Viofotavgessoma vesperus

***Viofotavgessoma vesperus*** (named after Latin "vesper," meaning "west") is an extinct species under the family Arpaktikoaltidae and was one of two primary species to evolve from *Viofotavgessoma neomar*, the other being *Viofotavgessoma bathalassus*. It is primarily distinguished from its counterpart by two factors, those being its more generally western habitat and its stark difference in niche. This species' immediate ancestor, *V. neomar*, had a mostly open-ocean niche, letting the sea tides carry it, eliminating much need for locomotion and helping to conserve energy in an environment in which food was sparse, and this species primarily maintained that niche, whereas *V. bathalassus* took on a more deep-sea niche, using the lack of light in its environment to its advantage. Due to the harsh conditions of the open ocean, this species often saw more success in a shorter lifespan, reproducing quickly and numerously. Because of this, some members of this species were ready to propagate after only six months of age, and reproduced through either broadcast spawning or meeting a mate, depending on circumstances. Due to its habitat, like its ancestor, it relied very much upon a generalist diet, though it typically fed upon smaller wish or Denstimans.

## Anatomy

The anatomy of this species is far more similar to *V. neomar* than *V. bathalassus*, retaining many characteristics neccesary for living in the open ocean. It possessed a longer tail, a generally hydrodynamic, oblong shape, and fins retracted when relaxes. This helped it to be both faster and more efficient in this environment, conserving energy when it was difficult to acquire.

## Evolution

This species evolved from *V. neomar* about 323 million years ago, being close to the same time of the evolution of *V. bathalassus*. It was first existent in only western Primoceanum, but soon spread into Secundoceanum and other close western waters. As it continued to spread, adaptation to the bioluminescent trait in these areas increased, eventually leading to decline in bioluminescence, but this was not in major effect for several tens of millions of years. This species directly evolved into a number of other species, quickly spreading further into Secundoceanum and eventually the rest of the oceans, and within a (relatively) short amount of time, the majority of Hume III had some form of bioluminescent animal belonging to the clade begun by this species, though this period lasted only for a few million years. In present times, no descendants of *V. vesperus* are extant, though there are several remaining descendants of *V. bathalassus*, its sister species.

## Habitat

This species lived in waters between 0 and 1,000 feet in depth, spreading across waters of Primoceanum and eastern Secundoceanum.

## Taxonomy

Domain: Exogiinosefkaryotis

Kingdom: Animalisaliena

Subkingdom: Enmetazoae

Phylum: Xenochordata

Subphylum: Psariaskoulikion

Megaclass: Epithymia

Superclass: Skoulikionpsaria

Class: Ostikiepithymia

Subclass: Efchimelovo

Order: Psithyrismenoprosopoiformes

Suborder: Programmataanichnefsiskatooidei

Clade: Idiotamcaptionemviventem

Subclade: Ourapterygio

Section: Mobileidiotamcaptionem

Clade: Arpaktikoaltisidae

Family: Arpaktikoaltidae

Tribe: Arpaktikoaltini

Genus: *Viofotavgessoma*

Species: ***Viofotavgessoma bathalassus***