Snatcherswarmer

Splitting from its ancestor, the snatcherswarmer has developed a carnivorous zooplankton-style lifestyle. Its ancestors jointed limbs have evolved into a pair of mandibles, allowing them to snatch passing food and then devour it. Tiny teeth-like growths have formed around its mouth, allowing it to render prey quickly. Finally, its tentacles have become stronger and the snatcherswarmer uses them to grasp onto whatever structures are available, from young phoenix vines to the edges of various colonialball species.

Once a snatcherswarmer has taken up residence, it will wait for prey to swim or float past it. Once it is in reach, it will launch itself towards it, grab it with its pincers, and then quickly immobilize and devour it. Should the pickings become scarce, they will attempt to weakly swim away and find a new one. During these times, males and females may encounter one another, after which they will release their gametes into the plankton clouds. The resulting young will sustain themselves on floating particles of food until they are large enough to hunt.