Suffocating Phantom Polyph

Suffocating Phantom Polyph
Creator	Squidy
Information
Status	Extant
Common Name(s)	Suffocating Phantom Polyph
Zones	5
Roles	Predator, Producer
Classification
Genus	Anchugearous
Species	Anchugearous exspiravitus
Evolution
Date	November 27th, 2019
Ancestor	Phantom Branch
Descendants	No results

Anchugearous exspiravitus is a slow-growing algae-like polyph growing in Zone 5, producing energy by photosynthesis, and absorbing nutrients from its surroundings through its tissues. It has transluscent vertical growths that are nearly transparent, with a slight tinge of green. The growths are covered with small hair-like protrusions. Its entire body is covered with a thick coating of transparent "goo", which has insulative properties allowing the organism to thrive in a variety of different environments. The polyph can survive for up to 4 years.

The goo of Anchugearous exspiravitus has become much stickier than that of its ancestor, the Phantom Branch (Anchugearous osone). As a result, it often winds up with various debris getting stuck to it, making it more visible to herbivores. Hungry S. pygmeus then approach the polyph, hoping for an easy meal. However, they wind up trapped in the sticky goo, getting it stuck on their legs and in their gills. As they suffocate, die, and begin decomposing, Anchugearous exspiravitus absorbs the nutrients from their bodies to support further growth. As more debris and S. pygmeus accumulates, this can negatively affect the polyph's ability to photosynthesize. To help negate this problem, Anchugearous exspiravitus will continuously shed its old goo, with the goo sloughing off as new goo is produced underneath. The goo is produced at a rate that is approximately 1.2x faster than that of its ancestor, supported by its improved access to resources. In addition to using its root-like tendrils to anchor itself to the substrate, it is also able to grow them from any point on its body to hold onto the corpses that gets stuck to it, growing around and throughout them, to avoid losing them as it sheds its goo.

Like its ancestor, the polyph has a net-like growth pattern, spreading across the seafloor. It anchors itself to the substrate with root-like tendrils to help avoid being pushed around by currents, and forms numerous growths extending up from its base, reaching up to 1 meter (3.3 feet) in height. These growths, or even the entire polyph, can separate when under too much stress. Under these suboptimal conditions, the polyph will dedicate all of its energy to reproduction before eventually dying.

Anchugearous exspiravitus reproduces asexually through fragmentation or by producing spores, which are moved around by water currents before eventually settling in an acception location, where they will take root. The spores have a diameter of 4mm.

(Original submission and art by D0x. Rewrite and resubmission by Squidy.)