THE
Lín’már’jóh
INSECT |
The Lín’már’jóh, Styrásh for "Small Water Creature" (Lín’már’jóh), is an insect that inhabits many streams and rivers in mid Sarvonia including the Luquador and Rayne River. They tend to be brownish or bronze-colored, though their color may change based on the color of their environment. Lín’már’jóh live their whole lives in the water and are a food source for various fish and other insects.
Appearance.
The Lín’már’jóh is about 6 to 7.5 nailsbreadths long from the head to the
end of the abdomen. Their bodies are typically a deep brown to tawny gold,
though in more northern regions they have been found in dark browns and even
blacks. Sometimes their color may change to match their surroundings.
Lín’már’jóh have
two, small black eyes of either side of their head and two antennas that sprout
in front of the eyes, though they are positioned slightly higher on the head.
Their six legs all sprout from the long thorax that appears to have three bulges
in it, each of which has two hairy legs sticking out of it. Each leg has three
joints. The first one, closest to the body, is so small that most don’t see
it. It allows the thigh of the insect to be unhindered in movement. The calf of
the insect is the hairiest and most believe these hairs are used to catch
floating particles in the air. At the end of each leg, the Lín’már’jóh
has two small hooks that allow it to attach itself to the rocks and weeds so
that is doesn’t float away. At the end of their abdomen they have two tails
that may stick out 3 nailsbreadths, or roughly half of the length of the body.
Special Abilities.
The Lín’már’jóh can’t live without water, though gills have not yet
been found on its body. It has the talent of adapting to its environment quite
well, and for this reason can live in a number of rivers and streams throughout
Caelereth.
Lín’már’jóh are able to change their colour to match their surroundings. They,
however, are not good swimmers, and usually walk along the river floor rather
than swim in the waters.
Territory.
The Lín’már’jóh tend to prefer cooler waters in mid Sarvonia,
though they have been found as far south as the Thaehelvil
River. They are found in greatest concentration in the Vandrina River, the
Rayne River, and the Luquador River, but also in the
Quest and Liben Rivers as well.
Habitat/Behaviour.
The Lín’már’jóh prefers cold, fresh-water environments, usually in mid Sarvonia.
They tend to like the parts of rivers that are most surrounded in plants and
trees as much of their diet comes from rotting debris on the bottom of their
stream or river, which may contain fallen leaves. They also like streams with
plenty of algae and rocks under which to hide from predators. These water
creatures are fairly independent creatures, rarely traveling together. If they
see another Lín’már’jóh, they will merely pass them by without a care,
though this may change during mating season. As far as it is known, these
insects don’t seem to sleep, though some researchers believe that they may
sleep every few minutes for several hours in a period of inactivity.
Diet.
The Lín’már’jóh will most often eat rotting debris on the bottom of the
stream or river in which they live. They’ve also been known to eat some algae
that grow on the rocks in their environment.
Mating.
When the weather grows warmer, usually in late winter or early spring, these
small water insects will come out of their hiding places. This is a very
vulnerable period for the Lín’már’jóh, as many fish and other insects
will happily gobble these insects up if given the chance. The Lín’már’jóh
identify each other and each other’s sex by touching antenna. If two Lín’már’jóh
of the same sex meet, nothing will happen. There is no aggression when mating at
all. If a male and female meet, the male will crawl on to her back. They may
stay attached anywhere from 2 to 8 minutes. They will then break to look for
another mate.
In summer the female will give birth to clusters of eggs. These eggs are so
small that they often appear as a brownish cream. The female will often attach
her eggs to a rock or algae using her saliva, usually in the shallower areas.
Some female Lín’már’jóh are extremely picky as to where their eggs are
lain. Most prefer warmer, shallower waters where there is plenty of debris or
algae for which the small babies will feed on. After laying the eggs, the mother
will leave. In about 2 weeks the eggs will hatch and smaller versions of the
adult Lín’már’jóh will crawl out, though the larva may have smaller tails
and fatter bodies as compared to their limbs and head. Eggs and larva are
extremely vulnerable and are often feasted upon by fish
and other insects, including other Lín’már’jóh.
However, in 3 to 4 weeks the larva are considered to be adult and will mate in
the coming year. These water insects may live anywhere from 8 months to 2 years,
though most are eaten before they even reach the adult stage.
Information provided by
Rayne
Avalotus
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