Welcome to Groll Genetics
For whatever science-y reason, the genetic makeup of life on Shantyland is incredibly unstable, and thus, easily manipulated. Smaller life forms such as groll frogs are the most easily noted to be affected by this reaction, and it's a key factor in their success at thriving in the wild. Giving them a huge edge, little grollets, before even fully developed/hatched from their egg, will already be absorbing germs/DNA/elements from the world around it. This might enable them to take on the color or pattern of their home turf, or develop tendrils similar to plants in the area that allow them better camouflage once developed. The rate at which the infusion takes place has a number of variables as to what sticks or not. This is applicable to ALL species on Shantyland in varying degrees, as well.
The Mating Game
Let us begin with some basics! It's best not to think of grolls as male or female when it comes to reproducing, consider them more like an electrical charge; some are positive, and some are negative. Once or twice a year grolls across the planet will gather (more like mosey) together in large groups for the ultimate slimy shindig. Without getting into TOO much detail, each frog is capable of laying its own set of eggs (which are more like little genetic balls of jelly at this stage), and those eggs, if they're a match to any nearby, will snap together like a magnet and create many fully formed eggs that will later hatch their own grolls!
The eggs grow little one eyed tadpoles and before long, the new grolls disperse into the wild. They can take on traits from the parent frogs (sometimes merging DNA from up to 4 different grolls!) , but as previously mentioned, the environment plays a roll as well! For example, if frogs in the north produce their egg pile in the nook of a waben tree, whose lower half is covered in a waxy material to prevent taking on too much water, the little grollets may emerge unusually slick and waterproof!
Allowing for all sorts of unusual traits and combinations, the Groll DNA line is often very blurred, and it's crucial they live in a safe and unpolluted area, or risk developing all sorts of disease and unhealthy mutation. An outbreak of virus in the wild is classified as a code red to rangers, as it must be stopped as soon as possible before spreading and multiplying into the next generation.
The eggs grow little one eyed tadpoles and before long, the new grolls disperse into the wild. They can take on traits from the parent frogs (sometimes merging DNA from up to 4 different grolls!) , but as previously mentioned, the environment plays a roll as well! For example, if frogs in the north produce their egg pile in the nook of a waben tree, whose lower half is covered in a waxy material to prevent taking on too much water, the little grollets may emerge unusually slick and waterproof!
Allowing for all sorts of unusual traits and combinations, the Groll DNA line is often very blurred, and it's crucial they live in a safe and unpolluted area, or risk developing all sorts of disease and unhealthy mutation. An outbreak of virus in the wild is classified as a code red to rangers, as it must be stopped as soon as possible before spreading and multiplying into the next generation.