Baleen Tregon

Trigons in the depths of the Jujubee Ocean were an immensely successful species, their oddly-shaped bodies adapting perfectly to their niche as a small carnivore. Unchanged for millions of years, these creatures thrived in plenty. When the biosphere of Sagan 4 was traumatized in a mass extinction, the already numerous trigons prospered even further at the vast amounts of food now available. As evolution forged on a new chapter in evolutionary history, the trigons diversified, evolving to fill newly available niches.

Tregons are in an evolutionary stage between vertebrates and invertebrates. Although they have a thin exoskeleton, it is a vestigial means of defense and support, an evolutionary left-over from their invertebrate ancestors. The tregons differ in the fact that they have a collagen notochord running down the length of their main body, allowing them more flexibility than a rigid exoskeleton. Cartilage plates placed routinely around their body protect their primitive organs.

The baleen tregon is a filter-feeder, having evolved long stiff hairs on four of its five arms, the last becoming an orb filled with light-producing flash cells, to attract various species of phytoplankton. A fairly large but sinuous creature, its only defense is its relatively large size and thick skin. It spends the majority of its day in the twilight zone, filtering out falling organic debris from above. At dusk, when plankton are most plentiful, it rises up into the sunlight zone to feed. When it is bloated, it descends once again, to repeat the process. Utilizing hardened clumps of sensitive hair on its back, it is able to sense minute vibrations in the water. These new adaptations have allowed it to effectively out compete its ancestor, replacing it.