Spinerash
Length: individual colony 2 cm in diameter in optimal conditions, but often much smaller due to a given host’s carrying capacity, closer to 1 cm on average.
Description: Tubincia horridus lives in the wetlands of zone H with a wide range of hosts. The Spinerash grows in clumps on the side of veins rather than inside them, redirecting and filtering some blood flow. Individuals emit growth limiting chemicals that prevent hosts from being overrun by the parasites.
They specialize on Tarate hosts and spread by growing out of the host's skin in a lumpy, inflamed rash with spines. Spinerash will produce antimicrobial chemicals to prevent the open wounds from becoming infected. Other Muscals coming in contact with the spines will have fragments break off in their skin and will grow deeper into suitable hosts, typically towards small veins. Spinerash will emit chemical signals that increase blood flow to their area. They can reproduce sexually as well, whenever it detects humidity, via a system of small hairs on and around the spines that unfurl when moistened, it releases gamete-filled fluid, the goal is to land in liquid water, where the gametes will drift until they meet those of another individual. Gametes develop into small spores that twirl around with their cilia, following chemical signals such as Tarate saliva. Spores have a few spines on their cell membrane, which they will use to violently tear their way into a host when they find one, the spore’s energy stores only last around a week if no suitable host is found in that time it will die. Spores in a host rapidly divide their cells, forming a spongy matrix to the nearest blood vessel. Most colonies will produce growth limiting chemicals preventing others from growing in the same host, successful colonies are typical 1 cm size.
The rash produced by Spinerash tends to be painful, causing the host to often attract attention as it acts in pain, thus increasing the chances a predator gets infected.
