Phytovora

**Phytovorans** are a clade of celernantids that are alive today.

## Evolution and taxonomy

Phytovorans are characterized for being the most basal of all celernantids. The two extant species of phytovorans have diverged themselves, some 153 mya in the late Scelusian period, but it is believed that phytovorans have split from all other extant celernantids some 307 mya, which pushes the celernantid diversification way earlier than previously thought, before the Tenerian.

Just like any early explorers in Wallace II, phytovorans were initially mistaken and classified as something else, in this case, gomphiobians. Eventually genetic analysis suggest their basal position in the Celernantida clade.

**Celernantida** (307-0)

* Phytovora (153-0)
	+ Hastami petramum
	+ Phytovorus mimus
* Zoojulia (305-0)

## Characteristics

Phytovorans are known for displaying central characteristics that are believed to have been present in the basal celernantid. They have a simple primitive head, with no jaws, and proboscises with bony projections, as well as armour in their body and eight limbs. *Phytovorus* is typically regarded as the basalmost looking celernantid, despite having many derivations from the typical ancestral bauplan of the clade, including much longer limbs, a much more extense bony carapace and the proboscises have been modified to form a "claw" of sorts, to help hunt prey. *Hastami* is much more derived, with the proboscises modified into an effective harpoon. One proboscis does the "harpoon" job, but two smaller proboscises, also shaped like an harpoon are hidden inside the oral cavity... the real reason behind these is unknown. *Hastami* also has eight limbs, though those are modified into small armoured lumps, used to keep themselves stuck in the bottom of the sea, therefore losing the abbility to swim.

The two extant species vary a lot in size. *Hastami* measures just 26 cm in length, meanwhile *Phytovorus* is a large six meter long pelagic predator.

## Distribution and habitat

Phytovorans, due to their basality, are completely aquatic celernantids living in the ocean. The two extant species are very much separated in terms of distribution. *Hastami* inhabits the ocean waters that surround the Phael archipelago, a place where cold water currents allow the confortable coexistence of animals that inhabit warm oceans and colder ones. *Phytovorus*, on the other hand, is a large pelagic predator that benefits from the shallow seas of Vadum Mare, a breeding ground for all sorts of prey. Rare occurances have been known of *Phytovorus* migrating to the northern frigid seas bathing Terra Septentrionis, where they find new sorts of prey.

## Diet

All phytovorans are carnivores. Both have evolved unique ways of hunting their prey. *Hastami* hunts for food in underwater rock formations, in the bottom of the ocean, using its specialized harpoon. *Phytovorus*, on the other hand, has a particular shape that resembles that of other more docile herbivorous marine dwellers of Vadum Mare, and this resemblance gives the *Phytovorus* an advantage in hunting, disguising as a far less dangerous creature.

## Reproduction

Phytovorans, like almost all celernantids, are oviparous, meaning they lay eggs. They are known to make nests for their eggs, instead of laying them somewhere and abandon them, otherwise. Phytovorus uses its two front fins to create the nest for its eggs, creating a cavity in the shallow Vadum Mare mud, covering it with marine polyspeculates if it is opportune. Phytovorus take time to mature, reaching sexual maturity after six wallacian years, and they live on to have an adult lifespan of 22 wallacian years.