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Compass Gazebno (Gazebolinnea condensa)

Creator: Ethos
Ancestor: Pine-Legged Dwarf Gazebo
Habitat: Drake Cold Desert
Size: 20 cm tall
Support: Unknown
Diet: Photosynthesis
Respiration: Unknown
Thermoregulation: Unknown
Reproduction: Sexual (airborne spores)

Compass gazebno split from its ancestor, colonizing Drake Cold Desert. Decidedly un-gazebo-like, its form is reduced to a linear crest of twigs aligned north-south while the small leg-roots rarely appear above the surface. This linear morphology minimizes midday sun exposure while maximizing the capture of mist, dew, and snow by catching perpendicular wind currents. Moisture capture is not very efficient, but occasionally facilitates snow drifts and islands of slightly higher soil moisture where mist is frequent. Sand or dust may also build up on one side, in some instances burying the individual. If it happens slowly enough, the leg-roots will eventually push it back up to the surface. Like its ancestor, the needle-like crystals allow it to survive extreme cold. However, more than a day below 100-year lows has more than 50% lethality. Its triflagellate airborne spores are released during rare rainy periods, and growth is extremely slow. Maturity is typically reached after 20 years and full size after 50 years under normal conditions. Compass gazebno dots the desert landscape sparsely, appearing from a high vantage point as small, evenly-spaced lines each pointing the way to the poles.

This post has been edited by Ethos: Mar 1 2023, 08:33 PM

And to think, what I thought was a typo was actually a sign of its rebelliousness. (If you're excuse the anthropomorphism.)

The description is sufficient, but rather short. Can you add more detail? How does it capture mist, dew, and drifting snow? What's its cold tolerance? Is it distributed patchily or evenly in its habitat?

QUOTE (Coolsteph @ Feb 22 2023, 05:33 PM)

And to think, what I thought was a typo was actually a sign of its rebelliousness. (If you're excuse the anthropomorphism.)

I'm quite proud of the name, though there is no shortage of fun names around here

QUOTE (Coolsteph @ Feb 22 2023, 05:33 PM)

The description is sufficient, but rather short. Can you add more detail? How does it capture mist, dew, and drifting snow? What's its cold tolerance? Is it distributed patchily or evenly in its habitat?

Thanks for the detail suggestions, I've added more.

This post has been edited by Ethos: Mar 1 2023, 08:40 PM