Noplanktoid

The noplanktoid has split from its ancestor and spread throughout the oceans of Sagan IV. An evolutionary adaption to stay near the top of the water column is the transformation of two of their tail tentacles into air vesicles. This makes them naturally buoyant as they lazily float near the surface, converting the rays of the sun into nutrients via photosynthesis as they do so. They also have an interesting defensive feature. Their internal fluids induce blistering, and the noplanktoid can scar the digestive tracts of creatures that eat them. They do not breed as quickly as their cousins because of the energy they spend on this defense, but they have a higher survival rate nonetheless.