Lathradon

Lathrodons are skittish creatures, relying on a life of secluding themselves from the outside world. They cover themselves in foliage and make use of their chromatophores to hide from predators in their environment. Their favorite method of escape is to drive themselves through the ground, kicking up a large cloud of sand to distract the threat, then change their color to mimic their surroundings. It has been found that this color change can only last for a short while.

Basic Information

Anatomy

The Lathradon is a long slender creature with a long snout reminiscent of ichthyosaurs, large angular fins, and several ridges on their skin for catching plant matter surrounding them. Their eyes are round, and glow a deep green color, with hardened scales protruding above them. Their frontal and dorsal fins also have small serrations lining the insides.

Genetics and Reproduction

Lathradons will have little trouble mating due to the species' solitary lifestyle, able to invest heavily in any partner they come across, only turning away if they become aggressive over who gets a meal. Lathradon eggs are buried under piles of discarded foliage, preferred by the parents to be in areas dense with plant life. The parents won't stick around for long, and prefer to rely on the eggs' ability to stay hidden for their reproduction.

Growth Rate & Stages

Baby Lathradons will have to squirm their way out of their nest, giving time for their eyes and fins to properly develop so they can have a chance at surviving. After a brief period of aggression, the young will learn to stick close together to survive, and will always be on the move. They mainly feed on newborns of other species as well as eggs, and will roll around on the ground in the hopes of plant matter getting stuck to their bodies. Later in life, their chromatophores will develop and be able to mimic any color around them, and thus they'll begin to lead solitary lifestyles with their newfound ability.

Ecology and Habitats

Lathradons are residents of the Forests, and prefer to avoid large open areas at any cost, settling mainly in the seabed where the foliage is the thickest. On top of prioritizing camouflage, they also spend their time scaring off smaller creatures with their ghastly appearances. There have also been recorded instances of Lathradons sticking close to mature Kelp Gliders for extra protection, and the large arthropods don't seem to mind.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Lathradons will feed on plankton, certain small ferns, and even Probefish from time to time. They prefer to hunt the Probefish by ambush, though they rarely put themselves into conflict with other predatory creatures in their habitat. If there is another predator nearby, they may abandon their meal and search for another, or simply carry it somewhere safe if possible.

Biological Cycle

If a Lathradon gathers enough foliage on its body, then patches of algae will start to grow in their rough hides. It is thought that the algae may get dense enough that the entire creature appears as a living plant abomination, rendering their chromatophores useless.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Lathradons rely very heavily on sight and hearing to get around, though they also make do with touch by feeling their surroundings with their pectoral fins.

Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms

Because this species has a habit of brushing against any plant it can find, numerous plants using animal dispersal reproduction take advantage of the Lathradon the most. These creatures carry the most spores of any creature in its habitat, and take a lot of breaks to brush them off.

Scientific Name

Mixosaurus taeda

Lifespan

Unknown

Average Weight

250 lbs.

Average Length

7 ft.

Average Physique

Streamlined

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Brown, grey, or green in color, glowing green eyes

Geographic Distribution

• The Kelp Forests

Average Intelligence
Average