Round 3 - “A Cruel Killer”In this period of life, nature is teaching harsh lessons. The ecosystem forged at the bottom of the ocean has all but collapsed, due to overpredation of microbes by numerous proto-worm species. The food is still there, only there is significantly less of it. Only the best adapted species will be able to find food; the weaklings are being weeded out. This is the cruelty of survival of the fittest.
This is not the only lesson nature is harshly dishing out. Throughout evolution, mutations have shown to help many a species to survive, but not all are like this. Mutations can also have adverse effects as shown by some of the creatures that inhabit the ocean at this time.
On a more positive note, some species have managed to survive the ecosystem collapse by filling a different ecological niche or moving to a new location.
Squickia viatorem has partially moved into the shallows, where the warmer water has more food. Sponges and seaweeds share these brighter waters. Another species,
Tyranna nataredeveloping the ability to swim, is about to filter the rather untouched and sunlight crossed waters of the upper ocean zone.
Squickia viatorem (Squick)Atrox Improved nervous system = 3
Better way to excange gases = 6
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By spreading out to a different habitat, this species has retained its dominance in terms of numbers. It has discovered the wealth of food that exists in the warmer, shallower seas but there are a couple of problems. The first is that Squickia viatorem only feed in the shallow seas at night, as the UV light from the sun would fry (and has fried) their pigmentless skin. They have developed a basic intuitive memory based on the intensity of light to aid this. The second problem is that this daily migration is arduous for a worm with very little swimming ability, although it now has greater stamina.
Features: As well as a development of the nervous system and the cerebral ganglia, Squickia viatorem has evolved a new respiratory organ. Gills. This species has six gills, three on either side of the body, just behind the head. Most of its contemporaries have oxygen diffusing through normal skin, but the gills increase the surface area and so can take in oxygen quicker.
Distribution: Ocean Floor, Shallow Seas
Status: LC
Time: R.3
Size: 1.2mm (length)
Lifestyle: Filter-feeder
Predecessor: Squickia frequens
Past Mutations:
Muscles
Membrane
Pit Eyes
Chemoreceptors
Superstes retrorsum (Viitria)TheGraveKnight Bigger = 3
Backbone = 1
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It is the largest species in the oceans, but not the best. This species has gone back to a simpler time for its lineage, except for the increase in size.
Features: For some unknown reason, this species has completely lost the muscles lining its back called the axochord. Some have theorised that they were too energy-hungry but we will probably never know the truth.
Distribution: Ocean Floor
Status: EN
Time: R.3
Size: 2.2mm (length)
Lifestyle: Filter-feeder
Predecessor: Superstes rursus
Past Mutations:
Muscles (I)
Pit Eyes
Axochord
Open Circulatory System
Superstes medium (Grohkius Speedius)RoboTrannic Eyespots = 3
Nervous system = 1
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With its many problems, especially lack of food, this species is on the edge of extinction.
Features: This species is another that has gained the ability of sight. Unlike some of its competitors that have direction-finding pit eyes, only flat eyespots dot its head. Therefore, it can detect light but not which direction its coming from. However, this species has a much worse problem. A genetic deformity has caused only one of its nerve cords (there used to be two) to develop, meaning only the muscles on one side contract with any coordination.
Distribution: Ocean Floor
Status: CR
Time: R.3
Size: 2.0mm (length)
Lifestyle: Filter-feeder
Predecessor: Superstes cormeum
Past Mutations:Muscles
Open Circulatory System
Axochord
Pseudo-hearts
Oduntus dente (Oduntus)aviscerator Teeth = 5
Circulatory system = 3
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With its whole lineage seeming to be moving in this direction, this species has finally managed to evolve teeth, which allow to scoop up more moss. It is a very effective herbivore and is on the cusp of being able to prey on other animals. It can’t bite, but perhaps there are other ways, such as the use of suctions.
Features: As previously noted, this species has replaced the primitive ‘teeth-bumps’ for true teeth made out of a calcified tissue called dentine. These are chisel-shaped and pointing outwards to scrape moss effectively. It has also developed an open circulatory system, which gives it a green-blue or grey look and improved speed and stamina.
Distribution: Ocean Floor
Status: LC
Time: R.3
Size: 1.7mm (length)
Lifestyle: Herbivore
Predecessor: Superstes ventirculum
Past Mutations: Muscles (I)
Teeth-bumps
Digestive system (Gizzard & bacteria)
Pit Eyes
Planius Gravis (Timus Agentus)agenttine Exoskeleton = 2
Respiration system = 4
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Unfortunately, this species has been greatly slowed down. The lumps of armour on its back have made the organism heavy, and with no appendages to help it move, it moves very slowly indeed. Not to mention the lumps are sparse and would not provide much protection from the non-existent predators.
Features: The calcified lumps of armour on its back are formed from calcium carbonate. This species has also evolved gills, four in total. These increase the surface area and the amount of oxygen being taken in. However, given the size and flat shape of this organism, its not really necessary.
Distribution: Ocean Floor
Status: CR
Time: R.3
Size: 2.0mm (length)
Lifestyle: Herbivore
Predecessor: Planius ventriculum
Past Mutations:
Muscles
Bigger (Flat)
Digestive System (Bacteria)
Pit Eyes
Tyranna natare (Tyranna)Immortal_Dragon Axochord = 5
Tail = 5
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This species has improved its movement, through muscles and a change in body shape, so much so that it can now swim. This means it can reach the untouched supply of microbes well above the sea-bed. At the back of the animal, the anus moved to point downwards and the end tapered into a sort of point and tail. Paired with its new muscles this allows it to wriggle back and forth to swim. This tail makes it look somewhat like an eel.
Features: A pair of longitudinal muscles, known as the axochord, have evolved along this proto-worm. They are slightly stiffer than its other muscles and provide a place of muscle attachment.
Distribution: Ocean Floor, Open Ocean
Status: LC
Time: R.3
Size: 1.8mm (length)
Lifestyle: Filter-feeder
Predecessor: Superstes signum
Past Mutations:Muscles
Electroreceptors
Open Circulatory System
Nivia natare (Niv)Trash Proboscis = 3
Hydrostatic Flippers = 4
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Another animal that has developed a form of swimming, except Nivia natare uses small fins. This species is just able to survive in these microbe-depleted waters by feeding in gaps where other proto-worms cannot reach with its proboscis. However, this probably won’t sustain a species for long.
Features: This proto-worm has a long extension for its mouth, called a proboscis. The small fins it has flex with response to the water pressure. While it can swim above the sea-bed, it would become a better swimmer if it had muscles.
Distribution: Ocean Floor
Status: EN
Time: R.3
Size: 1.7mm(length)
Lifestyle: Filter-feeder
Predecessor: Superstes amarum
Past Mutations:Bitter Chemical
Chemoreceptors
(
Orthus Talonus)soundwave Simple mouth = 5
Stomach = 6
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Although, this species developed the ability to digest multicellular matter, it was not enough to save it from extinction. It could only detect light, and this sent its nervous system in confusion. This problem was not fixed, and it was enough to spell death in this species.
Features: N/A
Distribution: Ocean Floor
Status: EX
Time: R.3
Size: 1.4mm (length)
Lifestyle: Filter-feeder
Predecessor: Superstes infirmi