Protamisanidae

The tiny Protamisa lavisimeio is a fairly typical example of its family. While they may look like viscous predators they are in fact a group of herbivores and filter feeders. [creature design by H M]

Basic Information

Anatomy

Having descended from the humble Dyomisa, some more active populations have evolved into the family: Protamisanidae. Like their more basal ancestors they still have a two tagmata, with four eyes, four appendages, and eight limbs. However, that’s where the similarities end. To begin, the position of their mouths have changed, rather than below the tagma it now lays at the front, right in the center of its appendages, two at the top and one at either side. The two top appendages have now broadened, for a larger surface area and more acute detection of smells and tastes, becoming more like feelers. The main eyes are now more advanced, with the two primary eyes being capable of seeing a greater array of color and in at a longer range. Two smaller eyes rest on the dorsal side of the cephalon, these can see differences of the lighting. Each pair has a different position, the primary eyes are situated at the sides of the tagma, along with the top ones this allows for a better chance of seeing predators coming. The posterior tagma now possesses slits rather then spiracles, these slits allow for a larger amount of water to enter their gills, in addition, a new swim bladder is connected in between them, this aids in buoyancy by trapping air every time they go to the surface, in case it needs to dive quickly it will eject the air through the gills by muscle contractions. Although still required for locomotion purposes the muscles that resided within the leg now have adapted to work more effectively, this in turn allowed for the limbs to pump even more blood by swimming. Their limbs became paddle-like, and usually move in a synchronized pattern to reduce the cost of energy and drag.

Biological Traits

There are three known species of this family all in the same genus. They are listed here.

Species Diversity:
Name: Protamisa lavisimeio
Diet: Will eat phytopinnipeds and phloropseudopos
Size: 6 cm - 8 cm
Range: World Wide
Has evolved to ingest the prevailing phytopinnipeds and chloropseudopos, due to this diet they developed scratching appendages in order to both hold their food and break it down.
Color: Green Name: Protamisa mopsalidi
Diet: Will eat boseo descendants.
Size: 30 cm - 80 cm
Range: Shallow Waters
Found only where boseo resides, these creatures possess powerful feeding appendages with small hardened and sharp edges to cut through its food.
Color: Purple Name: Protamisa filtrankalizo
Diet: Filter feeder.
Size: 6 cm - 8cm
Range: Open Waters
Among the genus largest species, they are found in open waters utilizing their long fiber covered feeding appendages to filter the water for microorganisms.
Color: Blue

Genetics and Reproduction

The life cycle of the creatures starts with an egg, or more precisely on an egg sack covered by mucus. The egg sack serves as protection from would-be predators until the larvae grow large enough to come out into the world. The mucus covering them has two uses, one is to mask the scent of the eggs, the other is to provide a ready food source for the young. After growing large enough they will travel to the open ocean in search of both food and a school for protection. Unlike their ancestors who were hermaphrodites, they have two genders a male and female. The genders can be distinguished by the lighter coloring of the male's tagmata and the mating patterns that appear upon maturation. Once a female has reached the age in order to reproduce she will release pheromones into the water. Any males capable of finding these with their upper feelers will swarm the female, however, she will only mate with mature males. She will mate with the various males by bringing their mouths together until she has enough sperm to fertilize all of her brood. She will then deposit an egg sack on a rock. The incubation period varies from species to species but a week to four weeks is typical, with smaller species having a shorter gestation period. Each egg sack contains several hundred eggs. Open ocean species will often migrate to coastal waters to reproduce. However, once the egg sack is laid, the next generation is left to fend for themselves.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Several species have adapted their feeding appendages to have different keratinous protrusions for different food sources, some filter-feeding while others feed off of vegetation. Their digestive tract has also changed, now rather than having a one-way chamber from mouth to stomach, there is a second chamber where the digestive material is sent. Any organic material that enters the esophagus will pass into the primary stomach and is digested, it will then be sent to a smaller chamber below the first, in this chamber, any indigestible material is ejected by traveling a different tube that leads back to the mouth by using muscle contractions. Protomisanids are often found on open waters or near the coast of the continents, they are widespread and are often found mainly in schools for protection and reproductive purposes. The species are mostly found near the food source they are adapted to eat.

EXTINCT

Genetic Ancestor(s)