Traits
Spikes (Normal)
Similar to spines, these protrusions tend to be shorter, thicker and more conical, and can cover any parts of the body.
Spinnerets (Potion)
[Potion item]: Sticky Eggs
Modified feelers with splayed tips that spin a sticky thread, by pressing the spinneret tips onto a surface. It is primarily used to catch prey, but also results in having extremely sticky skin that small objects cling to, often unbeknownst to the leech. These objects then end up being spun into the web.
Spinnerets only occur on the leech's head, upper rump, or tailtip.
Note: This trait is specific to Cave leeches!
Up to three spinneret pairs can be added, one per area.
Sailfin (Potion)
[Item: Sail Shell]
A large singular semi-rigid fin that forms in a smooth curve, supported by cartilaginous spokes. It's thought that this is a feeler mutation, due to its consistently simplified shape.
Leeches with this trait have reduced mobility, although those with a sailfin tail are incredibly powerful swimmers for short bursts.
Note: One sail per trait application! Sails on the head do not count as horns.
Cave Wings (Cave)
Appearing in far greater numbers than on their aboveground cousins, wings on cave leeches are so commonplace their rarity was declassified from mythical down to normal.
The lack of bones in cave leeches means that these wings are likewise unusable for powered flight, but they are adept gliders once they climb high enough to gain momentum.
Note: The rarity is Cave Leech exclusive - for non-cave leeches you will need to use the myth trait Wings. It is otherwise identical to the Wings trait, including appearance and functionality.
More than one pair of wings will require the Extra Limbs myth trait!
Ribbed Skin (Cave)
Rolls of skin that pinch inwards, creating a soft ribbed look.
Visually similar to Grub Tail except on any part of the leech's body (including partially), ribbed skin is present in cave leeches that have a tendency to gorge themselves on whole prey, expanding to fit a much greater capacity of food.
While any leech can have wrinkled skin, Ribbed skin actually adheres to additional pockets of fat stores rather than being a simple loose epidermis.
Note: To prevent confusion with Keeled Scales, the lines should not be fully solid the entire way around the body or across the applied area - include gaps to show that it's soft and fat!
Glitter Shed (Potion)
[Potion item]: Glitter Salt
A somewhat unpleasant skin condition that causes the leech to shed particles.
Most of the time the leech's skin dries out or calcifies into rough shapes, sloughing off constantly in a delicate rain of glittery pieces.
It's very pretty to look at, but many disgruntled pet owners often find themselves vacuuming several times a day to manage the mess, and spend a fortune on skin lotions to stop the leech from itching constantly.
Accessories (Normal)
While not actual traits, sometimes it's good to differentiate what is and isn't part of the leech.
Note: An alternative 'naked' image of the leech must be provided if the accessories cover up some traits or too much of the leech's body, such as with a large hat or a cape.
Pincers (Common Myth)
Advanced grabber claws, covered in hard carapace.
Leeches with pincers seem to be smarter than your average leech, as besides using their pincers to hold onto prey they have also been observed to hold and make use of tools. This trait is often coupled with the scorpion tail trait.
Note: This allows for one pair of pincers per upgrade, but multiple upgrades can be made for more pincers.
Keeled Scales (Uncommon Myth)
Keratinous protrusions on the skin.
These can vary from tiny fishlike scales and clawlike shapes, to rough chunks or armor plate. They can cover any amount of the leech's body.
Sensory pores (Normal)
Extra sensitive pores that have developed above the leech's mouth, similar to ones occurring in sharks and catfish.
Many people new to the creatures mistake them for nostrils, but this is not the case! They act as sensory pits, detecting vibrations in the water. On land, they are functionally useless.
Note: These should only be very small dots or squished little lines - longer lines that bear too much resemblance to actual nostrils are not allowed!
Spines (Normal)
Tall, curved, and sharp extensions, sometimes webbed to act as makeshift fins, they’re usually located on the leech’s back.
They’re typically used for self defense and for intimidation, but since the leech can’t reach these spines random items may end up comically impaled on them.
Grabber claws (Normal)
Grabber claws are advanced, dexterous feelers with a spike on the tip.
Leeches with this trait can easily maneuver through thick brush and vines and as working animals they are great at multitasking.
It's very common to see many grabber claws along the entire length of a leech's body. It pairs extremely well with centi tail for added dexterity.
Salt deposits (Saltwater)
Salt deposits sometimes collect on a saltwater leech in various shapes and forms.
Wild saltwater leeches will often find rough sand or stones to scratch these deposits off; these 'scratching posts' will often be used by several different leeches and are popular as wildlife tourist spots to view them from afar.
These may also be grown purposely, either for the purpose of selling it or for the purpose of decorating a pedigree saltwater leech. Removing the salt deposits doesn't harm the leech, but it is harmful when the salt deposits are artificially grown to cover large areas of the leeches body and especially if the salt covers its gills.
Tragically, some saltwater leeches with less sought after traits are used as salt harvest slaves until they die.
Fish Scales (Saltwater)
A naturally occuring trait in many Saltwater class leeches.
Much like saltwater fins, these scales can take the shape of any present on marine creatures.
There is a bizarre argument in some online circles that insists leeches with this trait are undeniably "smooth as the finest silks".
Note: The non-saltwater class variant of this is the myth trait Keeled Scales.
Gills/Pores (Normal)
Pockets on a leech's body that facilitate breathing.
Gills are more common on water-dwelling leeches, while pores naturally contain condensed moisture that makes land-dwelling breathing far easier.
Pores can be specially shaped and also have a high tendency to ooze colored slime, especially when the leech is stressed. This slime can be a different color to the flesh of the pores.
Note: Gills are required on Saltwater class leeches!
Pore slime amount can vary from a little to a lot, and can glow, but must be one color.
Floating object (Uncommon Myth)
A mythical trait controlled more often than not by a leech's developing psychic abilities or natural magnetism.
It's never hard to pinpoint a leech with floating objects, as they will have something levitating close to their body! These objects vary from leech to leech and may be something the leech values, a man made accessory, or even things like appendages and eyeballs.
Whether or not the object can be pulled from the leech's grasp is entirely up to the leech, but it's a better idea to let them be, just in case there are other more dangerous psychic abilities that the creature is hiding.
Note: This allows for one object per upgrade, but multiple upgrades can be made for more objects.
Floating appendages will require an extra limb upgrade.
Floating eyes are non-functional.
Bioluminescence (Normal)
Similarly to certain plants and plankton, this trait expresses itself in the form of glowing spots, markings, or body parts on the leech!
It's noted that the glow is stronger in well-fed leeches. The glow can be turned on and off at will, a recent development previously thought impossible because observed pets preferred to keep their lights on even as they slept.
Wild leeches use it as a lure to draw in all manner of prey, and tend to have lightning-fast reflexes to quickly snatch up their food.
Whiskers (Normal)
Thin, wiry feelers that behave similarly to those found on mammals and catfish.
Whiskers provide the leech with a sensory boost, giving them better perception of their surroundings. This trait is a popular pick for mammalian-esque pets.