Duocerus pluma
Duocerus pluma is a marine sessile benthic Muscal residing in temperate waters that uses paired appendages to filter the water for food. The main body of D. pluma rests in the substrate of the ocean floor at about 3-4cm. It has some small outgrowths around a bulbous part of the body where the organs are housed, the outgrowths help to hold the organism in the substrate.
The mouth rests just above the substrate with two 15-16.5cm, frond-like appendages that are covered in small hairs that produce an adhesive fluid. Small Muscals and organic matter will be trapped in the hairs. Periodically the appendages will bend down to the mouth to consume anything trapped in the hairs. Each appendage rests curved on either side of the mouth, with hardened carbonate spikes to dissuade predators.
D. pluma will eat its appendages if they get damaged or worn and will begin growing a new appendage in its place thanks to a breakage plane at the base of each appendage that has stem cells able to form the organs again.
D. pluma has two distinct sexes, male and female, during spring months when ocean productivity is highest D. pluma will release large amounts of sperm and eggs into the water. When an egg is fertilized it will form into a planktonic larval stage that is 0.5cm long and utilizes an early version of its appendages for slight directed movement. The larva will feed on particulate organic matter and microbes in the water column. Once the larva grows to around 1cm it will use its appendages to swim to the substrate where it will bury itself with the mouth and appendages exposed. The immature will remain this way as it grows to adulthood.
