Leaping Silip

The leaping silip split from its ancestor, the diatomoflora siliporro. To compensate for a lack of silica resources in the oceans it has developed a lithotrophic preference for calcium and magnesium carbonates dissolved in the water to maintain its skeletal structure and unique propulsion system.

The dissolved carbonates are absorbed via a porous membrane on its underside. The enzymes located in seven organelles (resting on its seven skeletal arms) extract carbon dioxide (CO2) from them. The CO2 is stored in two large membrane chambers that are reinforced with carbonate particles embedded in them. The exterior lining of these large chambers is photosynthetic. They are a powerhouse to facilitate the leaping silip's high energy demands for its spore propulsion mechanism. Any unprocessed carbonates are used for maintaining its skeleton and hardening its spores outer coating. Its skeletal radial symmetry has changed to accommodate the two powerhouse chambers by repositioning its seven skeletal arms to face its rear while the eighth is much more enlarged and faces forward to support the weight of the larger chambers. The rear heavy body is balanced by the large forward facing chambers.

The seven organelles used for processing CO2 from the absorbed carbonates serve a dual purpose. They double up as spore production factories, churning out a large number of spores and hardening their surfaces with the carbonates for enhanced durability. Each of these organelles link to the large chambers via north facing short channels that feed CO2 gas into them. They contain a flexible calcareous inlet that is unidirectionally operable. When the chambers reach a threshold pressure the inlet is coerced into reversing its direction, forcing the CO2 back into the organelles with great force. The organelles are able to cope with the stressful pressure by diverting it through longer mucous filled channels facing southwards with narrow openings at their ends. When the pressurized CO2 travels back into the organelles it takes spores contained in the organelles with them. The spores are easily transported through the lubricated channels (mucous filled) at ballistic speeds. The fleshy membrane interconnecting the channels acts as a shock absorber. The spores are shot out producing a forward thrust and a trailing, gaseous CO2 tail. This allows the leaping silip to break the surface water tension and leap out, advancing forward at a great distance, even negotiating small ocean currents. The cilia growing on its sides provide for a smoother gliding water exit/entry and prevents it from tumbling head over rear so that it always leaves and enters the waters forward first.

This motion provides multiple benefits. Its spores are widely dispersed in great numbers, increasing its species survival rate. The shooting spores give it an offensive edge while its rapid forward leap provides a defensive retreat. It is able to cover fast distances (relative to its size) and seek out new resources. These advantages came at a price. The high energy demands a lot of photosynthetic processing. This prevents the leaping silip from venturing beyond the tropics. Stray leaping silips are doomed to suffer from slow death as its resources are depleted. Hordes of weakened stray leaping silips provide a rare feast for opportunist hunters. The moist spore filled bloated organelles are a prized catch.