Author Notes - This family has a fun name, but otherwise the Skeeterskates are just annoying as hell.
SPITTERSPATTER FAMILY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hemiptera
EMILY'S PERSONAL NOTES
This family name is really fun to say. Spitterspatter, spitterspatter, spitterspatter! Other than that, this is one of the more annoying critters. So here I am, walking by the riverbank, before it starts spitting water at me and my Pikmin! The poor non-Blues can't handle it. Still, it's neat seeing the way it zips about on the water's surface without breaking the water tension. Goodness, I wish I could do that.
...
OH GOSH DANG IT I'VE BEEN MISSPELLING A CREATURE'S NAME THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE PAPER AGAIN!
PHYSICAL APPEARANCES
The only known member of this family, the Gerridus clavomacula (Skeeterskate) bears a resemblance to the pond skaters that it is closely related to. Albeit, only three of its six legs are visible and functional; the other three never grow, resulting in a tripodal creature. It has a small body with two yellow eyes on the sides, and a hose-like proboscis. Most of its body consists of a small translucent sac on its back. This sac can stretch and grow in size depending on how much water is inside of it.
HABITAT
Skeeterskates live exclusively on or in water for their entire life. They prefer cooler climates like the Twilight River or the Distant Tundra, capable of surviving in the coldest of places as long as the water is not completely frozen over. They have appeared, albeit in much lower numbers, in more tropical areas however.
DIET AND DEFENCES
The Skeeterskate's method of gathering sustenance also doubles as a self-defence mechanism. It fills its translucent sac with water via its long proboscis, consuming any microscopic plankton that it happens to absorb as well. The water can then be spouted off against potential predators, typically serving as a helpful distraction at worst and drowning its opponents at best.
It is also capable of skating across the water at high speeds. This is due to the tiny hairs on its feet, which are coated in a hydrophobic substance. This minimises any friction on the water's surface, allowing the Skeeterskate to move across it without breaking the tension.
SOCIAL STRUCTURE
Skeeterskates have proven to be very friendly with each other, and often live in groups. When they are zipping around on the water together, it appears to be their version of playtime. If there are no potential predators in the vicinity, they will often shoot water at each other. This functions both as play, and as an expression of annoyance with the other party. 'Shoot-outs' are also common.
COURTING AND CHILDREARING
Most Skeeterskates will only mate with those they have grown great attachments to, though lonely Skeeterskates are very willing to explore far and wide to find a potential mate. The mating ritual involves shooting water into the air at the same time, intending to collide the shots at the height of their arcs and get themselves splashed by the water.
The eggs laid by the female hatch quickly inside of her body, and she will transfer the hatched larvae over to her male mate. He will keep the hatchlings safe in his sac, feeding them at the same time as himself. A special 'filter' in his proboscis prevents him from shooting out the young while he attacks. After several weeks, the young grow too big for his sac and burst it to get freed. This does not kill him, but leaves him rather defenceless. His partner will keep him safe until the end of his life.
OTHER NOTES
Due to half of its legs never properly growing, the Skeeterskate is the only known animal on PNF-404 to be tripodal. The Quaggled Mireclops (see 'Mireclops') also has three legs, but it is classified as a plant and not an animal.
NOTES FROM OTHER RESEARCHERS
Skeeterskate -
The genius of this design is that it uses its habitat of water to fuel its spout attacks. It can spray three times on one tank! Top marks for efficiency. The most glaring downside is that it can't move while it's refuelling. You'd think someone would have realized what a golden opportunity that presents to attack. - Alph
Mostly what this thing does is suck up water and spit it out to attack. I completely hate it. It keeps getting in the way of collecting fruit! I need that fruit NOW! It's not like I asked anyone to wash it for me first! - Brittany
I've been watching this one, and I have a little theory about how it skates on water without sinking. Ready for this? It's so busy getting from place to place that it doesn't have time to sink.- Captain Charlie (Emily's Notes: And this is why I'm writing this paper and not you. I mean, you're not entirely wrong, but when you put it like that it sounds kinda silly.)
Author Notes - A typo gave me the term 'pony skaters', and honestly that would make one heck of a Pikmin enemy. The next family, you'll find, is a lot more interesting than this one: the SPOROVIDS! Can you say 'Mushroom Pikmin'?
