Xenopistris
Basic Information
Anatomy
Xenopistris has become more specialized to open ocean life than its ancestor probosignathid. The head tagma has become more compact with the chelicerae becoming three pronged pseudo-jaw responsible for capturing and masticating prey. The beak like jaw is still used to masticate food but the muscles controlling it are much weaker. The three eye stalks are retractable to help reduce drag during pursuit. The modified spike paddles of the ancestral probosignathid have become small and vestigial only truly used as chemoreceptors for detecting prey in the open ocean.
The purple gill frills are no longer ringed around the gaps between the segments. They are now only present ventrally as to reduce drag while the Xenopistris is swimming.
The second and third segments have begun to develop a dorsal spine, that is somewhat reminiscent of a dorsal fin, to help prevent the Xenopistris from rolling as it swims at faster speeds. Segments 2, 3 and 4 have adapted their flippers to be more rigid while segment 5 has completely lost its flippers and has dedicated its muscle mass to moving the final segment.
Segment 6 has developed into a large flattened fin-like tail that is used to propel the Xenopistris through the water and chase down prey. It still ends in the Xenopistris’ cloaca.
Genetics and Reproduction
Xenopistris are sequential hermaphrodites. They begin life as males who live in schools in the shallows around Yama and Kub Shay eagerly awaiting the large ocean roaming females. When a female is ready to lay eggs she will move into shallow waters and release a pheromone from her cloaca to attract a school of males. Once the males have located her, the female will begin digging a shallow hole with her tail segment and lay 5-10 eggs which the males will quickly begin spreading their gametes on the eggs. The female will then return to deeper water while the males cover the eggs in sediment.
Growth Rate & Stages
Xenopistris emerge from their eggs as male miniature versions of the adults and will school with its siblings. They will feed on smaller organisms until they have grown to 1.5 meters in length and become fertile. On average this will take 1-2 local years.
The fertile male phase stops growing until they reach 5 local years old when they leave their schools and enter the open ocean and begin their transition into a female. During this time their bodies will grow quickly over the course of 2 local years and become fertile females.
Ecology and Habitats
Xenopistris live primarily in the open ocean of Almaishah feeding on the large filter feeders they prefer to live in warmer waters but can be found in cold water from time to time. Males and nesting sites tend to be found around the southern tips of Yama and Kubshay.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Xenopistris is exclusively carnivorous and specializes on hunting large filter feeders such as the earth jellies and Saccocassis. The preferred prey of the males is young Magnuspina and Megacaris, but any slow moving prey will do.
Additional Information
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Like its ancestor, Xenopistris has three pupils for each eye allowing it a wider range of vision as it is more of a visual hunter the sensory horn like paddles have become vestigial and reduced in size. Though they are still used for chemoreception.
EXTINCT
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Scientific Name
Xenopistris griseo
Origin/Ancestry
Xenosegmenta
Lifespan
20 local years
Average Height
120 cm
Average Length
500 cm
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Xenopistris exhibited countershading with its dorsal side being black or dark gray in color and their ventral side being white in color. The gill frills were light purple like in the ancestral probosignathid.
Geographic Distribution
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