Haemophore

Haemophores are a species of bloodsucking predators from the realm of the Dreamlands.

Biology
Haemophores are small creatures with webbed hands and feet, suckers on the chest and abdomen, and a distinctive W-shaped mouth filled with needle-like hollow teeth. They move cautiously and are attracted to shiny objects. They can be found inhabiting moist rocky terrains, caves, seaside cliffs and coastal ruins.

Haemophores prefer to feed on sleeping prey. They secrete an anesthetic substance to prevent the prey from waking, use their ventral suckers to adhere to the body of the prey and proceed to suck out blood with their hollow fangs. They can consume extraordinary quantities: a 70 cm long Haemophore can drain the blood of a whole adult zebra. After gorging itself on copious amounts of blood, the grotesquely swollen Haemophore will seek out a good hiding place and might not feed again for three or four months afterwards. They can spend years without food if needed. In dire times, they can also encase themselves in a slimy cocoon and remain in stasis for up to a century.

Haemaphores are hermaphrodites and viviparous, giving birth to tiny aquatic larvae with two tails. Their larvae are endoparasitic. Once they stumble into a suitable host, they shed their tails and burrow into the host's skin until they reach the digestive tract and start feeding. After four to six weeks, the larva will have transformed into a miniature version of its adult stage, only 5 cm long. At this point it leaves the host and reaches full size within one or two years.