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Keratipoda

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Description

Like arthropods on earth, the keratipods' sclerotized exoskeleton and knack for colonizing the land and other difficult habitats multiple times in their evolutionary history have amounted to extreme levels of diversity. A small fraction of this diversity can be seen here, and more info can be seen at [link] , too.

A. Borschut: A Sheewan tetronychan paracrustacean. The dark coloration may be an adaptation to the visual field of birds, which cannot see in the higher wavelength spectrum. The chelifer at the tip of the tail is used by the male to clasp the female during spermatophore transfer.

B. Parrot Bug: A giant voracious fibropteran predator, feeding on spat-possums and other small vertebrates. The wings are formed from modified and matted setae under the sclerites, but in this case are too small to support the animal in flight.

C. Singing Rat-Spider: A mussipygid radiognath. The front limbs are elongated and lined with teeth, while the first and second tergites are elongated and serrated on the inside edges. The front legs are rubbed between the tergites to make a rasping sound.

D. Slion Hopper: A small fibropteran that feeds on vegetable juices.

E. Fiery Bristlepillar: Not actually a keratipod, but a podovermid, one of their ancestors. This animal crawls along the sea floor, feeding on detritus. Predators attacking the head get a mouthful of stinging antennae, ones attacking from behind find themselves facing a frightening "face".

F. Grofoarter: A large conchostean.
G. Shrinfoarter: A small conchostean.

H. Bulletfly: A small, extremely aerodynamic fibropteran. It takes no notice of stationary objects, instead smashing into them or breaking through. Large swarms of them have been known to take down entire glumpits.

I. Goatshoe Crab: a mussipygid
J. Quadrocaud: An onychognath, one of the first of the neostome keratipods.

K. Stickerflea: An ectoparasite of vertebrates a bit like a cross between a tick, a scale insect, and a springtail.
L. Blank Slate: A Shrimburger polyonychan.
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Saxophlutist's avatar
I assume the podovermid is analogues to Onychphorans and lobopods on Earth? (With those group associated with being basal to arthropod-like groups)