Cryptokiningus

## Cryptokiningus substratmonstrum

Latest Mutations: Lose lure, chaetae

Underneath the sea floor is this peculiar worm-like species. It has a body more adapted to a burrowing lifestyle with a thin elongated, segmented body covered in chaetae and it hunts after worms. The main visual difference between this and worms are the wide jaws and sharp teeth. This species has lost the lure of its ancestors because they were not conducive to a burrowing lifestyle.

Status: LC

Habitat: Temperate Shallows

Niche: Carnivore

Size: 18cm (length)

Nutritional Worth: (7.7 x 9 =) 69NP

Food / Oxygen Requirement: 33NP / 55NP

Abilities: Permeable Skin. Below Freezing Metabolism. Fluid Freeze Prevention.

Perception: Has blurry vision without depth perception above and can detect chemicals up to 10 metres away.

Intelligence / Behaviour: Processes information and responds based on fixed behaviours. When hungry... When hurt...

External Features: It has a thin, elongated segmented body covered in chaetae, except for the wide mouth, with sandy-brown pigmentation and with dorsal and ventral fleshy membranes and two pectoral ray-fins under the body. It has a thin skin layer. A mouth with very sharp teeth, chemoreceptors and one upwards facing pinhole eye are on the head.

Internal Features: Each cell contains lysozymes in addition to enzymes. Three gill slits sit each side of the head. Muscles on each side of the body are attached to the body wall. A wide cartilage jaw with air spaces, supports the mouth. The gastrointestinal tract from the 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 the notochord running alongside. It hosts male and female gonads. The hemacoel cavity, open circulatory system has violet blood containing hemerythrin and anti-freeze proteins. Protonephridia, connected to hemacoel, expels waste through pores.

Locomotion Type: Crawl. (Movement Energy: 0NP)

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

Castes/Phases: None.

Physical Stats: Speed = 0.6, Stamina = 1, Agility = 1, Stability = 1, Attack = 2, Bite Strength = 1, Strength = 1.5, Support = 1, UV Resistance = Weak, Filtration = 0.5

Systemic Stats: Osmoregulation = 1 (high salinity), Respiration = 2 (cutaneous respiration, ram ventilation), Digestion = 2 (meat), Circulation = 1, Excretion = 1, Immune System = 1 (physical barrier), Coordination = 1, Reflexes = 1.

External Features: It has a thin, elongated segmented body covered in chaetae, except for the wide mouth, with sandy-brown pigmentation and with dorsal and ventral fleshy membranes and two pectoral ray-fins under the body. It has a thin skin layer. A mouth with very sharp teeth, chemoreceptors and one upwards facing pinhole eye are on the head.

Internal Features: Each cell contains lysozymes in addition to enzymes. Three gill slits sit each side of the head. Muscles on each side of the body are attached to the body wall. A wide cartilage jaw with air spaces, supports the mouth. The gastrointestinal tract from the 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 the notochord running alongside. It hosts male and female gonads. The hemacoel cavity, open circulatory system has violet blood containing hemerythrin and anti-freeze proteins. Protonephridia, connected to hemacoel, expels waste through pores.

Temporal Range: R.163 - Present (Nocturnus Stage of the Oliverian)

Distribution: Southern Hemisphere

Lifespan: 2 years

Predecessor: Gigagnathus amovermisus

Classification: Gigagnathusinae (sf), Megalognathusidae (f), Tunicaphora (o), Violetamata (c), Bilateria (p)

Discoverer: StealthStyle