The Late Pelitolacene

The evolutionary story of conmuniarids and their parasitic cousins, the Infants, is one of escalating biological warfare, an arms race in miniature between complex communal cooperation and exploitative mimicry, one which has continued into the Pelitolacene. One example of defensive innovation comes from Sonorlaruis (Loud Ghosts), a lineage of conmuniarids that evolved in direct response to the threat of Infants, the neotenic brood parasites that infiltrate conmuniarid colonies by mimicking juvenilafers. In sonorlaruid colonies, virifers use complex vocalizations, piercing siren-like sounds unique to each colony, as a method of juvenile identification. These acoustic signals form part of a dialect system, often paired with subtle light pulses or touch cues, which genuine juvenilafers must learn and replicate to receive care. Because Infants are often born outside the host colony, they struggle to mimic these signals accurately, limiting their ability to exploit the system. 

Animosecoronis (Spritely Crowns) is a lineage of laruacoronids closely related to the conmuniarids but shaped not by eusocial evolution, but by extreme sexual selection. Rather than communal nesting or colony-level cooperation, animosecoronids have developed elaborate courtship behaviors centered around their namesake crowns, vibrant, oversized structures that pulse with color and rhythm. These crowns, far larger and more ornate than in any other laruacoronid, serve no practical function beyond display, yet they dominate every aspect of animosecoronis life. Virifers, in particular, possess elaborate pigmentation patterns and iridescent skin, with crown displays forming the basis of mate choice. However, upon becoming matrifers, an animosecoronid's crown will dull and shrink, no longer used to attract a mate.

The lithoflora reefs of the late Pelitolacene were vibrant underwater ecosystems teeming with life and structure. Much like tropical rainforests on Earth, these lithoflora reefs are towering, multi-layered habitats filled with ecological niches and staggering amounts of biodiversity. On Amtos, upwards of 60% of all species live in such habitats. 

Rubivormis (Red Vorms) is a clade of vaduvorms, a line of vorms that specialized for life in the lithoflora reefs. Named for the bold crimson streaks running laterally along their elongated, serpentine bodies, rubivorms are agile, aguillivorm swimmers, long-bodied, laterally compressed predators that weave effortlessly through the reef structure. Their sinuous motion and keen sensory adaptations make them well-suited for ambush hunting, darting from the reef walls to snatch smaller reef dwellers from the water column or the benthos. As mid-tier predators, rubivorms are critical to the balance of reef ecosystems, keeping populations of smaller vorms and soft-bodied reef grazers in check while serving as prey for larger reef hunters like lancearepaxes.

Astrovormis (Star Vorms) is a clade of rubivorms named for the extendable frills that radiate from the sides of their mouths like the arms of a star. When threatened by larger predators, astrovorms flare their frills wide, creating the illusion of a much larger and more formidable animal. In the dense, visually chaotic lithoflora reefs, such displays can be enough to startle or confuse attackers long enough for escape. These frills also play a critical role in hunting. 

When extended, they function as flexible, net-like structures that can trap or corral small swimming prey against the reef’s intricate architecture. Some species have developed conspicuous color patterns on their frills, which they use to lure in curious planktonic organisms or confuse schooling forms. This dual function, defense and predation, has allowed astrovorms to diversify rapidly across the reef zones, with different species specializing in everything from open-canopy ambushes to stealthy bottom stalking.

Recessusastris (Incisor Stars) is a clade of astrovorms that that have diverged toward a more aggressive, predatory lifestyle within the lithoflora reefs. Recessusastrs have developed prominent, forward-facing incisors, sharp, chisel-like teeth designed for tearing through the soft bodies or protective shells of reef-dwelling prey. This adaptation allows them to actively pursue and dispatch larger or better-armored organisms that would have been inaccessible to their ancestors. In addition to their dental weaponry, recessusastrs also have small, keratinous horns atop their heads. During territorial disputes or mating displays, individuals may engage in head-butting or posturing, using their horns to assert dominance. The horns also offer a degree of protection in the tight, competitive spaces of the reef, shielding the head during sudden retreats into narrow crevices.

Ferentastris (Frill Stars) are astrovorms which have taken the frilled anatomy of their ancestors to extravagant extremes. Their large, undulating frills extend laterally from their mouths and head, sometimes spanning wider than their own bodies. Unlike their predatory cousins, ferentastrs are ambush hunters and opportunistic filter feeders. Their expansive frills can create subtle currents, sweeping particulate matter and small organisms into their open mouths, while the flashing patterns serve to disorient prey or deter would-be predators. In some species, the frills also function in sexual display, with individuals performing elaborate rippling motions during mating seasons to attract mates. The rubivorms and their astrovorm descendants are just one small example of the vast biodiversity of the lithoflora reefs.

In the open waters, ensatumords remained dominant, evolving into sleek, high-speed pursuit predators that hunted large filter-feeders like ostiverms in coordinated virifer-led packs. These long-bodied mords retained their signature sword-like jaws, perfectly adapted for fast, high-impact strikes in the pelagic zone. Acerensatis (Sharp Swords) one such group of Pelitolacene ensatumords. Acerensats are instantly recognizable by their laterally compressed, blade-like snouts lined with interlocking, serrated teeth, perfectly adapted for slicing through the soft bodies of swift-swimming ostiverms and natastachids. Their jaws don’t simply snap, they scythe through prey with momentum-fueled precision, often incapacitating targets with a single pass. 

Acerensatis species typically fill the mesopelagic to epipelagic predatory niche, patrolling sunlit to dimly lit waters in both coastal and open-ocean zones. Most species are solitary, wide-ranging hunters, though some subtropical variants have been observed forming loose, temporary hunting flotillas during ostiverm spawning season.

In contrast, scopumordis, or reef biters, specialized in the crowded and colorful lithoflora reefs. More compact and powerfully muscled, these ambush predators relied on camouflage and crushing bites to catch reef-dwelling vorms and small pleruplods among dense coral-like structures. Phosomordis (Bright Biters) is a scopumord line that underwent dramatic morphological shifts, developing compact torsos, four paddle-like fins, and elongated, flexible necks, converging on a plesiosaur-like body plan that allowed for agile, multidirectional swimming. These predators specialized in ambush and pursuit hunting, striking with sudden bursts of speed from cover or weaving deftly through lithoflora reef crevices and cyanostirp forests to corner nimble prey. Highly visual animals, phosomords use their expressive blue eyes not just for predation, but also for communication. Subtle changes in iris dilation, eye posture, and body coloration serve as social cues within species, particularly during mating or territorial disputes. Despite their fearsome appearance, many phosomords display complex social behaviors, often hunting in pairs or small pods and coordinating their movements with surprising precision.

Meanwhile, in the abyssal depths, abymords carved out a terrifying role as the apex predators of the deep trenches. These solitary hunters evolved large, light-sensitive eyes, muscular jaws, and pressure-resistant frames, preying on deep-sea natastachids, dimustachids, and the occasional sinking carcass. Some even developed bioluminescent lures to attract prey in total darkness. One intimidating clade of abymords, perhaps the most fearsome of all, is Torvumordis (Grim Biters). Torvumords are broad-skulled juggernauts, with reinforced cranial plates and deeply embedded eye sockets that shield their sensitive, silvery photoreceptive eyes from sudden flashes of light or high-pressure trauma. Unlike their more slender, faster relatives at higher elevations, torvumords are ambush predators, lurking motionless in gloom-thick crevasses, only to explode forward with startling speed when prey drifts too close. Torvumords are known to follow dying megafauna for hours, even days, patiently waiting until the perfect moment to descend with explosive violence.

Plaudotauris (Swatting Centaurs) is a clade of pinnataurs which has taken the group’s characteristic jumping locomotion to an even greater extreme. These creatures have evolved an enormous, paddle-like back tail-fin, much larger and more muscular than that of their ancestors, which they use to launch themselves in dramatic, sweeping arcs through the water and across tidal flats. This oversized fin, shaped somewhat like a fan or broad leaf, acts as a dynamic propulsive appendage. When crouched, a plaudotaur coils its limbs and tenses the base of its tail-fin. With a sudden, explosive swat of the fin, it sends itself leaping forward, sometimes multiple body lengths in a single bound. This method of locomotion allows plaudotaurs to navigate dense shallows, leap between rock pools, or evade predators with quick, erratic bursts of motion. 

Varicutauris (Straddling Centaurs) is an intertidal members of the caesitaur clade that has adapted to life at the boundary between land and sea. Varicutaurs specialize in foraging along the muddy shores where the tide regularly exposes swathes of poremorph-rich sediment. These centauriplods have evolved a suite of physiological and behavioral adaptations that allow them to exploit this transitional niche, where few other creatures can reliably thrive.  Their name refers to their semi-aquatic lifestyle, straddling both land and sea. Varicutaurs possess reinforced leg joints and slightly flattened feet that help them maintain stability on slippery, uneven shorelines. Their armored backs are thicker than those of other caesitaurs, offering protection from sudden waves and debris. 

Splendidaventerepaxis (Bright-Bellied Raptors) is a lineage of cheilosrepaxes that have adapted to a fully pelagic lifestyle. Unlike their shallow-water ancestors, these raptors now spend their entire lives in the open ocean, cruising the midwater column in search of prey. Their name comes from their countershaded coloration, with dark upper bodies and pale underbellies, evolved for camouflage in open water.  From above, they blend into the shadowy depths; from below, their bright bellies merge with the sunlight filtering from the surface.  

Their lower lips function like muscular nets, snapping forward to scoop up small prey such as vorms, pelagic pleruplods, and drifting spherestomes. Once caught, the prey is pressed upward toward their dull, shell-cracking tooth, useful for breaking through soft armor and tough tissue alike.

Potensventerepaxis (Big-Bellied Raptors) is an offshoot of the splendidaventerepaxes that has adapted to the role of mid-depth cruisers. These raptors cruisers rely less on speed and more on endurance, ambush, and digestive efficiency. Their large bellies house an expanded digestive system capable of breaking down tough, protein-rich prey, allowing them to go for long periods between meals, slowly metabolizing their bulky catches over time.  

In terms of locomotion, they are powerful but not fast. Their crowns and tails are stockier, built for controlled bursts and slow, deliberate movement rather than agility. They often lurk near nutrient-rich zones, reef walls, detritus drifts, or decomposing megafauna, where food is abundant but competition is fierce. Their tough skin and dense musculature give them the edge in such environments, offering both protection and strength. 

Various groups of grass-like cyandirects now blanket the ocean floor, forming sprawling meadows in shallow, sunlit waters. Among these is Breviflabellis (Short Fans). Unlike earlier cyandirects, where the entire body contributed to energy capture, breviflabellids have evolved to concentrate photosynthesis in specialized fan-shaped structures at their tops. These fans, a rich blue, extend upward from flexible, stem-like bodies that serve primarily as support. The lower body no longer plays a direct role in photosynthesis, having become a durable anchor embedded in the sediment. This separation of structure and function allows breviflabellids to allocate more cellular resources to maximizing the efficiency of their fan-leaves, which are broad, flat, and slightly curved to catch the shifting angles of sunlight throughout the day

Fibracaulis (Fiber Stems) have followed a similar evolutionary path to their breviflabell cousins, abandoning whole-body photosynthesis in favor of specialized structures. Rather than concentrating their light-harvesting tissue in broad fans, however, fibracaulids have evolved dense, bristle-like growths along their upper stems structures reminiscent of pine needles on Earth.. These needle-like filaments are rich in photosynthetic cells and optimized for capturing light in a variety of conditions, from murky shallows to clearer, deeper waters. Arranged in tight spirals or whorls along the stem, they provide a large surface area without significantly increasing drag, allowing the fibracaulid to sway gently with ocean currents while remaining anchored in soft sediment. 

The main body of the fibracaulid, now structurally reinforced, functions primarily as support and a conduit for distributing nutrients and photosynthates gathered from the needles. As with breviflabellids, the body itself has lost much of its original photosynthetic function, becoming more fibrous and rigid to maintain upright posture. Fibracaulid beds often grow interspersed with breviflabells, forming rich, layered meadows where different structural types coexist and support diverse marine communities. Small grazers, filter feeders, and juvenile aquatic species take shelter among the dense needle-fields, making fibracaulids an important contributor to the ecological complexity of Atmos's shallows.

Syringopinnis (Tube Fins) represent a very different branch of cyandirect evolution. Unlike their shallow-water relatives such as the breviflabells or fibracaulids, syringopins have adapted to deeper, dimmer regions of the ocean, where strong currents and sediment are less of a concern. Their bodies are soft, gelatinous, and highly flexible, long, tubular structures that sway and undulate with the rhythm of the water. 

Unlike other cyandirects that have developed specialized photosynthetic appendages, syringopinnids continue to photosynthesize along the entire surface of their body. Their gelatinous tissues are embedded with evenly distributed cyanophyte cells, giving them a faint glow when sunlight filters through the water. The transparency of their body allows for maximum light penetration, a key adaptation in deeper, less light-saturated zones. At the tip of each tube is a distinct forked structure, from which their name originates. The fork helps stabilize the syringopin in currents and increases photosynthetic surface area in the direction of light. Some species use gentle pulsations of these forked tips to subtly reposition themselves, keeping their bodies exposed to optimal lighting angles.

Hardy cyanostirps have found success in levels comparable to their cyandirect cousins. Though structurally and ancestrally distinct from the cyandirects, they often fill similar roles in the ecosystem, anchoring themselves to the seafloor and capturing sunlight through complex photosynthetic structures.

 Flueristirpis (Flowing Branches) possesses ribbon-like branches drift freely in the water column, maximizing their exposure to sunlight. These photosynthetic filaments are delicate and flexible, often forming dense underwater meadows that ripple and flow with the currents. Unlike the more rigid structures of their cyandirect cousins, flueristirps exhibit a graceful, almost animal-like dynamism as they respond to water movement. Their branching structures are regularly shed and regrown, helping to prevent overgrowth of algae or sediment accumulation.

 Incisurastirpis (Notched Branches) evolved a much more vertical, towering growth strategy. These cyanostirps reach impressive heights in the shallows, growing from deep, extensive root systems that anchor them firmly to the substrate. Their photosynthetic branches are relatively short and sparse, spaced widely along a tall, stiff central stalk. The notched texture of their outer surface increases the structure’s rigidity and adds extra surface area for symbiotic cyanophytes. Their long root systems allow them to access deeper nutrient reserves, enabling them to grow where other photosynthetic life may struggle. These towering forms often serve as anchor points for other marine life, creating the scaffolding for complex benthic ecosystems.

Talocaputis (Tall Heads) is a towering descendant of the cyanocaputs, a distinct clade of cyanophytes from the cyandirect and cyanostirp cyanoannexes. Unlike their more modest ancestors, talocaputs have evolved a vertical growth strategy, extending high into the water column to maximize light exposure in competitive shallow marine environments. Their surfaces are covered in numerous branching or blade-like extensions that reach upward, increasing their surface area for photosynthesis and creating microhabitats within the shallow seas. 

This tall, structural form allows talocaputs to outcompete lower-growing cyanophytes for sunlight, swaying with the current. These vertical projections are often reinforced with mineralized or fibrous tissues, giving them rigidity and resistance against wave action or grazing organisms. Talocaputs are especially dominant in warm, well-lit lagoons and tidal flats, supporting pleruplods, juvenilifer centauriforms, and a wide variety of filter-feeders and detritivores.

The most succesful member of this group is Proluomatis (Tidal Mats). These cyanomats evolved dense, multilayered tissues and protective surface coatings to survive extended periods of air exposure, solar radiation, and desiccation. Their uppermost layers dry and crust over when tides retreat, shielding the still-moist interior layers below. Some even produce protective mucilage or pigments that reflect excess sunlight and retain moisture. When submerged once again by the returning tide, the proluomats rehydrate rapidly, resuming photosynthesis with impressive efficiency.

Terramatis (Terrestrial Mats) represent perhaps the most significant evolutionary leaps in the history of Atmos’s cyanobiota. Descended from the hardy proluomats that colonized the intertidal zones during the early and middle Pelitolacene, by the end of the epoch, the terramats have crossed the final boundary: permanent life above the waterline. After millions of years of gradually adapting to longer and more frequent periods of air exposure, certain lineages of tidal mats developed the resilience and physiological flexibility needed to make a permanent home on dry land. These organisms are not simply surviving brief exposure to the air, they are thriving in fully terrestrial environments, from humid coastal flats to the margins of inland wetlands and even semi-arid substrates.

Terramats maintain the mat-like, low-spreading morphology of their aquatic ancestors, but their anatomy has undergone substantial refinement. Their uppermost layers are sheathed in a waxy, sun-reflective coating that limits water loss and shields against ultraviolet radiation. Beneath this is a sponge-like middle layer rich in mucilage-producing cells that retain moisture, buffer temperature fluctuations, and allow for gas exchange even when external conditions are harsh. The base of the mat grips tightly to rock or soil with specialized filamentous root-analogs, anchoring the colony and drawing in moisture from rainfall, fog, or dew. 

Photosynthesis is carried out across their surface, but many terramat species now exhibit a rough, almost “cracked” surface geometry that maximizes surface area without increasing exposure to drying winds. Some lineages have developed micro-ridges or curled, rosette-like structures to catch and channel water toward the colony’s center. Terramats reproduce through both wind-resistant spores and localized budding, allowing them to spread across exposed ground in a creeping, modular fashion. In certain regions, they form extensive cyanocarpet ecosystems, reminiscent of moss meadows or lichen-crust deserts on Earth. 

Terramats have laid the first biological groundwork for the terrestrial colonization of Atmos. Though lacking the height or complexity of true terrestrial plants, they are Atmos’s first fully land-adapted photosynthesizer, living shields against erosion, microbial pioneers, and a cradle for future symbioses and land-dwelling organisms to evolve.

Lumensporis (Glowing Spores) is a lineage of hydruspores which are known for the eerie bioluminescence that radiates from their bulbous and branching spore sacs. Inhabiting the twilight zones of Atmos’s oceans, depths where sunlight begins to fade but biological activity remains rich, lumenspores have evolved to harness their glow for both ecological and reproductive advantage. Their bioluminescence is attracts mobile detritivores and micrograzers that inadvertently assist in the dispersal of their spores, and also deters would-be grazers with sudden flashes of light when disturbed. 

Displodosporis (Bursting Spores) is an explosive offshoot of the pinguespore lineage, distinguished by their volatile and highly pressurized reproductive strategy. While their pinguespore ancestors evolved large, nutrient-rich sacs for slow, stable dispersal, displodospores took a more dramatic evolutionary path, developing internal structures that generate intense osmotic or gas pressure within their swollen spore sacs. When the sacs reach maturity or are triggered by environmental cues, they rupture with a sudden, forceful burst, releasing a cloud of microscopic spores into the surrounding water. 

This explosive dispersal mechanism is particularly well-suited for dynamic, nutrient-poor environments like abyssal plains, hydrothermal vent margins, and ephemeral seafloor oases. The violent release propels spores far beyond the immediate colony, maximizing their chances of settling in distant, more favorable environments. In some species, the rupture is even synchronized across a colony, creating waves of spore dispersal that ripple across the seafloor like underwater pollen blooms.

Terrasporis (Terrestrial Spores) is a lineage of pinguespores that followed in the wake of the proluomats and terramats, becoming the earliest fully terrestrial spore-forming organisms on Atmos. Their journey to land was gradual and opportunistic, made possible by the ecological groundwork laid by the cyanomat clades that preceded them. As proluomats spread across the intertidal zones and evolved into terramats, they began to stabilize coastal soils and generate abundant organic detritus. This new terrestrial biomass, combined with tidal rhythms that created periods of moisture and exposure, provided a nutrient-rich foundation for pinguespores to exploit. 

Early ancestral pinguespores colonized the edges of these cyanomats, thriving in the damp, shaded hollows beneath them where organic matter accumulated. Over time, some species developed more compact, moisture-retaining spore sacs with thicker walls to prevent desiccation. Others evolved root-like structures to anchor themselves in loose terrestrial sediment and to extract nutrients from decomposing terramat material. Eventually, these organisms would adapt to live their entire lives on Atmos's surface.

Terraspores are low-growing, squat organisms, their spore sacs embedded in a leathery basal structure that clings tightly to the soil. Unlike their aquatic ancestors, these sacs are more resistant to physical damage and environmental stress, often remaining dormant until triggered by rainfall, high humidity, or changes in temperature. When conditions are right, the sacs swell and rupture, releasing dry, dust-like spores into the air or spreading them through water runoff, allowing terraspores to colonize new patches of land. Terraspores act as the first decomposers on Atmos's surface, breaking down organic residue from terramats and other early terrestrial life. Some species even form loose symbiotic associations with terramats, clustering in dense mats near the edges of terramat colonies, where runoff and photosynthetic waste create nutrient-rich microhabitats.