Sea Sweeper
Basic Information
Anatomy
Like all other members of clade, all members of aquacomdenti possess a complex camera type eye with the ability to see color. However, members of aquacomdenti possess two different cone cells that are susceptible to light at opposite ends of the visible light spectrum. This ability is likely used to help them detect variations within the water, as many are preyed upon by larger animals that prowl the Pelagic Zone of the Continental Slopes.
Aquacomdenti also shares the flexible cartilaginous bone that runs from the end of the tail to the base of the head with all other members of their clade. This bone, called the stem, is used to provide support for the muscular structure of the tail and lateral fins, and is critical to the anatomical organization of not just the genus, but the entire clade. While it is strong enough to provide a proper anchor for it’s tail and fin muscles, it is also quite flexible, resulting in Aquacomdenti being able to possess both great dexterity and strength compared to other creatures of similar size. Other cartilage formations exist within the fins, but this cartilage is much harder and is used to hold the shape of the fins firm as they push against the water.
Along each lateral side of the stem, several bands of nerves run along the length of the organism. These nerves contain numerous smaller nerve clusters; one on each side of the stem in each segment. These nerve clusters have shrunk in comparison to their ancestors, with the exception of three pairs – one in the foremost tagma, and one at each end of the abdominal tagma. These pairs have actually begun to fuse, forming simple, primitive “brains'' and core functions of the nervous system are divided among them. The foremost brain primarily handles environmental stimulus, movement, behavior, and basic memory. The second regulates internal organs and most automatic functions, and the third controls reproductive functions and bowel movements. The foremost of these clusters is by far the largest, mainly due to it being responsible for movement and processing of visual input from the eyes – the most important sensory organ of this family.
The circulatory system has also undergone significant improvements in this species. The central cavity has instead become a simple - yet large - network of passageways extending through the musculature of the organisms. These passageways are quite intricate, but are not so complex as to require a proper heart, valve, or other specialized form of mechanism to keep blood pumping. Instead, simple muscle contractions during movement are sufficient, which works quite well considering aquacomdenti are almost always moving to filter-feed. While this system lacks the benefit of specialized fluids and a valve-sealed system, it is far more complex than the circulatory systems of most more basal forms. As a result, aquacomdenti is able to employ a faster metabolism and enjoy more efficient internal gas exchange without having to create more complex external structures.
The external body plan of all cephaloptins - including aquacomdenti - follows the same basic design; long, smooth bodies with a reduction in visible segmentation on the exterior of their bodies. Tagmatization has occurred, and members of the order possess three distinct tagma; the “head” foremost tagma, a central abdominal tagma, and a posterior tagmata, called the tail. The lateral swimming appendages of its ancestors have condensed down to two pairs near the front of the abdominal tagma, and an additional smaller pair near the rear end of the same tagma.
The four appendages near the front of the body have increased greatly in size in comparison to more basal orders, and have retained their ancestral cartilaginous internal plating which provides structure and strength while swimming. These primitive “fins'' are used to aid in steering. The smaller hind pair of fins are used to aid in stabilizing the Aquacomdenti as it swims. Members of Aquacomdenti also possessed a vertical paddle at the end of their posterior tagma, and this served as the primary mechanism for propulsion in the water.
In aquacomdenti, these generalities manifest themselves in the form of long, ovular heads with gaping mouths and slender, smooth bodies. The head of the aquacomdenti is significantly larger than that of it’s relatives, giving the impression of a more compact body - but this is not the case. Rather, the aquacomdenti’s head has significantly expanded in order to capture and funnel as much water into their digestive tract as possible. While this has resulted in the organisms becoming a bit slower and less hydrodynamic, it has enabled them to become more energy efficient by increasing the amount of plankton that funnels into the stomach.
Interestingly, most of the interior of the abdominal tagma is composed by a significantly expanded stomach. The stomach is located just behind the sealable throat, and is used to filter plankton from the large quantities of water it ingests. This water is funneled directly to the posterior anus, where it is expelled. When the Sea Sweeper has filtered enough water, it will seal it’s throat and flood it’s stomach with enzymes to digest the plankton. The digested nutrients are then funneled to the back of the stomach and filtered into the bloodstream, while the waste is sent down to the posterior anus to be expelled as the creature resumes filter-feeding.
Additionally, the first two pairs of gill fronds have hardened and no longer function as such. Rather, they are used as a means of laying eggs without having to return to the shallows, where predation is more common.
Aquacomdenti vermisia
A. makrika
A. dytika
A. australialis
Genetics and Reproduction
All members of aquacomdenti are diploid hermaphrodites, with each developing one male and one female gonad. Therefore, they will both lay eggs and fertilize eggs as a form of mating, and are theoretically capable of fertilizing their own eggs (whether or not they do so is dependent upon each individual species instincts).
Aquacomdenti vermisia
Also known as the common sea sweeper, these organisms rely on their schooling behavior to mate and are typical of their genus. Mating season begins at the end of spring and ends in the middle of fall (this is relative to the part of the planet they are on; populations near the equator mate year round). All members of this species first lay their eggs by curling their posterior anus towards the base of their head, and then releasing up to 20 eggs into the large, nonfunctional gill fronds at the base of their heads. The eggs are coated in a sticky mucosal membrane, which helps them stick to the gills. Then, individuals will choose a nearby member of their school and proceed to fertilize each other's eggs. They do this by swimming next to one another and curling their tails together, positioning their posterior anus over the gill fronds. They then release their male gametes.
Aquacomdenti makrika
The ridge sea sweeper employs a radically different reproductive strategy more akin to that of organisms in the Yama-Kub Shay reef systems - however reliant on the much safer Katharaian Ridge. The ridge sSea sweeper schools will mix and intermingle during this time as they search the sediment for a suitable location, such as under an outcropping of rocks or a shallow hole. Once a suitable location is found, the school will all lay their eggs (approx. 20 per individual) into a large cluster. Then, the entire school will proceed to fertilize the eggs. While this system does allow for a singular ridge sea sweeper to fertilize their own eggs, it also allows for the most diverse possible gene pool per egg - as any one of the mating individuals could fertilize any particular egg that had been laid. After the eggs have been fertilized, the schools will leave the site and the eggs to fend for themselves.
Aquacomdenti dytika
The western sea sweepers, like their close cousins, the common sea sweepers, heavily rely on schooling to mate, and both lay and fertilize their eggs in a similar fashion. However, where the western sea sweepers differ from their more cosmopolitan siblings is how they employ the geography of their habitats in the first and second phases of their life cycles.
Mating season for the western sea sweeper occurs at the beginning of the local spring, and ends in the final weeks of the local autumn; unlike the common sea sweeper, this rule applies even to those populations living closest to the equator, as their range is almost entirely south of it. Roughly once every 30 local days, the school will journey to the shallower parts of their range along the coasts of Kub Shai and Western Ridge.
Much like the common sea sweeper, members of the school will form pairs after laying their eggs, and proceed to fertilize the other partner’s eggs by coiling their tails over each other, and ejecting male gametes out of the posterior anus. However, there are two significant differences. First, the eggs are smaller and laid in far larger clutches; a single clutch of eggs can number into the hundreds. Secondly, the eggs are only allowed to develop on the fronds for a singular day before they hatch and are released into the water. After this, the Western Sea Sweeper will mate again, repeating the process until the school leaves the shallows.
Aquacomdenti australialis
The southern sea sweeper is a population that has branched off from the common sea sweeper in and around the south pole of Almaishah as a response to low predation and a highly seasonal climate. The mating season occurs near the end of spring, roughly around the same time that the sun rises over the horizon for the last time before the ;ong antarctic day. This is triggered by a small portion of the brain made up of a vestigial remnant of their ancestors other, more basal eyes. This photoreceptive part of the brain - called the neurocircadia - triggers the onset of the mating season after a certain amount of time has passed without nighttime occurring. Interestingly, the mating season is incredibly short in this species, only lasting about two weeks.
Like the common sea sweeper and western sea sweeper, the southern sea sweeper uses its ventral-cranial gill fronds to house the eggs while they are fertilized and developed. The school will first lay its eggs by coiling the tail and releasing the eggs through it’s posterior anus, and will fertilize another sea sweeper’s eggs through the same process but with the additional process of crossing tails. However, while in most species the eggs hatch in a matter of days, it takes the Southern sea sweeper a full local week for it’s eggs to hatch. Furthermore, southern sea sweepers only lay 10 eggs - half the amount that a common sea sweeper would.
Growth Rate & Stages
Aquacomdenti vermisia
Eggs usually hatch within 5 days, with the naiads being bound to the safety of the fronds until they are large enough to swim on their own. The gill fronds are wide with numerous fibrous appendages similar to the baleen of earth’s whales. This allows the gill fronds to capture plankton as the adult swims, providing food to the naiad. Furthermore, the naiads are supplemented with a small yoke that provides food for the first few days of life. If there is a lack of plankton in the water, the naidads are not against eating their smaller siblings who simply did not develop fast enough; this has resulted in larger litters when food is abundant, and smaller litters when food is scarcer. This has also resulted in natural selection becoming stronger at weeding out runts in the event of a prolonged shortage of food. After approximately two weeks, what remains of the naiads have developed enough to swim independently. While they are still much smaller than the adults and may struggle to keep up with the school, they are freed from the gill fronds. It is around this point that their mouths complete the move up from the distal side of the head to the anterior end as in the adults, which is located at the front of the head (similar to Xenoeuli kirbiyi). Hence, they are able to filter feed independently. Roughly 5 days after this, their gonads finish maturation and the juveniles become adults. If the mating season is still present, they will begin to lay their own eggs and fertilize others, which will in turn lead to more juveniles being born and the school will continue to grow. Aquacomdenti makrika
Eggs hatch after just 1-2 local days, when a small naiad emerges. These naiads are identical to the adults, except they are much smaller and have their mouths located on the ventral side of the head as opposed to the adult position. These naiads will first feed on plankton as they drift through the water near the benthic layer of the Ridge, until they are large enough to swim. The oral cavity does not move towards the adult position at all during this phase, and it is generally regarded as “phase 1” of the creature’s juvenile life cycle. Some naiads who do not grow fast enough may drift out into the Pelagic zone; these will be unable to feed on algae to fuel their phase 2 metabolisms, and will almost certainly die. “Phase 2” of the juvenile state begins when the naiad is able to swim on its own; this phase usually begins after 2-3 local days. When this phase begins, the juveniles will swim to the benthic layer and begin to feed on algae and planktonic organisms that live on the seafloor. It is during this phase that the oral cavity moves from the ventral side to the adult anterior facing position. As the juveniles grow over the next two local weeks, they will begin to exhibit the same schooling behavior seen in adults. However, schools at this stage are not quite yet able to intimidate smaller predators, and due to their dependence on the benthic layer many juveniles will die to the few ambush predators that may stalk the edges of the Ridge. Adult life is characterized by the completion of the oral cavity’s migration across the lower side of the head, and the completion of the development of porous membranes within the throat and stomach to trap plankton. This process is usually completed around 14 local days after the second phase of life begins - upon which the schools will begin to break up and journey out into the pelagic zone surrounding the Katharian Ridge. Members of this species will never stray far from this ridge due to their dependence on it to mate; the ridge sea sweeper is the only member of its genus that does not have a mating season of any form, and instead mates roughly each 30 to 60 days year round. The gonads complete development after an additional two local weeks, after which the young adult is able to mate and will lay their own eggs when they return to the benthic layer of the ridge. Aquacomdenti dytika
Once the naiads have hatched and left the fronds, they will feed on other planktonic members of the ecosystem until they can grow large enough to swim freely. During this period, they are some of the most abundant food sources for the local fauna, and most naiads will be devoured during this time by larger organisms. After 10 days (when this phase of the western sea sweeper life cycle ends) roughly 85% of all naiads hatched will be eaten, hence the amount of naiads hatched per school tends to be in the hundreds or thousands. The naiads will undergo rapid growth during this phase, and those that survive will be miniature adults by the time they reach the second phase of their lives. The major exception to this is that their fins will remain somewhat underdeveloped compared to their size, and the slow naiads will supplement their diets with algae until they are strong enough to withstand the open ocean. Once the naiads have attained this size, they will journey to the benthic layer to supplement their diet with algae to aid in their rapid growth. During this phase of life they remain vulnerable to predators of the coastal ecosystems and competition with other algal feeders, however they have two advantages. The first is that they are still capable of feeding on plankton, and the second is that this phase of life is relatively short - only lasting 3 days. In that time the juveniles will eat almost continuously, desperate to finish their final stages of development so they can retreat to the relatively safer pelagic zone of the open ocean. In this phase, at least one quarter of all juveniles who survived the previous phase in the life cycle will die due to being eaten by larger predators. Once their fins are large enough, the western sea sweepers will journey out into the pelagic zone to join a school - this is feasible for them due to the smaller range of the Western Sea Sweeper compared to other members of their genus. When a school is found, the juveniles will join with it, and will likely spend the rest of their lives within that school. After an additional three days, the gonads finish development and the surviving sea sweepers become ready to lay eggs of their own. Aquacomdenti australialis
When the eggs hatch, they are effectively miniature adults - fully equipped with developed fins, eyes, and digestive tract. The young hatchlings even begin life with the ability to swim relatively freely, however they will generally remain latched onto the nursery fronds until they reach 2 cm in length. During this phase they will continually filter feed, much like the adults would. Due to the lack of spending their energy free swimming, the young hatchlings are able to reach this size fairly quickly, in approximately 5 local days. Since they are not really naiads upon hatching, this phase of life is referred to simply as the “hatchling” phase. Once a juvenile reaches about 2 cm in length, it will swim freely of it’s parent as a juvenile member of the herd. Over the next two weeks it will grow rapidly towards its adult size as the polar plankton is it’s most productive during this time of year. Within 5 local weeks, the youngling will reach its adult size; however, it’s gonads will not mature during this period, nor will they for the rest of the year. The gonads will only mature late into the next spring, around the beginning of the next mating season - this is mostly due to the long polar night’s approach, as the resources spent on maturing the gonads would be better spent stocking fat reserves, as they are needed to survive the winter, while the gametes will pose no usefulness until the mating season arrives afterwards.
Eggs usually hatch within 5 days, with the naiads being bound to the safety of the fronds until they are large enough to swim on their own. The gill fronds are wide with numerous fibrous appendages similar to the baleen of earth’s whales. This allows the gill fronds to capture plankton as the adult swims, providing food to the naiad. Furthermore, the naiads are supplemented with a small yoke that provides food for the first few days of life. If there is a lack of plankton in the water, the naidads are not against eating their smaller siblings who simply did not develop fast enough; this has resulted in larger litters when food is abundant, and smaller litters when food is scarcer. This has also resulted in natural selection becoming stronger at weeding out runts in the event of a prolonged shortage of food. After approximately two weeks, what remains of the naiads have developed enough to swim independently. While they are still much smaller than the adults and may struggle to keep up with the school, they are freed from the gill fronds. It is around this point that their mouths complete the move up from the distal side of the head to the anterior end as in the adults, which is located at the front of the head (similar to Xenoeuli kirbiyi). Hence, they are able to filter feed independently. Roughly 5 days after this, their gonads finish maturation and the juveniles become adults. If the mating season is still present, they will begin to lay their own eggs and fertilize others, which will in turn lead to more juveniles being born and the school will continue to grow. Aquacomdenti makrika
Eggs hatch after just 1-2 local days, when a small naiad emerges. These naiads are identical to the adults, except they are much smaller and have their mouths located on the ventral side of the head as opposed to the adult position. These naiads will first feed on plankton as they drift through the water near the benthic layer of the Ridge, until they are large enough to swim. The oral cavity does not move towards the adult position at all during this phase, and it is generally regarded as “phase 1” of the creature’s juvenile life cycle. Some naiads who do not grow fast enough may drift out into the Pelagic zone; these will be unable to feed on algae to fuel their phase 2 metabolisms, and will almost certainly die. “Phase 2” of the juvenile state begins when the naiad is able to swim on its own; this phase usually begins after 2-3 local days. When this phase begins, the juveniles will swim to the benthic layer and begin to feed on algae and planktonic organisms that live on the seafloor. It is during this phase that the oral cavity moves from the ventral side to the adult anterior facing position. As the juveniles grow over the next two local weeks, they will begin to exhibit the same schooling behavior seen in adults. However, schools at this stage are not quite yet able to intimidate smaller predators, and due to their dependence on the benthic layer many juveniles will die to the few ambush predators that may stalk the edges of the Ridge. Adult life is characterized by the completion of the oral cavity’s migration across the lower side of the head, and the completion of the development of porous membranes within the throat and stomach to trap plankton. This process is usually completed around 14 local days after the second phase of life begins - upon which the schools will begin to break up and journey out into the pelagic zone surrounding the Katharian Ridge. Members of this species will never stray far from this ridge due to their dependence on it to mate; the ridge sea sweeper is the only member of its genus that does not have a mating season of any form, and instead mates roughly each 30 to 60 days year round. The gonads complete development after an additional two local weeks, after which the young adult is able to mate and will lay their own eggs when they return to the benthic layer of the ridge. Aquacomdenti dytika
Once the naiads have hatched and left the fronds, they will feed on other planktonic members of the ecosystem until they can grow large enough to swim freely. During this period, they are some of the most abundant food sources for the local fauna, and most naiads will be devoured during this time by larger organisms. After 10 days (when this phase of the western sea sweeper life cycle ends) roughly 85% of all naiads hatched will be eaten, hence the amount of naiads hatched per school tends to be in the hundreds or thousands. The naiads will undergo rapid growth during this phase, and those that survive will be miniature adults by the time they reach the second phase of their lives. The major exception to this is that their fins will remain somewhat underdeveloped compared to their size, and the slow naiads will supplement their diets with algae until they are strong enough to withstand the open ocean. Once the naiads have attained this size, they will journey to the benthic layer to supplement their diet with algae to aid in their rapid growth. During this phase of life they remain vulnerable to predators of the coastal ecosystems and competition with other algal feeders, however they have two advantages. The first is that they are still capable of feeding on plankton, and the second is that this phase of life is relatively short - only lasting 3 days. In that time the juveniles will eat almost continuously, desperate to finish their final stages of development so they can retreat to the relatively safer pelagic zone of the open ocean. In this phase, at least one quarter of all juveniles who survived the previous phase in the life cycle will die due to being eaten by larger predators. Once their fins are large enough, the western sea sweepers will journey out into the pelagic zone to join a school - this is feasible for them due to the smaller range of the Western Sea Sweeper compared to other members of their genus. When a school is found, the juveniles will join with it, and will likely spend the rest of their lives within that school. After an additional three days, the gonads finish development and the surviving sea sweepers become ready to lay eggs of their own. Aquacomdenti australialis
When the eggs hatch, they are effectively miniature adults - fully equipped with developed fins, eyes, and digestive tract. The young hatchlings even begin life with the ability to swim relatively freely, however they will generally remain latched onto the nursery fronds until they reach 2 cm in length. During this phase they will continually filter feed, much like the adults would. Due to the lack of spending their energy free swimming, the young hatchlings are able to reach this size fairly quickly, in approximately 5 local days. Since they are not really naiads upon hatching, this phase of life is referred to simply as the “hatchling” phase. Once a juvenile reaches about 2 cm in length, it will swim freely of it’s parent as a juvenile member of the herd. Over the next two weeks it will grow rapidly towards its adult size as the polar plankton is it’s most productive during this time of year. Within 5 local weeks, the youngling will reach its adult size; however, it’s gonads will not mature during this period, nor will they for the rest of the year. The gonads will only mature late into the next spring, around the beginning of the next mating season - this is mostly due to the long polar night’s approach, as the resources spent on maturing the gonads would be better spent stocking fat reserves, as they are needed to survive the winter, while the gametes will pose no usefulness until the mating season arrives afterwards.
Ecology and Habitats
Aquacomdenti vermisia
The common sea sweeper has one of the largest ecological ranges up to this point on Almaishah. The pelagic filter-feeders can be found almost anywhere on Almaishah, save for the majority of the continental reef systems and those areas where they have been outcompeted by their more specialized relatives. In their ranges, they are among some of the most common animals to be found.
The common sea sweeper is, like all other members of it’s genus, a generalist filter feeder that is constantly filtering water through its body for plankton. However, they also lack the ability to pump water through their bodies, and can only filter the water when they are moving. As a result, the schools of sea sweepers moving all across AlMaishahs ancient oceans seem to never stop, and are almost constantly on the move. This is one of the primary reasons for their range being so large. Because the common sea sweeper is almost always moving, it and it’s school will traverse great expanses of open ocean during its lifetime, even if it does so at a calm and peaceful pace.
Aquacomdenti makrika
The ridge sea sweeper is endemic to the Katharaian Ridge and the surrounding oceans. While it is well adapted to filtering plankton and could probably survive in a greater range, the schools of ridge sea Sweepers remain close to the Katharaian Ridge due to the need to return to it regularly to mate. This condensed range has resulted in the ridge sea sweepers beginning to specialize to the particular composition of plankton in the area, and they are more efficient at feeding here. These two factors have reinforced the ridge sea sweeper’s established niche as a small, generalist filter feeder, occasionally placing it in competition with the common sea sweeper during times of surging birth rates. The ridge sea sweeper is better suited to this region than the common sea sweeper; this has led to the common sea sweepers being outcompeted in the northern regions of the ridge.
Aquacomdenti dytika
The western sea sweeper lives in the warm oceans to the southwest of Kub Shay. These regions include the Western Ridge and southern portions of the Yama-Kub Shay reef system. As a result, the western sea sweeper has adapted to the diet and pressures of its region. It spends most of its time in the deeper pelagic zones, where predation and competition is lower. However, it journeys to shallower areas of the ocean to spawn, allowing for a degree of niche partitioning between adult and juvenile populations.
Aquacomdenti australialis
The southern sea sweeper has adapted to live in the antarctic circle of Almaishah. While this region is not frigid, it does experience extreme seasonal changes due to the long polar night and day.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Aquacomdenti vermisia
The common sea sweeper is not known to possess any form of specializations regarding a specific type of plankton. Rather, their wide array of digestive enzymes are quite generalized, and they can feed on most varieties of plankton found in Almaishah’s ecosystems. Interestingly, they struggle to feed on bloomers due to their lack of proper enzymes to digest them. Though they can get energy from them, it is much less efficient than with most other types of plankton.
Aquacomdenti makrika
The ridge sea sweeper, due to its smaller range, has more specialized digestive enzymes to digest the plankton species surrounding the Katharaian Ridge. As a result, they have gained greater efficiency in gaining energy from their ecosystems, which has helped it outcompete it’s relative, the common sea sweeper, in the northern part of it’s range.
Aquacomdenti dytika
While most species of Aquacomdenti struggle to feed on bloomers, the western sea sweeper has actually developed proper enzymes designed specifically to digest them during it’s excursions into more coastal waters. This has resulted in their ability to thrive in more coastal ecosystems, even though they prefer to stay in the safer pelagic layer of the open ocean. Other than this, their digestive enzymes have begun to specialize to the local planktonic populations, however to a much lesser extent than other regional members of their genus.
Aquacomdenti australialis
The southern sea sweeper filter’s digestive enzymes are more specialized than those of any other species within its genus. This is mainly due to it’s highly specialized lifestyle within the antarctic circle of Almaishah. The digestive enzymes are specialized to digest the plankton of the region as efficiently as possible, so that energy may be stored for the long polar winter. For this reason, the southern sea sweeper has the most efficient digestive system for its habitat out of the entire genus of Aquacomdenti.
The southern sea sweeper also has much greater dietary needs during the summer and autumn during the year, largely due to a great restriction on its ability to feed in the long winter. As a result, the Southern Sea Sweeper puts on a great deal of fat during these times, and needs to consume additional plankton to accumulate this fat.
Biological Cycle
Aquacomdenti australialis
The Southern Sea Sweeper is the only known member of Aquacomdenti that undergoes a yearly biological cycle other than a mating season. This cycle is timed around the long polar day and night, which dictate the productivity of the polar plankton - the food source of the Southern Sea Sweeper. In early springtime, the first sunrise after many local days of darkness triggers a response from the circadia, causing the metabolism to gradually increase from it’s winter state as the length of the day increases. The dim light that bathes the sides of the organisms is detected by it’s complex eyes and numerous, internal circadians - vestigial remnants of the eyes it’s earliest ancestors had and lost due to evolution. These circadians and the complex eyes send signals to the neurocircadia, which is what triggers the end of hibernation. As the amount of daylight increases, the southern sea sweeper’s bodies gradually stir to life. As the spring goes on and plankton becomes more productive, the sea sweeper’s metabolism will continue to rise - keeping pace with the change in season until about late spring, when it reaches it’s summer levels. Once the daytime becomes significantly longer than the night - signaling the coming of the long polar day - the southern sea sweeper’s bodies prepare to mate. In the young adults, the gonads finally complete development, and in older adults the production of healthy male and female gametes resumes. The mating season will begin here, and it will last for a short two local weeks. After this, the gonads will cease production of gametes, and focus will shift to stocking up on fat stores for the winter and population exchanges with other schools to maintain genetic diversity. As the long polar day draws to a close, the neurocircadia begins triggering a gradual slowdown of the sea sweeper’s metabolism. This decline will continue all through the autumn, until the beginning of the long polar night. The signals to begin this slow shutdown are triggered by the first nightfall detected by the circadians. During this phase, the southern sea sweeper’s body begins to swell with stored food and an early version of fat cells. These will be used to help the sea sweeper survive the Long Polar Night and hibernation. When the sun sets for the final time, and the long polar night begins, the southern sea sweepers’ metabolism nearly slows to a halt. The cold, combined with the circadian system, forces the Sea Sweepers into an almost catatonic state. They are still “conscious” in a loose sense of the word - their bodies are active and they maintain a loose sense of awareness of their surroundings, however their state is most comparable to that of sleep. During this phase, the sea sweeper will not eat, and will barely move - doing everything it can to conserve it’s winter storage of fat and undigested plankton until the spring.
The Southern Sea Sweeper is the only known member of Aquacomdenti that undergoes a yearly biological cycle other than a mating season. This cycle is timed around the long polar day and night, which dictate the productivity of the polar plankton - the food source of the Southern Sea Sweeper. In early springtime, the first sunrise after many local days of darkness triggers a response from the circadia, causing the metabolism to gradually increase from it’s winter state as the length of the day increases. The dim light that bathes the sides of the organisms is detected by it’s complex eyes and numerous, internal circadians - vestigial remnants of the eyes it’s earliest ancestors had and lost due to evolution. These circadians and the complex eyes send signals to the neurocircadia, which is what triggers the end of hibernation. As the amount of daylight increases, the southern sea sweeper’s bodies gradually stir to life. As the spring goes on and plankton becomes more productive, the sea sweeper’s metabolism will continue to rise - keeping pace with the change in season until about late spring, when it reaches it’s summer levels. Once the daytime becomes significantly longer than the night - signaling the coming of the long polar day - the southern sea sweeper’s bodies prepare to mate. In the young adults, the gonads finally complete development, and in older adults the production of healthy male and female gametes resumes. The mating season will begin here, and it will last for a short two local weeks. After this, the gonads will cease production of gametes, and focus will shift to stocking up on fat stores for the winter and population exchanges with other schools to maintain genetic diversity. As the long polar day draws to a close, the neurocircadia begins triggering a gradual slowdown of the sea sweeper’s metabolism. This decline will continue all through the autumn, until the beginning of the long polar night. The signals to begin this slow shutdown are triggered by the first nightfall detected by the circadians. During this phase, the southern sea sweeper’s body begins to swell with stored food and an early version of fat cells. These will be used to help the sea sweeper survive the Long Polar Night and hibernation. When the sun sets for the final time, and the long polar night begins, the southern sea sweepers’ metabolism nearly slows to a halt. The cold, combined with the circadian system, forces the Sea Sweepers into an almost catatonic state. They are still “conscious” in a loose sense of the word - their bodies are active and they maintain a loose sense of awareness of their surroundings, however their state is most comparable to that of sleep. During this phase, the sea sweeper will not eat, and will barely move - doing everything it can to conserve it’s winter storage of fat and undigested plankton until the spring.
Additional Information
Social Structure
The genus Aquacomdenti has schooling behavior. Individuals are inclined to gather with and follow other members of their species. This can result in major population exchanges when two large schools encounter each other, sometimes resulting in a merging of schools.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Aquacomdenti’s eyes are always placed in dual pairs near the anterior end of the head, one pair on each side. These pairs have moved away from the median, yet these organisms also demonstrate depth perception. They perform this ability by employing stereopsis with each pair of eyes. This allows them to perceive depth on both sides, however it has created a larger blind spot near the median line. Performing stereopsis twice is quite mentally taxing, and most of the brain is now devoted to processing visual data. The optical portion of the brain has swelled and divided into a left and right section. Each of these sections is responsible for processing information from the eye pair closest to it. These sections are connected by a single neuronal structure called the optical median corpus, which is used to share information between each portion of the optical brain. If this nerve cluster were to be severed, the individual would not go blind; each side has its own connection to the rest of the brain. However, such an event would be catastrophic for its ability to process visual data coming from in front of the organism, as the lack of communication between these two brains prevents visual analysis of that region.
Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms
Aquacomdenti vermisia
Interestingly, the common sea sweeper shares its environment with another, larger filter feeder: The Nightsailers. The escort juveniles do not attack the sea sweepers, as the sea sweepers are simply too small to agitate them. As a result, common sea sweepers will swim alongside grazers if they see them, enjoying the protection of the Escorts to filter feed in safety. The grazers also gain from the presence of the sea sweepers. Due to their poor eyesight, they struggle to see predators approaching. However, sea sweepers have highly advanced eyes, and can detect these features. Thus, grazers can detect the behavior of the sea sweepers and use it to gauge for the presence of nearby predators.
EXTINCT
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Scientific Name
Aquacomdenti sps.
Origin/Ancestry
Xenosegmenta
Lifespan
Aquacomdenti vermisia: 3 local years Aquacomdenti makrika: 7 local years Aquacomdenti dytika: 3 local years Aquacomdenti australialis: 12 local years
Average Height
Aquacomdenti vermisia: 1 cm
Aquacomdenti makrika: 3 cm
Aquacomdenti dytika: 1.8 cm
Aquacomdenti australialis: 5 cm
Average Length
Aquacomdenti vermisia: 5 cm
Aquacomdenti makrika: 15 cm
Aquacomdenti dytika: 9.2 cm
Aquacomdenti australialis: 20 cm
Geographic Distribution
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