Killer-barrel

Intenterfectorem, also known as the killler-barrel, is a predatory nektonic feather barrel, which has developed its tentacles to be made of a hard, keratin-like material, which it uses to stab unsuspecting prey that its rather primitive vision can find. Pictured here a killer-barrel attacks a kirbirb who has foolishly wandered above the tops of the spiral plants. [Creature design by TheDraggy123TigerYt Ottobnia]

Basic Information

Anatomy

Killer-barrels are generally neotonous, their feet never develop cement secreting glands. Their feeding tentacles have had the fronds reduce in number and concentrate distally. The fronds are also now more like claws, being hardened with a keratin like protein. Inside the mouth there are also keratenous plates to help process prey. The feet are used to help steer and stop the animal as it moves through the water column. The breathing tubes are placed aborally to be used as a jet propulsion system, this allows the animal to move through the water colum rather quickly when it needs to.

Genetics and Reproduction

Intenterfectorem mate by meeting oral end to oral end and the male will release a spermatophore which the female will then take to a rock, she will affix it to the rock and then expel several hundred eggs into it.

Growth Rate & Stages

The larvae only survive if they come in contact with a surface, either vertical or upside-down, to hang from, and then it feeds on the microorganisms around it using its filter-feeding tentacles, until turning to eating boberts and other helpless herbivores that it can find as it gets larger. This is essentially a reversal of the ontological modes of life of the ancestral feather barrels, although larval killer-barrels do not use any secreted cement to stay attached to a surface, instead they use simple muscular action, and are capable of finding a new perch if necessary.

Ecology and Habitats

Intenterfectorem lives in spiral plant forests.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Intenterfectorem hunts primarily through chemorecption and vision, although it's vision is not particularly acute. It tends to simply jet towards and lash out at about anything that about its size or smaller that swims by.

Genetic Ancestor(s)