Diplostoma

## Diplostoma protunicata

Latest Mutations: Hyponome Moved To Create Siphon, Mucus Net, Larvae

After a free-moving larval stage, this species settles down in one spot to filter water by pumping it with its hyponome and out through the mouth.

Status: LC

Habitat: Tropical Shallows, Tropical Upper Ocean

Niche: Sessile Filter-Feeder

Size: 7cm (length)

Nutritional Worth: (91/10) x (7/10) = 6.4NP (L = 104/10)

Food / Oxygen Requirement: (6.4 x 0.6) x 0.9 = 3.5NP / 6.4NP

Abilities: Anti-Freeze. Barrier Immune System. Circulation. Cutaneous Respiration. Foul Taste. Liquid Excretion. Moderate UV Resistance. Paralysing Toxin. Permeable Skin. Solid Excretion. Suction. (L = Air Space, Gas Buoyancy)

Perception: (L = Chemoreception 1 - Senses chemicals 1m away. Blurry Vision.)

Intelligence / Behaviour: Processes information and responds based on fixed behaviours. It knows to eat and avoid being harmed.

Stats: Burrowing 1. Coordination 1. Digestion 2 (can break down multicellular matter, can digest meat, 10% off). Flexibility 1. Filtration 3. Intelligence 1. Respiration 1. Stamina 2. Strength 0.5. Support 1. Swim Speed 0.5. (L = Buoyancy 1)

External Features: Blue structural colouration gives the the cylindrical body a metallic, blue sheen. This covers the skin. The siphon on the side of the head opens into a cavity linking up to the mouth on the end of the proboscis. Cirri protrude around the mouth. The body ends with a hyponome. The larvae has chemoreceptors around the mouth and on antennae. On the side and front of the head of the larvae are two pairs of pinhole eyes.

Internal Features: An open circulatory system transports blue blood efficiently around the body. Glands on the body secrete a paralysing toxin. Anti-freeze glycoproteins circulate in the body fluids. A nephridium funnels out chemical waste and expels it through a pore. The body is supported by a hydrostatic skeleton. In the mouth cavity is a muscular pharynx and a mucus net. From the mouth, a tube leads to the stomach, then into the intestines and finally to the anus. A brain in the head connects to a nerve cord, which itself is connected to nerves like rungs of a ladder. The body has testes and an ova. Throughout the whole body seeps a bitter fluid. In the larvae, there is also a swim bladder, not connected to the gut.

Locomotion Type: None. Sessile. (L = Hydrostatic Movement. Hyponome Burst. Active +20NP)

Reproduction: Sexual, Ovuliparity (External Fertilisation). 1,000 eggs. Hermaphroditism.

Castes/Phases: Larvae becomes Adult at 1%.

External Features: Blue structural colouration (2NP, +Moderate UV Resistance). Skin (3NP, +Permeable Skin, +Cutaneous Respiration, +1 Respiration, +1 Stamina, +Barrier Immune System). Mouth (+1 Filtration). Cirri (3NP, +1 Filtration). Antennae (3NP, Larvae Only). Chemoreceptors (2NP, +1 Chemoreception, Larvae Only). Two pinhole eyes (6NP, +Blurry Vision, Larvae Only). Hyponome (7NP, +0.5 Swim Speed).

Internal Features: Hydrostatic Skeleton (3NP, +1 Burrowing, +1 Flexibility, +1 Support, +0.5 Strength, +Hydrostatic Movement). Open Circulatory System (7NP, +1 Stamina, +Circulation). Anti-Freeze Glycoproteins (2NP, +Anti-Freeze). Nephridium (7NP, +Liquid Excretion). Muscular Pharynx (7NP, +1 Filtration, +Suction, Adult Only). Stomach (11NP, +1 Digestion, +Can Break Down Multicellular Matter, Can Digest Meat, Adult Only). Intestines (7NP, +1 Digestion, +Solid Excretion, Adult Only). Brain and nerve network (22NP, +1 Coordination, +1 Intelligence). Entaopsitox Toxin Gland (7NP, +Paralysing Toxin). Swim Bladder Without Duct (7NP, +1 Buoyancy, +Gas Buoyancy, +Air Space, Larvae Only). Testes (5NP, Adult Only). Ova (5NP, Adult Only). Bitter Fluid (3NP, +Foul Taste).

Temporal Range: R.175 - Present (Nocturnus Stage of the Oliverian)

Distribution: Uteenessa Ocean

Predecessor: Farynxoskulus sensitivus

Classification: Unnamed (sf), Entaopsidae (f)

Lifespan: 1 year.

Discoverer: StealthStyle