Poisonous Headass
As it was being preyed on by J. alepouvila, a population of worm headass (W. dontria) evolved to counter that--and, true to its ancestor, it took the lazy route of poison. The poisonous headassâs fat and connective tissues contain a protein which is incredibly poisonous to tarates. When eaten, the poison causes an extreme immune response, with massive inflammation of the digestive system and it causes violent vomiting and diarrhea; if the poison isnât ejected by vomit, the inflamed digestive system can be permanently damaged, often leading to death. The poison has no effect on non-tarates. To warn would-be predators of its poison, the poisonous head-ass is brown in color with bright contrasting stripes.
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The poisonous headass is otherwise very similar to its ancestor. Adults range from 2-3 inches long, and twice a year the adults mate and lay 6-8 small round eggs in a sealed-off burrow to incubate for 2 weeks. Hatchlings have setae all over their bodies as a resistance to water. They are born with 3 segments, but soon grow to a total of 6 segments. Their legs are located on the 4th segment. It primarily feeds on L. clearensis.
