Myrmecoleon

128A73FD-EBDD-4A32-B41D-3B907ED77363.jpeg
3D1FBF02-2A60-4311-B562-F8E21DF0A759.jpeg
9735368E-794E-44EE-ACC3-CE293306B72A.jpeg
50B948E4-FB31-4ADB-AD93-42021A08514E.jpeg
Name: Myrmecoleon
Alias: Space Spider
Notes: A hexapedal insectoid-like species, the Myrmecoleon are a silicon based form of life. Voracious eaters, they are able to eat there way through starship hulls with their jagged-toothed maws. They use thermal and photonic based senses to target sources of heat and light, meaning they primarily target warm-blooded prey. Though, if given the chance, cold-blood species are not immune to their predation. Also, it is not unknown for members of this species to turn and consume injured members of their own kind.
Myrmecoleon are known for extreme durability and toughness. This is as a result of their adamantium based exoskeletons. These shells make the species hard to kill as most known civilian grade weapons are not powerful enough to pierce through to the interior of the creature.
Adapted for the extremes of space, Myrmecoleon are capable of dormancy on the exterior of an empty starship's or station's hull while awaiting for their arrival of their next prey. It is unknown how long they can last in this suspended animation like state as, due to their listing as a 'eradicate on sight' dangerous animal species, no active studies have been conducted on them.
Massive breeders, where one Myrmecoleon is observed, countless swarms more are sure to follow. While a few will wander around after being awakened to find prey, like scouts, when they do find prey, they signal the others and the mass then attacks like a school of piranha. Thanks to their ability to get through metal and other materials, artificial and natural, doors and body armor are usually only a stop gap measure to create a temporary delaying tactic until the Myrmecoleon gets to its targeted prey.
Myrmecoleon use a parasitic method to reproduce. Aesexual in nature, they evolved a virulent biology. A single scratch is enough to introduce their genetic material into the crew of ships they encounter who survive to get away. However, this 'infection' begins to modify the host's body. In most species, this simply causes their cells to produce small, young Myrmecoleon 'hatchlings'. However, some species react to this 'infection' as if it was a mutagen and begin to take on Myrmecoleon-like traits over time in addition to producing 'hatchlings', though this is still usually a fatal situation. It is thought that the latter situation is a naturally evolved instance to allow for the spreading of the species as the mutated hosts are instinctively driven to deliver the 'hatchlings' hidden inside their body to the world they originally considered as home.
Category:Species