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Description

Dracophodia cerasu
(Cherry Dragon-Digger)
Cherry Cheek Dragon Mole
Length: 30-45cm
Weight: 3-6kg
Description:
Dracophodiforms are the most ‘traditional’ Lounian Moles. They possess the classical two forelimbs/absent hindlimbs, five digits, long body and protruding head crown that have come to be closely associated with the group.
They are commonly seen in (generally) either looser soils or tough soils. Loose soil tends to house other burrowing organisms and the Dracophodiforms that reside in such environments are rather active, snake-like and predatory, consuming those other burrowers. Species that live in tougher soils that are more suited for plants are typically more herbivorous - feeding on roots and tubers, typically.
In regard to diversity, Dracophodiforms are majorly divided into the ‘loose-soil’ and ‘tough-soil’ forms though it is believed that these two types do not form monophyletic groups and are rather examples of convergence (the two designs being inherent evolutionary predispositions for Dracophodiforms to take in the respective conditions). It is notable that some larger species that reside in loose-soil environments (EG: deserts) are so efficient at travelling through the substrate that they are referred to as ‘sand-sharks’.
Dracophodia cerasu is notably a tough-soil type and the first discovered species of Dracophodiform and Dracophodid. D. cerasu has a robust build and they use it with their powerful forelimbs to brute-force their way through compacted soil. Their arms are so strong that even in small specimens, attempting to pry their arms from their flanks is almost impossible (at least without hurting the creature). They subsist on a diet of water/nutrient rich roots and tubers and they use a powerful jet-tongue in their mouth-tube to initially spear their food before docking to the hole, pouring in digestive fluids and then sucking up the broken-down material. Cherry-Cheeks are notable in that they lack eyes entirely – losing them as they spend their entire lives underground sans for brief escapades above ground to meet and mate. Their lack of eyes is not a basal trait of Dracophodiforms however eye-loss has occurred multiple times within the clade independently. They are considered a medium-sized representative of their clade and close relatives can grow to twice the size and more than 25 times the size if the Lounian Dragon is considered a true Dracophodiform.

Description

Dracophodia cerasu
(Cherry Dragon-Digger)
Cherry Cheek Dragon Mole
Length: 30-45cm
Weight: 3-6kg
Description:
Dracophodiforms are the most ‘traditional’ Lounian Moles. They possess the classical two forelimbs/absent hindlimbs, five digits, long body and protruding head crown that have come to be closely associated with the group.
They are commonly seen in (generally) either looser soils or tough soils. Loose soil tends to house other burrowing organisms and the Dracophodiforms that reside in such environments are rather active, snake-like and predatory, consuming those other burrowers. Species that live in tougher soils that are more suited for plants are typically more herbivorous - feeding on roots and tubers, typically.
In regard to diversity, Dracophodiforms are majorly divided into the ‘loose-soil’ and ‘tough-soil’ forms though it is believed that these two types do not form monophyletic groups and are rather examples of convergence (the two designs being inherent evolutionary predispositions for Dracophodiforms to take in the respective conditions). It is notable that some larger species that reside in loose-soil environments (EG: deserts) are so efficient at travelling through the substrate that they are referred to as ‘sand-sharks’.
Dracophodia cerasu is notably a tough-soil type and the first discovered species of Dracophodiform and Dracophodid. D. cerasu has a robust build and they use it with their powerful forelimbs to brute-force their way through compacted soil. Their arms are so strong that even in small specimens, attempting to pry their arms from their flanks is almost impossible (at least without hurting the creature). They subsist on a diet of water/nutrient rich roots and tubers and they use a powerful jet-tongue in their mouth-tube to initially spear their food before docking to the hole, pouring in digestive fluids and then sucking up the broken-down material. Cherry-Cheeks are notable in that they lack eyes entirely – losing them as they spend their entire lives underground sans for brief escapades above ground to meet and mate. Their lack of eyes is not a basal trait of Dracophodiforms however eye-loss has occurred multiple times within the clade independently. They are considered a medium-sized representative of their clade and close relatives can grow to twice the size and more than 25 times the size if the Lounian Dragon is considered a true Dracophodiform.