Synthestring

From Sagan 4 Alpha Wiki

Synthestring
(Pessumdomus funiculus)
Main image of Synthestring
Species is extinct.
17/112, Replaced by descendant
Information
CreatorNinthMusketeer Other
Week/Generation16/110
HabitatYokto River, Yokto Marsh
Size1 cm Tall
Primary MobilitySessile
SupportUnknown
DietPhotosynthesis
RespirationUnknown
ThermoregulationEctotherm
ReproductionBudding
Taxonomy
Domain
Superkingdom
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
Eukaryota
Viridisagania
Crustaphyta
Chitocutea
Eucrustaphyta
Yoktophyllales
Yoktophyllaceae
Pessumdomus
Pessumdomus funiculus
Ancestor:Descendants:

Replacing its ancestor, synthestring has lost the outer crust of the past (it proved little use against the significantly larger predatory cells in Yokto River and Marsh), and now exists in a colony form. While they still possess a barbed appendage, only on the bottom cell is it used to stick into the ground, other cells use it to stick to each other, creating the "strings" of the species. The barbs on the appendage are hollow, allowing exchange of nutrients between cells, mostly used to provide the lower cells with energy, specifically for the bottom cell which much grow the hook appendage longer and longer as the colony gets longer itself. Usually, as the colony reaches more than a few dozen cells in length, other bottom cells lengthen their hook appendages into the ground as well, a process that continues, allowing the colony to remain firmly stuck to the ground while still increasing size.

Reproduction occurs as the cells divide, usually cells on the end, but occasionally cells lower down as well, creating branches (this can be seen in the image above, where two cells connect to a lower one). New colonies arise when the strings created by synthestring are disrupted, either by pieces being torn off by water currents or a predatory cell eats a non-end synthestring, the pieces float off and land, rooting once again and creating a new colony while the original grows back.

Living Relatives (click to show/hide)

These are randomly selected, and organized from lowest to highest shared taxon. (This may correspond to similarity more than actual relation)
  •  
    Jellobelly (class Eucrustaphyta)
  •  
    Gumjorn (phylum Chitocutea)