Rock Bubble

Kiklomoulcha archaea - also known as the Rock Bubble - is an ancient organism that is sister to the Photolimus and the ancestral species of the other branch of the phylum Xenolimae: the Sea Bubbles. The organism is a small semi-spherical "bubble" that anchors itself to rocks and pebbles in shallow waters along the continental shelf utilizing a flat, sticky disk-like "foot" that forms the bottom of the creatures body. Much like the Photolimus, the Rock Bubble is one of the most common photosynthesizers of the Early Lemurian Period (850 mya). However, its range is quite different, as the Rock Bubble is found along the coastlines of Cerberus and eastern Medusa.

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Basic Information

Anatomy

The Rock Bubble is a small, round, semi-transparent blue "bubble" shaped organism that lives on the rocks, ledges, and xenostromatolies of the continental shelf around the super-continent Cerberus. Similarly to the Photolimus (the species' closest relative) the organism's body consists of a "body" and a ventral organ that serves to bind the organism to the substrate. This organ takes the form of a disk like "foot" structure that is covered in a sticky adhesive along the base, which binds the organism to the rocks on which it lives. The body of the organism, which rests atop this organ, consists of more than 90% of the organism's biomass and performs all functions essential to life. Additionally, much like the other member of it's phylum, the organism consists of prokaryotic cells that function similarly to those in colonial masses, often behaving as if they where individual organisms. However, the Rock Bubble possesses a greater degree of cohesion and cooperation between its cells than any other member of the kingdom Chalakium. Unlike the Photolimus (or any other Chalakium member at this time) the Rock Bubble's cells possess many features more closely associated with eukaryotes, including a specialized immune system, transportation organs somewhat resembling an open circulatory system, and the ability for cells to "self-destruct" should they become at risk of becoming cancerous - a serious danger for basal multicellular Chalakium species. 
The body of the organism is a semi-translucent semi-sphere that resembles a compressed bubble in shape, and handles all functions essential for the organisms survival. Nutrient transportation throughout the body is handled via. small tubular filaments which run throughout the body. A central cluster of these organs, called the gastrocoel, is located near the middle of the body where filaments radiate from and spread across most of the body. These organs exist within a sort of "cytoplasm" fluid that fills several large coelum throughout the body. This cytoplasmic fluid is thick and consists mostly of lipids and sugars stored by the organism, supplemented with immune cells and loose body cells drifting within the fluid. The remainder of the body consists of generic body cells, who's primary specialization is photosynthesis and metabolic functions. These body cells utilize phycocyanin as a means of photosynthesis, giving the organism its characteristic blue coloration. 
The disk-like "foot" of the Rock Bubble is long, flat, and almost completely translucent, rendering it almost invisible when glancing at the organism. The base of the structure consists of cells that produce an adhesive enzyme, effectively gluing the organism to the surface on which it lives. However, many of these cells also produce enzymes capable of breaking down and dissolving certain minerals within the substrate such as ammonium, which can be utilized in nitrogen fixation to create nitrate - an essential nutrient for photosynthesis. These materials are passed between these cells via. diffusion and transporter proteins to filaments leading to the foot for transport into the body for use in metabolic functions. The foot of the Rock Bubble does not grow upwards - instead growing outwards to cover more surface area - preventing the Rock Bubble from growing upwards as a response to being buried by substrate and limiting its growth to elevated region such as on rocks and high ledges, or to portions of the microbial mat that is unlikely to be disturbed.

Genetics and Reproduction

The Rock Bubble's gametes are located within the gastrocoel as large clusters of non-specialized cells. These cells, while genetically identical to other cells within the adult organism, lack specialization in any form; rather, they possess the ability to perform any task required for survival and are capable of survival independently from the rest of the organism, unlike all other specialized adult cells. These reproductive cells are capable of being ejected from the host organism via. the top of the body, which occurs once the population of reproductive cells reaches a critical mass. This form of broadcast spawning is the only type of reproduction performed by the Rock Bubble, as their specialized cells are too interdependent on each other to grow into a full adult organism from a disconnected portion of the original adult. 
Interestingly, due to broadcast spawning occurring when the gastrocoel overfills with reproductive cells, spawning is more frequent while the organism is younger and slows as the organism matures. Younger, smaller Rock Bubbles release smaller plumes of gametes more frequently, with some of the youngest doing so once every two to three days. Older Rock Bubbles, however, oftentimes only release gametes once every 12 local days, however do so in significantly larger quantities.

Growth Rate & Stages

When reproductive cells are ejected into the water column, they will begin to photosynthesize and attempt to survive as independent organisms within the water column. Reproductive cells will gradually multiply, forming an independent colonial mass of non-specialized cells. This small mass will continue to float in the water column as part of the phytoplankton until sufficient size is reached for the juvenile to sink towards the substrate (usually shortly after the organism reaches macroscopic sizes). Once the juvenile has sunk to the substrate, it will attach itself to the nearest hard surface and begin to specialize; those cells in contact with the substrate multiply along it to form the foot, whilst the rest of the cells begin multiplying rapidly to form the body. This entire process usually takes about 1-3 local days. Internal organs (tubular filaments, gastrocoel) begin forming after 6-7 local days, after the organism has reached a height of about 1/2 a centimeter. Some internal cells will refrain from specialization - these cells will originate from the center of the body and will be housed in the gastrocoel, which forms around them. With the organism effectively developed into an adult after 7 local days, the Rock Bubble will begin to reproduce shortly after this time.

Ecology and Habitats

Rock Bubbles live all across the coastline of the super-continent Cerberus, as well as along the eastern shorelines of the growing continent of Medusa. However, their populations are highest along the northern and eastern shores of Cerberus, where they thrive in the numerous shallow bays of the region.

General Information

Time Period: Lemuran Period
Scientific Name: Kiklomoulcha archaea
Kingdom: Chalakium
Phylum: Xenolimae
Lifespan: 11 Vulgur years
Average Height: 3 cm
Average Length: 3 cm
Habitat: Southern Lamyan Coastline