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Praetorian
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The first water animal evolved directly from Hysus in the deep, hydrothermal, oceanic vents of the ocean. Hysus gave rise to Nemori. From Nemori the first protoanimal cell evolved, called Protisitia. These small cells lived in a hostile environment when you consider how dark and hot it was near the hydrothermal vents. They survived and sustained themselves by feeding on the waste that was excreted by the Zules, which were the first ancestral plant cells that also evolved near the hydrothermal vents. These protoanimal cells did not possess a nucleus which means that they shared this common trait with the Zules, and simply floated in the ocean currents. The Protistia are believed to have small lysosomes that are interspersed throughout their cytosol. The lysosomes excreted wastes using these lysosomes and a process called endocytosis. These cells multiplied themselves through simple cell division. About 1 billion years after Protistia ancestrus emerged, a hydrothermal vent opened wider and a rush of tectonic activity caused the vent to increase in height nearer the ocean surface. This not only gave rise to a newly adapted plant to evolve in these ocean depths, but it also gave rise to a newly adapted creature to appear. This creature, known as the Praetorian (Praetorianus scoobanus) had adapted to new depths with the help of its jagged body and feelers called feelingers, which facilitated its ability to move further away from the hydrothermal vents. The Praetorian survived on the waste that was excreted by both the Zule plant cells and the Protistia. |
Deep Ocean
The forces of evolution have ensured that life has reached even the deepest
bowels
of the ocean. Unusual, ugly and bizarre animals have
developed from the Praetorian. Fish, invertebrates, echinoderms, crustaceans and
mollusks
can all trace their evolution back to the Protistia. They swim
in the depths and since no light penetrates this far, many animals have
forsaken eyes and have developed long feelers instead. Some animals
have even developed systems for producing their own light which we call
bioluminescence. These creatures use this light as a lure to attract food;
Terribilis tanlesia commonly known as the Deep Sea Tangler,
located to the left, is an ideal example with its fully evolved glowing
feelingers that lure while hanging
over its mouth to entice other fish to become its meal. These
have survived because of their stinging ability to defend themselves.
As a result, their presence is strong and they sexually reproduce with
their own kind. They can grow up to 3 feet in length. As you can imagine food can be pretty scarce in these depths, and as a result some fish have developed stomachs with a huge capacity that enable them to eat prey that are larger than themselves. This trait has worked to their benefit and has ensured their survival. These fish are known most appropriately as Gulper (Eurypharynx pelecanoides). As seen in the photo on the left, this fish can greatly expand its hinged jaws to engulf prey into its lower jaw. Notice the long tail that looks like a whip; it evolved from the Praetorian's feelingers. These fish grow up to 2 feet long, including their tail , and live in depths ranging from about 2,000 to 3,000 feet. Like the Deep Sea Tangler, their presence is also strong and they sexually reproduce with their own kind. |
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Rocky Shores The Rocky shores of Kronos are superb places for exploration because there is so much to see due to the variety of their composition. Ledges, crevices and overhangs provide surfaces for animals and seaweeds to cling to. Since the rocky shore is divided into zones, it is only natural that the animals found in each zone evolved into different species despite all having shared, Praetorian, the same ancestor. Having said that and knowing how interested you must be in learning about the creatures of the rocky shores, I will begin with the Splash Zone. Here, the zone is only occasionally inundated by seawater which makes extremely variable conditions over time which means that it is a very harsh place for organisms to survive. However, there is one creature that adapted to these conditions which is called Sea Dragon (Serpentine obligus). The Sea Dragon owes its survival to its ability to blend into its surroundings as well as its facility to move with the currents from the tides. During the day, it feeds in the depths of the rocky shore on plants such as the Photoclumperius absorbus. As the tide moves inward to the rocky shore at night, so does the Sea Dragon. It makes its way into the splash zone where the wind and the sea water helped it evolve its leaf-like fins. The Sea Dragon multiplies through sexual reproduction. As it reaches maturity it abandons the splash zone all together and moves into the deeper areas off the rocky shores. The Sea Dragon develops its teeth and begins augmenting its plant diet by eating other fish. These creatures grow to approximately 3 feet in length. |
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Estuaries Estuaries are wetlands that form where a river flows into the sea which means that freshwater is received into saline waters. The Jelly fish (Jelcaris gracile) is one creature in particular which lives in the estuary. It evolved from the Deep Sea Tangler, and adapted its size and the length of its feelingers to the various water depths as it made its way through the ocean over time, until it finally made the estuary its home. Like the Deep Sea Tangler, the Jelly fish produces light through bioluminescence. This lures small fish into its glowing feelingers which cover its mouth. This species has survived because its members use their stinging to defend themselves. As a result, their presence is strong and they sexually reproduce with their own kind. They grow to lengths reaching 1 foot from their jellied dome to the tip of their feelingers. |
