Clock ticks (†Horoixodidae; A. A. Koch, 2144) are a now-extinct family of parasitic arachnids of the order Ixodida. Adult ticks are approximately 1 to 8 nanoseconds long, although their larvae may reach as much as 1 microseconds in duration. Since the widespread adoption of asynchronous logic in the Third Industrial Revolution, habitat destruction and loss of reproductive capability have caused the decline of this once-widespread group of animals.
Clock ticks were notable for their intricate mating rituals such as the "dual flip-flop synchronizer" and "handshake".[1]
The highly aggressive clock tick would attack any creature that violated certain boundaries known as "setup" and "hold" times. Researchers observed that the presence of even a single clock tick would have a dramatic effect on its habitat by creating a delicate feeding hierarchy, with the clock tick at the apex.[2] The primary predator of the Clock Tick was the Asynchronous Reset Toggle, which would use stealth to attack the Tick when least expected.[3]
References:
[1]: Mallory, @malcircuit@thingy.social. Personal correspondence, 5 June 2024, https://thingy.social/@malcircuit/112565876893087317.
[2]: Ibid., https://thingy.social/@malcircuit/112565985778747460.
[3]: Ibid., https://thingy.social/@malcircuit/112566003415986461.
