Edentulae

## Edentulae edentulae

Better brain = 5

Add algae-eating bacteria = 3

Rhino horn = 5

Caudal fin = 3

Status: EN

Temporal Range: R.126 - Present (Untrustolithic)

Habitat: Tropical Shallows, Tropical Upper Ocean, Temperate Upper Ocean

Distribution: Cosmopolitan

Niche: Pelagic Filter-Feeder

Size: 11.5cm (length)

Nutritional Worth: (65/10 X 11.5 =) 74.8NP

Predecessor: Lampsichelus paladarus

Classification: Skelechelusinae (sf), Brevicauda (so), Caudomorphii (c), Bilateria (p)

Perception: Can detect the presence of light above, can use electroreception up to ten metres away, can smell odours up to ten metres away.

Latest Mutations: Serrated teeth in upper jaw = 2, Closed circulatory system = 5, Improved Gut = 4, Kidneys = 3

Info: The mouth of Edentulae is completely toothless, making it more suited to filtering than its predecessors. It has a closed circulatory system, with vessels carrying red blood throughout the body that increases the animals, oxygen distribution among other things, giving it better stamina. Furthermore, it's intestine is not shrunken and small like its predecessors but about the same size as the gut of species before that development. Edentulae is a pelagic filter-feeder, found quite commonly across much of the shallow oceanic areas.

Anatomy: All over the black body tapering to a short, spiked tail are light blue bioluminescent spots, as well as a line of electroreceptors and three gills on each side. The two spikes are venomous. At the front, above the cartilage-jawed, toothless mouth are olfactory receptors and facing forwards are a pair of cup eyes. A cartilage barbel protrudes out and down from the lower jaw, and has a light blue bioluminescent bulb and a hinging muscle at its base. A pair of oval fins, supported by rays of cartilage are attached vertically just behind the gills and there is a fatty hump on the back. Inside, a closed circulatory system pumps red blood around the body. All the muscles contin a vacuoles. A gut runs from the mouth and features a stomach of carnivorous digestive bacteria in the middle. There is also a liver, which is filled with oils. The body has cartilage vertebrae running down the back and is controlled by two nerve cords and a rung of nerves. The tiny brain in the head controls this.

Behaviour: This species is capable of processing information gathered from sense receptors and using that to form a picture of its surroundings. It can then respond to stimuli. It also has basic reasoning.

Discoverer: BlackInk

## Edentulae cornum

Status: LC

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

Habitat: Tropical Shallows, Temperate Shallows, Tropical Upper Ocean, Temperate Upper Ocean

Distribution: Cosmopolitan

Niche: Pelagic Filter-Feeder

Size: 11.5cm (length)

Nutritional Worth:

Predecessor: Edentulae edentulae

Classification: Skelechelusinae (sf), Brevicauda (so), Caudomorphii (c), Perception: Can detect the presence of light above, can use electroreception up to ten metres away, can smell odours up to ten metres away.

Latest Mutations: Better Brain = 5, Add Algae-Eating Bacteria = 3, Rhino Horn = 5, Caudal Fin = 3

Info: Edentulae cornum spends most of its time at depths of between 200 - 500m, in the twilight zone of the ocean. They only wander into shallower water at night. Large swarms congregate together when feeding. This Edentulae has a horn made of keratin, much like a rhino, on the face and at the rear. It can stab at predators with the front horn, and the back somewhat deters predators from attacking from behind. The front horn is slightly wider and flatter and can be used to scrape algae. It is a common filter-feeder in the middle of the ocean.

Anatomy: It has a teardrop-shaped body with a pair of poisonous spines on the rear-end, and with oval pectoral ray-fins and a hump on its back. A keratin horn protrudes from both the face, slightly wider and flatter, and the rear. The skin has black pigmentation and dotted all over with tiny light blue bioluminescent spots. Electroreceptors make a line down each flank and just behind the front on each side are three gill slits. At the front are a pair of forward-facing cup eyes, olfactory receptors and a toothless mouth supported by a cartilage jaw. A cartilage rod with a bioluminescent bulb on the end protrudes from the chin. A muscle hinges the base.

The cartilage backbone, which protects the two nerve cords as they branch out from the brain into a network of nerves. A duct from the mouth leads into a simple stomach. In the center of the body is an oily swim bladder. Blood vessels pump blood neatly around the body.

Behaviour: This species is capable of processing information gathered from sense receptors and using that to form a picture of its surroundings. It can then respond to stimuli. They congregate together when hungry and flash rapidly to signal that they are ready to mate. They also only live in the dark.

Discoverer: BlackInk

## Edentulae nihilus

Status: LC

Temporal Range: R.145 - Present (Gammavian Stage of the Atroxian)

Habitat: Tropical Shallows, Temperate Shallows, Tropical Upper Ocean, Temperate Upper Ocean

Distribution: Cosmopolitan

Niche: Pelagic Filter-Feeder

Size: 11.5cm (length)

Nutritional Worth: (11.3 x 11.5 =) 130NP

Predecessor: Edentulae cornum

Classification: Skelechelusinae (sf), Brevicauda (so), Caudomorphii (c)

Perception: Can detect the presence of light above, can use electroreception up to ten metres away, can smell odours up to ten metres away.

Latest Mutations: Gill Rakers

Info: Edentulae cornum spends most of its time at depths of between 200 - 500m, in the twilight zone of the ocean. They only wander into shallower water at night. Large swarms congregate together when feeding. This Edentulae has a horn made of keratin, much like a rhino, on the face and at the rear. It can stab at predators with the front horn, and the back somewhat deters predators from attacking from behind. The front horn is slightly wider and flatter and can be used to scrape algae. It is a common filter-feeder in the middle of the ocean.

Intelligence / Behaviour: Processes information and responds based on fixed behaviours. It knows to eat and avoid being harmed. They stay in the dark and congregate when hungry. They have a unique bioluminescent flash pattern when ready to reproduce.

External Features: It has a tapering body with black pigmentation with oval pectoral ray-fins, a hump and two spines on the tail. It has a thin skin layer, containing a line of electroreceptors on flank and blue autogenic photophores dotting the body. A mouth, olfactory receptors and two forward facing cup eyes are on the face. A blue bioluminescent bulb on a rod protrudes from the chin. There is a keratin horn on the front and back, the front one flatter and wider.

Internal Features: Migmachordatix toxin is produced and secreted into the spines. Three gill slits sit each side of head, containing gill rakers. A network of vascular blood vessels circulates red blood containing hemoglobin. The muscles on each side are attached between the body wall and cartilage vertebrae. The mouth is supported by a cartilage jaw. The gastrointestinal tract from the mouth has a stomach with digestive juices followed by intestines leading to the anus. A brain encased in the head connects to two nerve cords which branch into a network of nerves. There is an oil-filled swim bladder in middle. It hosts both male and female gonads. Protonephridia, connected to hemacoel, expels waste through pores.

Discoverer: BlackInk