Dome Star

by Leviathan

Slowly stepping around in the depths, these blind radiotrophs have made the jump from sessile to mobile to prey upon their relatives; convergently evolving to fill a role similar to a sea star's back on earth.

Basic Information

Anatomy

The Dome Star consists of a main body with 6 ventral, lateral locomotive appendages and a 7th dorsal protective appendage. The Dome Star evolved from Radio Domes which had lost the ability to enter the adult sessile stage, preferring to stay in a locomotive state their whole life so it can find its prey instead of waiting for prey to grow next to it. Their specialized hunting appendages have been repurposed mainly for movement, using barbs in the paddles to climb and cut into prey. They connect their mouth against the body of their prey and externally digest chunks. To protect them from retaliation they have a limb on the top of the organism which has a large protective dome made of hardened flesh covered in a magnetite plate, jutting out from small holes in the dome are its radiosensors. The magnetite combined with its radiosensors makes it very efficient at finding and consuming sessile radiotrophs to feed on. It has a simplistic nerve system just complex enough to allow the organism to sense pain, move, seek out prey, and feel hunger.

Genetics and Reproduction

Every 2 years the Dome Star breaks off all of its locomotive limbs. At the point of separation the skin will pull inwards covering the wound, although its stem still protrudes. The larva will swim outwards, spinning its copper stem, finding a radioactive and movement rich area to settle down in. It relies on fat storage and radiation to repair its split limbs. Older and larger Dome Star larva have higher chances of survival as they are larger and harder to eat. They will usually grow faster as a result.

Growth Rate & Stages

When Dome Star larva swims to a rock crop with substantial radiation levels nearby it attaches to the rock and slowly grows into its adult form over the span of 12 weeks. It grows with its mouth and locomotive branches facing upwards similar to it’s ancestor before detaching from the rock and flipping itself over, its flat base rounding out to become the protective shield.

Ecology and Habitats

Dome stars feed primarily on sessile radiotrophs like Fractal Trees, Radio Friends, and its own ancestor the Radio Dome; Dome stars will also scavenge dead organisms if they find them. Dome stars are fed on by low swimming carnivores. Dome stars live around hydrothermal vents and rarely venture into the debris fields.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Dome Stars are opportunistic carnivores that feed on dead organisms and stationary prey. As a Dome Star consumes prey, some of its prey's DNA is added to its own in the form of junk DNA, lowering the chances of genetic illnesses and cancer.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

The dorsal dome, while used to protect themselves from predators, is also radiosensitive, as the surface is composed of radio sensors that detect and absorb radiation. The dome having a large amount of magnesium in it, is also used to detect the presense of the internal metals of other radiotrophs. The skin on its appendages can sense the ground it moves on, allowing it to tell the texture and material of what it’s walking on using a combination of complex touch sensing nerve bundles, similar to those found in the human finger and simple chemoreceptors.

Created By
Dr. Misa
Genetic Ancestor
Radio Dome

Scientific Name

Radiovenis Pachycorythoastrus

Origin/Ancestry

Radiotropha

Lifespan

200 years

Average Height

5 cm

Average Length

15 cm