Algacircumella convalesco

Sapient Species

**Thriving dusturrets** are species found on the planet Glanadi which survived a massive extinction concerning their kingdom though what was exactly the cause isn't clear even until today. They are otherwise sturdy and adaptable organisms.

## Taxonomy:

Life: Glanadizoa (Life on Glanadi)
Sub-life: Magaryx
Domain: Afflurestyx
Union: Novioninyx
Kingdom: Speculatoritiusae
Genus: Algacircumella
Species: A. convalesco

## Appearance

This dusturret species comes in particular arrangements of somewhat pale colors due to being adapted to life in caves. However since it needs light for photosynthesis, it's colors are somewhat brighter due to being mostly in illuminated environments (like underside glacial roofs which are prone to let in some light). The side, which is seen, makes clear that the colors are in borderline linear arrangement. One end of it is hollowed, blue and rounded, giving a look similar to a simplistic animal's mouth. But it is actually just a cavity for dust/passing nutrients to accumulate in. Next up are brown tentacle-like formations. They intercept things in atmosphere such as vibrations and temperature. They also along with other dusturret's protusions help capture and round all sorts of organic/inorganic debris and then row it near it's mouth. The tentacles move separately from each other while dusturret is moving but performs a sweep in mouth. Next up the pink shorter tentacles help detect whether life is present. If it is then, dusturret limits the metabolism through it's photosynthesis organs making them dormant. Next up are bunches of green smaller leaves, they contain some of the most intricate systems of xeno-chloroplasts available while the rest of the green area contain more primitive photosynthesis plastids. At the end there are large partially brown leaf-like tails. They are very handy for ensuring the rotating motion and can steer and propel dusturret during flood and heavy winds. An unseen formation is the stalk-like foot underneath the dusturret which allows the rotation and can also, in looping motions, allow dusturret to move in spot.

## Reaction to drones

Dusturrets, as it turns out, may be sensitive towards being approached very close. If someone either blocks the light they are absorbing or, even worse, shines bright light where they are resting in dark, T.dusturrets will turn it's inner cavity partially out, vomitting a gas-like cloud of the food it's eating. It might also either limit it's rotation to become more unnoticable or rotate more faster to scare off herbivores.

## Behavior:

Dusturrets, as mentioned above, can be skittish but otherwise are perfectly content if the area nearby is thriving with life. It is assumed that due to the lower gravity, the dust coming from the motions made by other creatures in the tunnels, float around and therefore may stick to walls granting dusturrets more food. If something blocks off their sunlight for too long, dusturrets will show motions of utmost nervousness. Dusturrets are neutral to each other, possibly due to the fact that they don't need to take care of each other or attract mates. Having to share a tight spot with others of their species may cause some T. dusturrets to hog all the food in an attempt to drive others away. Due to their rotating motions they make wall-like mounds around themselves to always have a food supply. T. dusturret willingly removes itself from the wall only during flood and strong wind and is in peril should it land on the ground. Since many places in Miheko contain the sticky cement-like ground it may cause T.dusturret to have to go into dormancy or enter lapulagenesis (childbirth) at the last resort. Eventually cement will periodically harden and then erode causing T.dusturret to break free again.

## Habitat:

Dusturret prefers two things walls and light. On the ground where it often is too sticky it cannot perform it's rotating motion well therefore rendering it unable to gather food. Meanwhile the ceilings and uppermost wall regions are too dark or unhandy (being stuck to ice ceiling may be too cold for it and puts it on the risk of falling off due to melting). The tunnels and galleries which often flood or experience high winds are most preferable to a T. dusturret. In some cases T.dusturret will remain attached during flood or wind since the current or breeze ensures that dust is sent flying right into it's "mouth". It can be said that T.dusturrets thrive in dust habitats. It puts them in natural odds with organisms which feed on the same substance, which includes all sorts of detritivores. It doesn't mind decomposers and other producers, however.

## Abilities:

Dusturret is capable of rotating, which, although somewhat biomechanical and automatic in nature, makes it's physiology similar to a gastropod. It is also assisted by it not having any body parts. Dusturret can minimally absorb some dust particles stuck inside it's outer coating. It's outer layer of skin is able to reflect light in all sorts of manner, helping it to parially blend in the blue-green-brown lighting of the cavern. It's "tentacles" are also somewhat mechanical so they don't just flap around and may assist in scooping dust inside the cavity. Dusturret has not yet be proven to be capable of regeneration or seeing that some fragment of dusturrets are encounter laying around yet fresh, may be regenerating but very slowly. It also can be assumed that dusturrets are capable of respiration and therefore on some level creating atmosphere suitable for at least some certain species in these areas.

## Diet:

Dusturret needs both organic and inorganic dust. The fragments which are useless or harmful to it, reaccumulates back in the mouth cavity and is blown out by turning-the-cavity inside out motion. The inner anatomy from the scannings basically resemble a labyrinth with different levels of standart lichen-like mass but also certain areas of turgor based (using inner water flow and chemical ions) systems needed for it's protrusion regulations. During the stay in the lightened areas, however dusturrets photosynthesize creating the sugars but probably also certain proteins and fuel to repair and uphold it's turgor-based systems. If necessary, dusturrets, using their rotating stalk, can dig itself partially into the dust layer on the wall.

## Life Cycle:

Young dusturrets originate from a petrified clump of bubbles. It gradually becomes brittle and the newborns roll away covered by a protective layer. Once the small orb containing a single dusturret ends up in area with sufficient water or strong winds the layer starts to erode. Also the relative size of individual orbs are small enough to not sink into the cement like ground. After eroding a light tissue-like dusturret is flushed or blown out of it's shell and doesn't apply it's surface suction skill until blown against a wall. It manages to perceive itself being against a wall by detecting current gravity (even though it's low there's still a marginal different between a ground and a wall) and level the light (even though the rays are bended going through the ice roof) hits the surface. Young dusturrets managing to land it sunlit areas grow much faster. Others almost completely dig itself using their foot inside the dust clump on the wall. Sometimes young dusturrets may also end up on dusty bodies of other stationary beings. Dusturrets can reach up to to 60cm and live up to 6 months. They can however reproduce only once due to distributing themselves into numerous smaller dusturrets. So it can be assumed that dusturrets that reach high age, grow relatively slowly and have trouble gaining sufficient amounts of food and sunrays. Considering that some of them can end up in darker areas or having to share their loot with several other dusturrets and also fight over it with other detritovores then it could explain the slow pace of growing.

## Ecology:

As explained in the Abilities section, Dusturrets are capable of distributing oxygen (or presumably it's planet's equivalent) into the caverns. Since the photosynthesizers aren't a great lot in the subglacial realm of Glanadi then most of the creatures wouldn't be exactly okay with the atmosphere being changed. That being said, the amount of change dusturrets aren't lethal just hard to live with at worst. It's kind of comparable with oxygen shortage on the higher hill regions, only the problem being the opposite. Despite their dust expelling ability, Dusturrets can be eaten by many herbivorous and omnivorous creatures. They get by, though, as they are not the most preferred stationary food out there in their regions. Being detritovores they also regulate the numbers of organic and inorganic dust and create somewhat unique scenary on the cave walls. Belonging in the group of permaspades they are able to leave decent endolithical (inside stone) fossils behind (though the rock disolution happens only when dusturrets and other permaspadians are dying).

## Other:

Unlike actual turrets, dusturrets can just mainly expel a small cloud of the dust it was "eating" at the moment or "regurgitating". They can rotate like actual mechanical turrets, though. They are considered thriving, since they are about the only species in their kingdom, able to not only survive but also reach high population numbers. Though, there might be a change finding another sugarfloat species in the future.