Dendronomus vasquezi

## Taxonomy

Polypodia

Sarcopodia

Osteopoda

Polyschia

Platydontia

Archeplatydontia

Archeplatydontidae

*Unspecified*

Archeplatydontinae

***Dendronomus vasquezi***

***Dendronomus vasquezi*** (lit. "Vasquez's tree-dweller") is a basal species of archeplatydont.

## Description

A mature *D. vasquezi* measures about thirty centimeters in height, and is covered with dozens of swirling red stripes over a gray-brown gradient that gets darker near the top of the creature (this pattern serves to help it blend in with the surrounding foliage and hide from predators like the elastospondyls). An individual possesses six fixed, black eyes that are positioned along the upper edges of the sides of the head, and that are each covered with a thick, waterproof casing. Around its mouth are four small mandibles that each bear a single chisel-shaped tooth, and seemingly also connected to the head are a pair of large pedipalps that each terminate in a small, slightly curved claw. A *D. vasquezi* has four pairs of long, flexible legs that each end in a foot possessing three sharp claws. Each pair of legs is slightly shorter and more sprawled than the one in front of it. Located at the animal’s posterior is a pair of gonopods that help facilitate the transfer of gametes during the mating process, and that are usually kept curled under the body. Between the first and second pairs of legs, a *D. vasquezi* has two spiracles that are used for active gas exchange and for scent-detection, and that are filled with debris-filtering setae. The creature presumably also has, at the base of each pedipalp, a cluster of vibration-sensitive hairs that are used to detect sounds.

As their genus suggests, members of this species are arboreal, using their long, flexible limbs and clawed feet to clamber through the treetops. These animals are omnivorous, using the broad, chisel-like teeth possessed by most early platydonts to subsist on anything they can find in their habitat, be it xylophyte leaves or eumalacoformes.

*D. vasquezi*’s method of reproduction can be assumed to be comparable to that of the first osteopods, in that after mating, a female delivers an ootheca containing a nutritious yolk and several embryos that complete most of their development before hatching. Where the mother subsequently places the ootheca isn’t clear, however.

While *D. vasquezi* and closely related species were widely successful when they first evolved, their dominance has decreased significantly over the past several tens of millions of years, due to changes in biome placement and the emergence of more specialized species. Though these basal species likely still survive in many pockets of temperate or tropical forests similar to the ones in which they first evolved, it’s unlikely that species like *D. vasquezi* will become as prolific as they were before.

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 † = Extinct