u/GrappleShaky

The general anatomy and physiology of Liminarian "invertebrates" may seem standard, but their earliest ancestors underwent strange changes and adaptations to survive the planet's changing environment.

As an example, we have Dinophaganax, a predator that inhabits forest-like environments and originates from the Hoshi continent.

What appears to be a head with a bird-like beak or insect-like pincers is actually an extension of the animal's spine, protruding from the sternum to form a new limb called the "cephalic arm," which possesses compound eyes similar to those of insects. This limb/new head serves to interact with its environment as well as to dismember its prey.

The true head (or rather, mouth) is located on the upper back, almost fused with the body. This mouth has no bone, only a long, powerful tongue for digesting the previously dismembered food, as well as absorbing and drinking liquids.

It retracts and hides beneath the vertebral column (which is divided in two to allow the tongue to extend and food to enter).

Most non-basal species have six limbs, each ending in a "hoof" similar to a hardened nail, allowing them to gallop in a manner similar to horses.

u/GrappleShaky — 17 days ago