Dermis Turtle

The Dermis Turtle is a turtle-like RahiRahiThe Rahi were the biomechanical wildlife of the Matoran Universe, built largely by the Brotherhood of Makuta, ranging from background fauna to engineered war beasts. of Metru NuiMetru NuiThe city beneath Mata Nui functions as the Great Spirit's brain, housing the Matoran whose labor keeps the god alive., with a hard silver shell and sharp silver tusks. It's peaceful unless attacked, it can sense storms coming, and in parts of Ga-MetruGa-MetruGa-Metru is a district of Metru Nui, home to the Ga-Matoran and the Bordakh. the residents grew used to, and sometimes enjoyed, its singing in the night. (BIONICLE: Rahi Beasts)

Habitat#

Dermis Turtles were commonly seen in the lakes and canals of Ga-Metru, and they were especially fond of pools of liquid protodermis. (BIONICLE: Rahi Beasts)

During the Visorak invasion of Metru Nui, 1,001 years before the Toa Inika's time, the turtles fled to the island of Mata NuiMata Nui (Location)An island created by accident on the Great Spirit's face, home to the Matoran for a thousand years. and settled in Ga-Wahi. (BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)

Anatomy#

The species was made by the MakutaMakuta (Species)Shadowy Antidermis beings and the Brotherhood's elite, Makuta commanded darkness and shaped the Matoran Universe's fate., using viruses and liquid protodermis, as one of the Rahi of the Matoran Universe. (BIONICLE: Makuta's Guide to the Universe)

Its silver shell is almost impervious to attack, and it has a pair of sharp silver tusks that it uses only when it has to defend itself. (BIONICLE: Rahi Beasts)

Behavior#

Dermis Turtles can sense changes in the weather. When they hide in their shells for no obvious reason, a storm is coming, and Matoran use the phrase "dermis shell weather" for unpleasant conditions. (BIONICLE: Rahi Beasts)

They also have a melodic cry. Rahaga Gaaki, narrating Rahi Beasts, notes that in some parts of Ga-Metru the residents had grown accustomed to the creatures' singing in the night, and some enjoyed it. (BIONICLE: Rahi Beasts)

Defense#

The turtles are generally peaceful and fight only when attacked. They're slow, but they know their territory so well that they can be almost impossible to catch. Someone could search for days without finding one. (BIONICLE: Rahi Beasts)

The Ga-Matoran of Ga-Koro found that out on Mata Nui, where they often tried to catch the turtles and struggled to. (BIONICLE Legends 2: Dark Destiny)

Survival of the cataclysm#

Their flight from the Visorak is the one recorded mass move of the species: from Ga-Metru across the sea to Ga-Wahi on Mata Nui. (BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated)

Cultural place in Ga-Metru#

The turtles weren't always welcome. After the Ga-Matoran Maku discovered a colony in Ga-Metru, the population exploded until they were almost pests. Turaga Dume once considered banning them from the city, but Maku and Nokama talked him out of it. (BIONICLE: Rahi Beasts)

Significance#

Most Rahi in the books are threats. The Dermis Turtle is one of the few that Matoran simply lived alongside, argued over and, in Ga-Metru, listened to at night. (BIONICLE: Rahi Beasts)