Flying Coral

Flying Coral
Creator	KING
Information
Status	Extant
Common Name(s)	Flying Coral, Wuzzus Jelly
Zones	25
Roles	Predator, Producer
Classification
Genus	Jelyshelywashinshila
Species	Jelyshelywashinshila jelouwuzzus
Evolution
Date	December 26th, 2018
Ancestor	Stichodactyla filterous
Descendants	Hello Jelly

Due to intraspecific competition among Stichodactyla filterous some began growing without proper attachment to the substrate and would float. This did not kill the individuals because they could still feed, over time they began developing more planktonic features to suit the lifestyle. They began accumulating gases in pockets with their foot which made them float with their tentacles and mouth facing downward. The feathery appendages, used for filter feeding in the ancestor, now are used to to slightly steer the organism as it floats at the water's surface. The stingers elongated and hang down from the main body acting as tentacles for feeding and defense. The stingers use neurotoxins to deter predators and capture prey.

The floating body acted as a new substrate for Stichodactyla species. Stichodactyla species may grow on the bottom of J. jelouwzzus. The stingers of Stichodactyla species act as a second line of stinging defenses for J. jelouwzzus. J. jelouwuzzus has also evolved specialized cells on the base of its foot (now the top of the organism) that can contain cells of some Algeayans. The base of the foot is translucent allowing to light to pass through so the Algeayan cells may photosynthesize.

On top of house the Algeayan cells the specialized foot cells of J. jelouwuzzus release hormones that cause the Algeayan cells to release nutrient for J. jelouwuzzus.

Housing Algeayans in it's foot can sometimes give it a green appearance. J. jelouwuzzus grows to 2.5 meters in diameter. It casts a large shadow that mimics the shadow of some floating polyphs tricking some muscals species into hiding beneath. Any unfortunate muscal that touches the tentacles will be stunned, pulled up to the mouth in the center of the body, and be eaten. During the day it tends to keeps it's tentacles more retracted and rely on the photosynthesis of the Algeayans it has trapped. At night it extends it's tentacles which have develop bioluminescent spots that attract muscals allowing it to capture and eat them. The feathery appendages are still used in filter feeding as well.

Male J. jelouwuzzus will release sperm in to the water, any sperm that makes it to a female J. jelouwuzzus will fertilize her eggs. She will release them shortly after fertilization. The eggs will hatch into a small free swimming young that will seek out Stichodatyla and Algeayans to aid in its survival and growth. As they age they build up more gases causing them to float.