Spikeshell Ammonite

The Spikeshell Ammonite is an armored cephalopod taking on a life in a school with others of their kind. Their shells are extraordinarily hard, and these creatures take advantage by swimming at high speeds into other creatures, ramming into them with the spikes lining the shells. This is used both for self defense and to subdue prey for them to feed.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Spikeshells are large amorphous creatures stuck inside a spiral-shaped shell. The shell's backside has rows of spikes jutting out, and a section of the frontal shell opens and closes like a lid. They have seven long and robust arms with small spines on the undersides, positioned around a small beak, and below two glowing blue eyes.

Biological Traits

Male members of this species will have extendable skin flaps in between their arms, used only for display purposes. They have small glowing patches of skin lining the outsides, thought to add to the display in some way.

Genetics and Reproduction

Due to living in tight groupings together for most of their lifespans, these creatures rarely keep to themselves, and are rather picky when it comes to mating. Males will most often attempt to attract another ammonite by displaying their arms, fanning them out and stretching their glowing membrane in between them. Should two ammonites mate, their eggs will be laid right in the middle of their territory, and many other school members will band together to protect the eggs, swimming around in circles to keep watch. It is thought that these behaviors can potentially give predators a clue that there is a fresh batch of eggs to eat.

Growth Rate & Stages

Baby ammonites emerge with their shells in an underdeveloped state, and require extra protection from the adults until they fully form. In the school, the young display high levels of interaction with one another, sometimes trying to ram into each other in reverse. After their shells become hard enough, they'll be able to have at least some chance at defending themselves, but their parents will still stick close by. As adults, Spikeshells will either stay in their birth school, or attempt to live on their own for a while.

Ecology and Habitats

These ammonites live in the Forests, and stay well above the seabed for their entire lives. Gathering in large schools, they claim territories for themselves, which are usually identifiable by the large cracks in the ground. Occasionally, when attacking a larger predator, Spikeshells will ram themselves into the ground, creating small fissures with their hard shells. Rarely, these creatures will travel from place to place to find a new territory to settle in.

Dietary Needs and Habits

These ammonites prefer to feed off of swarms of chemosynthetic plankton that pass by their territories, but occasionally, they may band together to take down a Green Ray or a Lathradon passing by. Most school members will go onto the attack to try to stun the prey, before one latches onto the prey's head with its arms, injecting a dose of venom into their head. The venom will shortly kill them by liquifying their organs, simultaneously making them easier to eat for the Spikeshells.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Spikeshells will often work together with other members of their species, forming large schools where they can help each other survive. They spend most of the time floating in space, feeding on plankton passing by, and occasionally playing with other school members. Most schools will welcome any outsiders they come across, lest they don't act with hostility. When a predator comes into contact with the school, the ammonites will try to ram into the threat in a frenzy, in order to tempt it to back down. Some will also attempt to latch on and inject the predator with venom. If a predator manages to get the upper hand, the school may split and become separated from then on, with the smaller schools traveling in search of new territory.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

These ammonites mostly rely on sight to gather information on their surroundings, mainly due to their hearing and smell being underdeveloped in comparison.

History

Spikeshells originally traveled alone, when the Forests' ecosystem was simple. They continuously got killed, virtually unable to defend themselves besides hiding inside their shells, even with their spikes and venomous bite. Eventually, the ammonites adapted, learning to work together over a rather short amount of time, and forming their social structures that are known today.

Scientific Name

Mortoniceras navagio

Lifespan

Unknown

Average Weight

270 lbs.

Average Length

5 ft.

Average Physique

Round

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Red skin, green-brown shell, glowing blue eyes

Geographic Distribution

• The Kelp Forests

Average Intelligence
Fairly high