Greatmouth Charybdis

Splitting from its ancestor, the greatmouth charybdis has now come to dominate the waters of Ittiz through sheer numbers. Larger than its ancestor, it has further refined its body plan and has developed better adaptations for survival, such as the ability to tolerate fresh water. Most of its life styles remain similar to those of its ancestor, the charybdis. The primary adult stage has a larger mouth with which it now uses to either filter-feed on larvae or swallow whole any tiny flora it comes across. Its tail is broader, while its side fins are larger, making it both faster and more maneuverable in the water compared to its ancestor. While its first two pairs of eyes continue to face forward, its other pairs now instead face upwards in order to keep watch for predators that could attack it from above. For added protection, they swim in small schools, using their sensory barbels to taste the water as they search for food and avoid predators. They will continuously spawn eggs asexually, from which the primary larvae will hatch from. They can grow to be about 16 cm long. The primary larvae bears a similar appearance to its ancestor, save that it is no longer unicellular. They swim in large schools, and at most grow to about 4 cm. They filter-feed on the micro-flora rich waters, avoiding predators all awhile. Their chemical-sensing barbels have increased in number and have grown longer, allowing them to sense their surroundings better. They have become faster swimmers due to a modified tail, and should they manage to survive to maturity they will develop a cocoon within which they will fragment and regenerate into several individuals that will emerge into the adolescent stage. The adolescent stage has not changed much from its ancestor, save for a few things. Their defensive sensory barbels have gotten longer and sharper, giving them a better defense against potential predators. Their protective helmet has also become thicker, with its "horn" becoming reversed due to torsion. While not as effective as a defensive weapon, it is now capable of being moved back and forth, allowing it to flip over should it wind up on its back. They are primarily detritivores when they cannot scavenge. This stage will eventually develop a cocoon, from which the secondary adult stage will emerge. These will grow to about 6 cm long. As in its ancestor, the cocoon will open up to reveal either a sessile female or a male incapable of feeding base on water temperature. The female filter-feeds, and has developed mild toxins that permeate its flesh in order to protect itself from predators. She can grow to be about 10 cm tall. The males, which are roughly 2 cm long, will seek her out via chemicals she produces, and once they find her they will fuse with her. They have lost two of their eyes, with a skin growing over them, as they are not necessary when it comes to finding the female. They instead use their more elongated sensory barbels instead. Once the fusion is complete they release eggs that hatch into the secondary larval stage. The secondary larval stage prefers the bottom of the salt marsh and river. Unlike its ancestor, it has re-evolved foi-like eyes in order to see. Its jaws have strengthened, allowing it to take chunks out of flora should it come across it, otherwise it will filter-feed on plankton. They have evolved a tail better adapted to swimming, making them a bit faster than the similar secondary larval stage of their ancestor. Solitary, they can grow to about 5 cm long, after which it develops into an oddly shaped pupa perfectly adapted to being wedged between rocks for safety. This pupa possesses a chitin-like covering for additional protection. Once the larvae inside has matured, it will emerge as the primary adult stage and perform the life cycle anew.