swim.
However, years after that conflict, the Fariniath Family kept the Canotus from anyone else. Around 22880 AYM they hid them deep underground, and constructed a massive chamber around 1 km beneath the Arbin Mountains. There, the Canotus' rapturous nature caused great earthquakes and rockslides. As they fostered underground, they enlarged the chamber from a 4x4x2 meter to around a 13x14x5 room. During their stay their population more than tripled, to a grand total of around 35.
In 22721 AYM the Canotus' digging combined with the erosion caused by the Arbin River caused the chamber to become exposed to the outside, and river water flowed in, draining the River. This led to the rediscovery of the Canotu in 11 Geta-Eimarae of that year. After they were let out, the Canotus were left to themselves and they eventually spread east and south. Nowadays, the population has risen to around 24,000, and they can be spotted on all three continents and some species have even developed the ability to swim.
Real creative anatomy for a real creative dietary need!