Fortune Evolution Quest II Part II

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>>987863
Muppers (for "mutualistic flipper") are a species of small (3 cm) carnivores that coexist within clusters. They produce a thick gel that is inhabited by a wide variety of microscopic life, mostly photosynthetic algae. They also release a toxic "ink", which they use to defend their host colony from attackers. Muppers feed off of the "cilia" of the Megawiggles they live with, but this is a fairly inefficient source of energy. Coupled with the need to constantly produce gel and ink, they have very little free energy, and thus spend most of their time floating around in the cluster.

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>>987881
Slurpers, named for their long, semi-prehensile tongues, are carnivorous chordates that feed off of the cilia of Megawiggle clusters, like Muppers. Unlike Muppers or Megawiggles, they are not adapted to survive the toxic environment within a cluster; instead, they secrete a jelly-like cocoon to insulate themselves, allowing them to enter a cluster and feast themselves. The cocoon is not impervious to Mupper ink, and must periodically be replaced when the concentration of ink gets too high. As they are unable to smell through their gel membrane, Slurpers have developed simple compound eyes, capable of sensing color and movement, to help them navigate within clusters.

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>>987890
The Sluggle is a well-protected, nearly sessile filter-feeder. When threatened, it withdraws it's tentacle within itself and clamps down on the rock it is on; together with it's hard but flexible shell, this makes it extremely hard to injure. Although technically capable of movement, the Sluggle is so slow that it generally only bothers moving when it absolutely has to.

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>>987910
The Pinkie, or Ground Pinkie, feeds on anything is can fit into it's prolapsable, prehensile mouth. It typically moves in a straight line, sucking up dirt and detritus and expelling them out of it's anus, which is on top of it's body and can be swiveled around. Pinkies have some of the most developed eyes on Fortune, mounted in a circle around their anus, and mainly use them to help aim it's waste jet at any predators. If this doesn't deter them, the Pinkie will either use it's mouth to jump away to safety, or to "kick" it's attacker.

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>>987939
The Blipper is a fast, deep-diving filter feeder that uses echolocation to scout out it's surroundings. It uses a series of specialized structures to produce a constant flow of water through it's body, making it the fastest swimmer in the oceans of Fortune. It is also one of the largest, at almost a foot in length, and uses it's size and already-impressive pressure resistance to dive much deeper than any other organism, giving it an easy way to escape predators.

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>>987962
Slappers are quick, maneuverable predators that prey on everything else in the ocean, aside from one notable exception. Slappers have several specialized adaptions to help them subdue prey quickly and easily: first, they stun it by using their tails in a powerful slapping motion; next, they use their brutally hooked beaks to disembowel the paralyzed organism. Their skin is covered in a thin layer of slippery mucus, which helps them slip through the water faster and makes them harder to grasp. They sense prey with their sensitive tongues, flicking them in and out of their "nostrils" similarly to a snake. Because of their highly developed sense of smell, they are especially vulnerable to Mupper ink, and will avoid entering clusters at all costs.

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>>987985
The Pinkiemedusae are opportunistic omnivores, but mainly feed off of detritus and waste. They use their muscular flaps for both swimming and to help direct food into their mouths. They have even better eyesight than their ground-dwelling cousins.

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>>988016
And finally:
The Niggle is the apex predator of Fortune, each tentacle around a foot long, and is the only thing that preys on Slappers. Although it has a primitive circular mouth, the Niggle has no real digestive system; instead, it feeds by absorbing nutrients through the tendrils at the end of it's tentacles, mostly using the mouth to immobilize and kill prey. The Niggle is also one of the only organisms that can safely enter clusters, as it's close relation to Megawiggles means that it is mostly able to ignore Mupper ink. They are rare and highly territorial, as Fortune's developing ecosystem cannot support many in one area.