Editing Whitespine

{{lifeform
|image=Whitespine by Amanda Diaz.jpg
|native=[[Alethkar]]
|world=Roshar
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]]
}}
{{update|sa3|sa4}}
'''Whitespines''' are dangerous [[Wikipedia: crustacean|crustacean]]s that live on [[Roshar]].

== Appearance and Anatomy ==
{{image|Whitespine.jpeg|side=left|height=500px}}
{{for|/Gallery|more images}}
The eponymous spine is a row of spikes that runs from the head along the back of a whitespine. They are as large as horses, with a carapaced back, powerful legs, and a reptilian appearance.{{book ref|sa1|31}}{{book ref|sa2|55}} They have long white tusks that are used for impalement which can break off and remain lodged in their prey, causing severe damage.{{book ref|sa1|41}} Whitespines have claws, including a set of vestigial claws behind their primary legs,{{book ref|sa1|45}}{{wob ref|13255}} and they smell quite unpleasant, especially when wet.{{book ref|sa1|22}} They also have a nose of some sort that allows them to sniff and sneeze.{{book ref|sa1|31}}{{book ref|sa1|22}} They are able to enter a dormant state, most likely to hibernate, during which they appear to become coated in a thick, hard crystal-like substance that takes time to accumulate. Water washes away the crystal coating in its early stages of forming, which would make it difficult for a whitespine to undergo this metamorphosis during a [[highstorm]].{{book ref|sa2|55}}

== Ecology ==
Whitespines live in packs in dens{{book ref|sa1|31}} that are often strewn with the bones of the creatures they have killed.{{book ref|sa1|11}} Sometimes they will live near roadways to pick off travelers as prey.{{book ref|sa1|31}} They hide near the carcass of their recent kill after consuming its meat, then hunt the scavengers that are attracted to the carcass.{{book ref|sa3|22}} Whitespines are native to [[Alethkar]]{{book ref|sa1|41}} and possibly other areas. They are "nastier" than [[chasmfiend]]s.{{wob ref|2940}}

Whitespines sometimes hunt hogs which are known to frantically flee in terror.{{book ref|tsm|2}}

== History ==
{{image|Whitespine_by_Marianne_Eie.jpg|side=right|height=250px}}

Whitespines are often hunted by [[lighteyes]]{{book ref|sa1|41}} and their [[darkeyes|darkeyed]] attendants, especially if the whitespines have been killing humans.

Brightlord [[Roshone]] and his son [[Rillir]], along with [[Alds]] and [[Milp]] go hunting for a whitespine that has been attacking travelers.{{book ref|sa1|41}} They are attacked by the whitespine; Rillir is killed, and likely Alds and Milp as well. Roshone survives the attack, but loses his leg.{{book ref|sa1|44}}

== Cultural References ==
[[Brightlord]] [[Amaram|Amaram's]] [[glyphpair]] is in the shape of a whitespine with raised tusks, made up of the [[glyphs]] merem and khakh.{{book ref|sa1|47}}
=== Idioms ===
{{quote
|A little like the mink wandering into the whitespine’s den and asking when dinner is...
|{{book ref|sa2|20}}
}} 

{{quote
|The interior bristled with spears. Like the proverbial whitespine’s den.
|{{book ref|sa3|83}}
}}

{{quote
|scattered like hogs before a white spine
|{{book ref|tsm|2}}
}}

== Notes ==
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{{Stormlight}}