Yrp

The Yrp is a common, though quite unusual member of the Onychognatha, about the size of a kangaroo mouse. It is part of the more “primitive” Archaeocephalia, but still differs dramatically from the typical body plan. The jaw-limbs have lost their opposing finger and have instead becomes horizontal mandibles like in an ant. Furthermore, two more of the post-oral segments have shifted towards the skull and aid now in feeding, while the body is now entirely carried by the hindmost, almost birdlike and incredibly long legs with digitigrade feet. The antennae have also retracted into the skull to form sensory pits. Despite its erect stance, the Yrp is an ectotherm, as in the benevolent Martian gravity such a body posture can be maintained even with lower metabolisms. Yrps use their impressive, though crude jaw apparatus to feed on the bodies and appendages of succulent fractarians, as well as soft sporians. It is hunted by various onychognaths, verticutian spirifers and species of Hortax.

What the prominent bony protrusions on a Yrp’s back are for is not known. Some form of social display is likely. It has been discovered, by complete accident, that they seem to have spots only visible in ultraviolet, though it is unknown if yrps can actually see in that part of the spectrum. It also has been proposed that the increased surface area might help the Yrp fill up more of the faint Martian sun’s heat in the early morning hours, though one would think that an actual sail would be more practical for that purpose.

The intelligence of yrps is currently a debated question. The small brain size would suggest reptilian or even insectoid levels of cognition, but in a particular case a single yrp was once observed looking at itself in the reflective wheel rim of our Mars buggies, deliberately using its mirror image to scratch off a bit of dust behind its left eye. This seems to have been an anomaly, however, as in no subsequent controlled attempt has any yrp ever passed the mirror test or similar cognitive assessments. Thus, the search for intelligence on Mars continues. We better find it soon, because there is bugger all down there on Earth.