Simalgeara saccharocytos

Simalgeara saccharocytos
Creator	OviraptorFan
Information
Status	Extant
Zones	8A
Roles	Decomposer
Classification
Genus	Simalgeara
Species	Simalgeara saccharocytos
Evolution
Date	May 30th, 2020
Ancestor	Simalgeara corpsecleanerensis
Descendants	No results

Members of the species Simalgeara corpsecleanerensis were washed on the beaches of Zone 8A when there was less ice during the summer months. Winter froze any S. corpsecleanerensis to death. It wouldn't be until a protein that inhibits the formation of ice within their cell was produced and the behavior of going into a state of suspended animation during particularly tough times that they began to survive the winter. They still struggle when the water along the shore was frozen and food was hard to access.

2μm long
Originated in Zone 8A

To survive in the frigid winters Simalgeara saccharocytos produces an anti-freeze protein which inhibits the formation of ice within its cell, this is achieved by having those proteins bind to forming ice crystals preventing them from growing. They also lace the protein coating that they secrete with this antifreeze, making their external environment somewhat more hospitable, and they often live near Tenebrinatus calefaceus to exploit their pigment secretions that melts the ice and allows them to access liquid water and inorganic nutrients. They will decompose any dead organic matter they encounter as their ancestors did. If conditions are too cold and there is a lack of food, often during the arctic winter months, they are able to go into a state of suspended animation which involves filling their cell with the trehalose, a dissaccharide sugar that allows them to survive freezing without being lysed from expanding ice crystals while metabolic and reproductive activity stalls until favorable conditions occur.