Reefstrider

The Reefstrider is a colossal animal native to the islands and shallow seas worldwide of Amyxcis IV. They are the largest terrestrial animals on the planet in fact, reaching up to 200 feet tall, mostly due to their long legs,

Biology

Reefstriders are a redially symmetrical creature whose close relatives include the Flying Disk and the Speedpod, though this species has radically changed its biology to accommodate for its huge size. For instance Reefstriders are flightless, possibly due to their weight and size, though some have theorized the opposite to be true.

Ecology

Reefstriders spend their time sauntering about reefs and sandbars using their two modified legs as graspers to bring food up to the mouth, which consists of of any creature that the Reefstrider can get its swiveling talons through or around.

During the spring months male Reefstriders, inflate their gas sacs and sing thunderously loud yet haunting songs that may carry for miles across the sea. If an interested female hears this song she will walk over to the male and scrutinize the performance closely, judging the pitch, vibration and intricacy if his song. If the song is fully to her liking she will begin to ovulate and cover one of her feeding arms, usually the left, with thousands of sticky eggs, which the male will then fertilize. The male will then stick around his female, continuing to fertilize any additional eggs and fending off any other males who might want to seduce her.

After two month the eggs will hatch and thousands of baby Striders will scuttle away or fly away using their gas sacks which at this point in their life is able to keep them afloat. After this the adults split ways, and neither care for the young, even consuming any they might come across.

Baby Reefstriders (20 feet in height or less) are eaten by many species, during this stage 90% of hatchlings are usually eaten, but by the time they reach over 20 feet they have a far greater chance of surviving into adulthood, though they may still have to worry about attacks from Wa Nu Sharks until they reach 60 feet in height. Though once fullgrown, they have no natural enemies, with their only threats coming from environmental factors.

Relationship with Sooo

Reefstriders are a sacred animal to the Soooo, it is said that they are responsible for keeping the sky held up and prevent it from crashing into the sea and drying it up.

Relationship with Speedpods

The Speedpods revere the Reefstrider as creatures who keep the ocean from rising too high and drowning the skies underwater. Furthermore it is also believed that the Reefstrider is an animal only someone who has been truly kind and selfless or has done considerable good in their life are able to reincarnate as after death.