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Description

A new speculative radiodont, Geometerocaris chaaci

(“Earth-measuring shrimp of Chaac, the Mayan god of rain”)

These amphibious radiodonts live in pools near the mouths of caves that are fed by waterfalls and cascades. The mouth and caudal fins of these creatures have been modified into suckers that it uses to climb up the slippery rocks of the waterfall inchworm-style by alternately attaching one sucker to the surface while moving the other part of its body forward. This movement gives the creature its genus name as “geometer” refers to moths that have inchworm caterpillars that appear to “measure the Earth” with their distinctive gait.

This radiodont also uses the spines on its Great Appendages to give it a better grip on the algae-coated rocks as it climbs. Once a Gemeterocaris reaches a good spot on the rocks it turns around and, hanging solely by its caudal fin sucker, spreads its feathery Great Appendages to catch insects and debris that tumble down the waterfall.

Geometerocaris was inspired by waterfall climbing cave fish Cryptotora thamicola, a loach endemic to caves in Thailand that crawls up underground waterfalls using its pectoral and pelvic fins like legs. I originally had my speculative radiodonts moving in the same manner, but I eventually decided to give them a more inchworm or leech-like method of movement.

Description

A new speculative radiodont, Geometerocaris chaaci

(“Earth-measuring shrimp of Chaac, the Mayan god of rain”)

These amphibious radiodonts live in pools near the mouths of caves that are fed by waterfalls and cascades. The mouth and caudal fins of these creatures have been modified into suckers that it uses to climb up the slippery rocks of the waterfall inchworm-style by alternately attaching one sucker to the surface while moving the other part of its body forward. This movement gives the creature its genus name as “geometer” refers to moths that have inchworm caterpillars that appear to “measure the Earth” with their distinctive gait.

This radiodont also uses the spines on its Great Appendages to give it a better grip on the algae-coated rocks as it climbs. Once a Gemeterocaris reaches a good spot on the rocks it turns around and, hanging solely by its caudal fin sucker, spreads its feathery Great Appendages to catch insects and debris that tumble down the waterfall.

Geometerocaris was inspired by waterfall climbing cave fish Cryptotora thamicola, a loach endemic to caves in Thailand that crawls up underground waterfalls using its pectoral and pelvic fins like legs. I originally had my speculative radiodonts moving in the same manner, but I eventually decided to give them a more inchworm or leech-like method of movement.