Royal Shieldnewt
Amfivioslontus megaloceros (royal shieldnewt, imperial crown shieldnewt)
- Ancestor: Amfivioslontus manis
- Zone: C
- Size: 19-24 cm long (The bigger size makes some of the smaller zone C muscals to actively avoid competing with it and bigger ones, like A. avianbeakus, to find them more difficult prey)
- Reproduction: The ritual is in essence the same as A. manis’, but instead of just lifting the scales, they also have developed a small muscle that rattles them side-to-side, making a sound similar to that of a rainstick. The louder males with bigger horns are more attractive. The reason that noise attracts females is that scales are harder if the male is healthy, making the sound of collision between them louder.
- Food/Sustenance: Taxonomum florus (including seeds), Lorensia clearensis, Sudonomum vinensis, T. spraticanus, Baby and weak D. major, F. spinensis and eggs from D. ruchuis when they find nests.
- Predators: Draconiraptor ptisipteryx, Avianaquarius avianbeakus (weak and babies)
- Description:
Adaptations: A. megaloceros has more pointy scales above its eyes, which make trying to grab them by the head something not a lot of muscals want to do. It has evolved the ability to hear, a membrane situated at the sides of the skull connected to a nerve senses vibrations produced by soundwaves allowing manis to hear low frequency sounds, which gives it a great advantage over other organisms, being able to hear both prey and predator. The rattling of their scales can also be used as a threat towards predators and other competitors. The back legs are stronger and more muscular, making it better at moving on land, also allowing A. megaloceros to jump or even standing on them with the help of the tail as a third support point for a short period of time when needed (for example, standing on the back legs to use the strong front limbs to push or stomp a competitor). The spikes on the tail are scales that evolved to prevent other muscals to attack the tail.