Placoball

This inhabitant of hot oceanic trenches floats beside the volcanic boilers and developed a rigid structure that covers most of its body for support from the heat. This shield is formed by polysaccharides and sulfur with short, hard cilia throughout each plate that act mainly as primary sources of defense. Small canals in areas not covered by this shield are opened to allow the gases and nutrients to exchange. Answering luminous stimulations, it developed the capacity to produce a viscous secretion that covers the free portions of its external structure, emitting a tenuous blue light that assists big groups to stay together.