| rdfs:comment | - Emperor Sea Striders are the best known and the largest organisms living on Darwin IV. They spend their lives within the confines of the Amoebic Sea, as it is the only source of energy on the planet to support such massive creatures. The species goes through an amazing metamorphosis at some point in its life: when they are born, they are known as nymphs and somewhat resemble more compacted versions of the adults, but differ in that they are capable of powered flight, however,this ability is lost as they mature and develop a bipedal gait, and begin feeding off of the amoebic sea. Their name comes from their ability to walk across the surface of the organic sea's yielding surface, which, despite their one hundred fathom stature, is accomplished quite easily through the utilization of a frame
- The first sign of these creatures' approach begins with a dull roaring. It is a low noise, which at first seems to be echoing thunder. It is, however, too continuous to be atmospheric. Then there are the rhythmic vibrations, tremors of sorts. These seismic sensations are similar with the huge keeled grove-backs, but these figures indicate an even larger creature. The size of this magnificent animal is stunning. It has a great crested head; its sides, heaving with the enormous effort of its walking, can be buffeted by gale-force winds; virtually no force in nature can affect such a creature.
|
| abstract | - Emperor Sea Striders are the best known and the largest organisms living on Darwin IV. They spend their lives within the confines of the Amoebic Sea, as it is the only source of energy on the planet to support such massive creatures. The species goes through an amazing metamorphosis at some point in its life: when they are born, they are known as nymphs and somewhat resemble more compacted versions of the adults, but differ in that they are capable of powered flight, however,this ability is lost as they mature and develop a bipedal gait, and begin feeding off of the amoebic sea. Their name comes from their ability to walk across the surface of the organic sea's yielding surface, which, despite their one hundred fathom stature, is accomplished quite easily through the utilization of a framework which places their center of mass around their mouths/feet and lower leg portions, with the lightest part being the top of the body. This allows them to maintain a mass light enough to not rupture the membrane of the amoebic sea, and yet retain enough mass to not topple over in the storms that are commonplace in the regions to which they are indigenous. An enigmatic function of their physiology is their highly unusual feeding system. They possess two mouths, with each being located on their feet, effectively allowing them to eat anything they step on. With these, they shave off great chunks of the sea-matrix for consumption. Identifying traits of the species are the mouthless crested head, flanked on each side by huge orange-glowing bioluminescent cavities, smaller blue-glowing bioluminescent lights accenting their crest and multiple tentacles on their front (likely for communication), and two "tails" - one which is an actual tail and the smaller is a phallus. The orange cavities in the sides of their head also attract the young Strider nymphs, which orbit around the adult Striders, likely for protection. Interestingly Strider nymphs are in fact prey to the Amoebic Sea itself, which extend in tentacle-like columns to catch them in mid-air.
- The first sign of these creatures' approach begins with a dull roaring. It is a low noise, which at first seems to be echoing thunder. It is, however, too continuous to be atmospheric. Then there are the rhythmic vibrations, tremors of sorts. These seismic sensations are similar with the huge keeled grove-backs, but these figures indicate an even larger creature. The size of this magnificent animal is stunning. It has a great crested head; its sides, heaving with the enormous effort of its walking, can be buffeted by gale-force winds; virtually no force in nature can affect such a creature. The immense bipedalien's roaring is very loud. It is believed that this sound originates from the two huge "gills" far up the torso in the bony collar. It also has frequent low-range sonar calls; their source being an array of blue-glowing pseudo-arms, which gracefully sway and point. It strides slowly, measuring its vast footfalls, navigating like an ancient ship on some far-off, watery sea. Emperor sea striders travel in what appear to be mated pairs; they head in the same direction. At times, there can be a sharp whining nearby, similar to the scream of jet engines. It belongs to a flight of small black creatures, faintly bio-lit, heading directly towards the ponderous giants. They careen and bank and, oblivious to gusting winds and lightning that sometimes sweep over the "sea", steer straight into an opening in the front of the sea strider's carapace. They reappear seconds later, having flown through the huge beast's chest and out the fiery exit "gill." The bio-lights on the small flying creatures blaze with renewed energy. Their tails alight with flaming exhaust, the creatures circle almost playfully, leaving behind long gray vapor trails that are twisted into sinuous corkscrews by the wind. There is a distinct similarity between the flyers' crests and those of the sea striders, for the small creatures are the nymph forms of the dark titans they attend. Somehow, as they enter their parents' bodies, they feed upon energy-rich secretions that renew and nourish them. Recent research, which included charting the nymphs' growth to massive adulthood, has bore out this theory. The sea striders' oversized feet, which are hollow and contain huge oral tubes, kick up thin mists of minute jelly-shavings. Each oral tube, which leads up through the thighs and into the torso, begins as a mouth on the soles of the feet, where it is rimmed with thousands of sharp teeth. As the beast walks, each sliding footfall shaves off a thin layer of gel, which is quickly sucked up and digested. They are about 190 meters tall. They have irregular tiers of lateral breathing flaps, opening and closing with each footfall; gently glowing blue bio-lights accenting the smooth curve of their crests; and swaying tails. The enormous skull of a sea strider (both the emperor species and lesser species) is riddled with innumerable nerve holes. It also has a huge and primitive braincase. Amazingly, despite its massive and imposing size, the emperor sea strider can be attacked by skewers. Hunting in pods of up to 30 or more individuals, these predators can overcome even the largest of Darwin IV's inhabitants. In the case of both emperor and lesser sea striders, young are raised in a unique way. The eggs of these huge creatures are dropped onto the "sea's" undulating surface, where they remain until they hatch. Upon emerging from the eggs, the nymphs must find their way back to their parents until they are fully independent. Possibly because of the shock absorption and weight distribution qualities of the jellylike "sea," the sea striders have attained truly behemoth proportions. No other known creature rivals them in size.
|
