Ranbleko

Ranblekos are amphibian creatures inspired by frogs, salamanders, newts, and axolotls. They can be obtained as a quest reward or purchased from the Genome Splicer. They are able to breed with Glublekos to produce Tonbleko hybrid offspring.

## Growth

### Capsule

"Dark liquid fills this spherical capsule."

### Young

"When it first emerged, this creature was little more than a bulbous head with a whiplike tail that allowed it to quickly traverse its aquatic environment. Limbs are slowly developing on either side of its tail, giving it greater maneuverability. It eats whatever it can fit in its wide mouth and spends its time either feeding or hiding in the shadows of underwater debris."

### Adult

"Much of a Ranbleko’s time is spent in and around the waters of ponds and lakes they call home. These amphibians eat any insect they can get in their mouths, although they prefer more toxic meals. Their long, sticky tongues make catching winged prey quick and easy. Because of their diet, they are also poisonous, and their bright colors warn off potential predators. If they do get injured by attack or accident, Ranblekos have advanced regeneration and are capable of regrowing lost limbs and even some vital organs. Rudimentary lungs allow them to breathe while on land, and they often make loud, chirping vocalizations that resonate in the deep sacs on their throats. Capable of hopping nearly fifteen times their body length, they are quick to dodge potential dangers and return to the safety of their aquatic home. While underwater, Ranblekos breathe through their skin, although some have also been observed with external gills fringing their face. Most of their swimming power comes from their tail, and they use their webbed feet for more precise maneuvering.

The creatures that dwell in this rather desolate world still display some diversity in appearance, eating habits, and social behavior. Whether they have fur or feathers, skin or scales, their unique genetic makeup allows for a variety of colors and markings within each species. Despite limitations in food sources, herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores are all present in the food chain, and each species requires specialized care within a laboratory. Although the artificial setting of housing units and breeding pods precludes most opportunities to study true interspecific behavior, the interactions within and between species has been studied extensively in the wilderness by scientists daring enough to venture beyond the outpost’s walls."

### Extra Info

#### Nighttime of Noise

Nocturnal by nature, Ranblekos often fill the evening lakeside air with their calls. These amphibians possess a strikingly large and diverse vocal range, including trilling sounds, high-pitched clicks, and robust croaks. While more research must be done to isolate the exact purpose of each particular Ranbleko call, it is speculated that most vocalizations are tied to mating purposes. In addition, some Ranblekos have been observed to learn and mimic the calls of avian species from the same ecosystem, ostensibly as a self-defense mechanism to deter would-be predators.

#### A Pinch of Poison

While all Ranblekos regularly consume animal toxins as part of their diet, females will dramatically increase their toxin intake right before and during the mating season, causing them to pass on a small amount of their own poison when laying eggs. Although eggs and juveniles are not fatally toxic like their adult counterparts, they still taste unpalatable to predators and have been known to cause minor digestive issues when consumed.

#### Ideal Roommates

Ranblekos often make their homes in the watery areas of an Avka Felo’s den. The two species have developed a peaceful symbiotic relationship: the half-submerged twigs and reeds of the Felo den provide safe cover to rest and even spawn young, while the Ranbleko consumes any unwanted insects and keeps the den free of parasites. Because of their prolonged physical exposure to Ranblekos from a juvenile age, Avka Felos are hypothesized to possess an increased resistance to the toxic secretions of their amphibious denmates.

## Variations

### Body

Ranbleko's body color also affects their eye color, feet color, and neck color. These body colors are shown with marking Aabb (no markings) and back AABb (no fins) for optimal visual clarity.

### Markings

Markings layer over a Ranbleko's body color with black patterns.

### Back

Tail Only

Back + Tail

Red Axolotl back (AABB) is shown on a Ranbleko with marking gene AABB (full black) for contrast.

### Fly-Catcher Variation

There is a chance that an adult Ranbleko sprite will depict the creature with its tongue extended to catch a fly.

This occurrence is not linked to genetics; the likelihood of a Ranbleko having its tongue out is random and rare. Below are two Ranblekos with identical genes. Despite having the same genes, one has the fly-catcher variation, and the other does not.

The fly catcher variation has two possible tongue positions, shown below.

## Trivia

* The fly-catcher variation functions in the same way as the "Cimo Companion" variation that Vira Beko sprites can sometimes have.
* TFO uses Esperanto as a basis for creature names (although it's not always exact—accents are ignored and spellings occasionally shift). “Ranbleko” means “Froglike Croak.”

## Acknowledgments

Art by: Malcorium. Descriptions by: rosastrasza, Shark.