Duneworm

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Duneworms are a species of large carnivore and detrivore from the planet Vivatus.

Physiology

Growing up to 16m long, and massing up to twenty tonnes, Duneworms are large animals with a network of interlocking teeth that remove organic debris and scraps from the sand they travel through. They are not entirely biological, with a system of nanotube-based pusher plates along their sides that they use to travel through the sand. They can also launch small rocks from their mouths at over 20m/s.

They eat Sandgrazers, Holdthorns and mineral deposits as well as debris. In eating minerals, they excrete indigestible materials, and digest only the carbonates.

Reproduction

Duneworms are sexual animals, but hermaphroditic. A Duneworm will only be receptive to sperm at one point in its life, and then will store that, occasionally drawing on it to fertilise eggs, but never getting a new supply.

Offspring are born viviparously, at around 90cm long.