Gigantocytus altumhabitous

Gigantocytus altumhabitous
Creator	OviraptorFan
Information
Status	Extant
Zones	4A
Roles	Decomposer
Classification
Genus	Gigantocytus
Species	Gigantocytus altumhabitous
Evolution
Date	May 12th, 2020
Ancestor	Gigantocytus thiccensis
Descendants	Gigantocytus limuexercitus

Descended from a population of Gigantocytus thiccensis that moved closer and closer to the shore as intraspecific competition grew. Eventually, this population got so close to shore that they would become exposed to the air as the tide went out. Pores that open and close developed in their chitinous cell walls to let in nutrients and prevent desiccation until the tide returned. As they dealt with the problem of drying out they began to colonize further away from the tide going as far out as the very edge of the strandline.
Hyphae network: 2mm
Zoospore: 50μm
Originated in Zone 4A/P
G. altumhabitous is a pioneer species, being among the first heterotrophs to settle the island of Zone 4A. Living along the coastline they have reverted back to their ancestral habit of breaking down dead organic matter. To break down carcasses of muscals that wash up on the beach along with dead Coronam envolvarius; the microbes pull out a page from their distant ancestor G. armamentus, utilizing the same non reproductive zoospores to search for the food source and producing enzymes to break them down. The zoospores are capable of functioning both in and out of water, although they function better in the water by far. Much like their ancestors, G. altumhabitous produce reproductive zoospores that either join the parent colony or, if the current colony’s location is unfavorable, seek another uninhabited place. The biggest difference is that the species relies on the tides to move reproductive zoospores any distance from their parent colony.