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Rockshot Shootstem (Herbavernii ephemeralis)
Creator: Coolsteph
Ancestor: Shootstems
Size: 15 cm
Habitats: Niyo Tropical Watershed, Niyo Riparian, Towel Subtropical Watershed, Rose Subtropical Watershed, Rose Riparian, Towel Riparian
Reproduction: Sexual (Windborne Spores)
Diet: Photosynthesis
Reproduction: Reproduction: Sexual (Metagenesis; Windborne Spores)
Respiration: ???
Support: ???
Thermoregulation: Ectotherm

The name “Rockshot Shootstem” is a fanciful one: the flora’s shape vaguely resembles shotguns crossed with ray guns. As they often occur in gravelly debris or in patches of greyish powder (decayed organic matter mixed with greyish silt), one can imagine they shot small rocks with buckshot, hence the name “Rockshot”.

Rockshot Shootstems are oddly Mellowbulb-like in their lifestyles: they live on rocks very close to slow-moving streams that have accumulated various "pond scum”-like organisms (e.g., Continentadoras, Binucleid Rope Algae) and other organic matter. While Mellowbulbs only live in yearly, stable water sources and their edges, and require water films on their surfaces, Rockshot Shootstems are able to live in habitats that become significantly drier over the course of the year.

In contrast to its ancestor in the Shootstems genus group, it does not live for a full year, but mere months, having adapted to the lifestyle of a late winter/early spring ephemeral. Oddly, it dies when the weather gets hot, at temperatures Shootstems can typically survive. Depending on local climactic conditions and yearly fluctuations, it lives for two months to two-and-one-third months. Despite living in semi-arid habitats, it’s not descended from a scrubland- or desert-dwelling variety, but a grassland variety.

Though the species originated in Niyo Tropical Watershed, it has the most genetic diversity in subtropical climates, where the temperatures are somewhat cooler.

(Trivia: I did not actually intend it to be a pun on “shoot” as in “firing a firearm” and plant shoots. “Rockshot Shootstem” was simply the first name that came to mind, and I had to justify it somehow.)

Rockshot
Approval Checklist:
Art:
Art Present?: y
Art clear?: No.
Gen number?: y
All limbs shown? y:
Reasonably Comparable to Ancestor?: y
Realistic additions?:

Name:
Binomial Taxonomic Name?: y
Creator?: y

Ancestor:
Listed?: y
What changes?:

• External?:
• Internal?:
• Behavioral/Mental?: Doesn’t live as long

Are Changes Realistic?: y
New Genus Needed?: n/a

Habitat:
Type?: Tropical, Subtropical
Flavor?: Watershed, Riparian
Connected to Ancestor?: y
Contiguous?: yes
Wildcard?: n

Size:
Same as Ancestor?: y
Within range?: y
Exception?:

Support:
Same as Ancestor?: y
Does it Fit Lifestyle?: y
Does It Fit Size?: y
Reasonable changes (if any)?:
Other?:

Diet:
Same as Ancestor?: yes
Transition Rule?: n
Reasonable changes (if any)?:

Respiration:
Same as Ancestor?: yes
Does It Fit Habitat?: yes
Does it Fit Size?: yes
Reasonable changes (if any)?:
Other?:

Thermoregulation:
Same as Ancestor?: yes
Does It Fit Habitat?: yes
Reasonable changes (if any)?:
Other?:

Reproduction:
Same as Ancestor?: y
Does It Fit Habitat?: y
Reasonable changes (if any)?:
Other?:
Listed multiple times

Description:
Length?: short
Capitalized correctly?: yes, afaik
Replace/Split from ancestor?: split
Other?:

Opinion: Pending

Reproduction is listed multiple times. Art needs to be clearer.

This post has been edited by HethrJarrod: May 28 2023, 09:29 AM

The basic info is generally very out of order