Squish

In times long since passed, competition from other species of cish once forced the ancestors of this lineage to retreat to both more remote and freshwater locales. Now these species are long gone, following the events of the cish plague. As such, this has allowed for the ancestors of the squish to once more take on a purely oceanic existence. Amongst the adaptations for this lifestyle include the structuring of the tentacles around the mouth now being arranged akin to those of squids of Earth, allowing for a more hydrodynamic form. The snood that was present in its ancestor has now been repurposed for feeding with the rest of the tentacles. Hook-like rasps have evolved along the length of the tentacles, allowing the squish to better grip and retain its food. The squish is willing to eat nearly any non floral organism smaller than itself which it can successfully ensnare its tentacles around. At the base of each tentacle lies a big calcified "tooth" which is used to bite off small pieces of food to be swallowed, helping to break down food before it can be ingested. Squish are significantly less aggressive than their ancestors and are in fact more likely to flee than attack a threat. They have slightly more intelligence than their ancestors, allowing them to form small schools for their own protection from larger, more dangerous predators, as well as helping them to better hunt their prey. This transition has not been an easy one, however. Where in the past many oceanic niches were held by a wide variety of cish species, in these current times the swarming Roufos and other groups have moved in and have come to dominate them in their absence. Competition with them will undoubtedly be fierce for these oceanic newcomers, but such is always the way when it comes to evolution.

The life cycle of a squish begin with them hatching from small eggs that had been laid upon the seabed, whereupon they will then filter-feed upon tiny planktonic species until they are large enough to begin tackling larger, more nutritious food sources. This helps fuel their growth rate until they are finally mature enough to find a mate and continue the cycle. The mating ritual of the squish consists of a male nudging up against a female where he will then vibrate his body against hers. The stronger the vibration, the more likely the female will accept his advances and begin mating. Multiple males may try to display to one female, resulting in them competing amongst one another until she finally chooses the one capable of producing the best vibrations. After they have paired off, the male will dig a shallow nest in the seabed using a combination of his snood and tentacles, and then the female will lay her eggs within it so that they may be fertilized by the male. Once this is done, the eggs will be buried beneath a thin layer of sand and will be left on their own with no further parental care provided.