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Description
To those new to the Underworld, their first blurred glimpse of a Rock Racer may lead to the idea that it is some type of snake. Their long serpentine body can give that impression, but if you were able to slow one down for a moment, you would clearly see that this creature is actually a mammal. Rock Racers appear to be related to other species of moles, possessing the digging claws and sensor packed nose that they have. While the other species are adapted to a slow, digging lifestyle, the Rock Racer lives up to its name by sticking to a life of speed. Its many clawed limbs work in tandem with its flexible, snake-like body to allow this species to scurry about at an impressive pace. This crazy movement speed of theirs is mainly used to avoid predators, as their small size makes them tempting targets for hungry animals. With their long bodies, they prefer to hide and travel in tiny rock chutes and bore holes that pepper the Underworld. These tight spaces are perfect for them, as they usually possess worms and grubs they can sniff out, and are also too small for larger predators to access.

If it were up to the Rock Racers, I imagine they would never leave the safety of those tunnels. Unfortunately, not all of these tiny tunnels are connected to one another, and a Rock Racer can quickly gobble up the few invertebrates that hide within them. With no food left in this small system, the Rock Racer is forced to find new chutes to squeeze into and search. This means exiting the safety of their cramped network and traversing the dangerous expanse of caverns. This is where their speed comes in, as the Rock Racers want to spend as little time as possible exposed in the open air. When they seek to leave their shelter, the Rock Racer will extend its sensitive nose out of the opening and use it to scope the area out. If it does not smell predators in the vicinity, it will make a mad dash out into the cavern, frantically searching for another bolt hole for it to enter. With their speed and sensor-filled nose, a Rock Racer can find a new tunnel to slip into in seconds, well before any predator has a chance to catch them. These little guys are so fast, that it wasn't until later in my visit in the Underworld that I was able to properly see one! They had to trap one for me to observe, as there is no way you can watch one in the wild. It doesn't help a natural historian at all in their research to see brief blurs of fur for only a few moments. Most of the times I saw them was when they startled me during tunnel expeditions. Having them burst from their hiding spots like that is a good way to get the heart racing! I recall asking one of my guides if demons have ever used these creatures for races before. In my mind I imagined that it would be a good opportunity for gambling and what not, as many cultures on the surface world use certain species for such amusement. They told me that these critters were indeed used long ago for racing, but this fad didn't last long at all. It turned out Rock Racers moved too fast for anyone to able to tell which one crossed the finish line first, and when large sums of money are on the line, saying "I think this one won" isn't very wise. Needless to say, after several violent brawls, everyone concluded it was a stupid idea.

Chlora Myron

Dryad Natural Historian

-----------------------------------------------

Trying to add some mammals to this world! The key word is "trying!"

Description
To those new to the Underworld, their first blurred glimpse of a Rock Racer may lead to the idea that it is some type of snake. Their long serpentine body can give that impression, but if you were able to slow one down for a moment, you would clearly see that this creature is actually a mammal. Rock Racers appear to be related to other species of moles, possessing the digging claws and sensor packed nose that they have. While the other species are adapted to a slow, digging lifestyle, the Rock Racer lives up to its name by sticking to a life of speed. Its many clawed limbs work in tandem with its flexible, snake-like body to allow this species to scurry about at an impressive pace. This crazy movement speed of theirs is mainly used to avoid predators, as their small size makes them tempting targets for hungry animals. With their long bodies, they prefer to hide and travel in tiny rock chutes and bore holes that pepper the Underworld. These tight spaces are perfect for them, as they usually possess worms and grubs they can sniff out, and are also too small for larger predators to access.

If it were up to the Rock Racers, I imagine they would never leave the safety of those tunnels. Unfortunately, not all of these tiny tunnels are connected to one another, and a Rock Racer can quickly gobble up the few invertebrates that hide within them. With no food left in this small system, the Rock Racer is forced to find new chutes to squeeze into and search. This means exiting the safety of their cramped network and traversing the dangerous expanse of caverns. This is where their speed comes in, as the Rock Racers want to spend as little time as possible exposed in the open air. When they seek to leave their shelter, the Rock Racer will extend its sensitive nose out of the opening and use it to scope the area out. If it does not smell predators in the vicinity, it will make a mad dash out into the cavern, frantically searching for another bolt hole for it to enter. With their speed and sensor-filled nose, a Rock Racer can find a new tunnel to slip into in seconds, well before any predator has a chance to catch them. These little guys are so fast, that it wasn't until later in my visit in the Underworld that I was able to properly see one! They had to trap one for me to observe, as there is no way you can watch one in the wild. It doesn't help a natural historian at all in their research to see brief blurs of fur for only a few moments. Most of the times I saw them was when they startled me during tunnel expeditions. Having them burst from their hiding spots like that is a good way to get the heart racing! I recall asking one of my guides if demons have ever used these creatures for races before. In my mind I imagined that it would be a good opportunity for gambling and what not, as many cultures on the surface world use certain species for such amusement. They told me that these critters were indeed used long ago for racing, but this fad didn't last long at all. It turned out Rock Racers moved too fast for anyone to able to tell which one crossed the finish line first, and when large sums of money are on the line, saying "I think this one won" isn't very wise. Needless to say, after several violent brawls, everyone concluded it was a stupid idea.

Chlora Myron

Dryad Natural Historian

-----------------------------------------------

Trying to add some mammals to this world! The key word is "trying!"