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Of the various species which have come to reside on Earth, none are as odd, nor as bothersome, as the Chumtoad. Spotted in various different Combine cities, they appear as a pest across the globe. Despite considerable efforts invested in stopping their proliferation, the chumtoads continue to thrive as a species, serving as the bottom line of many Xenian ecosystems.
***PHYSIOLOGY***
Externally, the chumtoad is a four legged creature, with an appearance best compared to that of an amphibian. Their skin is a slimy, leathery material, with two large hardened "spikes" present on the back, and have always been seen with purple coloration. Chumtoads have several red stripes along their sides, the use of which has been speculated to be a form of natural camouflage, though one that is ineffective in most terrestrial environments. The two front legs are tipped with two nail like appendages, while the two back legs possess a structure resembling that of a hoof. The most noticeable trait of the Chumtoad is their singular eye, taking up more than 40% of the creature's head. The anatomy of the eye has not been thoroughly studied due to the Chumtoad's evasive nature, though cursory studies indicate a system not unlike those of terrestrial felines.
***BEHAVIOR***
The Chumtoad is the very epitome of a prey creature, which is shown greatly by its behavior. Upon faced with any manner of physical threat, the chumtoad will utilize its most infamous ability: Teleportation. The manner by which this is accomplished has yet to be determined. The Chumtoad will most often engage in standard predatory behaviors, its prey of choice being small Xenian "Insects", though it has been known to supplement its diet with terrestrial insects and small mammals. They have been known to engage in loud screeching when threatened, though this behavior has been noted to be rare, likely due to the attention it draws to the creature. One of the more interesting rumors surrounding the chumtoad include that it possesses the ability to teleport others from their current position. These rumors go on to describe a process by which a chumtoad will extend its tounge to touch another object, then teleport, "dragging" whatever it is licking with it. These rumors have not been verified by study, and remain a contentious topic.
***ROLE IN ECOSYSTEMS***
The Chumtoad, as its name suggests, is a very sought after prey item by predatory species. Species known to actively hunt and consume Chumtoads include Bullsquids, Houndeyes, Panthereyes, Leeches (If in aquatic environments), and Vortigaunts. Due to the species being such a common food source, it is usually the base of a xenian ecosystem, and some have speculated that if chumtoads were to be removed from an infested area, an ecosystem collapse may occur, though this has never been tested.
***INTERACTIONS WITH HUMANS***
The Chumtoad is at odds with many Xenian life forms as it does not actively possess the ability, or intent, to harm humans, despite this, it is classified as an invasive pest, and is usually marked for removal by Combine Infestation Control. While their appearances are rare, they are not unheard of in civilized areas. Special care is taken if a large number of Chumtoads have been found in an inhabited area, as their presence may attract more dangerous creatures, with a potential domino effect of an entire ecosystem establishing itself. Human uses for the species are limited, their tendency to teleport away from danger makes capture difficult, though some have proposed that if they could be handled, they could be used as a manner of "Bait" for other Xen lifeforms.
***PHYSIOLOGY***
Externally, the chumtoad is a four legged creature, with an appearance best compared to that of an amphibian. Their skin is a slimy, leathery material, with two large hardened "spikes" present on the back, and have always been seen with purple coloration. Chumtoads have several red stripes along their sides, the use of which has been speculated to be a form of natural camouflage, though one that is ineffective in most terrestrial environments. The two front legs are tipped with two nail like appendages, while the two back legs possess a structure resembling that of a hoof. The most noticeable trait of the Chumtoad is their singular eye, taking up more than 40% of the creature's head. The anatomy of the eye has not been thoroughly studied due to the Chumtoad's evasive nature, though cursory studies indicate a system not unlike those of terrestrial felines.
***BEHAVIOR***
The Chumtoad is the very epitome of a prey creature, which is shown greatly by its behavior. Upon faced with any manner of physical threat, the chumtoad will utilize its most infamous ability: Teleportation. The manner by which this is accomplished has yet to be determined. The Chumtoad will most often engage in standard predatory behaviors, its prey of choice being small Xenian "Insects", though it has been known to supplement its diet with terrestrial insects and small mammals. They have been known to engage in loud screeching when threatened, though this behavior has been noted to be rare, likely due to the attention it draws to the creature. One of the more interesting rumors surrounding the chumtoad include that it possesses the ability to teleport others from their current position. These rumors go on to describe a process by which a chumtoad will extend its tounge to touch another object, then teleport, "dragging" whatever it is licking with it. These rumors have not been verified by study, and remain a contentious topic.
***ROLE IN ECOSYSTEMS***
The Chumtoad, as its name suggests, is a very sought after prey item by predatory species. Species known to actively hunt and consume Chumtoads include Bullsquids, Houndeyes, Panthereyes, Leeches (If in aquatic environments), and Vortigaunts. Due to the species being such a common food source, it is usually the base of a xenian ecosystem, and some have speculated that if chumtoads were to be removed from an infested area, an ecosystem collapse may occur, though this has never been tested.
***INTERACTIONS WITH HUMANS***
The Chumtoad is at odds with many Xenian life forms as it does not actively possess the ability, or intent, to harm humans, despite this, it is classified as an invasive pest, and is usually marked for removal by Combine Infestation Control. While their appearances are rare, they are not unheard of in civilized areas. Special care is taken if a large number of Chumtoads have been found in an inhabited area, as their presence may attract more dangerous creatures, with a potential domino effect of an entire ecosystem establishing itself. Human uses for the species are limited, their tendency to teleport away from danger makes capture difficult, though some have proposed that if they could be handled, they could be used as a manner of "Bait" for other Xen lifeforms.
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