Round 2 - The Legend of the Proto-WormThe species that survived the mass extinction and that is the ancestor to many of the lifeforms now living in the ocean,
Superstes has gone extinct. Nature is teaching a lesson; one source of food cannot support this many species and it makes for an unbalanced ecosystem. The microbes that inhabit the bottom of the ocean and food for many a species, but soon, only the most adapted will be able to survive. The weaker ones face either changing, or extinction.
Squickia frequens (Squick)AtroxThis is the most common species of proto-worm that inhabit the ocean. Its relatively small size and lack of advancement means it does not need as much food as some of its competitors. Thanks to their speed and agility, as well as their new senses, they are able to weave effectively between their more cumbersome cousins.
Features: This is another species that has evolved a pair of pit eyes on its head and has also replaced the sense receptors on its head with chemoreceptors. If these detect chemicals or toxins, they can send a signal to the nervous system to either run away or towards it.
Distribution: Ocean Floor
Status: NT
Time: R.2
Size: 1.2mm (length)
Lifestyle: Filter-feeder
Predecessor: Squickia membranum
Superstes rursus (Viitria)TheGraveKnightOne of the more advanced and larger proto-worms of the period, whilst it does not reach the numbers of the simpler Squickia frequens, it is very well-equipped for life in this environment. It is still very common due to its ability to get food.
Features: This animal is on its way to developing a backbone, but is still a little way off. However, it has evolved a pair of longitudinal muscles, known as an axochord, along the back of the proto-worm. It protects the nerve cords somewhat, and also provides a bit of rigidity that supports the other muscles. This makes muscular movement more efficient. Furthermore, it has developed a open circulatory system, like Superstes fluidum, that increases the use of the muscles. It also gives Superstes rursus a green-blue or grey complexion.
Distribution: Ocean Floor
Status: NT
Time: R.2
Size: 1.7mm (length)
Lifestyle: Filter-feeder
Predecessor: Superstes oculi
Superstes cormeum (Grohkius Speedius)RoboTrannicThis species is another large and advanced proto-worm, but it is fairly rare. Although its circulatory system give it more speed and stamina than its competitors, it has difficulty finding enough food to sustain this, as its senses are very limited.
Features: It has developed a pair of back muscles known as a notochord, that increase the efficiency of its muscles and movement. In addition to this, Superstes cormeum has evolved pseudo-hearts that increase the rate at which the hemolymph can be pumped around the body. The five pseudo-hearts are composed of vessels surrounded by muscle.
Distribution: Ocean Floor
Status: CR
Time: R.2
Size: 2.0mm (length)
Lifestyle: Filter-feeder
Predecessor: Superstes fluidum
Superstes ventricullum (Oduntus)avisceratorThis species has chosen to focus its efforts on a different food source, specifically the nearby moss, which is a good idea considering the falling number of microbes. The fact that its food source is abundant and that it lacks many competitors makes this a common animal.
Features: This species is able to digest multicellular matter, thanks to a gizzard and bacteria. First, the moss is prised off of a rock with a tooth-bump and ingested in the mouth. Then the food is ground up by stones in the gizzard and bacteria in the intestine break it down into molecules, to diffuse into the circulatory system. It has also evolved very good pit eyes.
Distribution: Ocean Floor
Status: LC
Time: R.2
Size: 1.4mm (length)
Lifestyle: Filter-feeder
Predecessor: Superstes osglaebosus
Planius ventriculum (Tinus Agentus)agenttineThis is another herbivorous worm, that feeds on the local moss. It is doing pretty well but not as well as the other herbivore, Superstes ventriculum.
Features: This species has bacteria in its stomach that can break down multicellular matter. However, it does not have anyway of breaking the matter down into small enough chunks for the bacteria to work. It has to hope that the chunks it breaks off are the right size, or it chokes. It has evolved tooth-bumps like Superstes ventriculum that it uses to prise moss of rocks.
Distribution: Ocean Floor
Status: VU
Time: R.2
Size: 1.9mm (length)
Lifestyle: Filter-feeder
Predecessor: Planius primus
Superstes signum (Tyranna)Immortal_DragonThis species would be doing ok, were it not for the fact that there are many species that feed on microbes, and the microbes are running out. A few of these species are more advanced than Superstes signum, but it is just about clinging in there.
Features: The line of electroreceptors along the side of the proto-worm have been completed, giving this species the ability of passive electrolocation. It is able to detect the electrical energy in nerves and muscles which allows it to locate other multicellular animals. It has also evolved an open circulatory system and therefore has a green-blue or grey complexion, and a more efficient use of muscles.
Distribution: Ocean Floor
Status: EN
Time: R.2
Size: 1.6mm (length)
Lifestyle: Filter-feeder
Predecessor: Superstes contritum
Superstes amarum (Niv)
TrashBranching off Superstes veteris just before it went extinct, this species is one of the most primitive of its kind in that it has no muscles to speak of. This makes it incredibly slow. Also, its relative lack of advancement mean it struggles to compete with better adapted species. Therefore, this species is quite rare.
Features: Intriguingly, this species has a small sac in its body that contains a bitter chemical. It would taste horrible to predators were there any predators with taste around. However, the bonus effect of it is that sac takes toxic materials from the digestive system to make the bitter taste, saving the animal from being poisoned. It has also replaced its sense receptors with chemoreceptors.
Distribution: Ocean Floor
Status: CR
Time: R.2
Size: 1.6mm (length)
Lifestyle: Filter-feeder
Predecessor: Superstes veteris
Superstes infirmi (Orthus Talonus)soundwaveThis species is extremely rare and on the edge of extinction. It is another late evolution off Superstes veteris, and is much weaker than many of the other species it has to compete with for food.
Features: It has evolved lightspots, and not pit eyes, which simply detect light. However, the light often throws the organism into sensory confusion, and so is more of a hindrance. On the other hand, it has evolved a open circulatory system, which makes it green-blue and grey. But this system requires a lot more energy than the proto-worm is able to find.
Distribution: Ocean Floor
Status: CR
Time: R.2
Size: 1.4mm (length)
Lifestyle: Filter-feeder
Predecessor: Superstes veteris