Bob

The first water animal cells on Populus developed not long after the first water plant cells. The main difference between the two was the fact the the animal cells developed a different means of obtaining life sustaining energy. Rather than receiving their energy from the sun, the animal cells attached to, and consumed other cells in order to survive. The diagram to the left is a representation of the first animal cells that appeared in the oceans of Populus. Due to the warmth and abundance of other cells, the shallow tropical oceans were the ideal place for primitive animals to develop.

The next stage in development occurred when groups of single celled organisms began to "clump" together. These small "communities" of cells were effective food processors, but their flaw was the fact that they lacked the ability to pursue their next meal. These cell clumps eventually evolved into organisms with their own source of propulsion, which allowed them to search for other plants or animals to consume.

The Dranine first formed in the shallow tropical oceans of Populus. This sphere shaped organism was an effective hunter because it was able to propel itself through the water with the flagella that surrounded its body. It also used its flagella to grab onto prey and move it towards its mouth. Descendants of the Dranine were eventually able to populate all of the oceans on Populus.

The Dranion is an organism that is very similar to the fish that are found on Earth. This organism, and all other members of Dran family, have developed gills that allow them to "breath" the oxygen in Populus' oceans. The Dranion feeds by temporarily attaching to rocks and sucking off the small organic organisms that grow on the rock's surface. The long "feeler arms" attached to the Dranion's head, help it to hold on to rocks while feeding. Dranions usually grow to a length of about 15 inches.

Although this organism is commonly referred to as the Northern Dranion, it is actually found at both poles of Populus. The Northern Dranion is very closely related to the common Dranion, but it has made several adaptations in order to survive in the colder waters. The Northern Dranion evolved rougher and thicker scales than the common Dranion. It also lacks the feeler arms and has a smaller mouth than the common Dranion. These adaptations are due to the fact that it feeds by pecking at rocks rather than attaching to them temporarily. The average Northern Dranion grows to lengths of about 8 inches.

Glums live in the muddy waters of Populus' river mouths. The Glum is the largest and slowest of all of the Drans. If given many years, a Glum can grow to a length of nine feet. They have very large mouths that they use to filter feed through water or sift through the mud. Their diet consists of very small organic organisms that float in the water or lie in the mud flats.

The Dranilla is a unique carnivore that has developed in the shallow tropical oceans of Populus. It is an effective hunter because it is able to move through the water very quickly. As a means of propulsion, it uses four "rills" that run down the length of its body. The rills oscillate very rapidly, and allow the Dranilla to dart around and catch prey, as well as elude enemies. Dranillas grow to about 2 feet long and they vary greatly in color and in skin patterns. Dranillas are the only carnivore in the Dran family and they are also the only Dran that developed teeth.

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