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Stygius Hydra — Description

Stygius Hydras use the large flesh folds in their bodies to incubate and shelter their developing larvae. The surplus necrotic flesh protects from attacks and feeds the larvae as they mature. Until they reach a large enough size to find their own prey, the larvae contribute to their host mother's defense by protecting her blind spots from attacks and parasites.
Due to the scarce density of prey and highly competitive predators, mother Hydras will react to any creature not already burrowed within their bodies with aggression. Males are significantly smaller, and to avoid being eaten while mating, will call out to females with hunted prey to offer. Females rear eggs at the end of their abdomens, with the larvae only hatching at night to burrow into the upper body as the mother is sleeping.