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Name: Kyorn (Comaureus spp.)
Creator: HethrJarrod
Ancestor: Keryhs
Habitat: Steiner Tropical Volcanic, Steiner Tropical Volcanic Archipelago
Support: Cell Wall (Cellulose)
Size: 50-70 cm tall
Diet: Larvae: Parasitic, Adult: Photosynthesis (Sulfur), Detritivore
Respiration: Stomata
Thermoregulation: Ectotherm
Reproduction: Asexual (Spores, Parasitic Larvae, Adult)

Kyorns split off from its ancestor, thriving in volcanic environments and becoming a new type of flora that had not really been seen before on Sagan. It looks remarkably like a small yellow stalk of bamboo-like long grass. Without as many organisms to parasite off of, it has to adapt. It relied more and more on its ability to metabolize sulfur. Because a sulfur reducing metabolism requires anaerobic conditions, it now occurs in a newly developed organelles called sulphuroplasts the membrane of which provides an additional barrier to oxygen.

It even gets nutrients from the volcanic soil it lives in. Unlike most flora however, kyorns use sulfur materials in its photosynthesis instead of water and oxygen. It uses hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide and produces globules of sulfur as a byproduct. This is what gives it the distinctive yellow color it has. Since it helps filter out hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide, it is a major player in making volcanic habitat more livable for normal organisms.


Diagram of Sulphur Photosynthesis

==Physical Appearance==

The mature kyorn is a long, yellow, plant-like stalk. Yellow “leaves” (actually more like flaps of tissue) peel away from the stalk. Darker yellow spots can be seen inside the leaves. These leaves have small stomata-like openings that draw in hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide gas from the air. Below the ground, four root-like prongs help to absorb nutrients and water from the soil. These roots also pick up the gametes of others of its kind.

==Life Cycle==

The darker yellow spots inside the leaves are actually the spores of the kyorn. They are inside the part of the kyorn that is most likely to be eaten by fauna as it passes by. Once eaten, these embed themselves in the digestive tract of their host, absorbing nutrients. After a few months, they will exit the host body, falling to the ground and transforming into their adult form at the beginning of spring.

The adult form uses water in its habitat in large vacuoles to expand its cells in order to grow into a large stalk. The more it is able to look like a normal flora, the more likely it is to have its leaves (and spores) eaten, starting the cycle over. After being eaten, the adult form dies at the start of winter.

This post has been edited by HethrJarrod: Jun 11 2023, 03:38 AM

Wow, I really like this one. I'm a sucker for endemic organisms as well as organisms with unusual methods of obtaining energy. Might even try diversifying it in the future. The parasitic larval phase is really interesting as well. However, are ambient levels of hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide high enough for the Kyorn to photosynthesize? If not, what kind of sources would it need to have nearby to sustain this photosynthesis? Would they exclusively live near volcanic vents spewing up the required gasses?

This post has been edited by Bufforpington: May 23 2023, 05:01 PM

Its ancestor engaged in chemosynthesis, not photosynthesis. If you want a photosynthesizer which does something interesting with sulfur in its metabolism, try basing a microbe off green sulfur bacteria.

You also have quite a lot of submissions already. As mentioned on the Nimmoss topic, you are above the flora cap. Please work on your other submissions first. This will be graveyarded for now.

QUOTE (Bufforpington @ May 23 2023, 08:00 PM)

Wow, I really like this one. I'm a sucker for endemic organisms as well as organisms with unusual methods of obtaining energy. Might even try diversifying it in the future. The parasitic larval phase is really interesting as well. However, are ambient levels of hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide high enough for the Kyorn to photosynthesize? If not, what kind of sources would it need to have nearby to sustain this photosynthesis? Would they exclusively live near volcanic vents spewing up the required gasses?

They would need volcanic soil and enough sulfur around, so they would be range restricted to near volcanic stuff.

This is loosely based off of green and purple sulfur bacteria.

This post has been edited by HethrJarrod: May 23 2023, 05:26 PM

What do you guys think makes a better habitat

A:
Vonnegut Subpolar Volcanic, Vonnegut Subpolar Beach, Vonnegut Archipelago Subpolar Beaches, Vonnegut Archipelago Temperate Beaches, Vonnegut Temperate Woodland Archipelago, Vonnegut Bush Archipelago, Vonnegut Prairie Archipelago

B:
Vonnegut Subpolar Volcanic, Vonnegut Archipelago Subpolar Beaches

C:
Steiner Tropical Volcanic, Steiner Tropical Volcanic Archipelago

This post has been edited by HethrJarrod: May 24 2023, 05:02 AM

This still qualities as fauna as a juvenile and goes against the spirit of the cap rule.

How are we defining flora and fauna?

Going back a previous ancestor, these reproduced using spores. Which is very flora-like behavior too.

This post has been edited by HethrJarrod: May 24 2023, 10:12 AM

I might go with option C. It'd make the most sense for this species to be isolated to volcanic environments. It might also make a bit more sense because it has no clear adaptations to surviving in a subpolar environment.

However, you apparently are above both the flora and fauna cap. You best put this species on ice for now.

QUOTE (Bufforpington @ May 24 2023, 03:44 PM)

I might go with option C. It'd make the most sense for this species to be isolated to volcanic environments. It might also make a bit more sense because it has no clear adaptations to surviving in a subpolar environment. However, you apparently are above both the flora and fauna cap. You best put this species on ice for now.

Thank you.

Sometimes,
I feel like I’m the reason for the cap.

167 is supposed to be unlimited flora (within reason of course) iirc.

Any descendants of this should definitely be considered flora.

This post has been edited by HethrJarrod: May 24 2023, 12:50 PM

Changed habitat to Option C since it’s probably be better for it.

Made a few small adjustments