Colonia varia
Colonia varia is a peculiar species of Early Eukaryote . It stems from the heterotroph and mobile ancestor out of the sub-domain Flagellata , but opted for a more sessile lifestyle along the shallow waers of the shores and tide pools, where it feeds on smaller organisms in the water. The single flagellum it's ancestors and relatives are marked by has moved from the hintpart to the mouthpart of the cell, where it is used to controll the water current down to smaller flagellum-like organells.
On it's rear end new structures arose, the so-called affigti, flagellum-like parts as well, but immovable. Their purpose is to anchor the organism on the surcafe of rocks and secure it against the tide and waves of the shore.
Basic Information
Anatomy
C. varia has distinct features that enable it to live along the waves of the shore, in tidal pools and almost everywhere among hard surfaces under water. It's roundish body has three to twenty Affigti on it's rear end, which produce a kind of biogene cement to anchor it on the rocks. The composition of the cement depends on the minerals found in the water, but normally is either a type of silicate or carbonate.
The Flagellum has moved to the center of the organism's mouth, where it controls the water flow and brings in smaller species, which are then caught by the flagellum-like organells in the mouth, which produces a kind of sticky mucus to trap the prey, bevor it is then put into vacuoles and comsumed by the cell.
Pori (pores) all along the cell's surface are able to produce another kind of mucus, mostly made of water and sugars. These organells are inactive while the cell is moving freely in the water, but start working as soon as the cell is either attacked or settled and started to multiply. It then forms a thick, gelatonous membrane around the cell and it's offspring, which protects the colony from predators and parasites.
Genetics and Reproduction
C. varia has a very complex life cycle. It starts out as a single, light-sensitive cell with a haploid genome. This cell will swim though the ocean in search for a good place to settle and then anchor itself on hard surface with the help of it's Affigti. Once it has settled, it begins reproducing by dividing itself into two diploid clones. These adhere to each other with the sugary mucus produced from the Pori. The two clones divide themselves further, until they cover the surface of the rock they adhere to. The generational span depends on the region C. varia has settled and lies somewhere between four to twenty divisions a day.
Once the colony has covered the substrate and reached unfavourable conditions on the outside, it will start to release clumps of cells from it's sides. Those form diploid, free swimming clusters that are able to colonize new areas.
The clusters somehow regain the ability to sense light, probably because they undergo a genetical shift. On the inside of the cluster some of the new cells will be haploid cells - gametes, which are released as the cluster settles. The gametes then swarm the water, conjugate with other gametes by chance and form a new single cell, which in turn will search new areas to colonize.
Dietary Needs and Habits
C. varia lives off smaller cells, mostly corticeans and double nucleoide early eukaryotes, but occasionly consumes it's own gametes or gametes of other species as well. For it's ability to anchor itself it needs favourable conditions in either carbon or silicium rich waters.
Additional Information
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
C. varia uses mostly three kinds of perception: chemical, water movement and temperature. It prefers colder, more active water, where it gets lots of food and oxygen as well as places with higher amounts of either silizium or carbon, which it uses to produce it's cement. It can detect the presence of prey and predators by sensing differences in the flow of the water.
Single, free swimming cells still have their light sensitive organell, which will loose it's function once the cell settles. The first offspring of the cell will show no light sensitive organ, but it will be activated for either gametes or swimming colonies.
Domain:
Primakaryota
Sub-Domain:
Flagellata
Without Classification:
Colonia
Species:
Colonia Varia
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Scientific Name
Colonia varia
Geographic Distribution
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