Mudslider

Lured inland by the abundance of potential prey, the mudslider split from its ancestor and established itself within the interior of the Ovi continent. Here, in the moist, tropical environments, it was able to flourish, quickly establishing itself as an apex predator in the region, though more so due to its size compared to that of the local species, as well as the general lack of competition, rather than through sheer strength and cunning. As adults, they will often prey upon the innumerable species of twistworms and wortopedes that dot the landscape, using the enlarged fangs on the tips of their tentacle-jaws to secure them before crushing them into consumable chunks. Subadults, meanwhile, instead prey on the young of the previously mentioned genera, as well as consuming the abundant plentmowers, which helps to keep their numbers in check. The larval young, being free-swimming organisms, are detritivores just as the larval stages of their ancestors were.

More serpentine in form than their ancestors were, the mudslider has further taken to life on land by adapting their former gill openings. Adults no longer possess gills, and the former gill-chambers have been reduced to tubes that connect the facial nostrils to the lung-chambers. Said nostrils have become more elongated, and can be observed to visibly retract and extend as they pull in oxygen. The lung-chamber spiracles have become vestigial and are all but sealed off save for when they molt the keratin covering of their exoskeletons, though even when exposed they no longer function. As such, the mudslider uses only its nostrils to inhale and exhale air. While it has led them to be more successful on land, overall their respiratory system is less efficient compared to that of its cousins, such as the Tail-Walking Mudhopper and the Grovestalker, and has instead compensated by separating it into two chambers that circulate the air before forcing it back out. If at risk, the nostrils are capable of being retracted, though they cannot be effectively sealed off, meaning that adult mudslider are at some risk of drowning should they be submerged in water for too long. Other than this, their respiration is fairly comparable to that of their ancestor.

Similarly to its cousins, the feet of this species have become better adapted to life on land. However, unlike its kin who have distinct legs and feet, the limbs of the mudslider remain completely fused to the sides of their bodies while the claw-like pseudo-toes have developed further. They have enough musculature attachments to allow them to support their weight, and can even scurry about upon them in short bursts. While not particularly fast, especially when compared to terrestrial life across the sea, this form of locomotion is more than enough to outpace most of their prey items.

When mating, the males will impregnate the females while on land before going their separate ways.The females will, after a week or two has passed, then head to the water's edge and dip the lower halves of their bodies into it. Secured onto a stable structure, such as a large rock, they will then lay several dozen eggs onto it. While far fewer eggs are produced, they are both larger and more developed, which in turn leads to larger and more developed offspring as well which tend to have higher survival rates compared to their kin. The larval young will remain in the water for several months before taking to the land, whereupon they will reach sexual maturity within a year or so.