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Description
Djorn Aeyle
12/29/85110
Orbit 34
Beluga Base
Near Lacanta Plateau

"One of our drones has managed to chase down a beautiful specimen of the taxon, Cephalorepens alatus. It was then shot with a dart, putting it to sleep for a while. We retrieved the animal as it was gliding down, assisted by the drone, to the floor. We brought it back to the Beluga base where we would have a look at its general anatomy. Maybe a couple of internal scans. First thing to notice was that massive and conical head. Very wrinkly. First interest is the head.

1. Sensory Tongue:

Calling this appendage on the mouth a tongue might be appropriate. We are currently unaware of Cephalorepens' placement in the phylogenetic tree of Poseidon. Based on certain features on the body, it might be safe to say that it is amongst the most basal members of the group that includes Xenolivyatan rapid. Therefore, the tongue might actually be a primitive version of the two tongues that evolved in later members of said group (might have split into two). There were many pores and hairs present in this part. Computer analysis of its responses to odors and air gave away its purpose. We believe the tongue plays a part in smelling out prey or even carcasses (sample of a rotting Laetus princeps frigore calf was used in this instance).

2. Oral Cavity

The oral cavity was intriguing. many hairs were present. Rather, barbs. One could speculate that they were used for taste or to aide in pushing down food.

3. Grinding "Teeth"

Muscles under these would from time to time move back and forth, giving way to the sawing and grinding motion these "teeth" had. To call them analogous to teeth found in tetrapods on Earth would be dubious. For one, they lack enamel. Nor are they bony. It seems to be a substance found neither on Earth or Gargora (and all other known life bearing planets). And the most intriguing part is that a dead juvenile (yet to be published) showed the same appendages in the mouth, but almost... flacid. This indicated a different diet. But what makes it special is the fact that they seemed to grow, along with the animal, something teeth don't do.

4. Oral Bristles

*Go to 2

5ab. Airways

These are perhaps the most defining features of this animal. As the organism flies, the thick skin surrounding these airways shifts and shapes itself. Air passes through these airways and depending on the shape, will change the direction of the animal (as well as the actual skin, wind hits that as well). They surround the actual skull, with a few colomns supporting the outer thick skin wall, and seem to lead to two different places. The first would be towards the back of the skin walls. Air exits through the back and back out into the world. Simulations show that this feature reduces the drag the animal faces in the air. And second would be to the lungs and airsacs. This provides extra oxygen. To prevent too much air from getting in, flaps constantly open and close (this is a hypothesis. We have yet to actually witness such actions, but it would seem to make the only logical sense. But take this with a grain of salt, further research will be done on these. We have witnessed them open and close on the sleeping adult specimen though).

6. "Brain"

This is perhaps the most complex aspect of this animal's head. We have virtually no information on it as of now. Further research is required.
We do know, however, that the "melon" (Tongue shaped object above the actual "brain") was constantly active, even during sleep. But one thing was peculiar about this "melon". It was incredibly small proportional to the body and compared to other animals on Poseidon. This meant that their sonar pings and echolocation is incredibly weak and timid. Recordings of C. alatus flocks shows that what they lacked in strength, they made up for in speed. X. rapid has sonar and echolocation akin to the speeds of the now extinct Macroderma gigas (Ghost Bat) yet much louder. C. alatus has sonar pings literally about 30.33 times faster, the fastest sonar we have yet to record on the moon. At points it is so rapid, it sounds like a constant "squee" on the radars. The incredible length of the "melon" may contribute to this.

7. Sensory Nerve Fibers

These nerves were numerous and surprisingly large (especially compared to Terran organisms). They travelled from the whiskers to the back of the brain (*go to 10).

8. Air/ Gas sac

This was where excess air was stored for backup fuel for muscles.

9. Nasal Air Passages and Sacs

Oddly enough, C. alatus lacks actual "Gill Nostrils" on the sides of the chest, like the vast majority of Poseidon's eldest "vertebrate" group. It instead has one blowhole on the top of the neck. Other [possible] relatives also have this, but also the "Gill Nostrils". This gives some hints at the lifestyle this animal has out at sea. They may be like Ceteceans mixed with Gannets. Taking a massive gasp of air and diving into the water to feed. Or more like polar diving birds, swimming at the surface and diving, only to come back up later. Calculations of the lungs show that C. alatus could hold its breath for a good 15 minutes. We would actually have to send either organic crew or mechanical crew out to film and record the behaviour of these organisms. It is more likely that they swim at the surface and then dive, rather than full on plunging, as the skin walls could possibly tear. What ecological or natural force could make these animals lose their "Gill Nostrils" is currently unknown and under debate. There is the possibility that organisms further down the evolutionary line evolved the "Gill Nostrils". But certain fossil finds make this a bit dubious, as they indicate that life on Poseidon most likely evolved in the water by volcanic vents as opposed to within or on the icey crust.

10. Whiskers

These whiskers underwent a similar testing as with the hairs on the sensory tongue. Reactions to the wings of the organism and especially the skin walls might have revealed their true purpose. When air was flowed over them on different sides, the skin walls would shift in the direction of the air, as if trying to turn. Wings also twitched and moved about. Both reacted similarly when the L. princeps frigore calf carcass' odor was wafted over them. It can be concluded that these whiskers have a major significance in anemotaxis. Re-analasis of the sensory tongue hairs and pores also revealed that they aided with this, but not as strong in the wind department, more smell and taste, if anything. The unpublished juvenile specimen also has them, but even longer. This may be due to the less efficient "melon" and them relying more on smell and sense of direction (wind-wise) than on sonar and echolocation.

C. alatus also has one thing lacking on it that [possible] relatives also has. That would be bioluminescent sacs running alongside the body. It may be that the sacs only evolved later along the line, for communication purposes.
C. alatus is rather vibrant in color. A yellow ring runs around the neck. Dark blue only runs to the "wrists" and on the sides of the back. A blue hued grey is what consumes most of the body. The skin walls are a lighter blue than on the body, with the mouth being vibrant red.
A dorsal limb, more in the shape of a shark fin, also supports the placement of this organism in the phylogenetic tree. Long whiskers on the rear end may be for display, or anemotaxis. Neither is clear as of now. And the wings have multiple rods, akin to those found within the wings of Pterosauria. They don't seem to flap often, but when they do, they do so in a rapid, almost disorienting manner (for the viewer that is *insert chuckle*). They have been clocked in at speeds of 125.9 kph (78.23mph).

The study individual was released under controlled conditions, in an effort to deter predators. It (to our amazement) used its wings to skid off of the ground. As a final rush, it pushed off, in a manner nearly identical to Azhdarchids and other Pterosaurs, and fluttered away. The flock that it originally found with was nearby and took off exactly as this individual had and they met up about 30 meters above the ice. We now know that these animals are social and would like to go study them more in depth in their natural habitat. In particular their social lives and reproductive habits (they have the prongs like Aeroprongs, but instead are dull. This baffles our understanding of their breeding).

We have decided that the colloquial name would be Siphon Head, due to their siphon like heads... notmuch to explain their, folks.

-------------

Dinner was delicious. Potatoes with steak and broccoli is delicious. Especially on an icy moon.

*Log over*"

midiaou.deviantart.com/art/Sin…
more Siphon Heads^

Description
Djorn Aeyle
12/29/85110
Orbit 34
Beluga Base
Near Lacanta Plateau

"One of our drones has managed to chase down a beautiful specimen of the taxon, Cephalorepens alatus. It was then shot with a dart, putting it to sleep for a while. We retrieved the animal as it was gliding down, assisted by the drone, to the floor. We brought it back to the Beluga base where we would have a look at its general anatomy. Maybe a couple of internal scans. First thing to notice was that massive and conical head. Very wrinkly. First interest is the head.

1. Sensory Tongue:

Calling this appendage on the mouth a tongue might be appropriate. We are currently unaware of Cephalorepens' placement in the phylogenetic tree of Poseidon. Based on certain features on the body, it might be safe to say that it is amongst the most basal members of the group that includes Xenolivyatan rapid. Therefore, the tongue might actually be a primitive version of the two tongues that evolved in later members of said group (might have split into two). There were many pores and hairs present in this part. Computer analysis of its responses to odors and air gave away its purpose. We believe the tongue plays a part in smelling out prey or even carcasses (sample of a rotting Laetus princeps frigore calf was used in this instance).

2. Oral Cavity

The oral cavity was intriguing. many hairs were present. Rather, barbs. One could speculate that they were used for taste or to aide in pushing down food.

3. Grinding "Teeth"

Muscles under these would from time to time move back and forth, giving way to the sawing and grinding motion these "teeth" had. To call them analogous to teeth found in tetrapods on Earth would be dubious. For one, they lack enamel. Nor are they bony. It seems to be a substance found neither on Earth or Gargora (and all other known life bearing planets). And the most intriguing part is that a dead juvenile (yet to be published) showed the same appendages in the mouth, but almost... flacid. This indicated a different diet. But what makes it special is the fact that they seemed to grow, along with the animal, something teeth don't do.

4. Oral Bristles

*Go to 2

5ab. Airways

These are perhaps the most defining features of this animal. As the organism flies, the thick skin surrounding these airways shifts and shapes itself. Air passes through these airways and depending on the shape, will change the direction of the animal (as well as the actual skin, wind hits that as well). They surround the actual skull, with a few colomns supporting the outer thick skin wall, and seem to lead to two different places. The first would be towards the back of the skin walls. Air exits through the back and back out into the world. Simulations show that this feature reduces the drag the animal faces in the air. And second would be to the lungs and airsacs. This provides extra oxygen. To prevent too much air from getting in, flaps constantly open and close (this is a hypothesis. We have yet to actually witness such actions, but it would seem to make the only logical sense. But take this with a grain of salt, further research will be done on these. We have witnessed them open and close on the sleeping adult specimen though).

6. "Brain"

This is perhaps the most complex aspect of this animal's head. We have virtually no information on it as of now. Further research is required.
We do know, however, that the "melon" (Tongue shaped object above the actual "brain") was constantly active, even during sleep. But one thing was peculiar about this "melon". It was incredibly small proportional to the body and compared to other animals on Poseidon. This meant that their sonar pings and echolocation is incredibly weak and timid. Recordings of C. alatus flocks shows that what they lacked in strength, they made up for in speed. X. rapid has sonar and echolocation akin to the speeds of the now extinct Macroderma gigas (Ghost Bat) yet much louder. C. alatus has sonar pings literally about 30.33 times faster, the fastest sonar we have yet to record on the moon. At points it is so rapid, it sounds like a constant "squee" on the radars. The incredible length of the "melon" may contribute to this.

7. Sensory Nerve Fibers

These nerves were numerous and surprisingly large (especially compared to Terran organisms). They travelled from the whiskers to the back of the brain (*go to 10).

8. Air/ Gas sac

This was where excess air was stored for backup fuel for muscles.

9. Nasal Air Passages and Sacs

Oddly enough, C. alatus lacks actual "Gill Nostrils" on the sides of the chest, like the vast majority of Poseidon's eldest "vertebrate" group. It instead has one blowhole on the top of the neck. Other [possible] relatives also have this, but also the "Gill Nostrils". This gives some hints at the lifestyle this animal has out at sea. They may be like Ceteceans mixed with Gannets. Taking a massive gasp of air and diving into the water to feed. Or more like polar diving birds, swimming at the surface and diving, only to come back up later. Calculations of the lungs show that C. alatus could hold its breath for a good 15 minutes. We would actually have to send either organic crew or mechanical crew out to film and record the behaviour of these organisms. It is more likely that they swim at the surface and then dive, rather than full on plunging, as the skin walls could possibly tear. What ecological or natural force could make these animals lose their "Gill Nostrils" is currently unknown and under debate. There is the possibility that organisms further down the evolutionary line evolved the "Gill Nostrils". But certain fossil finds make this a bit dubious, as they indicate that life on Poseidon most likely evolved in the water by volcanic vents as opposed to within or on the icey crust.

10. Whiskers

These whiskers underwent a similar testing as with the hairs on the sensory tongue. Reactions to the wings of the organism and especially the skin walls might have revealed their true purpose. When air was flowed over them on different sides, the skin walls would shift in the direction of the air, as if trying to turn. Wings also twitched and moved about. Both reacted similarly when the L. princeps frigore calf carcass' odor was wafted over them. It can be concluded that these whiskers have a major significance in anemotaxis. Re-analasis of the sensory tongue hairs and pores also revealed that they aided with this, but not as strong in the wind department, more smell and taste, if anything. The unpublished juvenile specimen also has them, but even longer. This may be due to the less efficient "melon" and them relying more on smell and sense of direction (wind-wise) than on sonar and echolocation.

C. alatus also has one thing lacking on it that [possible] relatives also has. That would be bioluminescent sacs running alongside the body. It may be that the sacs only evolved later along the line, for communication purposes.
C. alatus is rather vibrant in color. A yellow ring runs around the neck. Dark blue only runs to the "wrists" and on the sides of the back. A blue hued grey is what consumes most of the body. The skin walls are a lighter blue than on the body, with the mouth being vibrant red.
A dorsal limb, more in the shape of a shark fin, also supports the placement of this organism in the phylogenetic tree. Long whiskers on the rear end may be for display, or anemotaxis. Neither is clear as of now. And the wings have multiple rods, akin to those found within the wings of Pterosauria. They don't seem to flap often, but when they do, they do so in a rapid, almost disorienting manner (for the viewer that is *insert chuckle*). They have been clocked in at speeds of 125.9 kph (78.23mph).

The study individual was released under controlled conditions, in an effort to deter predators. It (to our amazement) used its wings to skid off of the ground. As a final rush, it pushed off, in a manner nearly identical to Azhdarchids and other Pterosaurs, and fluttered away. The flock that it originally found with was nearby and took off exactly as this individual had and they met up about 30 meters above the ice. We now know that these animals are social and would like to go study them more in depth in their natural habitat. In particular their social lives and reproductive habits (they have the prongs like Aeroprongs, but instead are dull. This baffles our understanding of their breeding).

We have decided that the colloquial name would be Siphon Head, due to their siphon like heads... notmuch to explain their, folks.

-------------

Dinner was delicious. Potatoes with steak and broccoli is delicious. Especially on an icy moon.

*Log over*"

midiaou.deviantart.com/art/Sin…
more Siphon Heads^