Pseudomaurcolus

## **Pseudomaurcolus brevus**

Latest Mutations: 2 = Mutation 1: Hydrofoil-like protrusions on exoskeleton for passive lift.

2 = Mutation 2: Larger size for greater metabolic efficiency (deep sea gigantism)

1 = Mutation 3: A pair of siphon intakes on the sides of the body connected directly to the hyponome for continuous propulsion via cascading muscle contractions.

3 = Mutation 4: Immunity to anemone stings

Down in the deep ocean, this is an offshoot of a Maurcolus repus that is unlikely to succeed. It is smaller in size and has no steering arms or hyponome (making it a terrible swimmer)

Status: Unlisted

Habitat: Deep Ocean (500-1500m deep)

Niche: Predator, Opportunistic Scavenger

Diet: Any fresh meat it can get.

Size: 8cm (length - head to end)

Nutritional Need: 147.5 x 8/100 = 11.8NP.

Food / Oxygen Requirement: 11.8 x 0.25 = 3NP per round (Needs to intake 3/0.65 = 4.6NP per round)/ 11.8NP.

Abilities: Anti-Freeze. Circulation, Small-Body. Excretion, Liquid. Excretion, Solid. Exothermic. Foul Taste. Pressure Tolerance, High. Osmoconformer (Quite Low Salinity). Resistant to Faryxoskulus toxin. Subzero Metabolism. UV Resistance, Medium.

Perception: Chemoreception 0.5. Peripheral Vision 0.5. Pierce Strength 0.5. Sight 1. Smell 0.5. Touch 0.5.

Stats: Coordination 2. Desiccation Resistance 1. Dexterity 0.25. Digestion 0.5 (100% Meat, 65%). Evolution 1. Filtration 1. Immunity 1. Jumping 0.5. Reach 0.25. Respiration 1 (Ram Ventilation). Sharpness 1. Stamina 2.5. Strength 0.5. Support 1. Toughness 2. Swim Speed 2. Tunnelling 0.5. Walk Speed 1.5.

Intelligence / Behaviour: 1. Hungry > Search for food. 2. Food > Attack with chela. 3.  Tired > Rest. 4. Pain > Swim Away. 5. Maturity > Reproduce next to glass sponge.

External Features: An exoskeleton with nine segments covers the the skin, which contains blue carotenoid pigments. There are two antennae protruding forwards in front of the mouth and it has chemoreceptors, odour receptors and touch receptors on it. A sharp rostrum also protrudes forwards. It has two eyes (camera eyes with calcite lenses that change shape and that have no blind spot) either side of the head. Behind these on each side is a (typical apposition) compound eye. Two chelipeds with claws are held at the front of the bod, followed by four pairs of legs. The rear of the body has an exoskeleton fantail.

Internal Features: Each cell in the body contains lysozyme a and a relatively small number of piezolytes. Spiracles lead into water-filled tubes. Glands near the skin secrete a foul fluid. Throughout the centre of the body is the hemacoel, which have blood containing anti-freeze xylomannan fatty acid and polysaccharide and hemocyanin - meaning it is blue-green. A system of muscles stretches across the body. Near the lower wall can be found the gonads as well as the protonephridium. Through the mostly lower half runs the monogastric digestive system, from the mouth through the tubes to the stomach and intestines. Ganglia in the head connect to a dual nerve cord along the dorsal half, which has many nerves branching off it to encompass the whole body.

Reproduction: Sexual Reproduction. External Fertilisation. 1,000 eggs per spawning.

Castes/Phases: Male and Female.

Locomotion: Active (20NP). Paddles with legs and fan tail, boosts with hyponome.

External Features: Exoskeleton (10NP, +2 Toughness, +1 Desiccation, +1 Support, -1 Respiration, -1 Stamina, -Cutaneous Respiration, -Permeable Skin, -Wriggling). Skin (5NP, +0.5 Immunity, +1 Respiration, +0.5 Stamina, +Cutaneous Respiration, +Permeable Skin). Medium Pigments (2.5NP, +Medium UV Resistance). Mouth (0NP, +1 Filtration). Chemoreceptors (2.5NP, +0.5 Chemoreception). Olfactory Receptors (2.5NP, +0.5 Smell). Touch Receptors (2.5NP, +0.5 Touch). Camera Eye (5NP, +1 Sight). Compound Eye (5NP, +0.5 Sight, +0.5 Peripheral Vision). Chela (5NP, +0.5 Pierce Strength, +0.25 Dexterity, +0.25 Reach). Legs (5NP, +1 Walk Speed, +0.5 Jumping, -0.5 Swim Speed). Rostrum (5NP, +1 Sharpness). Antennae (5NP). Fan Tail (5NP, +1 Swim Speed).

Internal Features: Piezolytes (2.5NP, +Low Pressure Tolerance). Lysozymes (2.5NP, +Subzero Metabolism). Spiracles (5NP, +1 Respiration, +1 Stamina). Foul Fluid Gland (5NP, +Foul Taste). Open Circulatory System (10NP, +2 Stamina, +Small-Body Circulation). Anti-Freeze Compound (2.5NP, +Anti-Freeze). Muscular System (10NP, +0.5 Strength, +0.5 Walk Speed, +0.5 Swim Speed, +0.5 Tunnelling, +Wriggling). Gonads (5NP, +1 Evolution, +Sexual Reproduction, +Sexes, +External Fertilisation). Nephridium (5NP, +Liquid Excretion). Monogastric Digestive System (10NP, +0.5 Meat Digestion, +0.5 Veg Digestion, +0.5 Immunity, +Solid Excretion, +Resistant to Faryxoskulus toxin). Centralised Nervous System (10NP, +2 Coordination).

Temporal Range: R.282 - Present (Samadaran Stage of the Oliverian)

Distribution: Cosmopolitan

Lifespan: 4 years

Predecessor: Maurcolus proximus

Classification:

Discoverer: ImmortalDragon