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A Bounty of Basal Amphisbaenae

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Some creatures from the rattler homeworld, known by humans as Vishnu. Wall of text time! 

The world Vishnu is a relatively low gravity moon with a thick, vapor filled atmosphere which orbits the significantly more hostile super earth Lakshmi. Though Lakshmi may harbor microbial life, Vishnu is the only known planet in the system to harbor complex multicellular organisms. 

Most all animal-like organisms from Vishnu are actually descended from highly sophisticated, haploid plant larva that began to exhibit neoteny (carrying juvenile characteristics into adulthood), and filled in traditionally animal inhabited niches in the wake of cataclysmic mass extinction early in the planet's history. As such, the vast majority of these creatures carry photosynthetic cells along their backs which help synthesize vital nutrients not found in their diet. All plant-derived "animals" belong to the kingdom Phytozoa.

These particular pytozoans are organisms from the phylum Amphisbaena, sometimes classified as a subphylum within the larger group Simulaphora, to which rattlers belong. Both Amphisbaena and Simulaphora are comprised of organisms which are, in actuality, colonial colonies or genets. Each section of the organism is an individual phytozoan, specialized to perform specific tasks and unable to survive without the rest of its genet. 

In amphisbaenae, the entire genet is comprised of only two individual sections, aligned back to back and each with a fully functional head. Each segment has its own digestive tract, respiratory system, and reproductive system, though the nervous and circulatory systems are shared. Amphisbaenae possess basket like skeletal systems and a primitive spinal chord, and have three sensory palps and rudimentary eyes on each head. 

Pictured here are three classes of more basal amphisbaenae, able to move in either direction. Not to scale.

Top Left
Woolly Pillviper: Belonging to class Pilulaserpens, or pill snakes. The woolly pillviper is often found feeding on plant leafs, and has specialized it's photosynthetic integument into a coat of tough spines to deter predators. Its sensory palps are coated in irritating bristles. Like most pill snakes, the woolly pillviper has a muscular foot on its underside with which it moves.

Top Middle
Jeweled Needle: Belonging to class Pilulaserpens. Jeweled Needles are more derived pill snakes, and have specialized their sensory  palps into stiff, venomous spikes. The whip like tendrils on either side of their bodies also secrete a toxic substance. These tiny predators hunt down the Vishuvian equivalent of insects. 

Top Right
Skullworm: Belonging to class Toruiscipios, also known as nunchuck snakes. Skullworms are more serpentine organisms that often worm their way through leaf litter to capture smaller invertebrate prey. They have a single specialized sensory palp, from which they can secrete a potent venom. Skullworms have been known to kill unwary human researchers with this substance.  

Middle Left 
Resplendent Pillsnake: Belonging to class Pilulaserpens. Resplendent pillsnakes are gentle herbivores, known for their humorous mating dances involving bobbing their elongated middle sensory palps while rotating on their gummy foot. 

Center 
Bloorm: Belonging to class Toruiscipios. Probably a corruption of "blue worm", bloorms are a very common species of nunchuck snakes. This cosmopolitan creature is very resistant to dry conditions and is an adept scavenger. 

Middle Right 
Leather-backed Slug: Belonging to class Calceuserpens, or boot snakes (due to their looking like a footprint). These aquatic amphisbaenae are fairly archetypal for the phylum, commonly found grazing on algae like organisms. Like pill snakes, Calceuserpens have a single muscular foot. 

Bottom
Sunrise Serpent: Belonging to the class Toruiscipios. These large nunchuck snakes are considerably passive detrivores, eating detritus that finds its way to the forest floor. When threatened they thrash about much like an earthworm. Considering that they spend most of their time covered in dirt and leafs, it is unknown why they sport such prominent coloration

End text wall.
The sunrise serpent is actually inspired by a drawing of a real life amphisbaenia, or worm lizard, that I saw somewhere. Sometime I'll upload a more detailed anatomy sheet for these critters. 
Image size
2667x3784px 10.12 MB
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Johnof-1999's avatar

Were rattler ancestors similar to this?