This seems like a case of horizontal Gene transfer between the two.

QUOTE (Disgustedorite @ Apr 15 2023, 09:00 AM)

While microbe hybrids are allowed by the letter of the rule, lots of things that would be rejected are. Can you answer how they hybridized? If not, I'm tempted to insta-reject.

Morsus and Cilios both reproduce with conjugation. And very possible that hybridization occurred in this step.

Morsus…”but they can also exchange genes by fusing together and then dividing”

Cilios- “They reproduce by binary fission, but in certain conditions, like overcrowding and environmental stress, they undergo a sexually reproductive process called conjugation. They line up with another ciliognathus and they fuse together. They then exchange genetic material. “

Twomorsuses (Disgnathus spp.)
Ancestor: Cilios, Morsuses
Habitat: Global (Sagan4)
Size: 5 µm to 20 µm Long
Support: unknown
Diet: Detritivore, Consumer (smaller cells)
Respiration: unknown
Thermoregulation: Ectotherm
Reproduction: Binary Fission, Conjugation

The Twomoruses evolved when some Cilios and some Moruses hybridized. By sheer luck, it turned out to work out amazing for them. Soon they were taking over niches of both ancestors.

Like its ancestor, Twomoruses have needle-like protrusions, made from a hardened mucosal secretion and the cilia of the Cilios. Twomoruses are still able to use these as cilia to help it move around. The flagella of the Cilios have become two antenna-like objects, covered in mucosal barbs. The Twomoruses sweep these antennas around, catching debris and other cells, and dragging them toward its oral groove.

Like its ancestors, Twomoruses reproduce with binary fission, splitting into two identical clones of the parent. They can also occasionally partially fuse together and exchange genetic material via swapping micronuclei before separating.

Made some changes to reproduction method, and body description.

The flapping petals are used to open airways and with the description in the beta rules does count as semi-active.

It is a genus submission and depicts multiple species. Hopefully I made the artwork clearer in that respect by denoting the other species.

Went through the description and hopefully organized it a bit better.

QUOTE (colddigger @ Apr 13 2023, 03:09 PM)

Can .. .. can you elaborate on how it is better at storing water in it's cells? For example, a better cuticle in some way, a thicker epidermis, or a sealing slime coat that takes the brunt of the environment

Elaborated a little bit more. It has a water storing cavity. It doesn’t have to go into the water like the Flurroom b/c it can get water from the plant it’s on.

QUOTE (colddigger @ Apr 13 2023, 12:18 AM)

can you elaborate on why it doesnt need to go back to the water

Fixed 🤞

Name: Vrooms (Pteraflora spp.)
Ancestor: Flurroom
Habitat: Koseman
Size: 10 cm wide
Support: unknown
Diet: Photosynthesis, Detritivore, Commensal Parasitism (Gecoba Tree, Ferines, Gargantuan Obsiditree, Branching Qupe Tree, Shaggy Volleypom, Obsidioak, Mainland Fuzzpalm, Topship Fuzzpalm, Contorted Volleypom)
Respiration: Semi-Active (Flapping Petals)
Thermoregulation: Ectotherm
Reproduction: Sexual (Male and Female, Airborne Spores), Budding

Vrooms split off from their ancestor, the Flurroom, moving into inland Koseman and branching out to feed on other types of flora. They are able to do so because they are less dependent on an aquatic environment. This is because of a cavity underneath the central depression that they store water in. The Flurroom had to regularly refill this cavity with water. Vrooms, however, are able to extract water from their host flora.

Vrooms typically specialize in certain types of flora, resulting in numerous species. Their three main petals are depicted here (shown with purple dots). These petals have diversified to blend in with their host flora more easily, taking on a similar shape to its host’s flowers. Shown here are a few different varieties.

The tentacles of the Flurroom have shrunk in its descendant. In Vrooms, they serve the function of graspers, helping a Vroom to hold onto its host flora.

Gliding

The fluttering instinct of the Flurroom when it falls from a branch its resting on has given rise to the Vroom’s better control of its leaves. A Vroom will jump off of a branch, its leaves spread, and glide to another tree. It can adjust the positioning of its main leaves slightly, allowing it to manipulate its glide. It is able to determine its positioning via chemosensitive pits underneath its petals.

Reproduction

Like its ancestor, Vrooms have a small depression in its middle. When mating season begins (coinciding with their host flora) they exude a smell to attract small flying fauna. Mimicking the flowers of their host also helps. When they land on it, a mechanism is triggered, causing the petals to close, trapping it inside. Their reaction to being trapped, helps to shake off any spores they had been covered in earlier. The trapped fauna is doused with the Vroom spores, and then the petals open, releasing it.

Otherwise it is like its ancestor, the Flurroom.

QUOTE (colddigger @ Apr 10 2023, 11:35 PM)

What a fun flora, always happy to see unique purple plants.

Thanks.

It’s basically what if bombardier beetle… but flora

Name: Shoreline Grozza (Herpetarachne litoris)
Ancestor: Grazing Gossalizard
Creator: HethrJarrod
Habitat: Soma Temperate Mangal, Soma Subpolar Mangal, Darkov Subpolar Mangal, Soma Archipelago Subpolar Beaches, Soma Subpolar Beach, Soma Archipelago Temperate Beaches, Soma Temperate Beach, Dingus Subpolar Beach, Darkov Subpolar Beach
Size: 1.2 meter long
Support: Exoskeleton (Chitin), Endoskeleton (Chitin)
Diet: Herbivore (Florisland, Globby Boneflora, Bonebuoy, Ouchiiro, Sum-Humgrove, Pioneer Raftballs, Colonial Bobiiro, Carnosprawl, Pelagic Puffgrass, Raft-building Cone Puffgrass, Beach Bean, Weeping Baseejie, Fuzzweed, Qupe Tree, Stoutplage, Polarblades, Larands), Scavenger
Respiration: Active (Spiracles)
Thermoregulation: Endotherm (Setae)
Reproduction: Sexual, Hermaphrodites (Eggs, Communal nesting)

The shoreline Grozza split from its ancestor, living on the beaches and coasts of Drake. It will graze for flora, and if threatened by a predator, will run into the water. It has a longer, sleeker body, and has extended it out into a flat chitinous tail. They are not as fast as dracolopes, nor as large as pasakerds. Their bones are denser, and their toes are splayed, allowing them to find footing in loose sand.

Shoreline Grozza do not have as many eggs, only one or two. However, they take care of their young. This helps to ensure the few young that they do have survive. The males no longer have the spinnerets to produce silk. The females continue to have them, and cover their nests in it to keep their eggs warm.

Supplemental Image:

Shoreline Grozza female, showing spinneret organs located on the cheeks. Males tend to favor larger spinnerets on females.

Shoreline grozza form familial groups called pods, grazing along the coastline. A pod normally consists of three generations. If the pod gets too large, a family group will split off and move to a different area. A whole pod will nest together, relying on the safety in numbers.

Spitfire Weed (Pyrovolitís pakkun)
Ancestor: Tusovinda
Creator: HethrJarrod
Habitat: Barlowe Tropical Rainforest, Barlowe Subtropical Rainforest, Barlowe Temperate Rainforest, Time Subtropical Rainforest Archipelago, Abello Temperate Rainforest Archipelago, Ittiz Temperate Rainforest Archipelago, Lamarck Temperate Rainforest, Lamarck Subtropical Rainforest, Clayren Temperate Rainforest Archipelago, Atmosphere (Troposphere)
Size: 30 cm tall
Support: unknown
Diet: Photosynthesis
Respiration: Passive (Stomata)
Thermoregulation: Ectotherm
Reproduction: Sexual (Seeds, Airborne Spores), Asexual Budding

The spitfire weed split from its ancestor. The spitfire weed is very much like its ancestor, tusovinda, with wide thick leaves with a waxy appearance. Flower poles rise from the center with an appearance of a mouth with a red tongue. Also like its ancestor it pollinates via the wind.

The main difference between spitfire weed and flora like it, is its defensive mechanism. This mechanism originally evolved in its distant ancestor, the polarblades, from glands that produced toxic chemicals, like naringin. Its leaves would slowly exude this toxic substance over time as a wax. The wax is important both for shedding water in its rainforest habitat and deterring herbivores. In the spitfire weed, the flora can eject the contents of these chambers. When disturbed or threatened, the flower poles will eject a noxious mixture of hydrogen peroxide and hydroquinone. When these chemicals mix with peroxidase enzymes that the flower produces, an incredibly exothermic reaction occurs. The heat from the reaction can bring the chemical mixture to the boiling point of water. The hot chemical mixture is ejected out of the flower, typically at a predator, and is usually enough to frighten them away.

The spitfire weed has enough chemicals to spray a predator twenty times, which has a chance of killing their would-be attacker. Spitfire weed is immune to the harmful effects of the chemical because of a unique wax their leaves produce, but it is also detrimental to nearby flora in the area. Because of this, spitfire weed are often found by themselves in a 3ft radius or with other spitfire weeds.

QUOTE (Coolsteph @ Apr 8 2023, 10:22 AM)

Just a quick check: As Disgustedorite said, blackflora trees are wind-pollinated, with no pollinators*. However, if you really want to preserve that detail, you could co-evolve this with a species based on beetles which pollinate cycads, which are similarly wind-pollinated: "[Cycads] are wind pollinated, a strategy which requires immense amounts of airborne pollen. A few may have been pollinated by beetles attracted to the edible pollen grains. This may be the humble beginnings of the complex animal pollination developed by flowering plants." http://www2.tulane.edu/~bfleury/diversity/...e/gymangio.html *The Maulwart is one example of a blackflora with pollinators, but that's on Fermi and it isn't a tree. There are no "Snowflake Obsiditree". You meant "Snowflake Obsidoaks". It's important to know they have eyes on their rears, but those aren't visible in this image, nor referred to in the description.

The eyes are shown on the abdomen in the image on one of the Obsidiworm in the background.

Issue with nonexistant polinators should be fixed now

Obsidiworms (Obsidimimus spp.)
Creator: HethrJarrod
Ancestor: Ivy Thermoworm
Habitat: Wallace
Support: Exoskeleton (Chitin)
Size: 40 cm long
Diet: Herbivore (Adult: Chameleon Obsidishank leaves, Snowflake Obsidioak leaves, Gargantuan Obsiditree leaves, Obsidioak leaves, Lacy-leaf Obsiditree leaves, Shaggy Volleypom Leaves, Larva: Obsidiflora spores), Detritivore, Scavenger
Respiration: Semi-Active (Unidirectional Tracheae)
Thermoregulation: Ectotherm (Dual-color leaves)
Reproduction: Hermaphrodite (Eggs)

Having found its way to Wallace via the Albedophrey, the Ivy Thermoworm quickly spread throughout Wallace, becoming the Obsidiworms. It found a home in the branches of trees like the Snowflake Obsiditree, the Gargantuan Obsiditree, the Obsidioak, the Lacy-leaf Obsiditree, and the Chameleon Obsidishank. Each adapting to their host tree in their own way. Obsidiworms that hide amongst the leaves of the Obsidishank tend to have longer ivy-like leaf-wings, while ones that hide in other Obsidiflora have shorter leaves. There it eats the tree's leaves.

Supplemental Image of Obsidiworm (wings not shown)


It hides among the leaves of Obsidiflora by a trick of biomimicry. One side of the Obsidiworm’s leaf-wings are dark, while the other side is white. This is possible because Obsidiworms no longer have the ability to photosynthesize. When the leaves of Obsidiflora change color, the Obsidiworm changes along with it. This also helps to cool the Obsidiworm.

The rear segment of an Obsidiworm mimics the spore pod of the Obsidiflora. The timing for Obsidiworm reproduction and the spores of the Obsidiflora occur at the same time of year. An Obsidiworm filled with tiny eggs will sit with their rear segment exposed. The Obsidiworms will spray their eggs into the air, and some of the Obsidiflora spores will stick to the eggs, and fall down to the damp leaf litter below. Here, they crawl around eating the leaf litter. When they mature, they eventually crawl up the trunk of the Obsidiflora, and catch the wind with their leaf-wings to get blown to new trees.

Other than this, they are like their ancestor.

QUOTE (Coolsteph @ Apr 6 2023, 08:53 AM)

Image: There are some stray lines on the cheek, around the throat, between the two biggest spikes, and possibly around the eyes and the spikes. Admittedly, those lines might actually indicate light-green natural markings, and it might have conspicuous white parts on the ends of its tail spikes. I’m not sure why it would have conspicuous white parts on the end of its tail spikes, but those parts are so small they would surely have little effect on survival or plausibility, and so technically don’t need to be corrected. Similarly, some of the spikes on its back aren’t fully filled: the ones on its shoulders are particularly glaring. These issues aren’t bad enough to stall approval, but since it would be a quick fix, I recommend correcting it anyway. Template: Oofle Archipelago Polar Beaches, plural? Description: More Important Feedback How does it spread its “favorite roots”? Since the spore-bearing structures are far from the roots for most of them, it’s hard to imagine it would store spores from its favored flora in its mouth while eating roots. I’m not sure how many, if any, of its favored flora can grow back from root fragments. “As a result of dealing with the colder temperatures, it has become a mesotherm”. Not every animal that experiences cold temperatures in its native habitat becomes a mesotherm. Some frogs in Canada endure winter through being frozen alive, for example. This therefore should be re-phrased. It would also help to draw inspiration from real mesotherms to explain this change. It’s so large gigantothermy could apply, although it might lose heat through its spikes. A rete mirabile might also keep its body temperature elevated, and a layer of blubber or fat would reduce the rate of heat loss to the environment, whatever its internal heat generation was like. Plausibility/Encouraged Elaboration It’s a bit odd it should be aquatic and yet not feed on anything underwater or at the water’s edge. The spikes would also create a lot of drag, slowing it down in the water. (Admittedly, the spike-like finlets on a tuna’s tail do have a hydrodynamic function.) I suppose, though, if it’s a slow-moving underwater creature like a manatee that spends most of its time low in the water column, being heavy and unaerodynamic wouldn’t matter. With its short legs, it would surely not be fast on land. It is well-armored and has a thagomizer, though. Its survival odds on land might depend on how its young live. Does the mother abandon them shortly after they are born? If they are aquatic, do the females no longer seal themselves in their burrows with their eggs? If the young are abandoned shortly after they are born, their short legs combined with smaller body sizes might make them easy prey for any predators that can handle their spikes and thagomizers (e.g., shrogs; I didn’t specifically check all the habitats, but shrugs are so widespread they’re probably found in some of them). The most obvious workaround for this is sea turtle-style reproduction.

The white parts on the tail are a feature, not a bug.

• was not sure how to apply the mesothelioma. I too thought gigantothermy might apply, but wasn’t sure. Eating meat, it’d surely get some fat, but was not sure where that would be applied.

It does feed on underwater organisms, like the Southern Gillfin, etc.

I don’t mean for the legs to be shorter… they should be the same size. Depicted is swimming posture.


Thank u for the suggestions about nesting.

Added

Marine Slurpabill (Slurparynchos polaris)
Ancestor: Slurpabill
Creator: HethrJarrod
Habitat: Wind Polar Coast, Wind Polar Beach, Voyager Archipelago, Voyager Archipelago Polar Beaches, South Sagan 4 Ice Sheet, Yannick Polar Coast, Oofle Archipelago Polar Beaches, Fermi Archipelago, Fermi Archipelago Subpolar Beaches, Arctic Subpolar Beach, Arctic Subpolar Coast, Scifi Subpolar Beach, Scifi Subpolar Coast
Size: 2 meters long
Support: Endoskeleton (Bone)
Diet:Omnivore (Greyblades roots, Umbrosa roots, Dalmatian Spinetower roots, Candletower roots, Greysnip roots, Saturntower roots, Bonespire sapling roots, Razorbark roots, Branching Bonespire sapling roots, Bangsticks roots, Beach Colonystalk, Cocobarrage sapling roots, Obsidibend roots, Mainland Fuzzpalm berries and sapling roots, Fuzzpile berries and sapling roots, Bonegrove roots, Qupe Tree sapling roots, Fuzzweed, Baebula sapling roots, Carnosprawl, Segmented Carnofern, Beach Carnofern, Mangot fruit-leaves and sapling roots, Fermibyss, Fermibyss (Eggs), Southern Gillfin, Speckled Spinderorm, Slender Seaswimmer, Uksip Lazarus, Rockshellion)
Respiration: Active (Lungs)
Thermoregulation: Mesotherm
Reproduction: Sexual, Two Sexes, (Soft-shelled Eggs)

The marine slurpabill has moved further south, and then some. It has even crossed the south Sagan IV ice sheet into the Voyager archipelago, gaining a taste for meat along the way. It has grown slightly, increasing in size from 1.4 meters in length to 2 meters in length. As a result of dealing with the colder temperatures, and its diet having more meat in it, it has become a mesotherm. Subcutaneous layers of fat and gigantothermy help to keep the marine slurpabill warm while swimming in the cold waters.

Because of the increased salt intake from its diet and drinking seawater, it has had to evolve an ability to expel excess salt from pores in its tail.

It will sometimes wander inland to find food, but always returns to the shore. It has also spread many of its favorite foods along its habitat. This is because it will bury an unfinished meal, but later sometimes forget where it buried it. If it remembers, it will dig it up and continue eating it as it travels. It does this with meat as well. It will scratch a small pit in the ice, burying the seafood, and cover it back up with ice.

Fermi flora that have spread to the polar habitats of Fermi and Wallace, creating local polar and subpolar adapted varieties of:
- Greyblades, Umbrosa, Candletower, Greysnip, Saturntower, Bonespire, Razorbark, Bangsticks, Mainland Fuzzpalm, Fuzzpile, Bonegrove, Qupe Tree, Fuzzweed.

QUOTE (colddigger @ Apr 5 2023, 03:28 PM)

I really like this setup, is the 1 m height including the bubbles on stalks?

Yes

Changed the artwork & description per Coolsteph suggested revisions.

Changed the description to spongy core instead of fungal, and fixed other references in description (hope I got them all)

QUOTE (Disgustedorite @ Apr 4 2023, 06:19 PM)

5 pounds is very light for something with a 5 meter wingspan. This creature is much heavier in proportion.

Even if the electricity is only a minor assistance, the Thunderwing is still capable of gliding

QUOTE (Disgustedorite @ Apr 4 2023, 06:29 PM)

How do they disperse? What happens if a nimbus colony dies? These don't look like they'd be similar in weight to a nimbus cell. Nimbus cells are very tiny things in proportion to the frond. Much smaller than this.

pictured is the Marchessa
the others still resemble Bristlekrugg

If the nimbus colony dies, the cloudkeeper krugg colony also dies.

Disperse? You mean if the colony gets too many members?
In that case, members can be forced to leave... or the nimbus cloud split into smaller sections

QUOTE (Disgustedorite @ Apr 4 2023, 05:37 PM)

This is a little large to be using ionic wind. Do you have an example of anything, animal or machine, doing something similar at this size?

MIT Ionic Wind Plane

"The aircraft, weighs about 5 pounds and has a 5-meter wingspan."

non-ionic wind


ionic wind



https://news.mit.edu/2018/first-ionic-wind-...ving-parts-1121

QUOTE (Disgustedorite @ Apr 4 2023, 05:39 PM)

My issues with the fungal core thing aside, the growth form is very strange. What's going on here?

The haplospores stick to each other easily.

And where the shell of different mangal shrubite come into contact with each other, they shell isn't needed in that spot anymore and doesn't get renewed as fast.

Name: Beach Bubbleweed (Aquaspherica harenosus)
Ancestor: Marine Bubbleweed
Creator: HethrJarrod
Habitat: (Polar, Subpolar, Temperate) (Arid, Beach, Coasts)
(Adult) Wind Polar Beach, Darwin Barrens, Darwin Tundra, Voyager Barrens Archipelago, Voyager Archipelago Beaches, Badger Subpolar Beach, Morokor Subpolar Beach, Iituem Temperate Beach, Iituem Temperate Archipelago Beaches, (Seed Bubbles) Badger Subpolar Coast, Raq Subpolar Coast, Iituem Temperate Bay, Wind Polar Coast, Morokor Subpolar Coast, Austin Temperate Bay
Size: 1m tall
Support: Cell Wall (Cellulose), Flotation Bubbles (Hydrogen)
Diet: Photosynthesis
Respiration: Passive (Stomata)
Thermoregulation: Ectotherm
Reproduction: Asexual, Hydrogen-filled Seed Bubbles

The marine bubbleweed and made its way onto the south polar and subpolar regions of Wallace using its flotation bubbles and spread along the southern coast. This new population evolved into something new. Unlike its ancestor, it is no longer a long stalk with flotation bubbles. Its leaves are waxy to prevent desiccation. It has developed a loose root system and formed a symbiosis with nitrogen fixing microbes in the soil. The leaves remain near the base while the flotation seed bubbles are attached at the end of long thin strands. These bundles of bubbles can provide cover for smaller predators. If something disturbs or pops the bubbles, it can cause the entire bunch to pop, which spreads the tiny seeds. This is because the microscopic seeds are embedded into the membrane. If nothing disturbs them, eventually they break off naturally and float around in the air before popping.

The beach bubbleweed also goes dormant during the winter, leaving just the roots for it to grow back from in the springtime.