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| Rocketeers; Lodihelminthians | |
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| Topic Started: Sep 11 2010, 08:42 AM (339 Views) | |
| StinglessBee | Sep 11 2010, 08:42 AM Post #1 |
Adolescent
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I noticed the lodhelminthians in the rewriting earth overview topic and figured that they needed some love. Name: Rocketeers Time: Carboniferous Size: Up to 30cm long Diet: mostly small animals such as sigmatatora or the tentacles of neospoggia, but several late Carboniferous species specialise in eating cnidarians Habitat: mostly shallow water, with many specialising for life in neospoggia forests and several late Carboniferous species venturing into open water. Lodhelminthians are descendents of disk-like echinoderms, with a hydraulic muscular system allowing them to move with bursts of speed. However, it wasn't until the Devonian extinction that they could diversify somewhat. The rocketeers are an early example of this diversification, with the hydraulic muscular system able to shift slowly for gentle, energy efficient cruising or quickly for speedy get aways from predators. In appearance, rocketeers look like organic torpedoes (most of their mass being pressurized chambers and digestive system), covered in the classic echinoderm's "bony skin" and with a primitive, horny mouth on one end. For most of the Carboniferous they tended to fill the niches common to echinoderms in HE: attacking small prey (such as sigmatatora or young cephalostia) or immobile prey (such as the tentacles of neospoggia). However, by the end of the Carboniferous several species move towards preying on the various cnidarians. They breed by gathering together (usually in deeper water) and releasing eggs and sperm into the sea. When the eggs and sperm mix, the larvae formed mainly eats plankton before maturing into an adult. |
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| The Dodo | Sep 11 2010, 09:17 AM Post #2 |
Prime Specimen
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Haven't noticed Lodihelminthes much before, wasn't aware they were even in RE. Well it's good to see that they are getting used now. |
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4:45 AM May 21
