Teuthomimic Swarmer

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Teuthomimic Swarmer
(Loligomancerxia cryoteuthomimus)
Artwork of Teuthomimic Swarmer
Species is extant.
Creator Bardic Other
Taxonomy
Domain
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Superfamily
Family
Genus
Species
Eukaryota
Mancerxa
Phylloichthyia
Cycloptifabae
Refulgicaudata
Yannicimancerxoidea
Yannicimancerxidae
Loligomancerxia
Loligomancerxia cryoteuthomimus
Week/Generation 23/146
Habitat Yannick Ice Caves
Size 3 cm Long
Primary Mobility Unknown
Support Unknown
Diet Detritivore, Filter-Feeder (Cavern Cryosagania)
Respiration Unknown
Thermoregulation Ectotherm
Reproduction Sexual, Lays Microscopic Eggs That Lay Dormant While Frozen, Two Sexes
Descendant of Ancestor of

The teuthomimic swarmer split from its ancestor, the cave swarmer, and has adapted greatly to its extreme environment. Firstly, it has changed its appearance to reflect that of a young cave teuthopin, minus the manipulator tentacles. Its eyes having atrophied, its primitive sonar-sensing organs evolved to become much more powerful and resemble the vocal sac of a cave teuthopin. When a teuthopin approaches, the swarmers turn out their lightspots and turn vertical, appearing to be a very young teuthopin and even mimicking the sounds of one. Although it is not a fool-proof disguise, it is often enough to give teuthomimic swarmers a greater chance of survival then their ancestor.It no longer photosynthesizes, using its lights solely for attracting cavern cryosagania. Although it still functions as a detrivore, it focuses primarily on filter-feeding, small shoals clustering together in the summer months around cryosagania hotspots. In addition, it has oddly changed its' life cycle to survive the periods when the cave freezes over. Rather than hibernating, it instead lives only a few months, when the cave is still filled with water, and, rather than spawning directly into the water, constructs microscopic egg-like vessels of cellulose for its reproductive material. These lay dormant in cryptobiosis throughout the period when the caves are frozen, then, when the ice melts in the spring, they hatch and release baby swarmers into the surrounding area.

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)
  • Cave Swarmer (family Yannicimancerxidae)
  • Dunki (class Cycloptifabae)