Why it evolved

The unusual abundance of Tideweed on Tethys Shallows drives selection for larger size and faster reproduction in the Drought-Dweller to exploit this surplus. Increased size offers some protection against smaller predators like the Mudfish, while faster reproduction ensures a population boom to match the food boom, although it makes them vulnerable to boom-bust cycles if resources fluctuate. The added bulk necessitates a trade-off, making them slower and more conspicuous to ambush predators like the Mud-Stalker. The warm, shallow waters of Tethys allow for the development of a pelagic juvenile stage and mucus-heavy egg masses, protecting the numerous young from the denser mud where adults live.