Speleotax

While the ancient caves and lava tubes protect their inhabitants from dust storms and UV-rays, they cannot protect them from each other. We have already explored the lithotrophic organisms which live here and the small primary consumers which feed on this microbial flora. Predictably there must also be predators that feed on them.

One of them is the speleotax, a quite large trichordate adapted towards life in darkness. Compared to its smaller, surface-dwelling cousin, its eyes are enlarged and reflective in order to utilize other creature’s bioluminescence and even the littlest bits of sunlight that might shine through the cracks in the lava tubes. Where that does not help, little, soft tendrils sprouting from its arms aid it in feeling through the darkness, like whiskers on a cat. While mute for the most part, perhaps using their three-pronged beak, speleotax are known to occassionally produce a sort of deep chirping sound which can endlessly echo through the caverns. Possibly, this helps attracting mates or communicating across the subterranean world.

Most of its “day” is spent hiding inside cracks and crevasses, either dormant or waiting for the right opportunity to strike at prey. For creatures such as the netchu, this must be creating an unnerving existence. Your whole life is spent in darkness, never knowing when an even darker shadow appears and silently pulls you towards a crunching death.