Elahpekomlap Bubblehorn

The elahpekomlap bubblehorn split from its ancestor, the ylbershpelle bubblehorn, and spread through the system of caves and water tables in the northwestern lands of Sagan 4, eventually making the way to the sea, staying always near the coast. Keeping most of the features of its ancestor, this creature evolved a more streamlined body, improving its locomotion when in water. In similar way to the ylbershpelle bubblehorn, this species also absorbs food directly from water using its horns, but don't get calcified horns like it. When a portion of the skin gets too much clogged by minerals incrusted on it, the damaged cells will eventually detach from the skin, leaving gaps in their places and improving the regeneration of cells in areas close to those gaps. In this way, as long as the creature continue growing and getting part of its food from the organic matter in solution in the water, the prongs will get fused and acquire a fan-shaped look. The new shape of the horns also gives them an advantage, since they increase the area able to smell and absorb food from water while also help it when swimming.

The mouth [1] increased in size and now acts like a siphon for propulsion in water. Two chambers [2] located right before the gastric cavity are used to store water and pump it outside in alternate way, driving the creature backwards in water. The chambers are separated from the digestive system by small valves [3], which open and close to allow food to get into, but close to prevent food from leaving when expelling water from the chambers. Nutrients captured by the horns move directly to the stomach [4] by fine tubules [5], being digested and distributed to the whole body. The mouth appendages [6] are longer and more sensitive to touch and smell, allowing it to make many twists and grasps detritus hovering in water, moving these to into the mouth.

As in previous species in this group of creatures, pores designated to feeding and reproduction are closely located, with the reproductive pore [7] placed into the siphon, right behind the mouth, and the reproductive organ [8] located in the tip of the front lip. In similar way to its ancestor, the reproduction happens when a creature kisses another one, hugging by the ventral surface in opposite sides. Eggs are laid in a huge mass that remains into the mouth until the creature finds a support suitable to attach it, usually a carrion or a rocky surface close to it.

The breathing system was improved, helping it to better breathe underwater. The breathing pore in the top changed in a pattern of three sets of circular lips [9], which open in similar way to its ancestor, but are better exchanging gases required to breathe. The fine membranes located in the center of the lips work like gills, being protected by the lips to prevent any damage. The environmental sensors are also more protected, being located around the circular lips and along the shell, showing only the tip to the outer side.

Relying mostly on its sense of smell and touch, the creature will quickly swim away from any threat if touched or finding any unwanted situation. It will propel itself by pumping water from into the chambers to outside in alternate way, while also moving feet close to the center, being also aided by the fan-shaped horns. The horns can make paddle movements, while also shrinking and moving to the center, expelling the excess of water contained inside to the gastric cavity, which opens the valves and leaves more water available to the chambers pump outside, while also regurgitates over any threat. Its shell is harder, also giving it some more protection if knocking against any rocky surface while swimming. Despite of being a fast swimmer, it still can walk when over rocky surfaces or outside the water, doing it in a slowly way and staying close to river beds or beaches.

Note: Just explaining the curious name of this one. Both common and binomial name make reference to the way how it can move when spilling out water, but these were applied in different ways. The common name means hands on the head as a reference to the fan shaped bubblehorns, but due that movement it is written backwards. As for the binomial name, Dendrogasthros stands for stomach on the horns, since now these horns can be seen as part of the digestive system, while trimiti stands to three noses and kolympatakhis to fast swimmer.