phylogenetic bracketing for the elder gods

Bellheads were discovered during the first expedition beyond the Great Ocean only 27 years ago, which took part during a significant re-structuring of global politics and the rise of Southern democracy. Very few have left their continent, but the ones that have are greatly regarded as an extremely useful asset in tasks requiring precision input, fine motor control, & dexterity. They will be the planet's first people in space.

Kiro first invented writing some 30,000 years ago, and have since undergone a long back-and-forth journey toward building an advanced civilization with global communications. Most of their countries still fall under monarchy, however Southern democracy is starting to spread further, fueling peoples' rights and an advancement on the rights of the working class.

GS - my least developed species. Their planet's atmosphere cannot sustain fire. They will never discover metallurgy, advanced machinery, etc. 'Nuff said.

Galk are the center of my work, and their Angan forefathers form the center of the Known Universe, having been the first advanced civilization to arise within Andromeda. They're Noi's main tool-makers, forming the majority of their industrial work-force. And population. They're intentionally human-like, there're 9 books about it, I will not elaborate further.

Wellers stand out as intelligent enough to be considered as people while lacking the capacity to create and operate advanced technology. Whatever tech they come in contact with is galk-made and -operated. They're legally considered as people to the extent of falling under universal insurance and persons' rights, but have limited capacity for communication and as such hold no space within Hain government.

Leite were the first advanced civilization on Noi. They invented writing, astronomy, and mathematics early on as tools for navigation, and have a long history of domesticating animals for food and resources. They made first contact with galk&weller co-society during their early settler period, after which the three quickly formed a cooperative society within the fjord of Raat, which nowadays serves as the planet's intellectual and technological Capital. They are the most intelligent sophonts within my work.

Their 2024- 2025 designs for comparison. I do think they're cute and I don't necessarily hate them, but they've been my struggle since their first draft in 2023. I never felt ok with how they look, they weren't what I was aiming for.

Their whiskers on their back were recycled for altuyur's sophonts, the crest hole for singing is still here because i liked it a lot, just more exaggerated.

Taken in Brittany, France (north-eastern Atlantic). Species I think I can identify:

Plants:

Sea lettuce Ulva lactua

Some other kind of Ulva but a long stringy kind

Coralline alga (branching type) Ellisolandia sp. (probably elongata)

Coralline alga (encrusting type) Phymatolithon sp.

Irish moss Chondrus crispus

Sea belt Dilsea carnosa (or possibly young dulse Palmaria palmata?)

Sargassum sp. maybe? idk what the golden stuff is but it's pretty

Anemones:

Snakelocks anemone Anemonia viridis

Dahlia anemone Urticina felina

Daisy anemone Cereus pedunculatus too maybe?

Other critters:

Crumb-of-bread sponge (several colours) Hymeniacidon perlevis

Grey topshell Gibbula cinerea

Rock snail Stramonita sp. (probably haemastoma)

I don't see one but there has to be a mussel somewhere we were literally walking over giant mussel beds to get out to the low tide rock pools, there's probably an oyster somewhere too

The pale fluffy stuff looks like it might be hydrozoan colonies??