Evolution attempts
Intelligence(improv)-5
Regeneration(improv)-2
Glycolysis(improv)-2
Photosynthesis(improv)-6
Budlet/projectile reproduction-6
Hard body scales-4
Shoalfins evolution has slowed in some areas and increased in others, and because of one evolution, it has earned the name Suprafloorum arrowhead. It's photosynthetic skills have very much advanced, to the point that any light that it comes across will provide a decent boost in energy, even bioluminescence. Natural light provides an even greater boost in energy, and if the Arrowhead were to come close to the surface it would generate so much energy from photosynthesis that it will shock other creatures (lightly) to the touch, and the waters around it will get warmer.
Its most noticeable advancement this time is its reproduction advancement. Arrowheads gained their name for a specific reason, in that their projectile tentacle firing has evolved in a whole new direction. Instead of simple budding, the Arrowheads tentacles contain sex cells and organs for such production. When an Arrowhead fires a tentacle, and it pierces a target, toxins are released in massive but weak doses (though still enough to immobilize any creature). The sex cells are also released in the hundreds. Any cell that they come in contact with in the target creature in invaded by the sex cells and the DNA of the Arrowhead is injected. The cell will separate from the surrounding tissue and become an Arrowhead embryo. If the target creature should survive the encounter, then the embryos will remain within the prey, feeding on the tissues of the creature for up to a week. They will grow up to 5 centimeters in all dimensions. At this point, the sheer number of the Arrowhead embryos puts so much pressure on the organism that any soft structures it has internally rupture and and hard structures will shatter, and it will burst open. Oftentimes a number of embryos will die from this. But out of every 100 embryos 70 will make it out. However, they lack the protection of a shoal at this stage and are often fed upon by anything, until about a month has past and they are large enough to fend for themselves. Generally throughout the whole process between 20 and 40 Arrowheads will survive to adulthood. The unfortunate side effect of this is that, excusing broods that are a number divisible by 7, a number of Arrowheads will be left to form an incomplete shoal.
The only problem with the reproduction is that the tentacles do not grow back, or if they do, very slowly. It is unknown. However, after all seven tentacles are detached, an Arrowhead will die, having created over a hundred more embryotic Arrowheads to replace it.
Another intelligence evolution has also been noted. Their problem solving skills and logic have improved greatly and their memory continues to improve. Apart from their intelligence, their hard skin has segmented to form tough scales. This has an effect like chain-mail in that any form of blunt damage taken will be absorbed rather than just holding firm and running the risk of breaking. However, something very small or narrow could work its way under the scales and have a devastating effect...
The Crinis is currently very outmatched, and because of their faltering a new species has begun to invade and in fact control the Crinis from the deeper sub tropical sea, a neighboring environment. These creatures are known only as Vincul or Vinculum. Their name comes from another language and roughly means "domination". They are narrow, long, and their face looks smooth at a glance but actually is razor edged, each razor having only a millimeter of space between them. This allows them to literally shred any soft tissues they come in contact with, and then they consume the scraps. Their skin is firm, but can be pierced fairly easily. Their most notable feature is their ability to easily symbiotize for their own use any creature that they would be able to injure. In that it is meant that any creature whose flesh they could shred. When they shred an organism, they usually make a choice; consume, or dominate. If they choose the former, well you know what happens. If they choose the latter, then from gland located just behind the head where the midsection would begin, an
army of tiny vinlings are ejected, and they follow a pheromone secreted from the Vincul at the point of shredding, into the body and invade any form of nervous system. Should the creature lack any then they take the body instantly. The creature becomes enslaved to the Vincul that performed the act, and the Vincul directs it by releasing various pheromones, which are recieved by the vinlets, which then control the body of the creature. This in itself is not Symbiosis, but over time the creature will adapt to the creatures various needs. In return the vinlets extend the lifespan of the creature indefinitely, by controlling the nervous system the control the body.
The Vincul pose a VERY high threat to the Arrowheads. While they've not discovered the chink in the Arrowhead's very strong armor yet, they would be able to dominate an Arrowhead should the chance arise. Further, the Vincul can wear down an Arrowhead's armor over time and eventually break it. The Arrowheads are able to pierce the Vinculs skin, but the Vincul do not originate from here, and the Crinis they are enslaving are generally used to assist in enslaving more creatures. The grazers, Quadfin, are safe as their shell is strong enough that the Vincul cannot pierce it, not that they would pose an immediate threat if enslaved. However if a number of Crinis should attack a single Arrowhead as directed by a Vincul, then it increases the odds that they will find the chink in the armor. And once the Crinis find out, the nearby Vincul will find out shortly after. And once the Vincul find out, it will spread, as they possess a learning ability of that by example. Monkey-see, monkey-do.
GENERATION 8:
(Suprafloorum) arrowhead
A large, clear, tentacled, finned and trilaterally symmetric scaled blob. Their skin is extremely tough and they have 4 pairs of fins. They absorb food through the skin, and is dissolved in the inner body fluids. It is around 15 centimeters in height, 20 centimeters long and 10 centimeters wide. They have 7 tentacles, and each tentacle absorbs light in photosynthesis, but are also laced with a powerful toxin which paralyzes anything which comes in contact with it. Each tentacle is close to 20 centimeters long. The fins are streamlined and encounter almost 0 water resistance.
SOCIAL: Has a shoaling social structure. There are 7 adult Arrowheads in a single shoal, but up to as many as 50 or so buds in a shoal. Each shoal is very emotionally bonded and will protect each other to the death if possible, and death of an Arrowhead leaves the others very depressed for weeks. They will take a territory area together and live in it until they die, as the hunt together and live together. A dead Arrowhead will not be replaced and all shoals eventually collapse, leaving room for other shoals to rise.
SENSES: Can detect electric impulses in the water of most degrees, but faint ones are usually still missed. Their eyes can tell most shapes, but small shapes or creatures are generally ignored. Because of their trisymmetry, they can see almost everywhere except for directly behind them.
REPRODUCTION: Projectile embryotic injection. Around a hundred sex cells are delivered any time a fired tentacle pierces a target. These cells invade the tissues and deliver their DNA. After a gestation period of around a week, the embryos reach around five centimeters in all dimensions and cause the host to burst. Only 20-40 will survive to adulthood, however.
MOVEMENT: Is currently the fastest known creature in the environment. Its fins allow it to propel itself extremely quickly, estimated 25-50 km/h.
EATING: It absorbs cells floating through the water. It will also prey upon the corpses of dead blobs. Its tentacles can create sugars from light with photosynthesis. The toxins which the tentacles carry can potentially kill other creatures, usually does not though, exceptions are those who are weak or young. Paralyzed but living creatures fall down to the blob's main body where endocytosis then takes place.
PREDATION: Crinis is able to kill an Arrowhead in some cases, but only if the Arrowhead cannot escape. Otherwise Arrowheads are mostly safe due to higher speed and intelligence. The Vincul as of now cannot kill the Arrowhead unless it has time to saw at the scales, and usually the Arrowhead will escape. If it cannot then it will be killed or dominated.
COMPETITION: The Crinis population is a decreasing threat. The rising Vincul population, however poses a much more immediate threat. If sufficient action is not taken to evolve past them, or destroy the population, then they have potential to overrun us.
INTELLIGENCE: Decent intelligence. Possess better problem solving and logic skills and has a powerful memory.
TOXINS: Neurotoxin- Quadfins (100% effectiveness) Crinis (100% effectiveness) Vincul (100% effectiveness)
ENVIRONMENT: A shallow sub-tropical sea. Small reefs exist here, with a rare frond interspersed between the reef ridges. Much of the reef is dark, overshadowed by the growing populations above. The environment is at around 80% of its biomass capacity.
Current environment: Shallow sub-tropical sea.
Nearby environments: Beach, deeper sub-tropical sea, river delta
(So much for the morning update. I might post again tonight, sorry I didn't post earlier guys
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Topic: Competition II - New Life (Read 24536 times)