Grazerbeest

The grazerbeest split from grovestalkers that started to live in the Banelord waterways. Unlike its ancestor, the grazerbeest is fully herbivorous and considerably larger; this is due to the major lack of competition in the Banelord waterways, allowing it to become nearly as large as neosiluros can get. Its larger size also makes it easier to feed on the tuscaloosa fringeweed, which further allows it to utilize the available flora in its environment. In order for it to better feed on its food sources, the grazerbeest has evolved more segments in its neck; this grants further flexibility in the neck and greater pulling strength, allowing it to pull and tear plants that may be deeply rooted in the ground. During times of famine and aridity, they dig a small den to aestivate in until conditions have improved outside.

The grazerbeest not only improved the flexibility in its neck, but also its toes, limbs, and body have evolved more segments to increase its range of motion, improving its ability to move around on land. Because of the increase in size and the lack of good cover in its land, the grazerbeest’s skin has become lighter to reduce the heat absorbed from the sun. The lower half of its tail has merged with the rest of the tail and the bony exoskeleton bit has modified into a plastron that acts similarly to a sled, reducing drag as it treks through the mud.

Going further into adapting on land, the grazerbeest’s young no longer have gills nor do they live in the water like their ancestor’s offspring did. Instead, the larval grazerbeests have evolved the ability to do cutaneous respiration. However, the young still require moisture to breathe, but being in a wetland environment provides enough humidity for them to live. This part of their life is known as the cutaneous stage.

The last change in its evolution is a behavioral one. After female grazerbeests lay their eggs in the soil, under a log, or under a rock, she leaves them behind. However, the male grazerbeest has developed some ability to care for its eggs and young while they are in their cutaneous stage. The male grazerbeest cares for its young by bringing decaying flora to maintain proper moisture levels, along with inadvertently feeding them, and by guarding them from rival males that may steal plant matter from other nests. After about a few weeks of care, the young develop their lungs and are promptly left to fend for themselves.