Polyphoradium polaris

Polyphoradium polaris
Creator	D̜͙̟͉ìn̨̹o̬̗C̼̮̣͡óaͅt͜
Information
Status	Extant
Zones	27
Roles	Producer
Classification
Genus	Polyphoradium
Species	Polyphoradium polaris
Evolution
Date	December 10th, 2019
Ancestor	Polyphoradium discus
Descendants	No results

This offstem of Polyphoradium discus has variated itself to become better adapted to the cold waters of Zone 27. Although it is similar to its ancestor in terms of shape, size, and function, it has increased the amounts of melanin in its cells to become darker to absorb more heat. This helps prevent Polyphoradium polaris from freezing off as easily and boosts its survival here as a result.

Polyphoradium polaris can be found growing in waters up to one-hundred meters (100 m) in depth. Although the colonial polyphs can be found at various sizes throughout the growth stage, the maximum size that is able to be sustained by the cells before dying off is ten meters (10 m) in height and ten meters (10 m) in diameter. The structure of the polyph decreases in diameter as it grows upwards and increases as it grows downwards to support it.

Polyphoradium polaris reproduces asexually; cells or clumps of cells that fall from the colony from being knocked off or from the colonial death will reprogram themselves to grow new colonies. They will grow at a rate of two centimeters per week (2 cm / wk) at first, but their growth gradually slows to one centimeter per year (1 cm / yr) at sizes over five meters (5 m). Once they are at least fifteen centimeters (15 cm) in length, they will have landed and will continue on growing. Cells in the middle program death as they are not useful for the colony as they do not collect sunlight. Polyphoradium polaris colonies can live up to five-hundred years (500 yrs), although two-hundred to three-hundred years (200--300 yrs) is typical.