Creature:Roalch

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Scientific Classification
Domain: Eukaryota (Complex Organisms) Kingdom: Animalia (Animals) Subkingdom: Eumetazoa (Tissue into Germ Layers) Superphylum: Ecdysozoa (Shed Exoskeletons) Phylum: Arthropoda (Arthropods) Subphylum: Crustacea (Crustaceans) Infraphylum: -- "--" (--) Superclass: Tozectus "Tozect" (Tozectian Crustaceans) Series: Zandiforme "Sand Form" (Survivors of the Great Red Plague) Class: -- "--" (--) Subclass: -- "--" (--) Superorder: -- "--" (--) Order: -- "--" (--) Suborder: -- "--" (--) Family: -- "--" (--) Subfamily: -- "--" (--) Genus: -- "--" (--) Species: -- "--" (Roalches) Binominal Name: --

Statistics
Species Type: Cold-blooded Subterranean Crustacean Lifestyle: Solitary Detrivore Hunt/Forage Success Rate: 100% Scavenge (95% success rate) Armor: Possess a shell-like exoskeleton. This usually provides adequate defense; however, when the Roalch grows too large for its exoskeleton, it must be shed -- in Roalches it is shed progressively. This means the moult takes place in two stages. The posterior half of the exoskeleton is lost first, soon followed by the anterior half a few days later. During this time the Roalches are defenseless, and generally are forced into hiding. Defenses: Roalches can curl up into a defensive ball to protect against same-sized foes and predators. However, this defense is useless against significantly larger foes. Weapons: -- Tools: -- Method of Eating: -- Reproductive Rate: -- Gestation: -- Offspring Incubation: The eggs are carried by the female in a patch on the underside of her body near her drygills, for a total of 2 weeks until they finally hatch, at which point their on their own. These offspring are generally colored white. Number of Offspring: -- Offspring Survival Rate (before age of maturity): -- Singular/Plural/Possessive: Roalch/Roalches/Roalchen

Physiology
Roalches are the major decomposers of their homeplanet of Tozect. They live strictly underground, and are generally found infesting the many crevices and cracks in the walls of the Ancient Hives; hives remaining from a gigantic worm, now believed to be extinct. They have a rigid, segmented, and calcareous exoskeleton, and fourteen jointed limbs.

Like most species that remain on the planet, they will perish if they venture to the surface, due to the actions of the local sapients, the Toryds several decades ago.

They breathe through gills specialized for the atmosphere of Tozect called drygills. The name is somewhat misleading, as the Roalches still require moisture to breathe; only very minute traces of it.

Roalches are usually found close to the entrance of the ancient hives that dot the vast deserts. Generally nocturnal, they hide during the day to try and avoid death. However, if a creature drops dead, the Roalches will sense it with their very sensitive tentacles and their single, cyclopean compound eye, retract their eye and curl up into a ball, rolling towards the sensed prey. Once they arrive, they uncurl and climb on the body, where they tear at the flesh with their retractible mandibles. This ball-like form can also be used if the Roalch is cornered or attacked, as it provides excellent defense against same-sized foes (although a single foot fall could easily crush it).

Trivia

 * The Roalches were initially created as an indigenous inhabitant of the main planet in a Metroid fangame, created and worked on by Somarinoa.