Creature

I call it the: Cylomortis.

It's a scaly creature, about the size of a football, and somewhat pod shaped. It has four legs at the back and two at the front, as well as a pair of claws which stick out the each side at the front. It's head is muzzle shaped supporting it's carnivorous/scavanging nature. It has the appropriate teeth, and simple slits on the sides of it's head which serve as ears. Again, simple slits for nostrils, but great big eyes. The eyes are most effective since the Cylomortis can swivel it's head about 270 degrees in both directions. It has a long tail, used for balance when running or jumping.

The most interesting thing about the Cylomortis is it's reproductive style. The females lay eggs, and the males come by and pick them up. They store them in a special protective sac and the eggs remain unfertilized. At the moment of death, the Cylomortis explodes spikes out of every side of it's body. The spikes are about an inch apart and 5-9 inches long, and usually serve to kill any animal capable of killing and eating the creature. At this point, as the spikes fire out, the eggs that the male has collected (up to 5 depending on size and availability) are all fertalized and released. The purpose of this, is upon hatching, the young have two corpses to feed on, usually holding them for long enough for them to develop into a reasonably defensive state. It takes the young about 3 days to become capable of supporting themselves.

This all came to me just randomly by closing my eyes and watching the images float by.