Talk:Zemlya (world)
Ground Slug
One of the largest creatures native to Zemlya, the Ground Slugs are a quiet and gentle creature, although not very intelligent. The Ground Slugs are massive, growing up to three meters high and five meters long. A fully grown male Ground Slug can weigh up to several tonnes, with the females being ten to fifteen percent smaller.
The Ground Slugs are found only on the plains and hill country of the continent of Sukhoya. The slugs feed exclusively on the many varieties of grass found in the areas they occupy. Ground Slugs live in herds of up to twenty individuals, lead by one or two large males. A grazing herd of Ground Slugs can strip an acre of grass in an hour. While not fast moving, Ground Slugs have been measured at speeds of up to five kilometres per hour. They move on hundreds of small pads on their lower surface, forward momentum creating a rippling effect along this surface. While the Ground Slugs have no natural predators and are generally passive creatures, they will fight back with crushing blows if attacked. There have been recorded incidents of campers being crushed to death when their camps have been over-run by a herd of Ground Slugs. These days however most natives know to only pitch camp after dark and be up before dawn as the Ground Slugs only move during daylight hours.
Ground Slugs live up to sixty years and the females give birth to a single live offspring. Ground Slugs mature after fifteen years and the females can then have another offspring every five years after that. Ground Slug flesh is indigestible by humans and the giant beasts are left alone by the native population.
External Website - accessed 19 May 2016
Kettle Bug
Found on the many plains of Zemlya, these small insects feed on the blood of the larger creatures roaming across the fields. Averaging 2 centimetres in length these little creatures live in burrows until they need to come out to feed.
Kettle Bugs got their name from the ISS scout who first documented the insect. In his report the scout noted that the insects reminded him of an ancient water boiling device his Grandmother kept. The Kettle Bug's tail contains a small bone that acts as a blade. Next to the bone is a small sac that excretes a mild venom that numbs any cuts the Kettle Bug makes with its tail. This then allows the insect to take its fill of blood from the victim using its proboscis nose.
Most travellers across Zemlya's plains would be unlucky enough to get one or two bites from these critters each day however for two weeks in high summer the Kettle Bugs swarm for breeding season. Most Zemlya natives avoid the plains during this time as the Kettle Bug swarms have been known to cause the death by blood loss of those not fully protected.
The Kettle Bug weighs only a few grams and have an average lifespan of two Zemlya years. The burrows the insect lives in are on average 30 to 40 centimetres in depth and there is only ever one bug in each burrow. The bug sits at the entrance to its burrow until a victim wanders by, only retreating into the burrow for the night. Female Kettle Bugs lay one to two eggs each year. It has been discovered that a small mite has a taste for the Kettle Bug eggs and Sukhoyan scientists are investigating if the mites can be used to control or even eradicate the bug.
External Website - accessed 19 May 2016
Sillus Chameleon
The Sillus flower is a large hanging flower common to the jungles of Zemlya which grows up to 50 centimetres in length. Looking identical to this flower is the extremely rare Sillus Chameleon, a creature that mimics the flower perfectly.
The Sillus Chameleon hangs by its tail in a grove of Sillus flowers, giving it the perfect hiding spot. When any small creatures come to take the nectar from it, the Sillus Chameleon wraps its tentacles around the victim. It then draws the victim up into its body where the Sillus Chameleon envelopes its prey with its petal like outer body, suffocating the prey. The Sillus Chameleon is then free to digest the prey at its leisure.
The Sillus Chameleon is extremely fast, able to move at up to 150 meters per combat round through the jungle. Not much is known about the Sillus Chameleon as they never live for more than a couple of days in captivity. Their rarity and superb camouflage make them almost impossible to study in the wild.
Unlike the Sillus flower, the Sillus Chameleon is extremely strong, however it will generally flee from larger creatures if discovered or attacked.
External Website - accessed 19 May 2016