Name: Aklesilm maphmem Alias:Starplume Niche:Ambush predator Evolved from:Fireplume The Starplume is the descendent of the Fireplume, is an ambush predator that lives along the continental slope of Typhon. In these rather empty areas, the Starplume has evolved a way to trap prey, using biolumiscent lights on each of their tendrils to lure them in. It has a muscular system based on fiber, and each tendril is well rpepared to snatch anything that comes within its range. These creatures, around 30 to 50 centimeters long, are mostly buried within sand, where most of their important organs are located. They are asexual and release spores roughly aligning to about once every one to three years. they spend their first few months as free floating photosynthetic creatures, and then find their way into the sand. They are trilaterally symetrical. It has a system of sight based on three sensing organs. One in infared, one in ultraviolet and one in visible light. two lines of eyes on each "jaw" is infared while the other sees visible light. Each eye aligning each tendril see visible light while those on the tip near the biolumiscent areas see in infared, in order to migitate confusion due to the relatively bright biolumiscence. Lastly are the eyes that line its main body, which see in ultraviolet, with another line seeing visible light. The ultraviolet eyes notice patterns and detect changes. When a significant change is detected the muscular system of the tendrils tense to prepare for prey. It has a complex hybrid bioelectrical and biochemical nervous system. most of its tendrils utilize a system that utilizes chemical cascading when prey is detected by one of the infared eyes located on its tip, it will release a chemical which triggers the mass release of more chemicals from the other biochemical conduits, telling the tendril to close down nearly instantly, which also informs the local nerve mass(basically, its nervous system is localized in its tendrils, each two tendrils are connected to the same nerve mass); meanwhile, a bioelectric system activates and triggers an electric system to the central nerve mass located in the buried region of the body, which tells the central nerve mass to prepare the inner beak and to inform the other tendrils. Once this is completed, all the tendrils clamp down on the prey, injects venom and brings it inside the mouth, where the beak located inside crushes the organism's head and the remains are sent into the stomach chamber to be digested. After a catch, they can live without food for quite a while. Once they finish digesting, they will regurgitate whatever remains out. fun fact their muscular reaction makes them one of the few creatures that can actually prey on jetgills though it relies on luring them in first.
press space to see full body.