Slime Forests have expanded in size as the Ice Age reaches its zenith.
Some previously mentioned like the Heptiles and Crybabys and many Ichthyopterans and Terra Squid come to these woods on occasion.
However, in the shadow of these massive Lichen trees, a host of animals go about their day in the gloom some of which aren’t found anywhere else.
Stalking oddly through the night is the forest's largest inhabitant the Fresno Night Crawler
(Silvambulator novisvagari- strange-wanderer forest-walker) a tall and slender Strideraptor found only in the Slime Forests.
Males standing up to 19 feet tall males they are the tallest of all Ichthyopterans although several relatives outweigh them.
Well, their chick's fur is light brown like other Strideraptors adults are adorn in all white with a red tinge except for some spots around the face.
They can get away with this coloration since nothing else in the forest can touch them as adults their height affords them safety from predators and free reign of higher growing plants.
It’s getting to their adult stage that’s hard. Unlike all other Blish except the also flightless Heptiles Night Crawler and their relatives (clade-Theropodichthys) care for their young. Females lay their eggs in communal nests, and the males guard the eggs and chicks from nest raiders.
Sqolverines (Feroxteuthis garnitures-snarling fierce-squid) are their most fierce nest raiders. A large Sqbadger way up to 60 pounds and about as big as a German shepherd Sqolverines are found in most forested areas but often reach their largest size in the Slime Forest.
They are capable predators in their own right equipped with long stabbing teeth in their mouth they can kill prey as large as small to medium Cephalopes and easily dispatch smaller Squid Rodents and Blish with ease.
However, they prefer to scavenge have a fearsome demeanor, and can bluff their way into stealing kills from Kraken Cats and Qwolves significantly larger than them and the teeth to scrap off slices of even frozen meat.
Their fearsome demeanor allows them to be successful nest raiders taking multiple eggs or young. They are able climbers so can get out of dodge well being able to take the kicks from the Nightcrawler in retaliation.
This works even better with Heptiles since they can kill an adult of both groups so Pouncetiles nest in nooks of trees where they can’t reach and Springtile live in large groups where the odds of spotting predators are increased.
Of course, not every animal in the Slime Forest is as noticeable as these two, and a large amount of life is found underground.
The Slime Forests are significantly warmer in winter than the steppe they grow in from the Slime’s metabolic processes but the trees providing shade also means they are cooler and wetter in the steppe’s scorching 30© summers.
Generations of dead leaves plus the breakdown of organic matter from the Slime create verdant soil that fosters many burrowing insects followed by Squid Rodents and those that hunt them.
Kamaitachi (Punctionyx cuniculumphomeus, stabbing-clawed burrow-murderer)
A large Sneasal the Kamaitachi is specialized for hunting other large burrowers.
When attacked underground, Squid Rodents will face head-on to put the beak and first 2 pairs of limbs in front of their body.
The Kamaitachi’s enlarged front claws let it flip prey off balance and deliver a bite with less risk of injury.
They generally avoid coming to the surface, the giant dagger claws and short legs can make it difficult for long-distance travel and Kamaitachi rarely leaves the forests they were born in.
Orange Lunge Wyrm (Tricuspidon ignisventer, fire-bellied three-pronged-tooth)
A Garter snake-sized hunter, Orange Lunge Wyrms is part of a group found across the world.
They are fully Terrestrial with interlocking scales similar to early amniotes and like them, lay their eggs in moist soil.
At their larger size, they are no longer satisfied with insects, hunting Squid Rodents and small vertebrates. The multi-cusped teeth and fangs keep a tight hold of prey, allowing the Lunge Wyrm to tuck into the prey's underside.
At their larger size, they are no longer satisfied with insects hunting Squid Rodents, and small vertebrates. The multi-cusped teeth and fangs keep a tight hold of prey, allowing the Lung Wyrm to tuck into the prey's underside.
While they no longer eat poisonous insects, the mild numbing effect still proved useful in making prey relax and easier to eat and they now produce a mild neurotoxin in their saliva. Venom also protects them from predators like large Raptorial Blish and small Stalk Eyed Terra Squid.
Sqole (Talpateuthis robustus, robust mole-squid)
A robust burrower descendant from the Burrowing Jaw also found worldwide Sqole’s are the most subterranean adapted of Tera Squid with almost nonexistent eyes reduced back legs and enlarged front legs.
Eating a diet of roots, tubers, and invertebrates its beak and face are equipped with sensory pits like a crocodile allowing them to sense items in the underground with great precision.
They generally have few predators as they constantly create new burrows as they go and avoid the burrows of other animals.
They are at their most vulnerable when the forest floods. While good swimmers, they are awkward outside of the soil and are easy prey for numerous mesopredators.
Slime Thread Worm (Bituminevermis pulsum, pulsing slime-worm)
Threadworms are a worldwide clade of small blind lungeworms found in moist soil. They are known for forward-pointing teeth for catching and swallowing down worms.
Slime Thread Worms are only found in the slime forest as they have a unique relationship with the protist that lets the trees grow so big.
Many worms are drawn to the nutrients inside the slime tree roots and these Thread Worms will wait for these worms to eat the slime before attacking. The slime is then incorporated into their bodies, rendering them unpalatable to other animals and providing the Slime Thread Worm with a high amount of nutrients and letting them live in far greater numbers and density than their relatives.
Like other Lunge Worms, their main threat is each other as they readily cannibalize one another as the largest amount of slime is often other Slime Thread Worms.