Name: Haste Snails (Velox Parturientis) Description: Haste Snails are rather large snails, adults growing to sizes of up to a meter in length, and half that in height and width. In all other respects, they appear to have the likeness of the average snail from earth, possessing four eyes on retractable stocks and a foot of which they use for locomotion. Aside from this, however, many Haste Snails have a dense shell, capable of withstanding impacts. Some breeds even have spiked ridges on the front of their shells, which can prove hazardous. Among their various breeds, the major differences are only shell shape and coloration. A Haste Snail augmented with a jet to enhance its speed. Behavior: The snails idly move in a escargatoire (group) sizes of which range between two to a dozen members. For the most part, they idly graze as the day passes, retracting into their shells to sleep at night. When threatened, they will either speed away, or charge their predators and ram into them with their heavy and hard shells. Tamability: Domestic. While they are fairly limited in their abilities, haste snails can be taught to obey commands. Such as fetching, racing, etc. Many of the snails are augmented with technology that gives a boost to their locomotion. After all, they are one of the greatest racing attractions in the galaxy, at least when it comes to animals. When it comes to the domestication process, they easily bond with a master after hatching, which makes them relatively easy to train. As for wild adults, they are much harder to tame, and it will take a great deal of effort to make the creature begin to trust the owner. Thus, most tame Haste Snails were born in captivity, rather than taken from the wild. Where is it found?: Originally discovered as a native species on one of Humankind's homeworlds (Specifically expansive planes where they had few predators), the creatures are now abundant across the galaxy, sold as pricey pets among various members of the common races. Rarity: Native in some locations in human Civ-space. Otherwise they can be found in locations that are urban or highly populated. Few survive long in hostile environments, however. Diet/Method of gaining nutrients and energy: They eat vegetation, a diet mostly consisting of grasses and berries. They will, and can, eat anything available. On rare occasions they have been witnessed consuming creatures the size of a mouse and smaller. Products?: Their slime can actually serve as a makeshift medical salve, and even is used as an ingredient in salves in areas where these creatures are common. The slime tastes gross, but actually is somewhat nutritious, if revolting. It should be noted that while they are much larger than earth snails, their slime doesn't tend to stick to surfaces nearly as much. While some is left in the form of a trail behind the creature, it clings to their moist bodies quite well. Reproduction: The female lays eggs, the male fertilizes them. Simple creature mating jazz. The mother lingers around her hatchlings, protecting them from predators until they are large enough to survive on their own. Size: Hatchlings average around 10 centimeters in length when born, but grow up to a meter long, and half that wide and tall. Weight: Around one kilogram when born, and can reach nearly a hundred kilograms when fully grown. Lifespan: The hatch and mature in about a year, and have maximum lifespans ranging between 17 and 24 years, depending on the breed. Abilities: Like their name suggests, their movement speed is very much differing from the similar earth snail. The muscle of their foot is capable of rippling at extreme speeds, generating a fluttering noise that some have described as a motorcycle's engine (albeit not quite as loud) when they move along surfaces such as pavement. They can reach extreme (for a land creature) speeds of up to 15 meters per second (34 miles per hour) without being augmented. Their stamina is also quite high, capable of consistently moving at such speeds for up to thirty minutes without resting. While they can move at lower speeds for quite much longer, once they have tired themselves, it is unhealthy for them to continue without at least an hour's time to rest. Flaws: They cannot leap, and find themselves at a major disadvantage on rough and uneven terrain- they are able to traverse this- but only slowly. In addition, moving around at top speeds burns a lot of calories, they may require feeding after having 'ran' for awhile. Other: Commonly used for racing. Heh.
