Pig-Nosed Wyrmfish

Pig-Nosed Wyrmfish
Creator	CockatriceFan
Information
Status	Extant
Common Name(s)	Pig-Nosed Wyrmfish, Rooting Wyrmeel
Zones	15
Roles	Base-Consumer, Detritivore
Classification
Genus	Motoslontus
Species	Motoslontus lutumanguis
Evolution
Date	October 31st, 2021
Ancestor	Motoslontus flumucaudus
Descendants	No results

Killislontus flumucaudus had no predators and plenty of food in Zone 15. Some of the population began to inhabit the deeper waters of the river, where the currents were often slower than at the surface but with fewer polyphs to eat. The population adapted to the new conditions and speciating.

30 centimeters long

While the Rooting Wyrmeel (Killislontus lutumanguis) still feeds on the lower leaves of Eodeasensis folufusus and Eodeasensis gelidabulbus, they have also feed on organic matter buried in the substrate. This means any decaying carcasses or dead polyphs are also eaten by this species, although the inability for the Rooting Wyrmeel to rip off chunks of flesh prevents them from taking advantage of recent carcasses.

While they do still fight against the current somewhat like their ancestors, the deeper waters they inhabit mean the flowrate is lower. This led to a case of atavism, where the third pair of side fins lost to reduce drag in their ancestors reappeared. The third pair of fins primarily aid with maneuverability, allowing the Rooting Wyrmeel to make tighter turns. To help find edible particles in the sediment, the Rooting Wyrmeels developed a stiff nose-like protrusion on the upper jaw. This structure allows it dig up any organic matter that could be buried within the substrate and thus provide a nice meal.

The breeding habits of the Rooting Wyrmeel are similar to their ancestor, with females laying around 5-8 eggs among the polyphs growing in the river. With no predators to threaten them, the species also retain the habit of breeding when population numbers are low. This is due to most individuals in the population reaching sexual maturity and the overpopulation that would occur if they bred at a faster pace.