Projectile Helix

Projectile Helix
Creator	Squidy
Information
Status	Extant
Common Name(s)	Projectile Helix
Zones	5
Roles	Base-Consumer
Classification
Genus	Circulix
Species	Circulix obturoculus
Evolution
Date	January 6th, 2021
Ancestor	Cone Helix
Descendants	No results

The Projectile Helix (Circulix obturoculus) is a descendant of Circulix maleficagalerus living in Zone 5. Its unique features include an elongated, pointed shell, and the decreased surface area of its foot. It features to water jets on either side of its shell opening used for locomotion.

Aiming using its more hydrodynamic shell, the Projectile Helix jets around the water, grasping onto surfaces with its taste-sensitive foot in search of food. Like most helixes, the Projectile Helix respires by drawing water into a fleshy cavity on the right side of its shell and flushing it through the gill cavity on the left side. Using its stronger muscles, it is able to quickly draw water into both cavities and squeeze it out to push itself around. These cavities are situated in the bottom half of the shell closest to the body, with the top half of the shell being mostly empty space. This helps the helix keep itself upright by lowering its center of mass.

When a predator such as the Viciousfruit (D. malificus) disturbs and attempts to dislodge them, they will quickly detach and shoot off in a random direction. The smaller foot allows it to detach from surfaces with less effort. It's not uncommon for them to launch themselves right out of the water when disturbed. They rely entirely on their sense of touch to detect interested predators, and can occasionally be set off by benign disturbances.

The Projectile Helix feeds on the seeds of any P. forensus descendant it can get access to, usually being P. flotatortensis, the floating vines of which drop seeds into the waters of Zone 5. They also regularly encounter the seeds of Epiplortatus aquatica and whatever seeds end up in the water from the miniplorts of the islands of Zone 5A.

Like all helixes, the Projectile 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 Projectile Helixes releasing their sperm into the water. The young hatch after approximately one month, with soft, calcium-poor shells that harden as they mature and build up calcium.

Adult specimens have a shell diameter of 2-3 inches, with a height of up to 6 inches.