HOME | DD

Description

Specimen CGAN 01/319

Along with being at the mercy of even the slightest breeze, buoyant organisms are put under even more duress in EL-1b's 15.2 bar atmosphere. Though this allows for a greater lift force with a moderately small hydrogen bladder, it also means that drag force is greater and the slightest of breezes are gusts. To combat this, "Bladder-crabs" have adopted a primarily autotrophic lifestyle, using their bladders more for height advantage in the high gravity than for flight. Their four thin wings allow for some maneuverability in the constant air currents but only rarely is the organism not tethered to some kind of surface by its long, extensible legs, its reach further lengthened by a telescopic waist. Much of its time is spent attached to a host, usually a Lichen-coral, where it establishes a mutualistic exchange of photosynthetic energy products for water and other nutrients, all ferried up the legs by a combination of negative pressure and peristalsis. Bladder-crabs and their relatives are amongst the most symmetrical organisms on EL-1b, a necessity for balance during flight.

I wasn't sure about this one for the longest time this week. Lighter-than-air organisms are a staple of specbio but come with a host of evolutionary hurdles. I think I came up with a way around most of them but I'm still not sure if these guys will stay canon. The biggest issue I still have is the high air pressure buffeting these guys around. I suppose they could band together and adopt a lifestyle similar to kelp forests, sheltering around "coastlines" of Lichen-corals and other tall structures. Hmm. Not sure yet.

As always, thank you all for your interest!

Description

Specimen CGAN 01/319

Along with being at the mercy of even the slightest breeze, buoyant organisms are put under even more duress in EL-1b's 15.2 bar atmosphere. Though this allows for a greater lift force with a moderately small hydrogen bladder, it also means that drag force is greater and the slightest of breezes are gusts. To combat this, "Bladder-crabs" have adopted a primarily autotrophic lifestyle, using their bladders more for height advantage in the high gravity than for flight. Their four thin wings allow for some maneuverability in the constant air currents but only rarely is the organism not tethered to some kind of surface by its long, extensible legs, its reach further lengthened by a telescopic waist. Much of its time is spent attached to a host, usually a Lichen-coral, where it establishes a mutualistic exchange of photosynthetic energy products for water and other nutrients, all ferried up the legs by a combination of negative pressure and peristalsis. Bladder-crabs and their relatives are amongst the most symmetrical organisms on EL-1b, a necessity for balance during flight.

I wasn't sure about this one for the longest time this week. Lighter-than-air organisms are a staple of specbio but come with a host of evolutionary hurdles. I think I came up with a way around most of them but I'm still not sure if these guys will stay canon. The biggest issue I still have is the high air pressure buffeting these guys around. I suppose they could band together and adopt a lifestyle similar to kelp forests, sheltering around "coastlines" of Lichen-corals and other tall structures. Hmm. Not sure yet.

As always, thank you all for your interest!