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 than their ancestors were, the mudslider has further taken to life on land by adapting their former gill openings. Now more akin to elongated nostrils, they no longer pump in oxygenated water and instead function by pulling in air from atmosphere and pumping it into the large chambers on their back. No longer filled with water, they now function as a primitive lung with abundant blood vessels. However, it is less efficient at doing so compared to 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. The nostrils are capable of being retracted, though have some difficulty sealing, meaning that the mudslider is at some risk of drowning should it be submerged for too long.

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.