Shai-Hulud

The worm of sands (or Shai-Hulud ) is a fantastic creature of the imaginary world of Dune of Frank Herbert.

Morphology

These gigantic worms measure up to four hundred meters length, and live only in the deserts of Arrakis. The Fremen call them Shai-Hulud and regard them as more than of simple animals. The worms are the lords of the desert, and belong to the cycle of the spice and very whole planet.

This formidable creature fears moisture, and has sharp-edged teeth, brilliance of a milky glare, of which the Fremen are used for to make the Krys, their weapon of predilection.

Behavior

Towards the Man

They move under ground and make surface in the event of regular vibrations (like those of human walk) on the surface of the ground. This is why the natives of Dune learn how to walk in a way destructurée according to random sequences, in order not to emit regular vibrations which would attract these monsters. The Fremen use a martelor, producing deaf and regular noises, to attract the worm. They use them as means of transport by planting hooks between the rings of the carapace of the worm then while rising above. They also control the worm thanks to these hooks. Indeed, the hooks are specifically designed to draw aside the ringed plates of the worm and to leave connect the tender flesh of the animal which swivels then to protect this part of its body from abrasion of sand. While clinging to these hooks, the Fremens benefit from the swivelling of the worm to rise on its back.

Sands Drums are one of the principal dangers of Dune in connection with the worms of sands: these sands are located in special zones and inordinately amplify the vibrations of any object moving there, calling almost undoubtedly a worm. The Fremens, in accustomed planet, are protected while going up on rock exposures, where the worms cannot reach them and where the vibrations of displacements are less strong.

The effect Holtzman of the shields attracts the worm of sands and makes it insane, which returns the use of this mortal system on Arrakis. The creature then sweeps all the zone of effect of the shield and devours or kills all that saw.

Ecosystem

The origin of the worms of sands is dubious, of the rumors claim that they are not originating in Arrakis. They are in any case adapted perfectly there. Their cycle is related to that of the spice. The trouts of sands are the precursors, and subject of recreation of the young people Fremen. The worms in their first larval stage, provide brandy when it are drowned during the orgies Tau. In the final stage, the interior of their body is an enormous furnace.

The first stage of the life of a worm, the trout of sands, is an animal which seeks the pockets of water under sand, absorbs them and enkyste, which enables him to grow until a vermiform pre stage where its dimensions increase.

This stage evolves/moves to reach that of worm, for which water is a mortal poison (or dazing with low dose). It produces by secretion, the geriatric spice of which it is the single source in all the known universe, spice very difficult to synthesize.

The cycle of the worms is perfect: the trouts of sands absorb the water which is dangerous for the worms, then transform themselves into worms which create spice, source of carbonic gas, and reject oxygen. With died of a worm, its body breaks up and gives rise to trouts of sands.

Drive out

The Fremen use marteleurs who strike sand in an absolutely regular way to attract the worms. While deviating from several ten meters, they can leave the danger zone, which allows them, when the worm spouts out sand, of launching hooks which cling to the plates of the body of the animal. By drawing these hooks, they expose the soft flesh of the worm which thus cannot replonger or to be turned over. Thus, they can by moving their hook, to direct the worm. After one day of race, a worm buries itself and rests sometimes several days.

Water being dangerous for the worms, certain communities spread water around their village to prevent them from attacking them. It is necessary despite everything to renew these circles of moisture regularly because the Truites of sands absorb any trace of moisture quickly.

Methods of capture of worm were also tried by vaporizing water with very low dose on a worm, but the results are dubious and the transport of such a dangerous and such a large animal is rather hazardous.

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