The Horta Report
Horta Basics
The Horta (Hortensia acidophlangia) species are indigenous to Janus VI. They one of a very few known silicon based life forms ever discovered. They were discovered by the human (Homo sapiens) mining colony on Janus when the miners inadvertantly broke into the Horta's hatchery. See The_Devil_in_the_Dark for more on how the Horta species was discovered and found to be sentient. They consume rock, minerals, and metallic ores by liquifying it with a very strong highly corrosive acid exuded from their undersides and then swiftly ingesting the resulting mixture. In doing this they create tunnels and other underground cave-like structures.
Life as a Young Horta
Hortas are birthed out of silicon nodules or eggs. They are hatched without any armor and are still soft and exude acid uncontollably. They are born hungry and begin tunneling and feeding almost immediately and within a week or so their first protective shell of armor has formed. They vary about 1/2 to 1 foot square in size when first hatched. Often their first meal is whatever is left of their silicon egg shell.
