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Description
Kathedragora kastanoriga (here) and over 50 other species.

From 5 to 20 cm.

Ubiquitous in Ambarran rivers, this group includes sessile aquatic animals which the jadongs would probably classify as shiins, if only they recognized them as vertebrates. And that`s indeed what they are, except that their gills are replaced with dermal respiration and reduced to thin olfactory antennae, their limbs became sticky root-like tentacles, and their head remains larva-like - and, of course, they have a huge sack of skin and muscle around that head. They are blind, deaf, and lack radars, but are extremely sensitive to vibrations and the parameters of surrounding water.

Ushtwis species differ in size, proportions, shape and coloration (which may be cryptic or aposematic). Lifespan varies from 2 to 40 years.

Staying at the bottom of the river food chain, these animals are sessile filter feeders that pump water in and out of their sack, filtering it with the setae inside the spout. The frequency of contractions varies from once every few second to o twice an hour. Their aspirators are weak and toothless, but filled with acid.

An adult ushtwis sticks to a rock or other solid substrate and never leaves its spot. They often grow in massive numbers, sometimes changing the very currents above them. They may entwine or even fuse their tentacles, but those tear apart easily.

As expected with such lifestyle, to reproduce they simply expel massive quantities of gametes into the water (they reflectively exhale when they smell the spawn of their species to avoid eating it). The larvae hatch in a few days and mature in a month or two.

These creatures, especially the brightly-colored species, are often kept as pets.

ambarra.wikidot.com/ushtwis

Description
Kathedragora kastanoriga (here) and over 50 other species.

From 5 to 20 cm.

Ubiquitous in Ambarran rivers, this group includes sessile aquatic animals which the jadongs would probably classify as shiins, if only they recognized them as vertebrates. And that`s indeed what they are, except that their gills are replaced with dermal respiration and reduced to thin olfactory antennae, their limbs became sticky root-like tentacles, and their head remains larva-like - and, of course, they have a huge sack of skin and muscle around that head. They are blind, deaf, and lack radars, but are extremely sensitive to vibrations and the parameters of surrounding water.

Ushtwis species differ in size, proportions, shape and coloration (which may be cryptic or aposematic). Lifespan varies from 2 to 40 years.

Staying at the bottom of the river food chain, these animals are sessile filter feeders that pump water in and out of their sack, filtering it with the setae inside the spout. The frequency of contractions varies from once every few second to o twice an hour. Their aspirators are weak and toothless, but filled with acid.

An adult ushtwis sticks to a rock or other solid substrate and never leaves its spot. They often grow in massive numbers, sometimes changing the very currents above them. They may entwine or even fuse their tentacles, but those tear apart easily.

As expected with such lifestyle, to reproduce they simply expel massive quantities of gametes into the water (they reflectively exhale when they smell the spawn of their species to avoid eating it). The larvae hatch in a few days and mature in a month or two.

These creatures, especially the brightly-colored species, are often kept as pets.

ambarra.wikidot.com/ushtwis