Armagnus

Armagnus is a monotypic taxon of Ambulospeculida. This genus had more species in the past, as it is possible to confirm by analising the fossil register, but today *Armagnus ossea* is the only non-extinct species.

## *Armagnus ossea*

Monogamous animal, with solitary habit for most of its life, this species has records reaching two and a half meters in length. The slow, turtle-like animal has strong armor to protect itself from predators. This species is only find in Auth Subtropical and transitional biome areas of Tenebris continent of Wallace II.

### Diet

Although it have power to lay down the resistent bone trees, *A. ossea* have also been seen feeding on already fallen trees and small animals, probably to supplement it's diet. These unusual habits of predation occurs mainly in transitional areas, where the quantity of calcium is lower. Much research has yet to be done with these animals, especially regarding reproductive habits, which are still unknown. Skeletons analysis shows animals that have reached more than 70 years of life.

### Importance

The ecological importance of Armagnus is that by cutting down old trees with it's strong beak made of calcium, it gives space for new plants to grow, so that many other animals can reoccupy these areas. Besides that, when dead trees are felled and Armagnus feed on it, this speeds up their decomposition process.

### Ancient Evolutionary Traces

Breathing occurs through the fissures on its ventral skin, which are analogous to the gas exchange points of it's basal ancestor Ambulospeculida. Breathing in Armagnus is seen as an evolutionary inovation, as it makes the gas exchanges more efficient.

## Almost Extinction of The Genus

A question that paleotology stills trying to uderstant is how this specie survived as the only of it's genus. Some says it happened because of the enviromet it ocupid. Maybe the climate of transitional biome areas were more stable for this specie to survive. Another studies says *Armagnus ossea* may had been a nomade specie, aways changing the location where it feeds, until they stabilized on the transiotional areas. Is debated that all the other species that had gone extinct had in common the adaptations to live only under the shadows of subtropical flora. The reasons that led all these species to extinction remain uncertain, but is possible to propose plausible answears, like this said by the professor of paleontogy Lucas Pescarts, responsable to two Armagnus species discoveries:

> "A reason may led all Armagnus species to extiction with only ossea as exception was probably because of predation and territory competition caused by indigenous natives, as they started to occupy the same habitat of Armagnus sp.. That's a common behavior that was witnessed on Earth as well. We can't blame them for that, because was a natural process. Our ancestors on Earth did the same during the Ice Age. Obviously it would be nice to have all species alive, but this is not a tangible option. So the right thing to do is preserving the only species left to the next generations."
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### Current Occurrence

After the extinction of almost all species, *Armagnus ossea* started to inhabit the rainforest, just as it's related species did. Today specimens can be found such in subtropical forest and it's sorrounds. The population of Armagnus ossea is slowly growing, but it is still threatened by the locals.

## List of Extinct Armagnus Species

* *Armagnus coprava*
* Armagnus wolweheidt *(?)*
* *Armagnus pescatoris*
* *Armagnus venomos*
* *Armagnus barceloas (?)*
* *Armagnus irmandados*
* *Armagnus floripa*
* *Armagnus tupinambiam (?)*
* *Armagnus criolo (?)*
* *Armagnus ramaieres*