Display Structures

Seeing as I am exploring the display/ritual combat structure idea with the ambush worms' huge, oversized jaws, I conducted some research into the diversity of such structures. While the antlers of deer and horns of rhinoceros are familiar to us, the invertebrate world also sports a vast array of strange and often spectacular structures to threaten, impress or attract other individuals. Hypertrophied limbs and mouthparts used in combat with other males, such as the stag beetle's huge jaws, are often for ritualized combat; often rank and territorial claims can be established without resorting to dangerous violence, either by the obviously smaller/less colorful individuals backing down, or by the combat itself (flipping in stag beetles) not usually resulting in injury. As these fights often happen quite frequently during breeding periods, having them be excessively dangerous would not be in either males' best interest.

My birrin relative uses its jaws much like a stalk-eyed fly, or fiddler crab, usually for territorial rather than mating displays. Good burrows take considerable time to carve into the reef, and what was a perfect spot may turn barren with a shift of currents or storm damage. Stealing a burrow may then become an appealing option, and a quick way to size up an opponent makes these territorial scuffles more efficient, and potentially less deadly. Approaching an possible burrow with its jaws widely spread, the occupying worm rises to the challenge, each testing one anothers potential size by jaw width. An obviously smaller worm will quickly retreat, either moving on, or ceding the burrow to the larger creature.

However, if evenly matched, the jaws quickly turn into lethal weapons and combat begins, possibly to the death if no quarter is given.

Mantis Shrimp - Silke Baron

Peacock Jumping Spider - Jurgen Otto

Stalk Eyed Fly - Yogendra Joshi

Stag Beetle - Trevor Harris