Cone Helix

Cone Helix
Creator	Squidy
Information
Status	Extant
Common Name(s)	Cone Helix, Witch's Hat Helix
Zones	5
Roles	Base-Consumer
Classification
Genus	Circulix
Species	Circulix maleficagalerus
Evolution
Date	November 5th, 2019
Ancestor	Tilted Helix
Descendants	Projectile Helix

The Cone Helix (Circulix maleficagalerus) is a descendant of Circulix vortoimpetus living in Zone 5. It features a cone-shaped shaped shell, a single flat foot (the defining trait of the Circulix genus), and two water jets on either side of its shell opening.

The water jets are used for locomotion, making up for the lack of versatility offered by its suction-cup-like foot. Like its ancestor, it has no idea where it is headed-- Rather, it blindly jets around whenever it struggles with finding food until it detects something suitable with its taste-sensitive foot. The shell is more conical than that of its ancestor, ascending in a linear fashion with less pronounced ridges between coils, resulting in a more hydrodynamic shell. The opening of the shell has fused with the bottom coil, leaving an opening underneath the coil where the body sits. This places the body closer to the center of the shell, which makes it simpler to aim before jetting to a new location. After use, the water jets are refilled via a vacuum-based mechanism that pulls water back through them.

The Cone Helix feeds on the seeds of any P. forensus descandants it can get get access to. Their diet is primarily composed of the seeds from P. flotatortensis, which sends its seed-covered vines over the waters of Zone 5.

Like all helixes, the Cone Helix is a hermaphrodite and does not require a mate to reproduce. Clutches of 1-2 dozen eggs are stored inside the shell along the opening, and can be fertilized by the parent, and/or by nearby Cone Helixes releasing their sperm into the water. The young hatch after approximately one month, with soft shells that harden as they mature.

(Create Feature challenge submission, inspired by a witch's hat)