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Revision summary: Article published as part of Wave 2

Fleeches

When Vykkers scientists set out to design the perfectly engineered pet, they created Oddworld’s longest tongues—​at seven foot when fully extended—​as a feature intended for young Glukkons to wash those hard‐to‐reach places. Unfortunately, test markets showed that these two‐headed Fleeches preferred biting to cleaning, quickly acquiring a taste for their owners with tragic results.

Fleeches are still sold as pets, but Glukkon children are encouraged to “Flush a Fleech” when they stop being cute and start being carnivorous. The sewers carry the creatures across Oddworld until they end up in forests, lakes, swamps and caverns, where they have formed a mutualistic relationship with Slurgs that increases their diet. Fleeches are able to eat Mudokons, Scrabs, Paramites and other creatures far larger than themselves by using their adhesive, elastic tongues to attack predators and prey, pulling them into one of their two mouths and dislocating their upper jaw. Their sticky tongues are also used to suspend themselves from overhanging rocks and branches when sleeping.