Editing Parting of the Ways (Fortune: Evolution Game) (section)

===Saltspike Frog (Jungle)===

The Saltspike Frog, or simply Saltback is a terrestrial amphibian that dines almost exclusively on the Salt Cactus, a plant that, despite its name, grows on the banks of freshwater bodies in warm to tropical areas as well as swamps and wetlands of a similar climate. Thus it is that the Saltspike dwells here also, being native to the Swamp region of planet Fortune.

While the creature has lost its shell since evolving from the Shellfog, the Saltspike does retain a decoration of sorts, an assortment of salt crystals adorning its back (hence the name). This is the result of the creature's body filtering out the high sodium content of its diet, too much of which will dry the Saltspike out like a slug. As the frog matures, some of the crystals lengthen and sharpen, forming protective spikes making the frog unpalatable for most predators.This display is sometimes used in courting rituals, as a thick crust of the stuff indicates the individual is well fed, and a large number of spikes is generally a sign of a creature that will avoid predation.

Saltspikes are small, the biggest are around the size of an outstretched palm. That said, these small critters are a prolific bunch, not to mention loud. During the mating season (anywhere from late spring to midsummer), males and females will croak to each other, and within these chirps and ribbits, the health, size, age, and gender of the frog making them is made apparent (to other Saltspikes, anyway).

When a frog hears a mate that it likes, it will follow the sound to the caller and try to initiate the courtship dance. If the other accepts, they will mate and lay a foamy mass of around 700 of eggs. The pair will then separate, not to see each other again, except perhaps next season. The young are but miniature version of the adults, unlike Earth frogs, though they do breathe through gills at this stage, eventually, these gills will be replaced with lungs as the young mature.