Schedocavoura

## Schedocavoura reevis

Status: LC

Timespan: R.98 - Present

Habitat: Temperate & Polar Deep Ocean, Tropical Deep Ocean (Below 750m)

Distribution: Cosmopolitan

Niche: Benthic Filter-Feeder

Size: 2.5cm (length)

Predecessor: Glistroskulus sensei

Classification: Squickidae, Squickidea, Membrania

Latest Mutations: Exoskeleton Legs, Exoskeleton Shield

Info: Deep at the bottom of the ocean, the first legs have evolved. They are crab-like, covered in a chitinous sheath, and belong to this species. It has six in total, extending from below the chitinous shield on the back. This gives them great protection from the numerous predators that they face.

Description: The yellow, tubular body has a fleshy membrane running along the underside but a chitinous shield in the back. Three pairs of chitin-sheathed legs protrude from the side of the body. It has a single pinhole eye with a lens, facing forwards. Chemoreceptors sit by the mouth with three gill slits at the back of the head and it has tiny teeth in its round mouth. Its mouth has a primitive gut leading straight to the anus. At the front of its nervous system, is a tiny brain. An open circulatory system bathes organs and muscles in hemacoel; this contains anti-freeze proteins to stop bodily fluids from freezing. It's back is supported by a notochord.

Previous Mutations: Muscles, Membrane, Chemoreceptors, Gills (3), Yellow Pigmentation, Teeth, Open Circulatory System, Pinhole Eye, Anti-freeze Proteins, Notochord, Lens, Improved Chemoreceptors

Discoverer: StealthStyle

## Schedocavoura edentulae

Status: LC

Temporal Range: R.140 - Present (Gammavian Stage of the Atroxian)

Habitat: Lower Ocean, 3000 - 6000m

Distribution: Cosmopolitan

Niche: Benthic Filter-Feeder

Size: 3cm (length)

Nutritional Worth:

Predecessor: Schedocavoura reevis

Classification: Schedocavourinae (sf), Squickidae (f), Tunicaphora (o), Cylindrea (c), Bilateria (p)

Perception: Can sense chemicals within 10s of metres and has blurry vision without depth perception above

Latest Mutations: Jointed Legs, Lose Teeth, Stay Together

Info: This animal crawls across the abyssal plain at depths of between 3,000m and 6,000m. It has jointed legs, which have evolved for the third time in the Schedocavourine genera, to ease its movement across the floor. A lack of teeth improve filtering ability.

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

External Features: It has a cylindrical body with yellow pigmentation covered almost completely by a partial smooth chitin exoskeleton on upper half and a ventral fleshy membrane. Underneath the exoskeleton is has a thin skin layer. A toothless mouth, chemoreceptors and a single forwards facing pinhole eye are on the head. Three pairs of jointed, chitin-sheathed legs protrude from the side of the body.

Internal Features: Each cell contains lysozymes in addition to enzymes and osmolytes. Three gill slits sit each side of head. Muscles down each side of the body are attached to the body wall. The gastrointestinal tract from mouth has a stomach with digestive juices followed by intestines leading to the anus. The brain encased in the head connects to two nerve cords which branch into a network of nerves, with a notochord running alongside. It has male gonads and female gonads in their corresponding sexes. The hemacoel cavity, open circulatory system has violet blood containing hemerythrin and anti-freeze proteins. Protonephridia, connected to hemacoel, expels waste through pores.

Discoverer: StealthStyle