Armored Grazing Spikeshoulder
The Armored Grazing Spikeshoulder (Megaslontus duruhumeropellis) is descended from the Common Grazing Spikeshoulder (Megaslontus acribrachium). Although it is similar to its ancestor, it has developed one major difference: further hardening of the shoulders via increased amounts of cornification on the skin. The "spikes" on the arms and legs are covered with hardened scale-like structures, which are derived from the enlargement and thickening of already-present skin. The outer cells of the scales die in order to harden, which gives them a dull appearance. New cells grow from underneath to prevent the total erosion of the spikes. All four limbs grow these as they share some genes in common.
The cornification of the spikes was selected for as it better protected its hosts from potential predators. Armored Grazing Spikeshoulders are nomadic grazers and regularly consume the grasses of the polyph Clenis (Lorensia clearensis). They grow to one-hundred twenty centimeters (120 cm) in length in hopes to stay safe from predators. Those predators include Dracowyverious raptordracornis, Draconiraptor tromerovenator, and Dracuanguilacerta audioacrus. Young also have to worry about predation from Pseudosukalensis purplensis in addition to the other predators listed, but adults are large enough to be safe from their attacks.
Armored Grazing Spikeshoulders take around a year (1 yr) to achieve sexual maturity and gain size rather quickly to gain safety against predation. Males have taller and more colorful rudders while females have longer and more dull rudders as a form of sexual dimorphism to easily identify eachother's sex. Individuals mate once a month and the female will lay up to fifteen (15) soft eggs and cover them in foliage near the trunks of trees to keep them from drying out. The eggs will hatch in six week's (6 wks) time and the offspring will join the first herd they come across for protection and to maintain genetic diversity. Unlike the fully-grown adults, young have softer shoulder spikes that harden with time, instead resembling the shoulders of the Common Grazing Spikeshoulder at first.
