Unicellular
Organism
By Armando Pedroza
Animal
life on Enod began in the oceans with the evolution of a single
celled organism known to planet Enod as Aquadonian. Some
million years later these cells would come together to form
multi cellular organisms. These organisms survived by eating
other organisms.
Elements and harsh conditions found in the oceanic waters of
Enod forced the Aquadonian cell to develop new
survival mechanisms. One important mechanism was the ability
to take in food. A small mouth below the oral groove allowed
the cell to filter organic matter form the water. The food
was then stored in small pockets called food vacuoles.
A new evolutionary cell membrane separates the remainder of
the cell from the exterior. The membrane helps the cell
synchronize its internal functions. The cell membrane
controls what may enter or leave the cell. This new
mechanism allowed the cell to keep in constant balance
within its changing environments. The cell's ancestors used
to absorb excess light energy that was harmful to cells
growing in surface communities. Therefore, ability to
produc energy through photosynthesis was lost. As a
result, Aquadonian formed a symbiotic relationship with
gluchandria, similar to the mitochondria found in cells on
Earth. This new symbiotic relationship allowed the anaerobic
cell to obtain more energy from its food.
Multi-cellular
Animals
Niche 1 (Euphonic Zone)
Fantail
is a relative of Aquadonian. It evolved millions of years
ago as a result of new adaptations required for its
survival. It lives near the euphonic zone where it spends
most of its time filtering microscopic organisms. This
herbivore's dorsal cells differentiated into a hard fan-like
tail. This tail is composed of stiff cellular materials, most likely of calcium carbonate. The tail allows the animal
to propel itself through Enod's oceans. Throughout the
course of time fantail developed small tentacles that
allowed it to hold onto rocks during strong currents.
Fantail continued to survive by reproducing both asexually
and sexually.
Five
hundred million years later fantail adapted to its new
environment near the rocky shores of Enod. Through the
course of evolution the fantail continued to differentiate
into calcium carbonate plates. These plates later formed a
spiral shell. The shell provides planospiral protection
against the heat and wind during low tides. The shell also
protects the animal from getting hurt by the violent forces
of the waves crashing against the rocks.
Greenfish
is a relative of fantail.
It evolved millions of years ago as a result of new
adaptations required for its survival. It lives near the sub
tidal zone where it spends most of its time eating small
plants and organisms. Greenfish's need for greater speed and
movement throughout Enod's sub-tidal zone necessitated the evolution of a large
caudal fin. However, its swimming capabilities were very
unstable. Millions of years later the need for stability
gave rise to pelvic and dorsal fins. These fins allowed
the fish to move faster and more accurately during mating and
foraging. The greenfish has adapted new organs that allow
sexual reproduction. The male greenfish produces the sperm
and the female produces the eggs. The eggs and sperm are
released into the water by both female and male. The eggs are
fertalize by the sperm as they drift in the
water.
A
second variation of the Aquadonian cell was able to evolve
into an organism known as Cellug. This organism formed when
aquadronian cells joined together to form a flat, arrow
shaped organism. Its slender body allowed it to glide
through the water with minimal effort. Cellug grew as its
cells divided through a process called mitosis. It fed by
filtering the water and capturing microscopic organic
material and became one of the first examples of a food chain
on Enod.
Approximately
7 hundred million years later, cellug evolved into a
creature that became known as Largo. Largo was more adapted to
the turbulent conditions found along the ocean's shore. These
shores were often battered by strong winds and currents that
produced treacherous conditions within the inter-tidal zone.
Largo's body structure was narrow and streamlined. This
feature made it possible for it to maneuver through the
water with ease. The awkward appendages had evolved into
more useful finlike body parts that it used to propel itself
through the water. The previously round shaped body had
evolved into a slender and much stronger tail, which it used
to maneuver itself in and out of crevices. Largo had for the
most part abandoned foraging for food and instead opted to
hunt and sting its prey with the tentacles on its head. It
had developed a series of small teeth that it used to grind
its food before swallowing and digesting it.
The
success of Largo's aggressive eating behavior led to the
evolution of the ultimate predator found on Enod's waters.
Larjaw was the end result of thousands of years of
evolutionary changes. When you look at this new fully
developed fish, you can still find traces of its
predecessors. The one remaining poisonous tentacle is a
quick reminder of how this fish began millions of years ago.
Larjaw may not have as many tentacles as it used to have before, but
its one tentacle has the concentrated poison of the the
previous tentacles combined. Once its pray was stunned and
immobilized, it used its sharp teeth to tear into the flesh
and eat its victim alive!