Ambulochina

A small creature with a radially symmetrical body, with its walking legs covered in armor. Living mainly in groups, these creatures use tactics of hit and run in order to survive. When a predator comes near, some of these creatures will run forward and inject venom into the threat, while the entire group scatters. They can also play dead to appear inconspicuous, and scurry away if a large creature gets too close to them, able to throw them off with sudden quick movements.

Basic Information

Anatomy

The Ambulochina is built like a starfish, with five legs sprouting from a central point of symmetry. The creature's legs have an exoskeletal shell covering the outermost segments, and there is a ring of stalked eyes in the center of its body. Its mouth is positioned directly underneath the body, with a ring of sharp feeding appendages to inject venom into predators.

Biological Traits

Male Ambulochinas will often have more pronounced armor plating, possibly a feature to court females into mating.

Genetics and Reproduction

Ambulochinas will attempt to mate with another member of their cluster, attempting to get their attention by walking on them. Unlike the norm for mating in the wild, these creatures use a special appendage that emerges from their mouthparts to fertilize their gametes. As the mother's eggs form, they'll begin clumping together in a leathery sac, which she carries with her mouthparts. The father will protect her at all costs while the egg sac is being formed, with some other cluster members occasionally helping. Eventually, the young will violently burst from the sac, and scurry all over the place.

Growth Rate & Stages

These creatures are born blind, and require at least some assistance with finding their way to their parents. The cluster will then prioritize the young's feeding needs, with some sacrificing their meal for the newborns' sake, however, they'll still be too small to reach the Roof Vines. Eventually, their eyes will grow to full length, and their armor will be able to withstand much more than it could before. Just as they reach adulthood, their venom glands will grow, and they'll begin practicing playing dead in preparation for a predator attack. Then, some will leave their cluster in search of another in need of help.

Ecology and Habitats

Ambulochinas live exclusively in the Pocket Caves, able to stick onto any surface. Most have been observed gathering in groups with each other, as they are very weak on their own. Usually, only one member is allowed to scout for food, and bring it back to the cluster. Some lone Ambulochinas have been found solely on the cave roof, possibly in order to evade larger creatures on the ground.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Ambulochinas mainly feed on Roof Vines, and specific types of algae that grow in their habitat. Most of the time, one member of a cluster will crawl onto the ceiling to chop off a Roof Vine with their mouthparts, and send it falling to the floor for the cluster to eat. Like with most small creatures, they become defensive when getting a drink, out of fear of predators lurking in the water. 

Additional Information

Social Structure

Ambulochinas will gather in clusters with one another, with no apparent limit on their size. These clusters are rarely formed from parents starting a family, and are more often caused by lone adults actively searching for clusters to join. Although they have a habit of helping each other survive, they appear to care very little about each other otherwise, as the only time they'll interact is to attempt to mate. Parent Ambulochinas will also leave their offspring to fend for themselves as soon as they reach adulthood.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

This creature's hearing is much better than its sight, while its sight is still useful for watching out for creatures that glow, mainly the Armored Proboscis Worm. Other than that, its hearing is what it mainly uses to get by.

Scientific Name

Ambuloasterdae panolia

Lifespan

Unknown

Average Height

2 ft.

Average Weight

45 lbs.

Average Physique

Slender

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Pale red skin, red armor

Geographic Distribution

• The Air Pocket Caves

Average Intelligence
Low