Kelpland Medusae
Many of the massive kelp forests of Neptune are actually simple invertebrates known as Kelpland Medusae. Much like the kraken-whales, Kelpland Medusae can grow large enough to become unique ecosystems by themselves. However, most kelplands consist of several medusae drifting together.
Kelpland Medusae are usually female or hermaphroditic, as male medusae do not grow as large. Medusae are believed to be effectively immortal. As long as they are protected from predators and given sufficient food, they show no signs of aging or deterioration.
Medusae do not seem to intentionally participate in the aural soundscape of the ocean. Their movement produces some noise, but they do not have phonic lips or any other instrument to communicate with. Their presence is often communicated by other creatures in and around the Kelplands.
Anatomy
The Kelpland Medusae consist of a hollow crown that contains most of their organs, and a trailing set of tentacles. The crown is the core of their body. It is a hollow bell-shaped structure made of a jelly-like substance. Some medusae have additional stalks that extend from the crown, to either attach to a substrate (in the case of stalked medusae), or to extend their reach (in the case of canopy medusae).
Kelpland Medusae have three kinds of tentacles. The most plentiful are the fronds which form the forest and offer safe habitation and a substrate for other creatures. Stingers can be found hidden among the fronds, long thin tentacles that stun creatures. At the core of the kelplands are extended lips called oral arms. These tentacles resemble beautiful draperies, and are often a different colour to the fronds.
Medusae are carnivorous, and provide shelter in return for a population tax. When medusae catch something in their oral arms, they begin digesting them as they transport them up to the mouth. The mouth of the medusae is at the center of the crown.
Three kinds of medusae can grow large enough to become kelplands.
Canopy Medusae are the best known of the kelpland medusae, as well as the largest. These medusae float along the surface of Neptune. They use gas-filled bladders at the canopy of the forest to maintain buoyancy. They often comingle with algae kelplands.
Bell Medusae are found deeper in the ocean and swim by expanding and contracting their bodies to push water behind them. Often several bell medusae will get tangled into eachother and form a larger biome.
Stalked Medusae attach themselves to Falls, kraken-whales, icebergs and other large underwater structures. These medusae are often deliberately cultivated aboard the Falls.
Living Biomes
Kelpland Medusae are important ecosystems. They provide stability for nesting, protection for prey, and hunting grounds for predators. There are many creatures entirely adapted to life in the kelplands, whether they blend in to the fronds, or cling to them to catch their next meal. People also live in the kelplands, using the fronds to moor their homes, or even weaving their homes from the fronds themselves. Medusae are not intelligent enough to be truly domesticated or tamed, but they can be made safer. Those who live in or by the Kelplands often cut and collect the stinger tentacles. Removing the stingers is known as cropping, and once a medusae has been cropped they will often need to be fed. The stingers are often used to create stinging nets. Kelpland societies have a long and storied history with animal sacrifice. While few continue the ritualistic practices to this day, cropped medusae do still need to be fed. There has been evidence of ritual human sacrifice in the distant past during particularly rough times. In the Still Seas, a region of Neptune nested in a gyre between four currents, dead are fed to the medusae as a common burial practice.| ♆ Neptune | ||||||
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Conservation Status
Conservation Dependent (CD)
Geographic Distribution
Notice: This article is a stub. It may be expanded later!
Bell medusae getting entangled is like a considerably cuter rat king.
it's like they're holding hands!
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