Pseudoarmadillididae (OPEN SPECIES) by rah-t on DeviantArt (original) (raw)

IMPORTANT NOTE: I have used the incorrect term "saprophagous" when I should've used "detritivores", to say that they eat dead organic matter. My apologies.

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NEW OPEN SPECIES!! Feel free to make your own/characters/adopts/whatever. Credit is appreciated but not mandatory! I'd love to see what you make though ;-;

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EXTRA INFO:

Some, very rarely, will go through a metamorphosis, but their new form varies wildly from one individual to another. This guide will not touch upon the metamorphosed individuals much, as they are extremely rare and not well understood or studied.

Their bodies have a rubbery and soft, but very durable, exoskeleton that absorbs nutrients and water from the environment. Their exoskeleton has mock-segments, probably a remnant of an ancestor that had a properly segmented body. They are highly resistant to infections and poisons due to their secondary skin layer underneath the exoskeleton, which acts like a filter. They are squishy and, as their few organs are loose inside their bodies, they do not get harmed by being squeezed or even stepped upon. Of course, they do feel pain and under extreme pressure or stretching their exoskeleton can tear. Sharp objects and very high temperatures can also harm them. Their brain to body mass ratio is huge, and they possess "skulls", hardened cases around their brain that protects them from damage. They are hermaphrodites but they cannot self-fertilize, and they only reproduce when their family members start decreasing significantly. They birth 5-10 live young, after a gestation period of 2 weeks. It is yet unknown how many years they can live, as specimens kept in captivity have been known to exceed 80 years of age and counting. They are extremely high in protein and fat, which makes them a tasty and easy source of food for many many animals. This means most do not live over a couple years in the wild. They usually stop growing in size at around 5 years of age, and they rarely grow larger than 2cm in length. They do not exhibit signs of aging and seem immune to the sun's radiation.

They are very intelligent for their size, naturally curious and surprisingly sociable. In the wild, they tend to live in families of 20-50 individuals. They occasionally create nests, especially during periods with an abundance of dead plant matter, but they usually live semi-nomadically. They recognize each other and communicate by complex electrical signals they pass through their skin, scent and very high frequency "songs' that humans cannot hear. Some individuals possess antennae or soft horn-like protrusions on their heads, which they also seem to use to communicate. One of their unique behaviors is chain-forming. Its exact purpose is unknown, but it's most likely a way for families to stick together during floods or strong winds that might otherwise separate the members. It also seems to serve their nomadic lifestyle. By forming chains there's less chance of a member getting lost along the way. They attach to each other using their front pair of legs, which have a lot of tiny hooks on the bottom, as well as the ability to form suction cups using the entire pad of the foot. This also allows them to climb most surfaces and attach themselves securely onto them.

Other than an important part of any ecosystem, they make excellent pets, as they are very easy to take care of, hardy and entertaining to watch and interact with. The important thing is to keep them in a secure enclosure they cannot get out of, or you risk them being eaten or hurt. A medium sized glass tank with adequate height (they love to climb) and frequently changing enrichment in the form of decorations, like sticks, hides and other items should be great for a family! Of course, bigger is always better for these curious animals. They do best on a stable diet of dry/decaying leaves, fruit and veggies, with occasional thin sticks and clean bones. A salt rock can be provided but it's not necessary. In terms of cleaning, they produce very little waste as they use up most of their food for energy, and what they do produce is more like odorless, dry dust secreted from their skin, so no cleaning is required beyond some occasional dusting and getting rid of uneaten food. They do not need heating or cooling, and while a deep bowl of water is always a good source of enrichment for them, as they like swimming, they only need occasional misting if the air has been particularly dry. You can easily tell if your wormblings need hydration, because their exoskeleton starts wrinkling, looking dull and cracking. Wormblings will recognize humans that interact with them frequently, and will enjoy climbing all over their owners. They seem to be able to sense a human's emotions, though it's uncertain if they smell hormones or detect electrical signals to do so. They have been used to diagnose certain conditions such as chronic inflammation and cysts though this is still a developing field. They can be trained to perform simple tricks. Sometimes they will bond to a human (or multiple) and consider them part of their family. They will stick close to a trusted human when in unfamiliar territory, as they will see them as the largest wormbling, and thus the oldest and most experienced, which is the hierarchy in which they form their chains (the eldest in the front).

Of course, you can always keep wild ones in your garden, balcony or indoors garden to help with cleaning up dead leaves and such. Birds, cats, rodents and other animals will happily eat them. The only animal that doesn't seem to like them is racoons. They will play with them but never try to eat them.

The only real danger or problem they can cause, is in the extremely rare chance that a wormbling starts going through metamorphosis. If you see one of your wormblings pupating, you must immediately call your local wildlife sanctuary. Their unpredictable metamorphosis can pose a threat to humans. While it's sad to have to let go of your wormbling, this is important for not just your safety, but also the safety of those around you. Your wormbling will be allowed to metamorphose and live their life safely in a specialized facility. Due to the nature of those metamorphoses, you will not be able to visit your wormbling. If you allow a wormbling to metamorphose outside of those special facilities you might face criminal charges. Please make sure to contact local wildlife sanctuaries even if you see a pupated wormbling in the wild, as they can be a big threat to the environment. Killing a pupating wormbling on purpose is also prohibited in most countries. Raising or hunting them for food is in general allowed. They are a good source of protein and work best as an emergency meal due to their high calorie count.