Dwarf Harenotaur

This species of somewhat miniaturized harenotaur has adapted for a smaller and more agile lifestyle. Despite its direct competition with more basal species of its lineage, it still ended up being successful due to its numerous advantages over these other species. Over time, the Dwarf Harenotaur became successful enough to completely outcompete the tuitalope. Being smaller and more numerous, the barlowe tuitrok has not gone entirely extinct, but has become threatened as a result of its inferior mobility and other disadvantages.

The main adaptation that protects the dwarf harenotaur is a more developed hearing system. Its short and sensitive hearing bristles have become even thinner and more finely tuned. A short canal has formed to protect these setae from the useless white noise produced by wind, as well as to allow directionality to their hearing. While this method of auditory perception is nowhere near that of a well-developed asterzoan ear, it is better than the crude hearing of its ancestors. On the other hand, the larger defensive bristles now cover most of the body, as opposed to only existing on the edges of segments. This makes biting any part of a dwarf harenotaur’s exoskeleton unpleasant and possibly harmful, giving predators an incentive to use their small and less developed limb claws as their safest means of attack. To solve the problem of their leg fins being irritated or scratched themselves, their cuticle has become thicker and more chitinous. A ray-like pattern still develops on the surface due genetic drift in the pigmentation.

Due to their much higher neck maneuverability, the dwarf harenotaur also has a feeding advantage over the tuitalope. While the tuitalope is able to easily eat most petrolignum crystals, smaller ground flora are basically off the menu, and most of their water has to come from the fungal core of crystal leaves. A more flexible neck allows the dwarf harenotaur to pick smaller morsels off the ground, as well as allowing them to easily drink water from rivers and waterholes. Additionally, the dwarf harenotaur is small enough to be able to lean on a kralstalk to increase their height and nibble on its lower crystals, similarly to the reaching whitejaw.