Corphla (January 2024)

"They're outright delicious! What on Arcov do you even have against them Caeir???"

"The tastes just makes me sick, Okay? That good enough for you???"
....
"No. not really."

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Corphla are large crustaceans native to central Nauxes as well as flooded cave systems that connect to its Coral Canyon. They are known to travel in groups of up to 6 adults and countless young, and are renown for their speed when fleeing from predators. They utilize the feather-like filament on their front legs to actually pick up Algae and filter through water in order to grasp their meals. They have also been seen munching on large patches of Moss or duckweed in more densely-watered areas. They're predominantly believed to be herbivores, or at least obligated to be such.

Corphla are effectively herd animals, however they do not necessarily value the life of their young due to the sheer quantity they produce. Eggs are carried by an adult female and held by tiny legs and flap sections in their abdomen, meanwhile born young will either circle around a number of adults (not always the ones they were born from) or will cling to their bodies until they grow too large -- leaving behind many shed exoskeletons on the adults that will be scraped off over time.

It's hard to actually tell the difference between male and female Corphla, abdomens aside-- but it's  believe it has something to do with the way plates on their undersides are arranged. Both Parents produce a strange film from beneath their exoskeleton as they eat that their young seem to feed on. What allows them to do this isn't fully known, and the film itself isn't as appetizing once it leaves the body. Researchers studying Corphla refer to the substance as an analog to milk mixed with dew and body fat-- which many find unsettling.
As soon as the young are large enough to no longer feed on this film, they're no longer of the Adults' concern.

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Chef's Note: Corphla are actually a heavily sought-after as far as meat goes. Their meat has a very squishy texture with a slightly salty tinge. The film Adult Corphla produce can actually be boiled into a sort of butter that pairs very well with their meat. Many Olqurm chefs have declared them "The deer of bugs" and have their own hunting season dedicated to Corphla. As well as specially-designed trapping cages that they fill with bait and crane down into the Canyon below. This is especially effective for getting food in Late-Winter/Early-Spring since the local Corphla population tends to explode at that time of year.

Meanwhile in more marshy regions of Nauxes such as Deln-- people choose to just raise them domestically alongside cattle. This doesn't go as well as you would think, as they reproduce with quantity on-par with rabbits. (likely to make sure predators are fed in excess in order to minimize losses if they are caught)
It's perfectly legal to hunt the young and adults alike because of this. So long as you're not hunting for them in any caves.

Don't listen to what the Guildmaster of Ruberune has to say about eating Corphla.

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Sorry for the almost 2-week break everyone! trying to adapt to school and art again. 
Anyway, first creature drawing of the year.