NESLife VI

Randomness · Mar 22, 2013

So, we accept ammonia based life, but cannot think of any possible way for a sentient lifeform to progress without fire... Maybe metallurgy is possible by utilizing some other chemical reaction. Or, perhaps some chemical process is discovered to strengthen their stone tools. If life can form on a planetoid as exotic as Lambda, I think it can figure out a way to progress without fire...

Lord_Iggy · Mar 22, 2013

There are plenty of ways of advancing technologically without fire. At any rate, this is still a consideration that is likely hundreds of millions of years off.

Lambda Ignaceae · Mar 23, 2013

We could speed things up a tiny bit?

Terrance888 · Mar 23, 2013

He can probably do that by axing a couple more species. *meaningful look*

Lord_Iggy · Mar 23, 2013

LI, please, stop it. You're not making me go any faster. I have been busy working on other things, and the update's currently about half done.

Daftpanzer · Mar 23, 2013

I know how you feel Iggy! One hopes that maybe LI was referring to getting a civilized species in early, compared to Earth history. Like sentient dinosaurs (although that would've been 'only' ~65 mil years early).

Nailix · Mar 23, 2013

Is it to late to post a species?

Lambda Ignaceae · Mar 23, 2013

Daftpanzer said:
I know how you feel Iggy! One hopes that maybe LI was referring to getting a civilized species in early, compared to Earth history. Like sentient dinosaurs (although that would've been 'only' ~65 mil years early).

YES! Exactly that, please, don't misunderstand me on this one. I wasn't meaning to rush you at all! :blush:

Lord_Iggy · Mar 23, 2013

I've finished the writeup, so I'm afraid it is too late.

Terrance888 · Mar 23, 2013

dun Dun DUN.

Lord_Iggy · Mar 23, 2013

Epoch XI: The Haerentian Epoch

In the southern hemisphere, the continents of Graderia, Lambridia and Plassidia have merged into the new continent of Sundentia. The diversification of the Orata continued apace, while the Maves enjoyed an interruption in the protracted decline. Whether or not this is just a statistical anomaly, or the first sign of a long-term recovery, remains to be seen. Zebedida go from strength to strength in the ocean, while their tiny beachhead on Okianus slowly, but surely expands. A general trend of global drying, coupled with a dramatic upswing in herbivory, saw the great forests of Sundentia retreat significantly. Meanwhile, in the global ocean, Sporidan algae, which had been one of the slowest groups to recover after the Graderian Mass Extinction, at last began to reach a level of diversity comparable to its pre-event state.

Okianus and Eddoria

The Zebpig has replaced its old thin, slimy membrane, with a slightly thicker, slimy membrane, allowing it to move much further inland. Zebpigs still rely on ammonia for reproduction, but can survive indefinitely in damp, terrestrial environments. Zebpigs are herbivorous, living off of a diet of small plants. They have come into competition with Ileums and Estabils, losing out in speed and defenses, but possessing an advantage in terms of the overall efficiency of their physiology and metabolism, allowing to attain faster growth and reproduction rates to make up for their losses in direct confrontations.

Sundentia

The Abomination could have been a terror to the terrestrial lifeforms of Sundentia, with three equally-vicious mouths and an unmatched ability to rapidly consume its prey. However, the organisms comparatively pitiful ability to digest food prevented it from properly capitalizing on its unique feeding mechanism. Thus, the three mouths of the Abomination did not provide the competitive edge that they otherwise might have, and the Abominations brief time came to a swift end. However, despite this organisms lack of success, the few individuals who were fossilized would, many epochs later, become treasured specimens, and early demonstrations of the tremendous morphological plasticity provided by the Tybiller lineages unique internal structures. The mouths themselves were developed from some of the organisms frontal spiracles, reaching back into the saclike digestive organ by means of adapted tracheae. One cannot help but wonder at what might have been had a similar series of mutations occurred in the Estabil, which is capable of much more efficient digestion, through the gastrovascular system of the Estabil. This unique organ system, sometimes described as pneumogastric, pneumogastrovascular, or one of several large words for a hybrid system which includes areas for gas exchange, digestion and nutrient dispersal all in one, continues to hold great promise.

Trappists built upon the success of their Watcher ancestors, becoming even better-adapted to the lifestyle of an ambush predator. The front limbs of the Trappist have adapted into barbed, telescoping structures. These hunting limbs can jab outwards with incredible speed, hooking an unsuspecting prey item before retracting, bringing the Trappists new meal within range of the predators fearsome jaws.

The Haerent is smaller and more dextrous than its Skitterer ancestors, and is the first land-dwelling organism able to truly exploit the forests of the southern hemisphere. By climbing, the Haerent is both able to save itself from predation, and rapidly defoliate Horods and Sky-Stealers. Indeed, the Haerent has become so successful that it has measurably rolled back the vast Sundentian forests, driving a selection towards smaller plants which provide less optimal habitats for the Haerents.

Global Ocean

Algen, descended from the highly-successful lineage known as Strippers, have grown even larger. The tips of the long photosynthetic strips of the Algen have developed a system of hooks and loops, allowing them to form dense mats at the surface. This shade helps to outcompete smaller photosynthesizers, although it also makes a tempting target for oceanic predators. Algen are highly successful and grow rapidly, but they suffer from heavy grazing at the same time, leaving most individuals in a constant state of dynamic growth equilibrium.

Necrofloaters were a toxic offshoot of the Freefloater family. Their most notable adaptation was the release of toxic chemicals upon predation. In a more heavily predated-upon species, this may have been a helpful adaptation. However, as Freefloaters already suffer from minimal predation, this expensive mutation served relatively little purpose. It is unclear as to whether or not the Necrofloater lineage went extinct, or simply lost their toxicity, becoming nearly indistinguishable from the Freefoaters once again.

The Tearer, descended from the Zeph, has adopted a predatory strategy, which has served it reasonably well. With an infolded pocket of its wings serving as a simple digestive system, and a system of microscopic vascular pores, the Tearer is able to partake in a more active lifestyle than its simpler ancestors. Tearers have abandoned the long-reduced vestigial stingers of their ancestors, replacing it with a paddle-like tail. The presence of Lambdas first flying dedicated predator has exerted heavy selective pressures against other members of Phylum Maves, although Tearers still suffer from ever-increasing predation due to the necessity of spending a significant portion of their lives in ammonia.

The Terraborn, on the other hand, pursued a less successful strategy. It developed more complex and heavily-muscled wings, but without the metabolic engine to support these mutations, this lineage was outcompeted and wiped out before it could even take off, and nothing came of what would have likely been an unsuccessful colonization of land.

Finally, the Tashe, unlike their Terraborn cousins, helped to turn around the failing fortunes of the Skyborn with the development of a linear digestive tract and a proper mouth. The Tashe have a lifestyle much like their ancestors, but enjoy vastly greater success due to their ability to feed and digest simultaneously.

Whiffers have evolved potent chemical defenses in response to predation by Shredders and Jargos. By emitting pungent scents, Whiffers are able to disgust and disorient their predators. Additionally, visual camouflage on their ventral (lower) surfaces serves to confuse visual hunters, such as Padipeds and Lancipeds.

The Lanciped has diverged from the Padiped lineage to become a deadly predator against the benthic organisms of the global ocean. With a streamlined body and a deadly stinger tipping its tail, Lancipeds make use of their unmatched maneuverability and eyesight to hunt in rich coastal shallows. While Curata make up the bulk of their prey, some species of Lanciped have come to specialize against smaller and immature members of Phylum Zebedida. However, Lancipeds remain constrained by their limited digestive and gas exchange capabilities, which prevent them from being able to realistically compete with Shredders and Jargos in open ammonia.

Okianus and Eddoria

Sundentia

Global Ocean

Lambda

Notes: Grandkhan, the Abomination would have made a lot more sense if it was descended from the Estabil, which actually does have a branching digestive system, rather than the Tybiller, which does not have any digestive system at all beyond a primitive blind-ended sac. I was sorry to see it not succeed, but it simply didnt work- the lack of a proper digestive system completely bottlenecked its capabilities. However, I have perhaps given you a bit of the idea of the potential for similar evolutions involving the Estabil, with its bizarre, but very pliable, digestive/breathing/nutrient distributing system.

Daftpanzer, Lancipeds cant hover per se, they would need some sort of buoyancy adaptation for that, so they need to actively swim.

Spoiler Extant Organisms :

Daftpanzer · Mar 23, 2013

Excellent update

just on my way to bed and I saw this. I will be mulling over my evolution as I drift to sleep.

Bair_the_Normal · Mar 23, 2013

Wonderful update. The tree has certainly blossomed from the original three. I'm back to evolve my Svi line again. :3

Lord_Iggy · Mar 23, 2013

The Svis and Galasvis have been doing fantastically, because they are the ONLY TWO FREAKING SESSILE FILTER FEEDERS ON THE PLANET.

On Earth today we have sea squirts, countless polychaete worms, sea anemones, bivalves, corals, barnacles, sponges, and more groups than I could conceivably name, who all don't move, and feed by filtering.

Bair_the_Normal · Mar 23, 2013

The fallacy of movement. :3

Terrance888 · Mar 23, 2013

Organism: Drier
Ancestor: Stripper
Selective Pressure: Algen stealing the show with their shade-inducing shades!
Mutation: Thicker Methanommonia "Skin" is formed by specialized cells which produce and detach non-reproductive layers of cell walls. This will let light enter even while protecting the photosynthesizing cells within from drying out. Special "guard cells" develop which open gates to allow fresh ammonia and other nutrients while the tide is high, while sealing up when the tides recede. During tough times, some Methanommonia celletes decompose, their ammonia and nitrogeneous sugars helping the Drier survive. If worst come to worst, several "spores" will form and the rest of the organism other than the thin Methanommonia covering remaining will die, forming a nutrient soup that maintain the viability of the spores. At the next tide it will burst, letting the spores back into the open sea.

Drier spores are ejected as the high tide recedes through specialized channels that form. Each drier spore has plenty of Methanommonia and fluids to use to develop and hoard it's own nutrient hoard.

The Drier will attempt to colonize the tidal zone.

EDIT: If this feels too complex. Here are the actual evolutions.
1) Complex utilization of Methanommonia (complex carbohydrates). Strippers already use pretty simplistic Methanommonia usage.
2) Guard Cells and Gates: These develop with the complex Methanommonia celletes.
3) Complex Spores: Spores are already there (Sporer?), these are just more developed before leaving.

thomas.berubeg · Mar 23, 2013

Anyone want to evolve a Symbiotic organism with me? I want to protect the horods, so giving living space to something that wants to feast on the Haerent predating the trees.

Nintz · Mar 23, 2013

My weird flying fish experiment lives another day.

Now, what to do...

Nintz · Mar 23, 2013

@thomas.berubeg -

Possibly. I'm game, but I'm not seeing a whole lot of predators over there. The aquatic Tashe could mutate to be able to eat those creatures (already pretty fast and quick if I remember correctly) , but it would require significant water in the area. External water storage on the plants maybe? Something along those lines.

Patchy · Mar 23, 2013

Actually I was thinking of forming a symbiotic relationship between the Haerent and the trees. Like modern day insects and plants. It would be counter productive for the Haerent to eat themselves into starvation.

Was planning on doing it alone but if someone could evolve the Horods at the same time we should be able to do it in around two updates. Maybe one if we have someone else to evolve a predator for the Haerent to keep them in check.

NESLife VI

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