Gasbag

Lanterns in the Sky by desmondWOOT

"Do you see them? Such majesty.. Don't get too close, though, 'less you want to end up in the hospital."

-Anonymous

Basic Information

Anatomy

Gasbags are very similar to the jellyfish of earth, though instead of an undulated crown, a Gasbag's crown is filled with hydrogen gas which they create through electrolysis of sea water. This balloon, for which the Gasbags are named, can vary the amount of hydrogen within to allow the Gasbag to rise and fall with ease, however slowly. They tend to grow up to the size of a small car with up to fourteen meter long tentacles. Every Gasbag has four manipulation tentacles which are used for grabbing paralyzed fish and locomotion, and up to a hundred fishing tentacles that drift lazily along the surface of the water. These fishing tentacles are lined with stinging nematocysts whose venom is potent enough to kill an entire school of fish within a few minutes. The venom itself is a paralytic, but luckily it's only really dangerous to people if injected near the heart. It has been known to cause drownings, however, as the victims body becomes paralyzed.
A sticky digestive sac dangles from the middle of the crown, with adhesive strong enough to hold up to twenty pounds. The adhesive also doubles as the digestive enzyme and also contains more of the paralytic venom, though not as potently as the fishing tentacles. Prey will stick to the sac and slowly be digested alive until nothing is left but bones, which the jelly will then pick off and leave in the water.
Gasbags are able to vocalize by pushing small amounts of hydrogen through valves in the crown. This is mainly used as a mating call, however, and sounds somewhat like a high-pitched foghorn. They also possess bio-luminescence like most other species on Tor.
Notably, when struck with an incendiary round, Gasbags violently explode. Currently, there is a law against shooting at Gasbags, as they are a Vulnerable species.

Genetics and Reproduction

Male Gasbags release aerial spores when nearby female Gasbags. These spores are actually modified sperm cells that are picked up by receptors on the crown. These gestate for a few weeks before being shed. Note: This only occurs when the Gasbag is near the coast of a landmass. Small, golf-ball sized polyps fall from the mantle and into the water and down to the bottom of the ocean. There they take root and bud for about a month or two. The buds then detach, rise to the surface as ephyra, where a small, baseball-sized baby Gasbag medusa separates from the bud and rises into the air. Each polyp can create around five Gasbags.

Growth Rate & Stages

Gasbags spend a majority of their life as medusae. A well-fed Gasbag can live up to fifty years and grow to a diameter of ten meters.

Ecology and Habitats

Gasbags primarily live in the tropics, and can be found up to a kilometer above any part of the ocean, though during spawning season they tend to crowd the coastline. Gasbags avoid the poles as the colder air can freeze their bodies.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Gasbags are entirely carnivorous are rely on fishing to satisfy their needs.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Gasbag cows tend to travel together in groups, and Gasbag bulls tend to travel alone.

Domestication

There exists domesticated species of Gasbag. These tend to be smaller and do not carry stinging tentacles. Instead, they are simply just fed. Some individuals keep them as pets, as they can fly without being above water for a few hours. To care for a Gasbag, one must have an open-top aquarium, access to feeder fish, and a place without sharp edges as the Gasbag can get caught and torn.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Domesticated Gasbags were historically raised as an easy way to obtain gaseous hydrogen.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Gasbags are native to Tor but can now be found on pretty much any warm, oceanic planet due to deliberate seeding.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Gasbags have no other perception abilities other than touch, though their kinetic sense is acute enough to maneuver the ocean on its currents, detect prey, and avoid landmasses.

Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms

Species of nesting birds have been known to create nests on the crowns of the larger Gasbags, using them as a sort of mobile home. These birds help clean the crown clean of parasites and other debris that could make the Gasbag unhealthy.

Scientific Name

Aurelia caelestis

Lifespan

50 years

Conservation Status

Vulnerable

Average Height

14 meters to 24 meters

Average Weight

30 kg to 550 kg

Average Length

4 meter to 10 meter diameter