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Description

Planet: Xenosulia

Common name: Thorny springhopper

Scientific name: Acanthopus sunaziensis

Size: 20 - 30 cm in length

Diet: hingeflies, occasionally spherozoans or small tripodans

Habitat and range: Akasaran Desert

Reproduction: protogynous sequential hermaphroditism

Sulaciforms are an order of laminites specialised for preying on the small flying cardozoans, or “hingeflies”. Their hopping movement serves them well for this, allowing them to move quickly in short bursts to catch their rapidly moving prey. Their long, extendible tongue has a sticky pad at the end, although once caught they will usually need to bite into the hingefly to break open their hard wing-shell with their strong jaws.

Desert dwelling species like tend to be more heavily armoured, with the thorny springhopper having a number of spines and horns growing out of the exoskeleton. Despite this, the exoskeleton is also thinner than normal to more efficiently disperse heat. The shape of their exoskeleton is still enough to make them unpleasant to eat, in spite of it being softer, and they are slightly poisonous. Although they’re not toxic enough to kill most species, many predators will still avoid them for this reason.

Description

Planet: Xenosulia

Common name: Thorny springhopper

Scientific name: Acanthopus sunaziensis

Size: 20 - 30 cm in length

Diet: hingeflies, occasionally spherozoans or small tripodans

Habitat and range: Akasaran Desert

Reproduction: protogynous sequential hermaphroditism

Sulaciforms are an order of laminites specialised for preying on the small flying cardozoans, or “hingeflies”. Their hopping movement serves them well for this, allowing them to move quickly in short bursts to catch their rapidly moving prey. Their long, extendible tongue has a sticky pad at the end, although once caught they will usually need to bite into the hingefly to break open their hard wing-shell with their strong jaws.

Desert dwelling species like tend to be more heavily armoured, with the thorny springhopper having a number of spines and horns growing out of the exoskeleton. Despite this, the exoskeleton is also thinner than normal to more efficiently disperse heat. The shape of their exoskeleton is still enough to make them unpleasant to eat, in spite of it being softer, and they are slightly poisonous. Although they’re not toxic enough to kill most species, many predators will still avoid them for this reason.