Fauna

## Sector Zero

Fauna is the term for animals, in this case, the animals of Planet Earth. Fauna in Cyberpunk Neon Genesis can be found all over the planet, from the mysterious depths of the Crystal Caves to the fiery pits of the Lava Lakes to the icy abysses.

## Overview

Wildlife on planet earth comes in all shapes and sizes. From the small snow pretel to the colossal Sea Dragon that spews molten minerals from its mouth. The fauna of Planet Earth is currently capable of resisting and adapting to various environments. Sometimes certain species of small fauna can be seen forming fish shoaling in the sea. The appearance of many animals at this time can be explained as a simple case of convergent evolution. Habitats include high mountains, tundras, rivers, lakes, wetlands, seacoasts, and some lower-lying cultivated land in the south. Japan has a long coastline, protected by reefs throughout Sector Zero, most of which is covered in ice. The flora is very varied and a great variety of mammals, birds (many of them migratory), fish and invertebrates live here, as well as some species of reptiles and amphibians.

Excluding bacteria and viruses but including marine organisms, the total number of animal and plant species in Sector Zero is estimated at 80,000. This includes 16,000 species of insects (probably 4,000 more species yet to be described), 450 species of birds (250 species that nest in Japan), 90 species of mammals, 45 species of freshwater fish, 150 species of marine fish, 1,000 species of freshwater invertebrates and 3,500 species of marine invertebrates. The wildlife of Sector Zero also have bioluminescent qualities. Sector Zero looks like a lush paradise by Earth standards during the day, but at night, virtually all life in the region exhibits bioluminescent qualities in various shades of blue, purple, and green.

Terrestrial mammals on mainland Sector Zero the snow rabbit, the snow hare and the mountain hare all live here as do the Eurasian beaver, the red squirrel as well as about fifteen species of smaller rodent. Of the ungulates, the wild boar, the muskox, the fallow deer, the red deer, the elk (N. American usage: 'moose'), the roe deer and the reindeer are found in the region. Terrestrial carnivores include the snowstalker, Eurasian wolf, arctic fox, as well as the Eurasian lynx, Eurasian otter, stoat, least weasel, and polecat. The coast is visited by walrus and six species of seal, and some thirty species of whales, fish, dolphins, deep-sea creatures, and stalkers are found in Japanese waters. Sector Zero has a wide variety of bird species that use its many habitats, cliffs, wetlands, forests, and tundra. In the summer, insects and other food sources are plentiful and the days are long, giving the birds plenty of time to forage and feed their young. This is not the case in winter when the ground is covered with snow, the wetlands with ice and the days are short.

Now, the great variety of animals is inside the ocean. Where there are animals such as sponges, jellyfish of all kinds, fish, octopus, squid and others. The variety is so great that the Data Bank describes Sector Zero as the new Eden. Most of the known faunal species on the planet are simultaneous hermaphrodites, which means that they have only one sex capable of playing the role of male or female in reproduction and each individual can lay eggs and fertilize them. Two parents are still required to fertilize the eggs once laid, making it sexually reproducing. At least one species of fauna is exempt from this and reproduces entirely asexually, although sexual reproduction is the norm on the planet. However, some animals, such as Beta, have been able to reproduce asexually.

## Fauna of The Sector Zero

### Other Sea Creatures

 Slate Pencil Urchin
 Sea Anemone
 Pearl Oyster
 Abalone
 Mussel
 Oarfish
 Whale Shark
 Tuna
 Sea Otter

In general, the hunting of animals is prohibited in Honkai and there are only specific seasons for fishing for fish and crustaceans. The sale of other animals is totally prohibited and the Public Safety Commission has admitted animal protection laws and The Marine Mammal Protection Act generally prohibits the "taking" of marine mammals (including stalking, hunting, capturing, collecting or the slaughter). Although in Japan the greatest consumption is of fish and other marine animals, the laws are very large about animal cruelty and specialized hatcheries are generally set up in greenhouses and laboratories for this purpose. The rest of the food is vegetable or synthetic.

CyberCore Marine Life Center has been involved in millions of marine animal rescue and conservation missions around the world. CyberCore Marine Life Center is an independent, non-profit marine animal hospital, scientific, and educational center based in Honkai. Its mission is to rehabilitate for release stranded sea turtles, seals, dolphins, small whales, and promote scientific knowledge and education about marine wildlife and its conservation. Extensions like these, together with the Underwater Zoo or Aqua Resort, have been in charge of following the laws established by the Commission, just as Governor Alt founded the Commission for the Conservation of Marine Animals and was in charge of investing time in conversation and care of reefs with different programs made up of biologists and other professionals.

Likewise, with this movement the Orca program was born, an A.I created for the conversation and care of marine life.

## Crystals and Minerals

Sector Zero boasts a world rich in minerals and crystals in its ocean biomes. In the abyssal depths, specifically, there is a wide variety of valuable materials and resources that have been studied by CyberCore over time as its exploration of geological structures has advanced. Among them we can find diamond, gold, lithium, quartz, titanium and among others. In the great system of marine rocky caves, we can find the following resources:

 Coralite
 Sea Moon Opal
 Twilight Aquamarine
 Aqua Opal
 Eye of The Sea
 Crystal of the Abyss

## Flora of The Sector Zero

Flora is all the plant life present in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring (indigenous) native plants. The plants and plant life found on Planet Earth today vary greatly in size and appearance, from vibrant acid mushrooms to the mysterious giant aquatic cherry tree. Most plants have adapted to living in aquatic environments (saltwater or freshwater).

### Overview

The plants and plant-like life found in this world vary greatly in size and appearance, from the bright sour mushrooms to the mysterious giant aquatic tree. Flora can be found all over the planet, except in the lava lakes (due to their extreme temperatures) and the crater rim of Sector Zero. The only exception to this is dead plants found at the bottom of the dead zone. They are immobile life forms that remain anchored in one place. They are also known as hydrophytes or macrophytes to distinguish them from algae and other microphytes. A macrophyte is a plant that grows in or near water and is emergent, submersible or floating. In lakes and rivers, macrophytes provide cover for fish, substrate for aquatic invertebrates, produce oxygen, and act as food for some fish and wildlife. They also emit a single color through bioluminescence, often green, blue, indigo or violet. Honkai's flora consists mostly of coral reefs and aquatic plants, as well as other grassland grasses and kelp forests.

Although most Flora types are passive, certain exceptions can act as hazards, dealing damage on contact or within a certain radius. For example, some marine mushrooms will release a cloud of acid when hit. Most flora can be harvested, collected, and grown in various pots, while some also serve as a food and water source, as well as an energy source when used in a bioreactor.