Licheiromimus captotectumi

Licheiromimus captotectumi
Creator	D̜͙̟͉ìn̨̹o̬̗C̼̮̣͡óaͅt͜
Information
Status	Extant
Zones	1, 9, 25
Roles	Detritivore
Classification
Genus	Licheiromimus
Species	Licheiromimus captotectumi
Evolution
Date	April 27th, 2019
Ancestor	Licheiromimus lentus
Descendants	No results

This descendant of Licheiromimus lentus has exploited something new that enables it to grow faster and larger than its previous ancestors could ever hope for: an unusually sticky slime that is produced by the colonial cells as a result of a mutation. This was selected for when these mutant colonies actually started capturing Libraphotocyanus cytosol cells that were in the water onto their surfaces. The colonies of Licheiromimus captotectumi will take in nutrition from the byproducts of these cells that grow and cover the colonies, turning them green in color.

Licheiromimus captotectumi does not have any specific depth requirements as it is not photosynthetic itself and simply absorbs nutrients through diffusion, but performs best within one-hundred meters (100 m) of depth as this is how far the Libraphotocyanus cytosol cells are capable of growing sufficiently to supply the colony, and may be outcompeted by other colonial organisms below those depths.

Licheiromimus captotectumi can grow around half a centimeter (0.5 cm) out from each side a year if supplied with a proper quantity of Libraphotocyanus cytosol cells. Cells on the inside (Licheiromimus captotectumi and Libraphotocyanus cytosol) will die over time and colonies will build up, with the slope depending on where the founder cells landed. They may eventually topple over and fall onto the ocean floor once so much weight is built up, but cells will still grow out from other cells. They can grow up to fifty centimeters (50 cm) in diameter and fifty centimeters in height before nutrient demand is too high and colonial death settles in. Parts with living cells that are detached and attach to other surfaces can still begin new colonies of their own.