Spelunker's Igloodome
| Spelunker's Igloodome | ||
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| (Speleahyalops bonoensis) | ||
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| Information | ||
| Creator | OviraptorFan Other | |
| Week/Generation | 27/167 | |
| Habitat | Bono Flood Caves (Nonphotic), Bono Flood Caves (Photic) | |
| Size | 2 centimeters tall | |
| Primary Mobility | Sessile | |
| Support | Cell Wall (Chitin) | |
| Diet | Lithotroph (Hydrogen) | |
| Respiration | Unknown | |
| Thermoregulation | Ectotherm | |
| Reproduction | Asexual Budding, Buoyant "Seed-buds" | |
| Taxonomy | ||
| Domain Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species | Eukaryota Kyanozoa Hyalophyta Hyaloangia Korubalukovicales Speleahyaloptaceae Speleahyalops Speleahyalops bonoensis | |
| Ancestor: | Descendants: |
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Descended from Igloo Cryodomes that colonized the Bono Flood Caves and split off into their own species, the Spelunker's Igloodome thrive within both the photic and aphotic zones of the cave.
Overall the species is identical to their direct ancestor, the only notable difference being their slightly larger size. Aside from that, the Spelunker's Igloodome is hardly distinguishable from their ancestor without looking at their DNA. For example, the Spelunker's Igloodome is still a ghostly light in coloration since it does not photosynthesize and lacks any pigments. Instead relying on its symbiotic relationships with a genetically basal species of Cryoutine to get energy while in turn providing a relatively safe home for the microbes to inhabit. This relationship means the Spelunker's Igloodome is able to avoid competition with local species of crystal flora and thrive within both zones of the cave.
While they can live both in and out of water, Spelunker's Igloodomes are most abundant underwater since they can then just take in moisture from their environment to sustain the microbes they house. Those on land, meanwhile, have to take moisture from the limestone through their root systems to both sustain themselves and their microbial symbiotes.
When they have enough energy, Spelunker's Igloodomes will form a tiny spherical bud that is filled with air. Depending on where the parent was when they formed the "seed", it will either float in the water or roll along the ground. For those in the water, they will rapidly take in water after floating around for a few days and quickly sink to the bottom. After hitting the bottom, the "seed" takes root and the dormant colony of Cryoutines becomes active and starts making energy. For the "seeds" on land, it's a much longer process, only starting to take root once they stop rolling. Since they are in air, not water, the growing "seed" can't fill up the hollow chamber with water immediately and thus has to rely on what little energy reserves it has to survive while slowly taking in water from the ground through their roots. Once about half of the chamber was filled with water, the Cryoutines will finally become active and start providing energy for the growing Spelunker's Igloodome. No matter where the Spelunker's Igloodome starts it's life, however, the species still grows quite slowly with it often taking decades for them to reach sexual maturity. A fully mature Spelunker's Igloodome can also bud off a different individual of greater size, but this is very slow and has very limited dispersal.