Chitjornacle

Chitjorns as a whole are naturally well adapted for eking out an existence under the harshest of conditions. They thrive with little soil, and can even grow on an otherwise barren rock. They have been known to withstand both baking beneath a hot desert sun or the freezing air of a snow-laden tundra, and some are even to be found upon the ocean floor of various shallow seas and sea mounts. It's all thanks to their sturdy chitinous shells, which serve to protect them not only from the elements, but from grazing herbivores as well. As such, it was only a matter of time before one of their number began to adapt and evolve in order to conquer the highest peaks of Sagan IV - in this case, the many mountains of the Dixon-Darwin supercontinent.

The Chitjornacles are the descendant of this pioneering Chitjorn species. Adapted to the high altitudes of the mountainous peaks they call home, they have evolved even thicker shells in order to protect themselves from the powerful blowing gales, the bone-chilling cold, and even the less filtered UV radiation that constantly bombard them. Their darker coloration allows them to absorb more heat from the sun which can then be retained better within their sealed shells, even despite their small size. Because of the lack of CO 2 and essential nutrients, the Chitjornacles have shrunken in size so as to require less resources. When they inevitably spread down into the more hospitable regions of the mountains they call home, such as those of the alpine and boreal, they retained this small size due to the presence of already larger flora, including other Chitjorn species.

New buds will primarily form on the central "plate" that forms the top of the Chitjornacle, though some will form along the edges of their base. They are little more than a tiny green sphere in shape, and those that grow atop are readily dislodged by gusts of wind, which aids in their dispersal. Those that grow along the base, however, are much more sturdy in their positioning and will rarely be dislodged. This allows them to form steadily spreading patches that, as a whole, increase the survival chances of each individual by reducing the chance of dislodging.