Tilted Helix

Tilted Helix
Creator	Squidy
Information
Status	Extant
Common Name(s)	Tilt Snail, Tilted Helix
Zones	5
Roles	Base-consumer
Classification
Genus	Circulix
Species	Circulix vortoimpetus
Evolution
Date	November 5th, 2019
Ancestor	Circulix impetus
Descendants	Cone Helix

The Tilted Helix (Circulix vortoimpetus) is a descendant of Circulix impetus living in Zone 5. It features a horizontally-oriented, pointed 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. Its shell has changed shape in two ways to make this form of movement easier. First, the shell sits horizontally, with the opening downturned and the body underneath of it. On its own, this would produce more drag as the helix jets around, and it does, to an extent. However, this is somewhat counteracted by the coil ascending in a cone-like fashion, offering a more hydrodynamic shape. The real benefit comes from the helix being able to point its shell in the direction it wants to move prior to releasing water from its jets, allowing for finer-tuned movement. After use, the water jets are refilled via a vacuum-based mechanism that pulls water back through them.

The Tilted 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 Tilted 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 Tilted Helixes releasing their sperm into the water. The young hatch after approximately one month, with soft shells that harden as they mature.