Cod
Byssumcoda is a microscopic organism that feeds on L. cytosol. Growing up to 100-200 micrometers in length, it features numerous flagella at the front of its body that it flaps in a wave-like motion to propel itself forward. Two small flagella sit on the edges of its oral groove, used for drawing in food. Additionally, two more flagella exist on its backside, used primarily for controlling the direction of movement. Like most similar organisms, it has a set of basic organelles-- A nucleus, food vacuoles where food is digested (after separating off from the gullet connected to the oral groove), mitchondria, and an endoplasmic reticulum, along with additional vacuole where underdeveloped clones are held.
Along its sides are two sets of three photoreceptive eyespot apparatus which is uses to detect sunlight, helping it locate areas where the photosynthetic cytosol is most prevalent. Having two sets of eyespots makes it acutely respondent to changes in its depth and orientation, even as it is displaced by currents. Having the eyespots situated in an array allows it to detect gradients of brightness, which it uses to actively keep itself near the surface of the water of all times.
On the back of the cell is a rigid tail-like extension surrounded by a tube of a silica to hold it upright and out of the way of the rear flagella. Numerous pilli exist at the opening of the tube, giving it a brush-like apperance. These pili are used to attach to K. primaflotens when reproducing.
Byssumcoda produces smaller clones of itself inside of a vacuole. These clones are then dispersed onto primaflotens when they are around ~10 micrometers, ensuring they remain near the surface of the water, where they will stick as they continue developing over the course of a few days before swimming off as fully-formed adults. The clones lack many features of the adult organism, having only a main body and a set of pili to affix themselves to the substrate.
