Groundclouds (Comaventi spp.)
Creator: HeathrJarrod
Habitat: Global
Size: 5mm to 50mm tall
Support: Unknown
Diet: Photosynthesis
Respiration: Unknown
Thermoregulation: Unknown
Reproduction: Asexual, Spores
The Desert Groundcloud diversified into the Groundcloud genus. Its ancestors came to be when nimbus clouds had fallen to the ground and managed to survive there. Like their ancestors, Groundclouds live in colonies that can grow to huge proportions, yet weigh next to nothing. All of the Groundclouds have burr-like hooks at the end of their feathery tendrils. When the Groundcloud individual touches a surface, the touching tendril will curl up, securing its hold. Groundclouds can be found attached to the sides of trees, large stones, and the skin of fauna. They can attach to each other on the surface of non-moving water.
When conditions become extreme, comaventi form an endospore. At that time, the hooks become brittle and easy to break, sending the dormant comaventi individual to a new location. The feathery filaments also allow for a limited form of DNA swapping between members of a Groundcloud colony. If a mutation or infection occurs in one individual, this swapping cannot take place, isolating the member.
This post has been edited by HethrJarrod: Sep 12 2022, 02:47 PM
Ok... I added two additional depictions
| QUOTE (Disgustedorite @ Sep 12 2022, 09:40 AM) |
| A genus group must have a minimum of 3 species depicted. |
I don't typically check the retro submissions subforum, but, as a quick check: you'll need to put the common and scientific name in the same line. "It's ancestor" is a typo: "its ancestor" is meant.
"for some reason" is a sort of hand-wave: you should give a reason or two, even if it's vague. You can say they initially fell to the ground on mountain peaks, alpine habitats, or barren habitats, and were able to survive due to having fairly few competitors or would-be herbivores. Peaks are very harsh, although, as of Generation 145, several peaks nonetheless had multiple macro-sized fauna. Darwin Peak, South Dixon Peak, and North Dixon Peak had the fewest, with 5 macro organisms each. Always Polar Riparian, Irinya Polar Riparian, and BioCat Mountain Riparian are some examples of habitats that were (on the wiki; not counting organisms not yet retroactively-added) barren at the time that Nimbuses were probably well-suited to live in.
"Animals" is the incorrect terminology: we use "fauna" here. "standing water" is missing a comma.
It's odd that it seems to have no mechanism to avoid or minimize the spread of harmful mutations.
The paragraphs are very short, so I recommend merging them. I recommend merging the first and second paragraphs, and the third and fourth paragraphs.
While the distance-depictions are handy, I believe what Disgustedorite was asking you to do was depict at least two other species at the micro-level.
EDIT: Apparently, the "for some reason" issue actually comes from its ancestor, so it's not your fault. If making this a retro-submission and descendant of the Nimbus Pile won't work, a quick re-color and a few other minor tweaks could make it work as an Alpine Cirrus descendant. Alpine Cirruses already live on the ground in big colonies in downy strands in alpine and the highboreal environments, where they have little competition (though developments in flora in that habitat have surely since altered things).
"for some reason" is a sort of hand-wave: you should give a reason or two, even if it's vague. You can say they initially fell to the ground on mountain peaks, alpine habitats, or barren habitats, and were able to survive due to having fairly few competitors or would-be herbivores. Peaks are very harsh, although, as of Generation 145, several peaks nonetheless had multiple macro-sized fauna. Darwin Peak, South Dixon Peak, and North Dixon Peak had the fewest, with 5 macro organisms each. Always Polar Riparian, Irinya Polar Riparian, and BioCat Mountain Riparian are some examples of habitats that were (on the wiki; not counting organisms not yet retroactively-added) barren at the time that Nimbuses were probably well-suited to live in.
"Animals" is the incorrect terminology: we use "fauna" here. "standing water" is missing a comma.
It's odd that it seems to have no mechanism to avoid or minimize the spread of harmful mutations.
The paragraphs are very short, so I recommend merging them. I recommend merging the first and second paragraphs, and the third and fourth paragraphs.
While the distance-depictions are handy, I believe what Disgustedorite was asking you to do was depict at least two other species at the micro-level.
EDIT: Apparently, the "for some reason" issue actually comes from its ancestor, so it's not your fault. If making this a retro-submission and descendant of the Nimbus Pile won't work, a quick re-color and a few other minor tweaks could make it work as an Alpine Cirrus descendant. Alpine Cirruses already live on the ground in big colonies in downy strands in alpine and the highboreal environments, where they have little competition (though developments in flora in that habitat have surely since altered things).
This also does not make sense as a diversification of its ancestor, as it is biologically considerably different.
I don't think that it is biologically considerably different from its ancestor
| QUOTE (Disgustedorite @ Sep 12 2022, 10:36 AM) |
| This also does not make sense as a diversification of its ancestor, as it is biologically considerably different. |
The ancestor's description suggests it's just like all nimbuses but building on a pile of dead ones. What you depicted is something heavier and anatomically different which would contradict the description of it weighing almost nothing.
From Nimbus Cloud:
The nimbus cloud split from its ancestor via a mutation that caused the nimbus feathers to stick onto each other.
Most of the descendants of Nimbus Clouds have these hooks. I don't see a contradiction that you speak of.
This post has been edited by HethrJarrod: Sep 12 2022, 08:53 AM
The nimbus cloud split from its ancestor via a mutation that caused the nimbus feathers to stick onto each other.
Most of the descendants of Nimbus Clouds have these hooks. I don't see a contradiction that you speak of.
| QUOTE (Disgustedorite @ Sep 12 2022, 11:04 AM) |
| The ancestor's description suggests it's just like all nimbuses but building on a pile of dead ones. What you depicted is something heavier and anatomically different which would contradict the description of it weighing almost nothing. |
This post has been edited by HethrJarrod: Sep 12 2022, 08:53 AM
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerogel
If they are not collapsing on themselves then it would be kind of a living aerogel.
Heavier than a lot of aerogel, but given the structure id be curious what the actual mass is at 1 cm^3
If they are not collapsing on themselves then it would be kind of a living aerogel.
Heavier than a lot of aerogel, but given the structure id be curious what the actual mass is at 1 cm^3
From the description it sounds more like feather barbs than random tentacles now.
That's from the nimbus cloud ancestor...
and its descendants use similar terminology.
Greeny Nimbuscloud: The greeny nimbuscloud split from its ancestor, its colonies now clump on the wing branches of the maternal hiveballoon
Hanging Nimbuscloud: The hanging nimbuscloud split from its ancestor and now clings to the zeploons,
Sea Fog: The hooks that hold them together also hold on to bubbles when underwater, and drops of water when above; those drops dry-out and leave their nutrients behind.
Seambus: They float easily because of their long complex arms and hold on to the water drops using small hooks much like their ancestors.
Nimbus Fog: While clouds can grow to a meter or so across with millions of individuals they are still microscopic in size and they each hook together to help the cloud avoid dispersal.
and its descendants use similar terminology.
Greeny Nimbuscloud: The greeny nimbuscloud split from its ancestor, its colonies now clump on the wing branches of the maternal hiveballoon
Hanging Nimbuscloud: The hanging nimbuscloud split from its ancestor and now clings to the zeploons,
Sea Fog: The hooks that hold them together also hold on to bubbles when underwater, and drops of water when above; those drops dry-out and leave their nutrients behind.
Seambus: They float easily because of their long complex arms and hold on to the water drops using small hooks much like their ancestors.
Nimbus Fog: While clouds can grow to a meter or so across with millions of individuals they are still microscopic in size and they each hook together to help the cloud avoid dispersal.
| QUOTE (Disgustedorite @ Sep 12 2022, 12:27 PM) |
| From the description it sounds more like feather barbs than random tentacles now. |
Can the actual creators of the species be contacted to ask them what they actually meant? That should always be done first.
I've perceived the outgrowths as rigid and rather non membraneous or non living material.
Looking at a few it's possible that the central vein may have been membraneous or alive at least at one point, but the remainder could still be extracellular material or grown like bacterial flagella.
Or, even the entire thing could be membraneous initially and then solidifed as dead appendages to the singlular cell.
Looking at a few it's possible that the central vein may have been membraneous or alive at least at one point, but the remainder could still be extracellular material or grown like bacterial flagella.
Or, even the entire thing could be membraneous initially and then solidifed as dead appendages to the singlular cell.
| QUOTE (Nergali @ Apr 30 2023, 07:34 PM) |
| Has the tentacle/hook issue been satisfactorily resolved in this? |
I think this species was abandoned, i might be wrong though.
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