B'ɛlk'u ɬɑɾənɔ

The ɬɑɾənɔ is a genus of shrub (b'ɛlk'u family) found in scrubland ecosystems. It has one specialised inhabitant, the amphibian genus wɑɬomi ɹɪb'əlk'.

## Biology:

### Descriptions:

#### b'ɛlk'u ɬɑɾənɔ (porcupine bush):

This is a genus of small bushes which occur in scrubland ecosystems. Reaching a maximum size of around 3 ðɛmɪ in height and 3-6 ðɛmɪ in width. The bush is densely branched. Each leaf is hastate in shape, with an accentuate base and an acute apice. The leaves and stems are in dusky shades. The leaves are arranged alternatively with petiolate and articulate attachment. Each leaf grows concurrently with a long spine, which remains long after the original leaf has fallen. This leads to the interior of the bush being full of spines. The spines are usually slightly shorter than the leaves, which are around 1/3 of a ðɛmɪ in length. The spine is coloured black along the majority, with the 1/3 of the length from the tip is coloured white.

The flowers are small and orb shaped, around 1/912 of a ðɛmɪ in diameter. They grow on the end of a long pendicle towards the centre of the bush. The flower has a single perianth whorl, which functions as sepals. The sepals are small, simple, discrete, and subulate in shape. The nectary is fully superior and enlarged to form a sphere. It is coloured white on the outside, and has a layer of light producing cells under the surface. These produce a faint white glow which is only noticeable at night.The seeds are small flattened ovals, produced in the thickened part of the stem just below the sepals.

~

#### wɑɬomi ɹɪb'əlk' (blurry-barred mouse):

This is a genus of ground dwelling amphibians which occur in scrubland ecosystems. It is very small, around 1/312 of a ðɛmɪ in body length. The tail is thickened at the base and usually around the same length as the body. The eyes and ears are very large. The limbs are specialised for both rapid movement and climbing. The forelimbs have three digits, with two facing forward and a thumb facing back. The hindlimbs have two digits, with one facing forward and a thumb facing back. The thumbs are curled when running. The mouse is primarily a digitigrade animal, but uses the full ‘hand’ of each limb when climbing. The fur is thin, velvety, and highly waterproof. The fur is predominantly agouti, with a brindled pattern stretching horizontally. The tail can be split into three equal bands, the base being the same as the body, the middle being black, and the tip being white. The underside of the tail is bare and the tip has a small tuft of longer and thicker fur. The underside of the body is paler in colour, but the fur overall is shades of purple.

The larvae are small, pigment-less, and eyeless at first, consisting essentially of a mouth and a tail flap. The limbs develop first, then the tail morphs, they become fully furred, and then develop ears and eyes before emerging as subadults at around 1/912 of a ðɛmɪ in body length. The subadults are essentially miniature adults, reaching 2/3rds maturity at around 0.312 ðɛmɪ. The maximum size is around 0.412 ðɛmɪ.

When matured, the adults possess a small ovipositor which sheaths at the base of the tail. The eggs are shell-less, only possessing a thin membrane, and very small. They hatch within a few days of being laid

The length of the life stages is approximately 1 ɑnɾɪ for the juvenile stage, 2 ɑnɾɪ for the subadult stage, and 3 ɑnɾɪ for the adult stage.

The ɹɪb'əlk' is a primarily terrestrial animal, rarely climbing more than 6 ðɛmɪ off the ground. The diet of the subadult and adult forms consists primarily of seeds, seedlings, and young leaves. Fallen fruit and flowers makes up a minor part of the diet. It will also scavenge carrion if available.

It has A12 teeth in total, with three small teeth on the upper and lower jaw at the front of the mouth which are chisel shaped, and one large flat back tooth on each side of the upper and lower jaws.

While not particularly socially inclined, they will go into hibernation in a group for a few days to a few weeks during very cold periods. These huddles usually occur in a dug-out divot under a bush covered in few large leaves to keep in the warmth. Groups vary in size greatly between a pair to more than 6012 individuals.

~

### Interactions:

The wɑɬomi ɹɪb'əlk' lays its eggs singly into the flower of the b'ɛlk'u ɬɑɾənɔ. The egg hatches within the enlarged nectary and spends the entirety of its juvenile stage swimming around in, and eating, the nectar. As a result the juvenile produces a waste compound which is absorbed into the flower and used to make the seeds distasteful. Once the ɹɪb'əlk' has reached its subadult stage, it will chew its way out of the nectary. The flower will then die. The seeds, however, stick to the subadult before they leave the nectary. As the subadult drops out of the bush, it most often immediately disperses and takes the matured seeds with it. As the newly dispersed subadult grooms itself to remove the fluid, the seeds drop off. They are not eaten as they taste awful.