Cursoriopedes

Cursoriopedes split from their ancestor in response to predation. They have developed an unusual method of escaping from predators, almost uncharacteristic for their arthropod-like appearance if it were not for inchworms--they can run in a manner similar to a Terran mammal, propelling themselves with the combined force of their hind set of limb-bearing segments and the entirety of the panel-bearing section of the body. When sprinting, the panels are rotated such that they slide past one another and do not collide as the body they are attached to moves rapidly. The unique innovation their ancestor made to turn many of their limbs into panels is what allowed this to happen, as unlike nearly any Terran arthropod--which their clade superficially resembles--they were left with a long flexible body section between sets of walking limbs. To meet the oxygen demands of sprinting, the act of doing so rhythmically pumps air through their tracheae, making their respiration temporarily semi-active.

Cursoriopedes have a semi-erect posture as well, which helps them to move quickly. The number of segments on their walking limbs has increased, the additional flexibility towards the end of each limb allowing them to propel themselves more effectively and reduce the chance of slipping. The individual limbs are fairly skinny, but the redundancy reduces the strain on each leg compared to, say, a similarly-sized mammal, and legs that break off can regrow. The segment before the head, and the limbs on it, is shrunken, increasing flexibility and allowing them to keep their head stable while running. They have lost most of the eyes along their bodies, now relying on those on the head segment for sight.

Similar to their ancestors, Cursoriopedes reproduce through specialized spiracles. However, they differ in that only the final two segments contain gonads. This eases the process of mating. As is typical of their lineage, the female gametes are implanted in the male instead of the other way around. The male then lays the fertilized eggs on the undersides of leaves and rocks. Juveniles are male, but at random half of them will become female as they mature.

There are many species of Cursoriopede. As in their ancestor, the number of “panel” segments varies from species to species, while the number of segments bearing walking limbs remains the same. While they are most common in open habitats, smaller forest-dwelling species also exist. They are usually green in order to perform photosynthesis, but some use an additional violet pigment for camouflage. Species in colder habitats may hibernate over winter, though being less suited to burrowing they often reused burrows of other creatures. In the hot deserts dividing some regions, they may spend most of the day buried in sand apart from their panels, coming out at dawn and dusk to search for food. Though defined as herbivores, Cursoriopedes see no difference between Flopleaves and their sessile close relatives and will eat them readily.