Kissing Steneel
When Algeara redensis was rapidly declining, Derus aqualectus were struggling to find food. Some groups moved to other areas to find food. Those that ended up in Zone 1 would come across several different species of Algeayans and algeayan-like organisms, which they adapted to consume as they became a distinct species.
15 centimeters long
The Kissing Steneel (Derus lactemoris) has toothless jaws that can extend outwards and “kiss” their food. The Kissing Steneel will do rapid gulps to suck up food and then expelling water through their gills, with specialized filter pads that capture food particles. If food does not get sucked up, the jaws can be brought back in when they close so bits of food can be ripped off and then be consumed.
The Kissing Steneel has a special gland in their mouth that houses cultures of Raikos electra, which are lured in by their supersonic clicks, but these microbes are no longer used to shock food. These cultures of R. electra are used for defense, as the Kissing Steneel faces predation from other tarates. Its first major defense is to avoid being detected all together, with its body having become greyish brown to blend in with the substrate. The eyes have also become much bigger to get as much visual input as they can, helping the Kissing Steneel detect predators. The Kissing Steneel will try to swim for cover when a threat is spotted, with the laterally flattened tail helping it accelerate quickly. If it can’t escape, then the Kissing Steneel will face their attacker and flash their bright yellow mouths, warning threats about the painful shock they can deliver with their mouth.
The Kissing Steneel lays about 100 eggs at a time due the high predation risk. The Kissing Steneel lays large batches of soft eggs that get fertilized externally. When they hatch, young Kissing Steneels already have the organ that holds R. electra well developed, so they can start gathering them and then use them for defense.
