Name: “Bridge Bug” (Bri'gir'da)

  Bri'gir'da — a.k.a. Bridge bugs are monumentally sized centipede-like ambush predators with powerful gripping legs used in ground-works and structural reinforcement.

  As capable camouflage based ambush predators, their appearance is selected based on locally available materials — ranging from stone, to bark, to sand, or even metal.

  Physical structure depends on specific morphology chosen by the environment being mimicked — however some traits are consistent. A relatively small head which contains a four-part mandible used to grab and crush prey, an upper and lower thorax with triple segmented legs extending to each side, and a middle abdomen devoid of leg.

  The thorax and abdominal plating is extremely durable, capable of withstanding extreme compressive and sheer forces. Non-plated tissues are rubbery and elastic, but still highly durable.

  Legs are not necessarily proportional to the size of the thorax, and may be thick and short, or long and thin, based on environmental factors. They are capable of exuding a powerful adhesive, which permanently bonds the legs to the contacting material — only molting will free the specimen, once so bonded.

  Rudimentary visual sensory organs are present along the entirety of the body to each side, alongside stoma which are used in both respiration and as olfactory organs.

  Newly divided specimens may only be one to two meters in length, whereas truly massive exemplar molts have been seen to reach 50 meters or more in length. Width tends to be proportional to length at a 1:5 ratio in smaller specimens, but longer examples will increase length at the expense of width or girth.

  There does not seem to be a well-defined upper limit to the growth of Bri'gir'da, however most will choose to molt rather than remain in lengthening growth phases.

  Found in a variety of ecologies — they are most common in rocky areas, where they will most commonly be found nestled within a rocky or glacial crevasse or other feature, tightly gripping a cavern wall. They are known to be amphibious, found floating at the surface, as well as in deep water.

  Larger species of trees are often used by young, before they have fully formed legs and armor plating. In the absence of rocky or other features, they may instead opt to partially bury themselves in soil or sandy areas and engage in opportunistic predation.

  Like most Ber, they are found in a wide variety of environments, from polar regions, to volcanically active plains, to oceans.

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  Interactions vary widely based on locality, with aggression being inversely proportional to observable population. In highly populated areas, they may be completely docile, potentially even considered domesticated, relying on food provided by the local populace.

  Primarily carnivorous during growth phases, omnivorous when sessile — typically post-molt. Materials used for camouflage are consumed, but not digested — instead they are processed and regurgitated directly onto the shell, or around the legs in individuals which have chosen to molt.

  In areas where prey are sparse, developing individuals may take on omnivorous behaviors — filter feeding by crushing ice, soil, sand, or rock with their powerful mandibles and musculature; individuals feeding in this way will take an order of magnitude longer in development stages and may select to bud, rather than molt, to diversify feeding coverage.

  Bri'gir'da are among the oldest Ber, approaching Pa'hupa in age — so precise genesis details are unavailable. They have similar genetic foundations to Scrav, and may share a home world or system, or simply be an evolutionary predecessor given the time scales between the inclusions of the species.

  During growth phases, Bri'gir'da will grow from the central abdominal section outwards — new legless abdominal segments extrude from the head-side of the organism, elongating it.

  Only sessile Bri'gir'da, those which have found or been placed across a chasm span or other permanent feature have been observed to cease growing in length. A secondary growth phase then occurs where it molts, shedding its entire exterior — and exits from a split in the ventral central abdomen. It typically remains in proximity to the molt, not consuming it, but instead forming a secondary shell immediately adjacent to it, repeating the process until the entire feature is covered.

  Bri'gir'da bud from a parent organism, where the ‘tail’ segment matures into a new head, generating mandibles and a primitive thorax, until it reaches sufficient maturation to detach from the original organism. This behavior is typically only observed in individuals which have selected not to molt.

  Lifespan information is unavailable as no evidence of senescence has been observed. Only natural predation and mishap have been observed to result in death.

  Bri'gir'da hunt by anchoring their tail leg segments and using their powerful musculature to rapidly coil and grip prey with their front leg segments, which are used in conjunction with their mandible to grip and crush.

  If threatened beyond their capability to retaliate or defend, they may instead choose to wrap and bond their prey, sacrificing their legs in the process. In this instance, the lower half of the organism either buds, or becomes the new head, severing the now-useless thoracic segment.

  No pre-awakening intelligence has been reported, but like many Ber, they have an innate understanding and may be commanded to emplace, bond, molt, or even bud. There are no known Ber'Duun examples, though given the body morphology, it would be difficult to identify intelligence.

  Budding Bri'gir'da may not be killed by destruction of the primary brain — the offspring shares access to the nervous system and a sufficiently matured bud may take over the body.

  Molts may be sources of valuable structural materials, as high strength stone, alloy, or even organics are refined and left behind.

  Extremely hazardous in vertical orientation due to gravity assisted downward strikes. Recommended combat approach is to immobilize the head section, or else dislodge the tail to avoid it providing leverage for whip-like attacks that may either crush or present opportunities to grab prey.