Lituslug
The lituslug evolved from its ancestor and has replaced it due to it occupying a very similar niche. As the twilight mosshroom moved into the Vailnoff ocean, the braided litusfoi was presented with a ubiquitous food source. As a result, those that lingered around the mosshrooms grew to staggering proportions and became increasingly complex, resulting in the multicellular Lituslug.
The lituslug is often found lingering around manganese nodules and mosshroom patches, crawling around the patch until it is fully consumed. They move by expanding and contracting their isomers, which contain primitive striated muscles capable of performing such contractions. The isomers resemble individual litusfoi, and are arranged in a semi-symmetrical pattern, with each isomer radiating outwards from the center of the lituslug in an alternating pattern. An incredibly primitive body cavity has formed inside of the organism, and serves to transport nutrients, water, and waste. This cavity weaves through the inner edges of the isomers, with it branching off into and along the length of the isomers. If an isomer is severed, the cavity will close off, preventing the fragments from 'bleeding' out. Each branching canal branches further into a series of capillaries that feed into the muscle, providing them with nutrients and oxygen. In order to regulate these tasks, the lituslug has developed a nerve net, which allows the organ systems to coordinate with each other.
The lituslug consists of seven cell types, including the epidermis, digestive cells, core cells, cavity cells, nerve cells, muscle cells, and generative cells. The epidermis consists of modified digestive cells that have lost their ability to stick to surfaces and digest, and serve to protect the organism from external threats. The digestive cells are derived from inverted colonial cells, and provide traction for the organism while digesting anything they are attached to. These cells are located in close proximity to cavity cells, and transport nutrients to the body cavity. The core cells are basic structural cells that hold the lituslug together. The cavity cells make up the walls of the body cavity, and are lined with cilia, which move resources throughout the organism. The nerve cells form a nerve net, and regulate the lituslug's behavior. They are often found near the muscle and cavity cells. The muscle cells form the muscles, and allow the lituslug to move. Finally, the generative cells are located in the lituslug's cephalic isomer, and form new isomers.
The lituslug reproduces by budding off its final isomer. The isomer will first develop into a carciform larva, which closely resembles the litusfoi. It will then begin producing new isomers, eventually becoming a mature lituslug. The lituslug will undergo a similar process if torn apart, with each fragment becoming either a new, fully mature lituslug or a carciform larva.