Qalkatal

Species of radio tropic fungus that evolved on the planet Tebburus.
Despite the Tebburus Unification War never escelating into nuclear war, some locations of Tebburus would be higher in radiation content than others. Most of these were present underground in the deep cave systems, which are the very conditions qalkatal fungus evolved in. These areas were created by the radioactive decay of various large atoimc elements, like uranium and thorium. Like all Tebburus lifeforms, it was bioluminescent.
It could grow to immense sizes, starting off as mere miniscule spores, and able to grow into massive objects that could almost be classified as a Titanic Lifeform. Although they dont normally eat any dead biomass that is nearby, they still serve a vital role to the ecosystem at these depths, being classified a producer. This did mean that it eventually evolved to be poisonous, but before that many species - including some cultures of Suons themselves - would eat it. Now the latter would only eat it if they could know with near-certainty that the poison was removed.
In the earliest suon-built spacecraft (such as the Destroyer - Class Destroyer starship lineup), it was also often used as a radiation shield, in case one was to take off their helmet (suons only need a helmet to defend themselves against radiation). This initiative saw decent success, but also added mass to the starships. Due to this, it wasnt used in all ships.
After growing to a sufficiently large size, it would reproduce by emitting a large number of spores. This number did of course increase as singular qalkatal grew larger, seemingly endlessly.

Geographic Distribution

• Tebburus