Rainshadow Desert

Location:

Southeast Novopangaea (Pangaea II)

(bordering the eastern mountain ranges of the supercontinent that separates it from the global ocean, whole ecosystem is dependent on Ocean Flish carcasses swept up from the global ocean by superstorms)

Biome:

Hot Desert

Climate:

Arid but slightly more vegetated than the Central Desert.

Hazards:

Extreme heat, dehydration, predatory arthropods like Sandsting and Sandblade, and carnivorous plants such as the Deathbottle.

Bestiary:

Arthropods

Bumblebeetle (Necrocaelus volatilis)

Ancestor: Burying beetle.

Size: 5 cm (2 in).

Appearance: Sleek, black exoskeleton with orange markings. Large wings for long-distance flight.

Niche: Short-lived scavenger laying eggs on Flish carcasses. Adults die within a day after reproducing.

Grimworm (Necrocaelus volatilis)

Larval form of the Bumblebeetle.

Size: 10 cm (4 in).

Appearance: Pale, segmented body with multiple pairs of moving mouthparts for burrowing into flesh.

Niche: Feeds on Flish carcasses before pupating into Bumblebeetles.

Deathfang Beetle (Mortiptera dentata)

Ancestor: Rove beetle.

Size: 8 cm (3 in).

Appearance: Shiny, segmented body with strong mandibles for tearing flesh.

Niche: Scavenger hunting Flish remains and Grimworms in carcasses.

Glasshopper (Vitreosaltrix herbivora)

Ancestor: Grasshopper.

Size: 6 cm (2.5 in).

Appearance: Transparent body resembling glass with spiked legs for defense.

Niche: Herbivore competing with Desert Hoppers for vegetation.

Spikeback Hopper (Acanthohopperus migratorius)

Ancestor: Desert locust.

Size: 10 cm (4 in).

Appearance: Thick exoskeleton covered in defensive spikes.

Niche: Migratory herbivore feeding on desert plants, forming swarms during rainy periods.

Sandsting (Venomoscopius nocturnus)

Ancestor: Scorpion.

Size: 15 cm (6 in).

Appearance: Pale, translucent exoskeleton with a large stinger and elongated pincers.

Niche: Nocturnal predator hunting Desert Hoppers and Grimworms.

Sandblade (Larvanscis territus)

Ancestor: Beetle larva.

Size: 4 cm (1.5 in).

Appearance: Flat, armored body with mandibles for cutting prey.

Niche: Ambush predator burrowing under plants to snatch smaller insects.

Glasscutter Ants (Formidocisa fragaria)

Ancestor: Ants.

Size: 1 cm (0.4 in).

Appearance: Sharp mandibles and translucent bodies, forming organized colonies.

Niche: Cuts plants to farm underground fungi, competing with herbivores like Desert Hoppers.

Sandwhip (Flagelloscopius venator)

Ancestor: Whipscorpion.

Size: 12 cm (4.7 in).

Appearance: Flat, armored body with long whip-like tail used for sensing prey.

Niche: Predator hunting Thornslugs and Grimworms using vibrations.

Shadeburrower (Terribolida humilis)

Ancestor: Pillbug.

Size: 10 cm (4 in).

Appearance: Segmented, armor-plated body that rolls into a ball for defense.

Niche: Moisture-seeking scavenger feeding on decaying plants and beetle carcasses.

Stormsting (Aquaplaga rapax)

Ancestor: Giant water bug.

Size: 10 cm (4 in).

Appearance: Flat, spiny legs and a dark, glossy exoskeleton for camouflage.

Niche: Aquatic predator in temporary rain pools, feeding on insects like Glasshoppers and larvae. Burrows underground to survive droughts.

Skullcrab (Testucancerus necrophorus)

Ancestor: Hermit crab.

Size: 30 cm (12 in).

Appearance: Large, armored body using Flish skulls as protective shells.

Niche: Terrestrial scavenger feeding on Flish remains and competing with Deathfang Beetles.

Molluscs

Desert Hopper (Conohoppus saltor)

Ancestor: Cone snail.

Size: 30 cm (12 in).

Appearance: Rabbit-sized with a singular, muscular foot for hopping and a tough spiral shell.

Niche: Herbivore feeding on desert plants and avoiding predators like Sandsting and Sandwhip.

Thornslug (Spinogaster durus)

Ancestor: Slug.

Size: 20 cm (8 in).

Appearance: Slow-moving mollusk with a tough, thorny (but reduced) shell for protection.

Niche: Herbivore grazing on desert plants. Preyed upon by Sandwhip.

Worms

Daggerworm (Venomobranchus serratus)

Ancestor: Bloodworm.

Size: 15 cm (6 in).

Appearance: Slender, red body with sharp mandibles and venomous bristles.

Niche: Burrowing predator feeding on Desert Hoppers and Thornslugs.

Fish

Desert Flish (Arenacodamus volans)

Ancestor: Flying Fish.

Size: 80 cm (31 in).

Appearance: Slender, scaled body with wing-like pectoral fins for gliding and hooked pelvic fins for perching.

Niche: Airborne scavenger gliding over dunes in search of decaying Ocean Flish carcasses. Occasionally preys on small desert fauna like Grimworms.

Desert Landskipper (Scutoperca aridum)

Ancestor: Mudskipper

Size: 40 cm (16 in)

Appearance: Sandy-colored with tough, drought-resistant skin, stocky legs for digging, and a fat-storing tail.

Niche: A fully terrestrial omnivorous scavenger that feeds on Bumblebeetles, Grimworms, and Flish carcasses swept inland by superstorms.

Plants

Rainshadow Plant (Arbofractus xerophyllum)

Ancestor: Unknown arid-adapted shrub/tree.

Size: Up to 4 m (13 ft).

Appearance: Thick, tapering trunk with narrow, blade-like leaves arranged in spirals to minimize water loss.

Niche: Primary vegetation source in the Rainshadow Desert, storing water in its trunk. Provides food for Desert Hoppers, Glasshoppers, and Spikeback Hoppers while offering shade and shelter for small animals.

Deathbottle Plant (Carnivora amphora)

Ancestor: Bladderwort.

Size: Underground traps up to 1 m (3.3 ft) across.

Appearance: Hidden network of hollow, spiky traps underground with narrow openings camouflaged by sand and plant debris.

Niche: Carnivorous plant trapping Desert Hoppers and Glasshoppers that fall into its chambers. Absorbs nutrients from decomposing prey, providing sustenance in nutrient-poor soil.

Burrowvine Plant (Pitfalla radicula)

Ancestor: Pitcher plant.

Size: Vines up to 3 m (10 ft) long.

Appearance: Trailing vines with sticky, downward-pointing hairs lining funnel-like traps.

Niche: Carnivorous plant anchoring itself near oases or under rocky outcroppings. Captures insects like Glasshoppers and Sandblades, competing with Deathbottle Plants for prey. Its roots stabilize soil and provide moisture pockets.