One, none, ten thousands
"The timeth hast cometh:
make the mud becometh stone,
turneth the se'd in trees,
and shapeth the f'rm of thy life
the w'rld is so big
f'r gods so bawbling
thee, oh Aves ex Machina"
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A few million years have passed since the arrival of Aves ex Machina (abbreviation: AeM), a highly derived species of agricrows that have reached one of the highest levels of cooperation that a vertebrate has ever seen...but is it even right to call it one species? Aves ex Machina is far from just a bunch of cooperative birds: it's an extreme species complex with a very intricate taxonomic history and possibly an even more intricate future.
While primordial Aves ex Machina had a more chaotic social division, the more advanced forms of the late Cambiocene can be easily subdivided into well-separate castes. But these social castes are not just mere subdivisions of workers: after millions of years of sexual exclusion, castes have reached such great phenotypic and genotypic differences that some taxonomists would label them as their own species. As a precaution, scientific names won't be used in this description and castes will be simply called ecotypes. Each ecotype is administrated by a single dominant individual, who has the power of decision. Despite this sectorisation, all ecotypes ordinarily share their time together and act synergically like the neurons of a giant brain, which is their society. No eusocial vertebrate was able to reach this level of specialization, but is it even correct to call it ecosocialism? Could it be more like a highly advanced mutualism? There's probably no unequivocal answer to our questions: AeM society is a true novelty for our standards and scientific definitions.
At the moment, 6 ecotypes can be recognized in Aves ex Machina:
All nanny is the smallest of the ecotypes, characterized by a large white coat on the upper part of their body and on the tip of their tail. As their name suggests, all nannies' main activities in the AeM society are to raise their clan's eggs and feed newborns. Food is collected both from the wild and from the great storages of the clan, which are managed by storing executioners. This nursing activity is carried out also on their livestock, which is fed mostly on agricultural food waste. All nannies are one of the most frequent ecotypes of AeM, comprising 17-38% of the population of a clan.
Battle cargos are the titans of the AeM society, specifically selected for transporting material, food, animals, and last but not least defending the clan territory. They are twice the size of an anygrower and possess a wingspan of a golden eagle. They possess a large golar pouch that can contain an All nanny. Due to their size, large wingspan, and high food requirement compared to other ecotypes, battle cargos are the less frequent ecotype of an AeM clan, usually lower than 6%. In order to reduce bottlenecks, battle cargos are the most nomadic of all ecotypes, often sharing its service in neighbor clans, which also helps to maintain a flow of information.
Anygrower is among the most bizarre ecotype of AeM. They are the farmers of the clan, and they cultivate an enormous amount of plants and tubers for food. Their beak is short but strong and they possess a long crest in the upper part of it that is used to loosen the soil, mulch and remove weeds from their cultivation. They are gigantic, about the size of a common raven, and along with All nannies they are the base of primary production of the clan: due to this, 13-29% of the clan comprises this ecotype. Anygrowers do not only cultivate plants but often raise some species of invertebrates, together with storing executioner.
Scouting sentinel is, together with the All nanny, the smallest ecotype and its main task is the flow of information inside and outside the clan. They are the fastest ecotype and can cover long distances to keep under control the clan's territory. They possess an acute sense of smell and hearing compared to a bird, which enable them to notice a danger before becoming deadly (a wildfire, a predator, a large herbivore, etc.). Thanks to its scouting activity, this ecotype is capable of finding new sources of food in its territory but also checking for new optimal areas to form another clan. Together with Battle cargos, Scouting Sentinels are shared between neighbor clans and their individual home range can cover more than 200 km2. They comprises more than 11% of the total population of a clan. Besides their scouting activity, scouting sentinel can also help at building or fixing arenas, the buildings where AeM livestock is raised.
Storing executioner is the most generalist and less task-specialized AeM ecotype. They can be easily recognized by their white neck and its slightly hooked beak. Their main activity is storing food by using hollow trees, underground dens, and caves depending on the type of food. This crow is also an important hunter-gather of the clan, the only one that primarily brings food from the wild. Storing executioners are important allies of every ecotype of the clan and can provide help for any type of task, from raising young to defending their territory. They comprises a large percentage (20-26%) of an average AeM clan.
Soilcrafters are toucan-like AeM which mainly act as builders. They possess the largest gular pouch of any ecotype, in order to collect soil, water, and other building materials. A group of 30 soilcrafters is capable of constructing an arena or a new nesting colony in a few weeks, being fundamental for the expansion of their society. Their rectrices (tail feathers) are unusually hardened and paddle-like, which is both helpful to compact soil or bear their weight while lying vertically on trees and buildings, like woodpeckers. During the colonization of new territories, soilcrafters often help battle cargos in transporting materials and animals.
Each AeM ecotype possesses a defined plumage pattern, in order to recognize its role inside its clan. For example, the arrival of a scouting sentinel means new incoming information, while a soilcrafter on the move means work in progress
AeM ecotypes are very variable in size, naturally selected for better performing certain tasks. Each member is not capable of living without the help of other ecotypes throughout their lifetime. This obligatory dependence has caused an increase in the complexity and bond of their society.
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