Kronosid

The Kronosid is the result of “supplementing” carried too far. A population of kugards started to occasionally feed on small prey in order to get extra protein, eventually speciating for that task specifically. These omnivorous ambush predators now actively hunt out small arthrotheres to eat, a simple task given the lack of advanced parental care. They particularly favor newborn arthrotheres, as their exoskeleton is weak and not fully chitinized.

Their most noticeable adaptation for their infanticidal tendencies is their strong lateral jaws, capable of crushing its prey’s weak necks. Inside the mouth are short, backwards-pointing teeth that allow the prey to enter the mouth easily. Their previously thin neck has expanded into a larger, crocodile-like throat pouch that allows larger items to be swallowed. If the prey is too large to be swallowed whole, it is often dismembered and eaten in pieces. The inside of the mouth and throat have thicker, armored skin, allowing sharp, chitinous objects to be swallowed. This helps them eat both petrolignum crystals and small arthrotheres, which are the two staples of their diet.

Kronosids are uniquely specialized for both climbing and ground movement, though they are not able to climb to great heights due to their size, and are more active on the ground. Their unique toes have a thicker inner part for running on, and a thinner outer part for holding onto petrolignum roots. They usually climb petrolignum flora to hide from threats and to more easily scout out prey with their keen, motion-sensing eyes. Petrolignum also happen to be what they blend in with best, using their structurally colored mandibles and green spots to conceal themselves amongst crystal foliage. Due to their sexual dimorphism, the females have light brown-colored mandibles. They still undergo a mating ritual, though their sexual display is not as complex as the kugard's.

In order to protect their own babies from being eaten, their larvae are purple with dark spots, similar to their ancestors. These dark spots slowly shift to their newly-evolved green pigment as they age.