Phantomuki

Spreading down into the darkness of the abyss, the phantomuki has come to thrive in this world without light. It has grown larger, though at the same time its metabolism has slowed considerably. The genes for the mouth structure of the frabuki's ancestor have become reactivated, leading to the phantomuki's bizarre-looking, yet effective, mouth structure. While it can no longer filter-feed, it can better "graze" upon the corpses of surface dwelling species as well as feed upon the continually sinking marine snow. Similarly to its cousin the symbiobuki, its gills have become feathery and better at extracting oxygen from what is typically an oxygen-poor environment. Slowly sliding along the seafloor, the phantomuki fears few predators once it has become fully grown. However, while still young it must avoid such denizens such as the glowlight scylarian. Besides this, the only thing these gentle giants amongst the frabuki need worry about is finding food. While they can go months without eating, their tentacles possess extremely sensitive smell receptors that allow them to home in on carcasses from miles away. During these times of feeding, should two phantomukis of the opposite sex encounter one another, they are likely to mate. The male will fertilize the golfball-sized eggs before the female cements them onto his back, near the gills, for both protection and oxygen. After parting ways, the male will carry them for three to four months before the young within hatch, after which he will provide them with no more parental support. Life for young phantomukis is fraught with dangers, so they often make their way to the somewhat shallower twilight zone. Here they find more food, as well as slightly warmer waters. Both of these help to speed up their metabolisms and thus growth rates, allowing them to reach their adult size within only five to six years, instead of over a dozen if they were not exposed to these conditions. Once they reach their adult size, they become sexually mature and will then head out into the world in search of a mate.