Glassphere

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Glassphere
(Vitromunitae sphaera)
Artwork of Glassphere
Species is extinct.
24/?, unknown cause
Creator Bardic Other
Taxonomy
Domain
Kingdom
Subkingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Superfamily
Family
Genus
Species
Eukaryota
Croceophyta
Maciophyta
Chrysocyclia
Xanthodisca
Aureitestales
Aureitestacea
Vitromunitaceae
Vitromunitae
Vitromunitae sphaera
Week/Generation 23/148
Habitat Mason Polar Coast, Mason Polar Ocean (Sunlight Zone)
Size 1 cm Wide
Primary Mobility Unknown
Support Unknown
Diet Photosynthesis
Respiration Passive Diffusion
Thermoregulation Ectotherm
Reproduction Asexual, Spores


The glassphere split from its ancestor, the transparent gildron, and became macroscopic. An extremely simplistic organism, it consists of a sphere-shaped colony of transparent cells similar to its ancestor's. Beginning as a single spore, layer upon layer of more cells grow on top of that, gradually forming a tiny sphere shape. Being transparent, the cells allow light to pass through them to the lower layers. Eventually, however, the outer layers of cells become so thick that little to no light passes through to the inner ones, and they begin to die. They are then recycled to provide more energy for the rest of the colony. Thus, as the sphere gets bigger, it comes to resemble a semi-transparent, hollow globe. This hollow pocket in the center also allows the glasspheres greater buoyancy in the waves. As the sphere gets larger, it begins to become less structurally sound and more brittle. Most colonies don't grow larger than about one centimeter in width before being broken apart by the flow of currents or collisions with other organisms. When a colony approaches the largest it can become, its hollow center fills with spores. When it breaks, the spores then disperse off into the surrounding waters.

Living Relatives (click to show/hide)

These are randomly selected, and organized from lowest to highest shared taxon. (This may correspond to similarity more than actual relation)

None found. Note that this does not necessarily mean it has no living relatives at all, but that, assuming all taxonomy is filled in, its entire phylum is extinct; any relatives it does have likely do not resemble it.