Pioneer Quillball

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Pioneer Quillball
(Quillotestudo pioneerus)
Main image of Pioneer Quillball
Species is extant.
Information
CreatorHydromancerx Other
Week/Generation23/146
HabitatDixon Polar Scrub, Dixon Rocky, Dixon Boreal, Dixon Alpine, Dixon Taiga
Size4 cm Wide
Primary MobilitySessile
SupportUnknown
DietPhotosynthesis
RespirationPassive (Stomata)
ThermoregulationEctotherm
ReproductionSuper Fast Asexual Budding, Very Resistant Spores
Taxonomy
Domain
Kingdom
Subkingdom
Division
Class
Order
Family
Subfamily
Genus
Species
Eukaryota
Phoenoplastida
Phoenophyta (info)
Spherophyta (info)
Knodophytopsida
Knodorhaphiales
Quillotestudaceae
Quillotestudoideae
Quillotestudo
Quillotestudo pioneerus
Ancestor:Descendants:

The pioneer quillball split from its ancestor, the fuzzy beachballs. It has developed sharp quills to protect itself and large strong roots which it uses to break apart even the most tough soil. Its major success lies in its roots which allow for the growth of the nitrogen fixing microbe called the nixus. It has developed a symbiotic relationship with the nixus by creating nodules for them to grow in and in return the nixus produces a nitrogen compound that helps pioneer quillball grow. When pioneer quillball dies the fixed nitrogen is released making it available to other mountain flora and this helps to fertilize the rocky soil. In addition as pioneer quillball not only spreads nixus to new biomes but nitritus, nitratus and denitritus, thus completing the nitrogen cycle in barren biomes.