Buddies & Bullies

Tribomanus minima / Tribomanus serpens

Overview

More commonly known as a "buddy", Tribomanus minima is a small generalistic animal common in many parts of the world and the miniature cousin of the far more dangerous Tribomanus serpens.

T. minima (left), a Phony (center) and T. serpens (right). Art by Miloselfesteem

Range

The buddy (Light purple) is common in many subterranean, palustrine and general aquatic environments. Meanwhile, its larger cousin, T. serpens, (Dark purple) lives in jungles and woodlands, hanging from trees.

Diet

T. minima is fond of eating small invertebrate-analogue animals while T. serpens will eat anything it can get its mouth on, especially meat.

Art by Miloselfesteem

Anatomy

Like most other Confibulan fauna, these creatures use hemocyanin in their blood and have bones made of silica microcrystals. They have a poor oxygen affinity, but their world has a low oxygen content anyways so it ended up being the most efficient oxygen transport pigment. Their innards, thus, are blue. They are trilaterally symmetrical as well as mirrored from front to back. Food can enter through the heads on each end, and exits through cloacas on each side of the body.

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Behavior

T. minima isn't called the "buddy" for no reason. It's known to follow phonies around, and can even be domesticated to some degree. T. serpens on the other hand, is known for being a fierce ambush hunter in the jungles and is widely feared. The two of them occupy similar niches that snakes do on earth. Just if they had limbs on their faces.

Art by Miloselfesteem

T. minima is known for its ability to find items, so many phonies like to keep them around to find food, pebbles or knickknacks.

Art by Miloselfesteem