Now this is a creative tree. I notice you mention that the shape of the leaves was to make it so only parts of them are bit off, but at 60 meters tall, what is effectively grazing on them to warrant that? Unless of course it's only useful in young specimens.
I know the babies don't have tusks, and that they likely would be extremely impractical in them, but for some reason I think they'd look adorable with those oversized dentition.
Well I think the solution would be instead of one"disease or parasite genera", one does multiple, one per each genera (or very closely related ones, like a pathogen that affects minifee, polyfee, and bonyfee)
Minifee (Parvainfantemigelata spp.)
Creator: Nergali
Ancestor: Camouflage Foi
Habitat: Global (Sagan 4)
Size: 5-20 mm Long
Diet: Planktivore, Detritivore
Reproduction: Fragmentation
For untold millions upon millions of years, foi have existed relatively unchanged - save for the occasional lineage or two - in the waters of Sagan IV, endlessly consuming and dividing as they went, nigh oblivious to the greater world around them. As such, it was of little surprise when this genus formed. Having split from its ancestor, the first Minifee shrunk somewhat in size, even if it did remain somewhat large for a single cell, so that it might better exploit its surrounding food sources. It was not long after, as one might expect of a cell, that it quite rapidly diversified in species and grew nigh exponentially in numbers. Now they have established themselves within the Sagan IV food chain, becoming the bane of smaller cells, from biofilm to algae, but in turn being prey for larger organisms.
Internally, the various Minifee are near identical to their ancient Foi ancestors. Like them, their bodies are supported by a complex cytoskeletal structure. These structures, sometimes referred to as "muscles" in past Foi do to their similarity in function, are composed of innumerable chains of actin and myosin. Intertwined throughout their bodies, they serve to provide vital support for their gelatinous bodies, and allow for the "quick" movements that nearly all of the various single-celled Foi have been known for.
As for externally, Minifee have not changed all that drastically there as well. They still resemble the original Foi very closely, save for a loss of the wings utilized by their distant ancestor for the purpose of swimming about in the water column. Other than that, they retain such features as their trio of eyespots - often referred to as eyes due to their size and sheer complexity - which, like similar such structures found in such species as Warnowiid and the Xenophyphores of Earth, are composed internally of several highly specialized, light-sensitive organelles. Capable of being rotated and even migrated slightly along the surface of their bodies, they allow the Microfee to sense potential threats as well as the time of day, especially when combined with their capability to detect vibrations in the water.
Minifee are found in nearly all aquatic environments close to the surface, from fast flowing rivers and stagnant swamps, to tropical shallows and the dark murk of the twilight floor. Few, if any, though, are found below those depths, which are instead dominated by other species as well as even several related Fee species. Reproduction often involves an individual fragmenting into numerous smaller ones, typically when certain conditions - such as an overabundance of food, warmth, etc... - are met. While some species do produce toxins within their bodies in order to defend themselves, most rely on instead on reproducing rapidly in order to produce enough offspring so that at least some will survive to adulthood.
They're like terrestrial flies. I love them, especially the furry sausage one.
You forgot to list the reproduction at the top. Hmmm... I wonder if this will be one of the species the Seashrogs might accidentally spread... though they'd need new pollinators wherever they wind up.
I've made the changes, and thanks for the comments. I hope the size is fine, and who knows, maybe people will diversify this.
Vesiplanktoid (Oculicaliginis parvanare)
Creator: Nergali
Ancestor: Microswarmers (Noplanktoids)
Habitat: North Jujubee Polar Ocean (Sunlight Zone), North Jujubee Temperate Ocean (Sunlight Zone), North LadyM Polar Ocean (Sunlight Zone), North LadyM Temperate Ocean (Sunlight Zone)
Size: 3 mm Long
Diet: Photosynthesis, Detritivore, Planktivore
Reproduction: Sexual (hermaphroditic, spawning)
Descended from the Noplanktoids, a small species of planktonic plent from which this has split, the Vesiplanktoids continue on their ancestors' rich legacy of floating about in the water column while ever at the mercy of the ocean currents. It is a simple lifestyle, though one that has proven successful for this lineage, which has been further bolstered by an evolutionary change to hermaphroditism - for such poor swimmers, no longer would excess energy need to be wasted when it came to finding a mate when any other individual will suffice in regards to their spawning needs.
Unlike most Microswarmers, the Vesiplanktoids are fairly unique for possessing a primitive jaw of sorts, rather than the typical gaping maw for sucking in nutrients and water found in their kin. It is nothing too complex, though, being little more than a simple flap-like structure with little strength behind it. When it swings upon, it creates a very slight current that is more than capable of pulling in bits of detritus and other nutrients, as well as other, tinier organisms such as their own smaller planktonic kin like Whip Swarmers, Swarmerkings, and lone Chainswarmers. This change in diet compared to that of the ancestor helps to supplement their photosynthesis, which in turn helps to fuel a faster growth rate as well as their reproductive capabilities.
The most prominent feature of this species, the air vesicle-like structures found within their upper pair of tentacles, are still very much present within this species. Much akin to the pneumatocyst of certain seaweeds native to Earth, like them these structures contain buoyant gases such as CO, O2 & N2. This specialized pair of tentacles have, over countless generations, slowly migrated in position towards the top of the body, a location where they are more effective without disrupting this species' balance. However, that is not all that has changed. Not only have these structures become larger, the Vesiplanktoids are now capable of venting them of excess gas should they need to lower themselves in the water column. This process is relatively quick, and can be identified by the presence of small gas bubbles forming and dissipating upon the surface of these tentacles. Afterwards, when they need to, the various life processes of this species - such as photosynthesis - aid them in restoring the gas balance within these vesicles. Such a lifestyle has meant that the side fins of their ancestors - which were already greatly diminished even in them - are now externally nonexistent, having been fully absorbed into their bodies. Some internal support still exist, though, and as such on the very rare occasion a mutant is born that retains their fins, though they are fairly functionless.
Just as in the Noplanktoids, despite their apparent vulnerability as they drift about, the Vesiplanktoids retain a potent, hidden defense to ward off predators. Potent toxins build up within the bodies of these planktonic plents, ones that induce terrible blistering and burning lesions upon contact with exposed flesh. The toxins mostly accumulate within the tentacles, and bear a passing resemblance to those utilized by various seaweeds of Earth, in this case lyngbyatoxin A and debromoaplysiatoxins. Selective planktivores tend to quite quickly learn to avoid preying on Vesiplanktoids after one or two painful "learning experiences", though significantly larger, more generalized planktivores are largely unaffected as the doses of toxin required to cause significant gastrointestinal pain within them would require thousands of individual Vesiplanktoids to be consumed. Of course, should conditions be right and nutrients plentiful, a plent bloom can occur... and then even the titans of the deep can succumb. Such events are rare, though, and tend to be localized and thus easily avoided.
Oh, I wonder what little parasites will evolve to live within that fine spiny quills.
I like how it almost looks like it has multiple limbs complete with little fingers.
Ya, that's a nice landscape, and the species is great too. The "magnetite fauna" are such an odd group.
Wouldn't membranes on the front claws allow for more improved swimming capability?
So it's like it has numerous tumerous glowing sacs all over their bodies. Neat!
Maybe a brief (sentence or two) description for what makes those species distinct?
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