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Ddraig-Goch — Parasitism Turned Symbiosis

Published: 2011-03-19 14:13:21 +0000 UTC; Views: 2390; Favourites: 25; Downloads: 19
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Description "It was during my time on Foraoise that I discovered the animal shown above, tangled in the nets of a local fisherman. It was a Northern Bullfish, a species very common in the cold waters of the Foraoise Channel. A voracious predator of smaller icthyoids, it had nonetheless fallen victim itself to a similarly vicious animal, though one much smaller. Attached to the eyeball of the Bullfish was a fair-sized invertebrate, known locally as a "Devil's Lure". Arachnoid in shape and crustacean in tendancies, this little pest (taxonomically Clavimembrum prolectro) had burrowed its head into the eye of the icthyoid, and was using a proboscis to siphon up the vitreol jelly. What surprised me, however, was the arachnoids "tail", to which a large and garishly coloured fin was attached.
The reason for this, as the fisherman explained, was part of a bizarre symbiosis. Originally, the ancestors of C. prolectro were parasites, which fed on the vitreol jelly of the Bullfish. To the Bullfish, this was of no major concern, since they were able to rely on a superior sense of smell, and electroreceptors, to detect prey. The parasite then became useful to the Bullfish, since it unwittingly lured icthyoids towards it, bringing more food to its host. This relationship developed further, so that today the two exist in a complex parasite/ symbiosis relationship. To that end, the parasites evolved to make themselves more eye-catching and appealing to would-be predators, luring in more prey for their blind host."

From the journal of Samon Finn, notable Vabmojan Marine Xenobiologist, during his travels through the Outer Colonies.
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Comments: 13

indigomagpie [2011-03-26 12:58:01 +0000 UTC]

Fun idea!

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Ddraig-Goch In reply to indigomagpie [2011-03-27 11:07:13 +0000 UTC]

Thanks, although I doubt it's fun for the poor bullfish.

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cybershot [2011-03-26 12:31:30 +0000 UTC]

Very nice creature's natural history and concept!

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Ddraig-Goch In reply to cybershot [2011-03-27 11:07:36 +0000 UTC]

Thank you! I try to make them as plausible as possible.

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EuclidOfTheXenons [2011-03-19 23:46:45 +0000 UTC]

I see you were inspired by Greenland sharks and their eye parasites. Funny, I was reading about them an hour or so ago.

Nice art, really like the Clavimembrum prolectro. I find it cute.

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Ddraig-Goch In reply to EuclidOfTheXenons [2011-03-20 11:05:47 +0000 UTC]

Yes, the Greenland Shark was the inspiration. I wondered what would happen if the relationship was taken a little further. Who knows, maybe in the future the Ommatokoita shrimp may evolve along similar lines to my C. prolectro.

Thank you for the fave, as well. I'm not sure if I can agree with you about the parasite's cuteness, though.

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EuclidOfTheXenons In reply to Ddraig-Goch [2011-03-21 19:40:22 +0000 UTC]

Maybe it could, but, unless Ommatokoita has the speed of evolution of cichlids, then I don't think we'll be seeing it anytime soon.

Well, I do find fish lice, intestinal parasitic crustaceans, sea pigs/abyssal sea cucumbers, and caecilians cute, so....

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Ddraig-Goch In reply to EuclidOfTheXenons [2011-03-21 19:58:01 +0000 UTC]

True, I don't suppose they will become a new species in the near future, but it is at least possible.

I can agree with you on the caecilians, but I've just never been able to look at parasitic invertebrates of any sort without having to repress a shudder. I'm more of a vertebrate guy, really, when it comes to cuteness.

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EuclidOfTheXenons In reply to Ddraig-Goch [2011-03-21 20:36:14 +0000 UTC]

Yes, but they are not as lazy as cichlids are and thus wouldn't be able to diversify as fast.

But what about parasitic veterbrates? I am not so certain they exist, but they could I suppose...

How about octopi? They are invertebrates, (of course, they are not parasitic, but still) but I am sure that you do not shudder at them?

Also, you could possibly find this website interesting: [link] If you care to join, I am known as greek freak on there.

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Ddraig-Goch In reply to EuclidOfTheXenons [2011-03-21 21:19:11 +0000 UTC]

You mustn't get the wrong impression, I do love invertebrates - but fleas, lice, tapeworms, caterpillars, tardigrades, rotifers, sea cucumbers, and so on repulse me. I find them fascinating, but I cannot stand to look at them.

Spiders, on the other hand, and indeed octopi - cute, in my opinion.

I am actually a member of a similar forum, "Speculative Evolution", although yours does look interesting. When I have more time, I would like to go back and have a look around.

In the meantime, might I share with you a particularly good xenobiology project? It is called "Nereus", and was dreamed up by artist Evan Black;
[link]

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EuclidOfTheXenons In reply to Ddraig-Goch [2011-03-21 22:00:56 +0000 UTC]

Well, they are some of my favorite animals, so let us compromise: I will continue to love them, but not mention them around you.

Yes, please join it. There are only four active members, and that is sad.

That Nereus thing looks very intriguing. I must try and look at it in more depth sometime.

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Jaldithas [2011-03-19 23:32:32 +0000 UTC]

original,i cant wait to see what will you make next

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Ddraig-Goch In reply to Jaldithas [2011-03-20 11:05:59 +0000 UTC]

Thank you.

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