Wooshi

Water hoppers started spending more time outside of water on land. They kept finding themselves in situations where they landed outside and those who survived best there became the wooshi. Wooshi intentionally jump into low hanging branches which they grab with their two long tentacles and hang upside down from. They wait for the opportunity to let go and glide towards their prey and get their food. Originally evolved in the island chain between the two major continents, Wooshi have diversified into three distinct shapes. One being found in Yama, another in Kub Shay, the more basal one still being found in the island chain between them. Pictured: two wooshi hand from a young boseo maximus in Kub Shay. [Creature design by Xord]

Basic Information

Anatomy

The wooshi are much flatter than their ancestor the water hopper. The two long tentacles are now used to hang onto tree branches above water. The flaps are closer to fins. They are used both to glide and to propel the organism through water in search of a new spot on which to perch. It wraps itself in its fin like structures to reduce wind drag, as well as to prevent its gills from going dry too quickly. It has hardened quill like structures in its mouth to prevent prey from escaping. Wooshi also have sticky pads with microstructures resembling those geckos have to help them grab onto branches. What makes them different in each geographical location is their eyes. The Islander Wooshi retains its ancestral eye stalk locations, the Kub Shay Wooshi does too but its eyes sag almost the entire body length to better see the water below. In both cases they retract when the Wooshi is not hanging to reduce drag. The Yama Wooshi has undergone a more drastic change by internalising its eyestalks. A pair moved towards the front and another towards the back, then moved above the mouth for better vision.

Genetics and Reproduction

Wooshi reproduces in the same way as its ancestors. They broadcast spawn in shallow waters where they will be safe from larger predators unable to venture into shallow waters and once large enough will find their way to the branches with ease.

Growth Rate & Stages

At the beginning they are essentially plankton floating in the water. They spend their early life in the water as their water jets are not developed enough to jump out of the water. Once grown they can jump into branches from which they hunt.

Ecology and Habitats

They spend their days above water bodies waiting to pounce on unsuspecting prey. They tend to stay where rivers meet the oceans but they sometimes wander upstream.

Additional Information

Geographic Origin and Distribution

There are three species, one found all across Yama (Torsit yamanensis), one found on the islands between Kub Shay and Yama (Pseudotodarodes nyson), and one found across western Kub Shay (T. volantes).

Genetic Ancestor(s)