Inocanthid

The Inocanthid is a large octopus with the ability to walk. They have a light shell on their heads, two thin tentacles in between their legs, and a venomous bite. They have a preferred hunting strategy of hit and run, where they rush in to inject venom in their target, before running away. They also tend to avoid confrontations as much as possible, due to their small size and weak bodies.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Inocanthids have large soft heads encased in a thin shell, taking up most of its body length. The shell is lightly fused to the body, and thus, barely noticeable. Their eight legs are trunk-shaped, with two thin tentacles in between the first and second pair. The undersides of the tentacles have small sharp serrations made for latching onto a prey item.

Biological Traits

Varities living under the Wastes  will often have ice growing on their heads, while varieties under the Forests will have the serrations on their tentacle clubs adapted for cutting through foliage.

Genetics and Reproduction

Inocanthids breed after a short competition with each other. Inocanthids are likely to meet many other members of their species in their lives, and when they find one they wish to mate with, the pair will engage in various physical activities. Most often they will race each other, to test each other's speed. Sometimes, one will pounce on the other, and wait to see if the other can push them off. They go back and forth to get more accustomed to each other, before eventually laying their batch of eggs. The mother will carry them in her tentacles, before setting them on the ground. The parents will then take turns guarding the eggs until they hatch.

Growth Rate & Stages

As soon as the young hatch, one of their parents will gather small soft bodied creatures from the cave walls, to bring back to the young to eat. These creatures start out looking much like the adults, only lacking eyes. They spend some of their time simply staying close to the nest, eating whatever their father brings them for the time being. As soon as their eyes start growing, they'll begin to travel with their parents in practice hunts, with some climbing onto their parent's back to escape their siblings. As adults, they will live with their family until their parents die, where the group splits into smaller groups.

Ecology and Habitats

Inocanthids dwell in the Pocket Caves. They are found constantly traveling to new hunting grounds to lie in wait of passing prey. Some have been found playing with their companions, either racing each other or attempting to pounce on each other's backs. Varieties under the Dunes spend some of their time digging through the sand, likely in order to clear new pathways. On top of this, some specimens have also been found using their tentacles to punch small creatures for no apparent reason.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Inocanthids mainly feed on Giant Cave Crabs and Ground Crawlers. Their most used method of attack is to sneak up behind their prey, racing in when they least suspect it, and grabbing onto their bodies with their legs and tentacles. They inject a good dose of their venom, then scurry away before they can get attacked themselves. As their prey moves on in an attempt to escape, the Inocanthid will sneak around behind them, until they drop dead from the venom. The venom liquifies a prey's organs, which doubles as a means of making their carcass easier to consume for them.

Additional Information

Social Structure

These creatures are not alway found in pairs, but when they are, they have been found to be particularly social with one another. They tend to work together while coordinating hunts, and they always help each other whenever a large opponent attacks them. When these creatures are young, they interact a lot with their siblings, racing each other around the nest and pouncing on each other from behind.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

The Inocanthid is deaf, and thus relies on sight and smell to get around its habitat. It most often relies on smell to get around, as it is more developed than its eyes. It only ever relies on sight to get away from the Armored Proboscis Worms that prowl their habitat.

Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms

Some Inocanthids have been observed carrying plants to their nesting grounds in order to attract various grubs and snails to come into their domain, where they can use them to feed their young.

Scientific Name

Inocanthidae ambulos

Lifespan

Unknown

Average Weight

190 lbs.

Average Length

4 ft.

Average Physique

Slender

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Yellow skin with dark spots, pale eyes

Geographic Distribution

• The Air Pocket Caves

Average Intelligence
High