Bubby Variants~

~Intro~

There are 5 types of Bubbies. These are from largest to smallest giant, semi-aquatic, standard, carnivorous, and fungal.

~What makes a variant?~

Variants are determined by a large number of Bubbies having a significant biological change while having the same type of plant or plants that are very similar. A variant is officially recognized when 20 bubbies in a single area have been observed to have the same unique features.

~Variant reproduction~

Unlike most species, the Variants in Bubbies are not genetic and are instead a result of their plant's influence. This means a semi-aquatic Bubby could have a giant Bubby as a child. However, most Bubby variants are more likely to plant a seed of their variant in their eggs meaning a Bubby's child will almost always be the same variant as them. The only exception to this is in Fungal Bubbies which tend to let nature take its course, as such they just open the soft spot on their egg and let whatever take root.

~Variant Rarity~

Due to various reasons, some Bubbies are far more common than others. Most Bubbies are either Standards or Giants with semi-aquatic and carnivorous being much more rare. Fungal Bubbies are the rarest as they are almost always the result of a freak accident rather than being born on purpose like every other variant. Fungals rarely make it to adulthood, due to them being perceived as weak by other Bubbies a Fungal born to a non-fungal will likely be abandoned preventing it from learning basic survival skills.

~Giant variant~

Giant Bubbies are the result of having a large plant like a tree planted into their egg. The biggest difference is being bigger than all other variants. Giant Bubbies also rely on photosynthesis much more than other variants at times spending weeks underground asleep. This has led to the common conspiracy theory that the Hollow tree is on the head of a giant Bubby which has been taking a very long slumber and if it were to wake the world would end. Giant Bubbies rely on stealth the few times they hunt as their large plants make moving fast very difficult. Most of their prey are arboreal species who try to call their tree home only for the Bubby to shake them out and snatch them while they are dazed. Due to their size, they can not learn to fly, unlike standard Bubbies.

~Semi-Aquatic variant~

Semi-aquatic Bubbies have aquatic plants planted in their egg. From lily pads to seagrass if it is a plant that calls that water home it would result in a semi-aquatic Bubby. Semi-aquatic Bubbies can spend as much as 90% of their life underwater depending on how aquatic their plant is. They don't need to surface for oxygen as their plants breathe for them. Semi-aquatic Bubbies are slightly bulkier than standard Bubbies to survive in very cold water. Semi-aquatic Bubbies have sharper and jagged beaks to help them tear meat from large animals and trap smaller prey. Their bite force is higher they other Bubbies letting them easily eat things with hard shells like crabs. They have small fins on their arms to help them swim. All semi-aquatic Bubbies know water magic to survive in the harsh aquatic environment. They tend to be darker in coloration to conceal themself in dark water.

~Standard variant~

Most plants result in standard Bubbies. They are the baseline for the species as a whole and are the most natural state a Bubby could be in. Their diet is 50/50 plants and animals. They are prideful only eating meat they hunt or that was hunted by someone they live with as they believe scavenging or accepting another's kill is a sign of weakness. They will however accept fruits and veggies from anyone they respect as they do not view gathering plants as skilled work so it is not weak to accept so long as the being giving it isn't weaker then them.

~Carnivorous variant~

Carnivorous Bubbies have carnivorous plants planted on them. Despite them being smaller than standard Bubbies they are actually the strongest variant due to them being very quick. Visually there is little difference between a carnivorous Bubby and a standard Bubby with the only sign for those not familar with plants being their vibrant eyes compared to the pale eyes most Bubbies have. While some non-carnivorous Bubbies have been seen with the vibrant eyes seen in carnivorous it is quite rare. The reason for the more vibrant eyes is that their protective cap is thinner as they do not spend as much time underground meaning they need to be able to see more and the thinner cap lets more light into their eyes. Carnivorous Bubbies need more meat in their diet but because their plant catches prey the difference in diet is barely noticeable being functionally 45/55 plants to meat. Although being the strongest variant they do not view themself as stronger than standard Bubbies this gives them an advantage when mating as they will be willing to mate with weaker variants so long as they can keep up with them. To most Bubbies carnivorous Bubbies are highly desirable mates due to their strength.

~Fungal variant~

Fungal Bubbies are the most different Bubby variant as they are the result of their egg getting damaged allowing fungal spores to get in before a seed could take root. They are smaller and weaker than most other Bubbies. While most Bubbies live alone until they are old then they pair up fungal Bubbies live in communities. Depending on their colony they have various beliefs and practices. For instance, some Fungals raise their young in groups while others only the parents raise their young. Fungals are scavengers and view the act of hunting as barbaric as such Fungals only associate with non-fungal Bubbies that are their offspring since other Bubbies are too violent for them. Since Fungals can't photosynthesize at birth they have a frilled cape made out of mushrooms which newborn fungal Bubbies use to feed themselves their first 3 months of life. After 3 months they gather leaves to make their cape in order to camouflage with their . Fungal Bubbies tend to be paler in color and have far fewer markings than standard Bubbies. They live anywhere damp and like to squeeze into tight spaces to sleep. Fungal Bubbies eat their dead as it would be wasteful to let that meat rot. Fungal Bubbies are only immune to toxins produced by their mushroom as such any fungal Bubby with a poisonous mushroom will only be eaten by Bubbies with the same mushroom as them. Fungal Bubbies do not plant seeds rather they open their eggs and allow nature to take its course this means most Fungal Bubbies have wild flowers, grasses, and fungal babies since those are the most common things in their environment.