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Shelf Fungus
Kingdom: Fungi Division: Basidiomycota Class: Agaricomycetes Order: Polyporales Family: Fomitopsidaceae Genus: Laetiporus
Attached to decomposing logs in the dampest areas of the Naharia forest, you can find Hillu eggs. These eggs are attached to the log or tree by the parent to provide both nutrients and camouflage. Aside form the locations benefiting the growing creature, Hillu eggs are highly beneficial to the ecosystem. As the egg absorbs any needed nutrients from the log, it speeds up the decomposition; which in turn provides great mulch for the growing forest floor. Because of these ecosystem benefits, the SAR Center in Ark City kindly asks that if you find one of these eggs in the wild that you leave it as is until the hatch date arrives.
Many farmers and gardeners around Ark invest in "Hillu Podzol," that is highly enriching for certain plants.
Hillus are content creatures, spending most of their time riffling through the undergrowth and leaves of the forest floors. Their diet almost exclusively relies on decomposing plant matter. This helps the Hillu grow their "shelving" shell. These "shelves" can drop off as needed by the creature if they get to be too much of a load; and many Arkians love to collect them for their personal collection as the fungi can survive detached from the creature.
The largest attached Hillu shelf was measured in the Naharian forest preserve at a whopping 94.5 centimeters.