Tonwo
Tonwos are a composite organism, analogous to an earth lichen in that they are a partnership between an animaliod organism and a fungaliod one. The fungus evolved as a parasite, similar to ophiocordyceps unilateralis in that it would use chemicals to hijack an animaliods endocrine system but eventually ended up in a symbiotic partnership where the fungaliod organism would handle hormonal functions for the animaliod in exchange for nutrients and a safe place to be parked. Tonwos have networks of hyphae throughout their flesh in a similar way as we have nerves, which carry chemical signals throughout their body. These fungaliod systems are most visually obvious through the mushroom crown that tonwos will grow.
Tonwos are, in appearance, a cross between a snake and an octopus. They have eight tentacles around their beaks and elongated bodies with no additional limbs. They have two sets of eyes, two main compound eyes on top of their heads outside the tentacles, and a cluster of five infrared sensing eyes directly above their beaks. They also will grow a mushroom crown behind their eyes. They do not have sensation in these, and many individuals will style their crowns as a form of personal expression.
They evolved from cave dwelling ancestors, and are more sensitive to light then most species, and will often wear shades in shared species spaces. They are also semiaquatic, and can breathe through their skin as well as with their lungs. The skin on their bellies is much tougher then the skin on their backs, and consequentially worse at gas exchange, but far more durable for self propulsion. While swimming, they do not use their lungs at all, and can remain submerged for hours at a time. They require a lot of water to remain terrestrial as their bodies will naturally route a lot of water to the skin to keep it moist. Tonwos are most comfortable if they can submerge themselves in freshwater regularly, and many individuals prefer to sleep partially or completely submerged.
Tonwos are obligate carnivorous and ectothermic. They require more energy then most ectotherms because of their large brains, but still less then a comparably sized endotherm. As they need a lot of liquid anyway, they will often regulate their own temperatures with drink, warming broths up as humans would tea or just drinking hot water. Keeping cool is less of a concern for them as they aren't little furnaces unlike some classes of animals I could name, but when it is too hot, drinking or submerging themselves in cool water is the preferred coping mechanism.
Tonwo spaces tend to utilize three dimensional space more then spaces designed by most other species. When they design for themselves, they tend to build in dense layers, with ceilings greebled to make them easier to climb through. Tonwo sleeping spaces are almost always closed off, having evolved in caves it's quite common for tonwos to feel exposed and vulnerable in wide open spaces. If they must sleep somewhere exposed, they generally prefer to do it in a large group.
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