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Whorls (Rotoradia spp.)

Creator: MNIDJM
Ancestosr: [[Whorl]]
Habitat: Sagan 4 Global
Size: 1 cm - 10 cm Length
Support:
Diet: Planktivore
Thermoregulation: Ectothermic
Reproduction: Asexual Spores

The '''whorls''' have, since the Martykian Era, served a vital role at basal consumers of the open oceans, in a role similar to that of Earth jellyfish. Beginning in the depths of LadyM, they began to diversify in the wake of the Bloodian-Masonian boundary solar opening up niches lost with the freezing of the planet. While a few species have remained in the sunlit areas of the oceans, the largest diversity in species can be found in the deeper depths of the ocean, with the lack of competition from [[swarmers]] allowing whorls to be the primary planktivores, with only [[anipedes]] as competition. They prefer open ocean but can be found near sea beds and even swarming around vents.All whorls have at least four arms that are used to hold at least one set of feathery tentacles which each have hundreds of tiny stinging cells. These cells trap prey within them then absorb them within the feathery tentacles to eat.

No species have photoreceptors and they lack a central nervous processing system. Instead, they have a network of statocysts that connect to a network of nerves which help them detect their orientation and sense changes in pressure on their surface. With no way to directly sense prey, all whorls simply swim around against the current, collecting food in its tentacles. Movement is achieved using a large flagellum-like tail which wiggles in a corkscrew movement using primitive muscles. Their lack of photoreceptors also make detection of predators difficult. If they are able to detect predators their main adaptation for defense is simply to dart off in a burst of movement, however this burns through energy quickly. When this option isn't available each arm is covered in spiky hair-like setae which produce a nasty sting to anything that brush up against them. These help discourage predation on the whorls, with many species adapting varied applications of these defenses. Some species have evolved thicker spikes which act as thorns while others use detachable setae coated in silicates, which when in contact with skin will embed and release chemical that vary from simple irritants to neurotoxins.

=Integrated Species=

* [[Whorl]]

Any updates on these? Especially since the whorls had their taxonomy revised

Removed the Marine Whorls

Alright, though this does mean the artwork will need to be tweaked since it looks like you have some of the species in the picture resemble the Marine Whorl

this is WIP won't review

Any updates on this?