Crunchbugs

The Crunchbugs, or keratipods, are probably the most successful phylum of animals On Gossipiboma, mostly due to their variety of form and their hard, horny exoskeletons. The calcaripods were most likely derived from the charcharivermids, or sharkworms. Sharkworms possess the same mouth as most primitive keratipods, they have a porous cuticle for gas exchange, and have bristles on their rostrum. The legs were probably derived from the flattened parapodia of some sharkworms, and the "lungs" were probably invaginations of cuticular pores. The head most likely developed from a reduction of the rostrum, bringing the mouth forward and finally positioning the rostral setae on the forehead, where they served as antennae.

A. Wippnit Clam: This primitive species has become enclosed in its bivalved shell, giving it the appearance of a Terran bivalve.
B. Erkoli: A Conchostean, or Gossipiboman "trilobite"
C. Uponought: A paracrustacean
D. Borschap: Another paracrustacean
E. Vrompipede: A polyonychan