Crinitode
by Leviathan
Basic Information
Anatomy
These incredibly basal gustovates have vermiform bodies. They are vaguely leaf shaped, with the body widening around the pharyngeal filter chamber, which is the organism’s widest point, before tapering caudally at the post anal tail. There is clear bilateral symmetry, with half of the tentacles being found on either side of the body.
At the superior side of the organism the 8 jaw tentacles are partially fused to the sides of the body wall, with the superior quarter free usable appendages. The radula extends from the interior surface of these tentacles. Set on a cartillegious odontophore at the base, allowing them to extend outward for further reach. The radula itself is made up of tiny dentines which is where calcium is stored for body functions. Caudal to the oral cavity and surrounding the radula radially are the anchor tentacles. There are 32 in total, with 16 on either side.
The epidermis is thin, dotted with light sensing opsins on their dorsal and ventral sides. In fact it is so thin, internal structures like the jellycords can be made out. These light sensing opsins allow crinitodes to interact with light without having actual eye structures. Crinitodes have a flight or fight response which is triggered by light. Which helps keep them from getting too close to the hydrothermal vent and from other bioluminecant organisms. The epidermis is studded with mucus glands, the mucus is made up of glyco-protiens. This mucus protects against radiation, deters parasites and cuts down on friction while moving in the water or tunneling. It also helps with respiration, drawing in oxygen toward the skin. Below the dermis is a thin statocyst jelly layer which aids in orientation. Due to the iron content in their tissues, the organism is reddish in hue.
Caudal to the oral cavity, the widest section of the body contains the pharyngeal filter chamber which is surrounded by the atrium. This chamber and the entire body are supported by jellyrods. Jellyrods are cartilage like structures made up of packed tissue. As a gustovate there is a dorsal major jellyrod, that acts as a notochord, running the length of the body, providing support for the myomere muscle segments and as a resting place for the dorsal nerve cord. Five lesser jellyrods, specifically support the pharyngeal filter chamber. There are two sets of lateral rods and a ventral rod. The dorsal lateral and ventral lateral rod sets create the sides of the filter chamber from which the filter slits are anchored. There are around 100 vertical slits on each side. On the ventral side, within the atrium are the gametes. They are segmented, with the pair of thinner testis being yellow in color and the larger medial overy being white in color. The gametes are as long as the pharyngeal chamber, making up a large fraction of the organism’s weight.
Leading out of the atrium, through pores on the lateral medial side are the atriopores. There are three sets of atriopores, they lie toward the midline of the body, caudal to the pharyngeal chamber. Water filtered out of the pharyngeal chamber goes through the slits, which provide an additional place for respiration via diffusion. This water is used to help disperse ova and spermatozoa through the atriopores. Glands set within the walls of the atriopore tubes release pheromones for reproduction.
At the end of the trunk are movement tentacles, there are 16 in total. They aid in movement and as additional places for respiration to occur. The anal orifice is set on the ventral side just caudal to where the movement tentacles meet the body. From the movement tentacles, the abdomen extends to a fleshy post anal tail. This structure allows crinitodes to move in a vermiform or serpentine like fashion on the benthic floor.
There is a very simple nervous system consisting of a hollow neural cord that extends through the length of the organism, resting on top of the dorsal major jellycord. A nerve net extends from the nerve cord down the median plane on the lateral sides of the body. To aid in sensory transfer, the nerve cells are loosely covered in myelin sheaths. Which helps make up for its slow movement and simple nerve cord.
Respiration is done mainly by diffusion through the skin. However, as they suck in water, respiration occurs at the slits within the pharyngeal chamber.
Crinitodes have a simple circulatory system, simple tubes that extend throughout the body in a closed system. They lack oxygen carrying pigments and any sort of rhythmic heart with the fluid being opaque. A network of capillaries extend into the dermis to make the respiration through the skin more efficient.
A defining internal aspect of gustovates are the many pairs of protonephridium. These are rudimentary kidney-like structures found on the dorsolateral surface of the digestive system. Starting in the pharyngeal chamber and extending down towards the anus. Each filter slit has its own pair of protonephridium, while over the rest of the digestive system pairs of protonephridium are every myomere. There are around 200 pairs of protonephridium in total, though the true amount varies per species. The protonephridium collects waste from the circulatory system. Liquid waste products like ammonium and excess salt are released through the atrium.
Genetics and Reproduction
They are simultaneous hermaphrodites that are capable of parthenogenesis. However, sexual reproduction is prefered. When two Crinitodes meet they release pheromones from their atriopores to initiate mating. Reproduction is done through benthic broadcast spawning, with ova and spermatozoa released through the atriopores. Under favorable conditions they will reproduce every 3 local days. Producing 300 to 400 fertilized eggs per spawn.
Growth Rate & Stages
Stages:
Eggs take 1-2 local days to hatch
o Flagelladial – non-feeding radial stage 0.3 mm
Lipid rich yoke within the stomach cavity, this provides nourishment for the larvae until it metamorphosizes. It can only metamorphose once it has been swallowed by a larger organism. The mucus covering the flagelladial’s body protects it from the stomach acid. They can last up to a local week in this stage.
o Elongated Flagettadial – tubular radial parasitic stage 0.5 mm;
Once within its first host the stomach acid causes a reaction, which starts the metamorphosis. As an elongated flagettadial, the body takes on a more tubular shape and the stomach cavity fully forms. It begins to feed on it’s host’s meals growing larger. Eventually, they will kill and devour their host, using the nutrients to metamorphosis into the next stage. This takes around 7 local days.
o Bilatagella – Bilateral filter feeding stage 0.8 mm
The pharyngeal filter chamber fully forms and it begins to take on bilateral symmetry. This filter basket helps in feeding, drawing in material toward the organism with suction, as well as providing additional areas for respiration. In this stage, the larva resembles an ovid, football-like shape with eight clear jellyrods and sides. During this stage, the larva is a zooplankton filter feeder, found in the water column near the surface.
o Metamorphic larvae – Transitional bilateral stage (non feeding) 0.1 cm.
After a week of feeding it will migrate toward the benthic floor, releasing enzymes that cause a cocoon made up of loose mud and sulfur to form around it. During this phase the body begins to take on a vermiform shape, with the dorsal most jellyrod absorbing the dorsal ventral set and lengthening into a primitive notochord like structure. Lasts about 7 local days.
o Juvenile stage - smaller version of adult 0.3 cm
After emerging from the cocoon, the asexual juvenile will become covered in sulphur loving bacteria which were feeding on the sulphur making up the cocoon. Over the course of 21 local days, it will reach a length of around 4 cm. Though they become sexually mature upon reaching 1 cm in length.
Ecology and Habitats
Crinitodes are limited to hydrothermal vents found along the continental plates. As they depend on the sulfur to grow the epibacteria on their epidermis.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Mucus produced and outer epidermal tissue is modified to host ectosymbiotic epi bacteria.
Additional Information
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Crinitodes have mechanoreceptors and chemoreceptors on their anchor tentacles which provide touch and smell. On their jaw tentacles; the surface not covered in calcium serrations are also covered in modified chemoreceptors that let them taste what they’re eating. This lets them interpret whether something is edible or not.
On their epidermis, the body is studded with light sensing opsins. Interacting with light causes a flight or fight reflex as a sudden flash could mean an incoming predator. When they feel light, they will attempt to burrow or head to a darker area, using their opsins to determine where light isn’t coming from. The epidermis has nerves extending from the nervous system that allow them to sense pain, pressure, and temperature.
Embedded within the dermis is a jelly filled layer referred to as a statocyst, it is filled with calcium carbonate grain particles called statoliths which interact with sensory hair cells. The organ deals with gravity, balance, movement, and directional indicators. When in the water or in the strata, Sordistomans use their body wide statocyst to pick up on vibrations. These vibrations determine the possibility of approaching predators allowing them to tunnel or flee in a different direction.
Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms
Crinitodes rely on larger organisms to parasitize, for example: Soundglobes, Radio Raptors, or and Blood Raptors.
Created By
Chared Ancestor
Rose Comet
Chared Ancestor
Rose Comet
Scientific Name
Crinitoda Sulphator
Origin/Ancestry
Stephanozoa
Lifespan
540 Local Days
Average Length
4 cm; 1 cm anchor tentacles, 1.5 cm motive tentacle lengths
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Slightly Transparent Red
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