Thrive Rules of Nature Competition

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63

I think i will go eventually on land but first i need some small brain and break the stalemate with the predetor

64

How many limbs does the base creature start with?

65

non we’re techinally just a worm pretty sure

1 Like
66

specifically a flatworm

67

Has someone not made their mutation for this round yet?

68

Nope, I just got done typing it!

Round 4 - 40 Million Years

Species

doomlightning - Fulgurmortis coronafera - VU

  • Tiny Detrivore

  • Habitat: Coasts (Amphibious)

Mutations: Closed Vascular System, Branchiostegal Gills

Fulgurmortis has closed off its water-based vascular system with a layer of epithelial tissue behind its pharyngeal slits. This layer hosts sets of internal gills that are adapted for water retention - in other words, this creature can survive on dry land. Beyond the shoreline, Fulgurmortis can be seen crawling among beached sea foam and rotting Ulvopsis, out of predators’ reach.

Still, this species has not won a stable place in the ecosystem. It must still return to water to spawn, and its young are as vulnerable to predation as ever. Its specialization in filtering food from water also does it no good in an environment where the most abundant food is desiccated debris. For the most part, Fulgurmortis cannot hide and feed at the same time, and is having trouble bearing future generations because of it.

Stats:

  • 1*3 = 3 Stealth

  • 1 Speed (Water), 1 Speed (Land)

  • 2 Strength

Preys On: Chlorogyra filamentosa

Predated By: Minacia chirodropoides, Legendicus vigorosus

Mutation History

  • Rotifer-like Corona

  • Epidermis

  • Pharyngeal Slits

  • Cephalization

  • Silicone Scales (+1 Strength)

  • Water Vascular System

  • Closed Vascular System

  • Branchiostegal Gills

fralegend015 - Legendicus vigorosus - LC

  • Tiny Omnivore

  • Habitat: Coasts

Mutations: Omnivorism, Motor Ganglia (+1 Speed)

Legendicus has taken up a new role in the coastal ecosystem. With a digestive tract as adept at breaking down collagen as cellulose, Legendicus is now an opportunistic predator. For the most part, its lack of offensive adaptations confines it to preying on the juveniles of other species or on Minacia’s leftovers. Still, its great speed is further bolstered by nerve ganglia specifically linked to its tail and fins, making it as well-coordinated as a dragonfly. Whenever it can find prey, escape is seldom an option for it.

Stats:

  • 1*3 = 3 Stealth

  • 6 Speed

  • 1 Strength

Preys On: Chlorogyra filamentosa, Fulgurmortis coronafera

Predated By: N/A

Mutation History

  • Lateral Muscles (+2 Speed due to gills)

  • Grinding Teeth

  • 8 Fins (+1 Speed)

  • Gills

  • Tail Muscles (+1 Speed)

  • Circulatory System

  • Omnivorism

  • Motor Ganglia (+1 Speed)

aah31415 - Sequentioscriptus vasculus - LC

  • Tiny Herbivore

  • Habitat: Rivers

Mutations: Neural Ganglia, Basic Heart

This freshwater resident has improved its diffuse nervous system into a network of ganglia. These are provided with oxygen by the bloodstream and the gills that feed into it. Sequentioscriptus can now sense, process, and act on everything from the flow of river rapids to the richness of Chlorogyra on gentle lakebeds.

Stats:

  • 1*3 = 3 Stealth

  • 3 Speed

  • 1 Strength

Preys On: Chlorogyra filamentosa

Predated By: N/A

Mutation History

  • Grinding Teeth

  • Bloodstream

  • Chemoreception

  • Gills

  • Six Fins (+2 Speed due to gills)

  • Freshwater Adaptation

  • Neural Ganglia

  • Simple Heart

Nonametoseehere - Aclaronomenus ascendilus - LC

  • Tiny Mixotrophic Herbivore

  • Habitat: Coasts

Mutations: Algae Assimilation, Simple Brain

Adding to its pinhole eyes, Aclaronomenus now hosts a rudimentary brain to better process the sights and smells that surround it. Its responses to shapes it sees are truly founded in recognition, minimizing false positives - and, in the darkness of night, false negatives. This energy-intensive brain is sustained in no small part thanks to its strengthened relationship with symbiotic Chlorogyra. Now its tongue hosts leaf-like structures to increase surface area. In turn, Aclaronomenus is provided with oxygen for its brain and tail.

Stats:

  • 2*3 = 6 Stealth

  • 3 Speed

  • 1 Strength

Preys On: Chlorogyra filamentosa

Predated By: N/A

Mutation History

  • Swim Bladder

  • Tail (+2 Speed due to Algae Assimilation)

  • Enhanced Eyespots (+1 Stealth)

  • Grinding Teeth

  • Adhesive Tongue

  • Algae Habitation

  • Algae Assimilation

  • Simple Brain

TeaKing - Evolumia analysia - LC

  • Tiny Herbivore

  • Habitat: Coasts

Mutations: Gills, Efficient Muscles (+1 Speed from gills)

To keep its brain in peak condition, Evolumia has developed gills to draw in more oxygen from the water. It has also trimmed down energy waste in how its muscles operate, making better use of oxygen in all circumstances. This makes Evolumia fast enough to evade any Minacia that somehow win the initiative against it.

Stats:

  • 2*3 = 6 Stealth

  • 4 Speed

  • 1 Strength

Preys On: Chlorogyra filamentosa

Predated By: N/A

Mutation History

  • Elongation (+1 Speed)

  • Chemoreception

  • Grinding Teeth

  • Tail (+1 Speed)

  • Simple Brain

  • Enhanced Eyespots (+1 Stealth)

  • Gills

  • Efficient Muscles (+1 Speed from gills)

UndyingHazard - Minacia chirodropoides - LC

  • Tiny Carnivore

  • Habitat: Coasts

Mutations: Undulating Flaps (+1 Speed), Venomous Tentacles (+1 Strength)

Minacia’s profile has changed dramatically in just a few million years. Its face is armed with tentacles that now bear the venomous nematocysts. Meanwhile, its flanks have lengthened into flat, finlike structures that undulate rhythmically. With them, Minacia swims in a rippling manner that contrasts with its cousin Evolumia’s serpentine motions.

Minacia’s recent changes keep it on par with Nomenchiori and have even allowed it to overcome Signumeris in the evolutionary arms race between them.

Stats:

  • 1*3 = 3 Stealth

  • 4 Speed

  • 3 Strength

Preys On: Fulgurmortis coronafera, Signumeris rugosus

Predated By: N/A

Mutation History

  • Elongation (+2 Speed due to gills)

  • Chemoreception

  • Nematocysts (+1 Strength)

  • Sharp Teeth

  • Paired Single-Chambered Hearts

  • Gills

  • Undulating Flaps (+1 Speed)

  • Venomous Tentacles (+1 Strength)

Chiori - Nomenchiori echinoides - LC

  • Tiny Herbivore

  • Habitat: Coasts

Mutations: Gills, Thicker Skin (+1 Strength)

Nomenchiori’s bloodstream is now enriched with oxygen thanks to the sets of gills it now bears. Its fins now paddle with renewed vigor. Meanwhile, the skin outside its inner body channel has thickened to better protect its vitals. The underlying dermis only opens to host its gills and the follicles of its spines.

Its newfound swiftness and resilience is the latest development against Minacia, which continues to prey on it. Legendicus are also sometimes bold enough to approach it, but Nomenchiori’s defenses ward off these swift opportunists more often than not.

Stats:

  • 1*3 = 3 Stealth

  • 4 Speed

  • 3 Strength

Preys On: Chlorogyra filamentosa

Predated By: N/A

Mutation History

  • Lateral Muscles (+2 Speed due to gills)

  • Grinding Teeth

  • Fins (+1 Speed)

  • Spines (+1 Strength)

  • Digestive System

  • Bloodstream

  • Gills

  • Thicker Skin (+1 Strength)

willow - Salixelysia aurata - LC

  • Tiny Mixotrophic Herbivore

  • Habitat: Coasts

Mutations: Algae Absorption, Enhanced Eyespots (+1 Stealth)

In lean times, Salixelysia can now draw in its own Chlorogyra symbionts to digest them. It also now sports pinhole eyes to properly see its surroundings, minimizing its risk of predation. This is its only advantage against the must faster Legendicus, which is blind.

Stats:

  • 2*3 = 6 Stealth

  • 4 Speed

  • 1 Strength

Preys On: Chlorogyra filamentosa

Predated By: N/A

Mutation History

  • Swim Bladder

  • Tail (+1 Speed)

  • Algae Assimilation

  • Metallic Teeth

  • One-Way Heart

  • 10 Fins (+2 Speed due to Algae Assimilation)

  • Algae Absorption

  • Enhanced Eyespots (+1 Stealth)

zenzonegaming - Iocusis myriadus - LC

  • Tiny Herbivore

  • Habitat: Coasts

Mutations: Ciguatera Poisoning, Improved Digestive Tract

On Earth, bioaccumulation causes toxins in microorganisms to reach high concentrations in animals further up the food chain. This can be observed in the accumulation of ciguatoxins in reef fish, as well as brevetoxins in shellfish following red tides. On this planet, Thrivittifera evolved to safely expel toxins in phytoplankton it ingested, a trait that it passed on to its descendants. However, Iocusis has gained the ability to amass and weaponize these toxins at higher levels than ever before. Now its poisonous flesh inflicts potentially lethal damage to any Minacia or Legendicus that consume it. To avoid this risk, these predators now avoid preying on Iocusis entirely.

With predation now a non-issue for the time being, Iocusis can make the most of more time spent eating with its refined digestive tract, now sporting a distinct stomach and intestine.

Stats:

  • 1*3 = 3 Stealth

  • 3 Speed

  • 1 Strength (Poisonous)

Preys On: Chlorogyra filamentosa

Predated By: N/A

Mutation History

  • Grinding Teeth

  • Bloodstream

  • Chemoreception

  • Gills

  • Fecundity

  • Movement Tentacles (+2 Speed due to gills)

  • Ciguatera Poisoning

  • Improved Digestive Tract

Cha - Testificatus relictus - LC

  • Tiny Detrivore

  • Habitat: Rivers

Mutations: Freshwater Adaptation, Cephalization

To avoid the intense competition and predation taking place in the coast, Testificatus has vacated to the rivers of the supercontinent. Here, its only neighbor is the herbivorous Sequentioscriptus. Now this slow-moving detrivore’s favored habitat is murky river bottoms and lakebeds. It has also improved its primitive body plan into distinct cavities.

Stats:

  • 2*3 = 6 Stealth

  • 1 Speed

  • 1 Strength

Preys On: Chlorogyra filamentosa

Predated By: N/A

Mutation History

  • Symbiotic Camouflage

  • Elongated Mouth

  • Freshwater Adaptation

  • Cephalization

sci0927 - Signumeris rugosus - VU

  • Tiny Herbivore

  • Habitat: Coasts

Mutations: Notochord, Improved Digestive System

The interior of Signumeris now hosts a notochord. This both grants it some structural stability and relays information from the chemoreceptive notch at its front to the rest of its body. It is also the latest species to improve its simple digestive channel into a true gastrointestinal tract.

In other news, Minacia has gained an edge in hunting this species. It is now also preyed on by the newly-omnivorous Legendicus, though Signumeris’s abrasive skin is usually an effective enough deterrent against the faster opportunist.

Stats:

  • 1*3 = 3 Stealth

  • 3 Speed

  • 2 Strength

Preys On: Chlorogyra filamentosa

Predated By: Minacia chirodropoides

Mutation History

  • Grinding Teeth

  • Bloodstream

  • Chemoreception

  • Gills

  • Four Fins (+2 Speed due to gills)

  • Rough Skin (+1 Strength)

  • Notochord

  • Improved Digestive System

NPC - Chlorogyra filamentosa - LC

  • Tiny Producer

  • Habitat: Coasts, Rivers

Chlorogyra grows in fresh and salt water with plenty of sunlight. Its box-shaped cells line up in long filaments, their chloroplasts forming distinctive spirals. While colonies can survive anywhere in the water column, they form clusters at the surface and floor when undisturbed. In still waters, Chlorogyra can form a green carpet over rock and silt alike.

NPC - Ulvopsis digitata - LC

  • Small Producer

  • Habitat: Coasts

The appearance of toothed herbivores pressured marine Chlorogyra colonies into finding a way to entrench themselves in sun-rich spots. The result was Ulvopsis, a sterner alga that forms a thin, vertical sheet. It sprouts from well-lit sands swept by gentle currents, where entire fields of it sway. These tough, slippery growths are difficult to break with teeth alone.

(Jaws require a central nervous system to provide fine motor control. In order to support one, you’ll need some way to draw in or circulate oxygen, if you don’t have one already.)

Habitats

Coasts: Warm, saline waters surrounding the supercontinent. The floor lies as deep as 150 meters beneath the surface.

  • Flora: Chlorogyra, Ulvopsis

  • Fauna: Fulgurmortis, Legendicus, Aclaronomenus, Chemorecepta, Minacia, Nomenchiori, Salixelysa, Iocusis, Signumeris

Rivers: A network of waterways found all over the supercontinent, but especially the West and South.

  • Flora: Chlorogyra

  • Fauna: Sequentioscriptus, Testificatus

Badlands: A muddy, rainswept land spanning much of the supercontinent.

Great Mountains: A jagged wall of mountains at the heart of the supercontinent.

Eastern Desert: A vast rain shadow desert on the eastern half of the supercontinent.

EDIT: Here’s the coastal food web.

[Removed]

3 Likes
69

Mutation 1: Photoreception to a see its surroundings
Mutation 2: Strong Pincers to activly defend itself and carry food arround to eat in peace.

70

Mutations:

Hydrogen sack on the top of the “tongue” (more of a a stem at this point), to allow it to float above water, only lowering itself when it’s thirsty, or needs to swim to a better area.

“Neural claws” which can attach to each other to transfer info from brain to brain, letting it share strategic information, and avoid predators even better, they can also overload themselves to deliver a shock, but it damages itself when doing so.

71

Mutation 1: Thicker skin for defense.

Mutation 2: Compartmentalized gut for more efficient nutrient extraction

72

Mutant 1: Basic Jaw
Mutant 2: Improved Digestive System

73

Where might you be going with this?

1 Like
74

Evolution in progress…

M1: It’s notochord time for Evolumia, which will now allow it to make more precise and controlled movements in the water, slightly improving its swimming speed

M2: a simple open circulatory system also develops

75

Mutation uno: a”tounge” extenting from the mouth to catch debris going towards the coast with small ”hair” structure to hold onto the debris

Mutation dos: 10 spindly ”legs” (not quite large and just lays outwards from the relicus)

76

  • full incorperation of chlorogyra chloroplasts into all cells

  • brain near the eyespots to increase max eye complexity

77

Mutation 1: eyes capable of distinguishing simple shapes

Mutation 2: Denser tail muscles for faster speeds.

78

Mutation 1: more complex nervous system.
Mutation 2: cardiovascular system / heart.

79

What a sticky situation

  1. Put the corona into the mouth, turn it into a Radula made of the silicon scales (they say that the teeth of all vertebrates came from the scales) (This will increase the types of food I can digest without compromising its main function of putting into the mouth. It will look like the chelicerae of radulas) (call that Corona rudula)

  2. Mucus glands, in a manner similar to that of a Hagfish. It will also help in protection, both from the block of toxins penetriat into body like with clown fish and also by choking the gills of other creatures. In addition can also protect the young/eggs in tide pools, will increase their chances of surviving to maturity, away from predators and help against dehydration and digestion. killing 5 bird in one stone

I hope this will be enough to overcome them

80

@Mitobox are we gonna have mass extinction events?

81

I’ve never even heard of Sagan 4 Alpha.

82

Mucus glands, toxins, and mucus nests. That’s too much for one mutation, don’t you think?

Yep, every sixth turn. So the first one will happen in two more turns. I’ll roll for the severity of the event and whether its source is at an oceanic rift, a continental rift, or from the sky.

Sagan 4 was a group worldbuilding project by Spore fans waiting for it to be released. One of the leaders and artists, Hydromancerx, also designed the Nauceans (a concept race for Spore).

1 Like