#databank entry

so im watching Jacksepticeye play Subnautica 2 and he came across the Deepwing Brooders and i saw this:

and i was like

"OH SHIT."

"THOSE LOOK LIKE FILTER FEEDERS!!!"

so i immediately start thinking about what it is i know about filter feeders (quoting the comment i made here)

baleen whales have the baleen or "whalebone" (the keratin, hair-looking things that hang from their mouths)

fish like whale sharks have filter pads, basking sharks and manta rays have gill rakers (which are typically bony or cartilaginous)

bivalvia like mussels and oysters have cilia in their gills that help trap food

(these are microscopic)

and so i think. hmm. from that image they look the closest to the gill rakers and filter pads. so they probably eat some sort of plankton or whatever the equivalent is on that alien planet.

and so i go and decide to check the wiki:

AND I WAS RIGHT!!!

THEY'RE FILTER FEEDERS, THEY EAT PLANKTON, EVERYTHING IN THE WORLD IS GREAT!!!

i also love the detail of the beak being used for opportunistic hunting of hard prey, i think that's really cool!

(Zedaph)

(1) Speckling of scales form bioluminescent spots. These may ward off predators in the dark by mimicking hundreds of eyes, or they may simply disorientate attackers. 

(2) The fin-paddles are charged with an unknown energy, which allows him to hover in the same place even within the most turbulent of currents. These also taste horrible to would-be predators. 

(3) His hands have sensitive pads which exhume the same energy as the paddles- though to a much lesser extent. These can’t ionize the water like the fins, so they may have a currently unknown use. 

(Assessment) Poses no threat to survivors

(Impulse) (Im-pls)

(1) Hands are tipped with claws, which can grasp onto any prey that may have avoided the other dangers. The opposable thumbs allow for fine movement other fish are unable to do, which paired with other adaptations to his environment makes him dangerous to any threat. 

(2) Prongs along his tail and back generate powerful arcs of electricity via specialized organs. Excess electricity from stray lightning and power sources can be absorbed to make these arcs even more powerful. 

(3) His razor-sharp teeth can easily tear through most prey, and dark eyes easily track movement around him. Through a specialized organ he can sense electrical currents, be his own, another creature’s, or an arriving storm. 

(Assessment) Electrical discharge can overload electronics. Avoid if possible

(Tango)

(1) There are large augmented limbs on the torso , which are tipped with a translucent membrane. The internal organs don’t seem to hold any sort of digestive system, but instead hold several specialized organs for storing energy. 

(2) Mechanical augmentations throughout the head and down the spinal area are the most likely causes of the warping ability observed. Sclera appears to turn darker in color when hunting, with the pupil expanding greatly, which is also observed to happen when warping. 

(3) Unlike other warpers, he has been observed using his tendrils to pick up objects of interest. 

(Grian

(1) Multiple rows of razor-sharp teeth designed to rip into prey with ease. The flesh inside is bioluminescent, glowing an eerie red in the dark. 

(2) Distinctive dorsal fins slices through the sand in a warning of his presence. Despite this, he’s a rather successful hunter, and easily sneaks up and ambushes creatures just as large and sometimes larger than him. 

(3) A dozen or so small legs line the underside of his tail, used to burrow and travel underneath the sand on the ocean floor. These also help him get onto land when the need arises. 

(Assessment) While mischievous, he holds no actual danger to the average survivor. 

(Mumbo)

(1) Somehow has a perfectly groomed mustache despite being in saltwater 90% of the time. 

(2) Darker scales on back and lighter on the act as better camouflage in the water. Lighter scales cover the lower stomach help as well. 

(3) Tendrils allow for better navigation in both the water and the land. They can also grip onto objects and get into smaller spaces his hands may be unable to. 

(Assessment) Approachable, but clumsy on land. 

(Iskall)

(1) “Antennae” alters the composition of water around the body, allowing him to waste less energy when swimming. These do not help him on the land at all though. These are also inedible to would-be predators, hence the bright coloration. 

(2) Unlike normal hoopfish, who do not need to move their tail when swimming, the muscles are extremely developed and have adapted to assist in quick turns. 

(3) He appears to be missing the anatomical left eye, though how this came to be is unown as there is no scarring on the face. 

(Keralis)

(1) Large eyes are capable of seeing with even the smallest slivers of lighting, allowing him to avoid predators and easily find food. A secondary clear eyelid prevents light from reflecting off of the lenses, causing him to be the only known thing to be able to turn off bioluminescence at will. 

(2) His fins allow for sudden acceleration, allowing for him to move at incredible speeds. These also allow for him to leap from the waters to extreme heights, which is a possible way to get onto land. This behavior also allows him to outmaneuver most pursuers. 

(3) The openings on his side allows for him to expel substances from the stomach and gills. The use of this is unknown. These openings have been observed to expel an enzyme that causes the bacteria found in the waters to become dormant, though they do not seem to produce it. 

(Assessment) Holds no threat to survivors. It may be useful to observe more

(Xisuma)

(1) Thick, wide scales cover his back, presumably to help protect internal organs. These scales are partially fused to the spine and ribs. 

(2) The extra limbs on the torso help with travelling on both land and in water. He uses them to paddle through currents, and to help drag himself onto beaches or other land masses.

(3) Tendrils help with propulsion through the water. The bioluminescent patterns may be used to communicate with others of his species, or to attract mates, but the true use is unknown. 

(Assessment) Despite the large size, they pose no threat to survivors

(Biffa)

(1) Large wings are used for forward movement in the water. These are also used to better travel on sand and beaches. 

(2) A spade-tipped tail is used for maneuverability, and as a defensive weapon, similar to the manta rays of earth. 

(3) His body is heavily scarred, presumably from living in predator-rich waters. There was no risk of infection however, as the scalding heat purified the wounds as they healed. 

(BdoubleO)

(1) Large pupils allow for tracking potential threats framed by dark red patterns to better absorb light in dim areas such as caves or simply during the night time. 

(2) A large tail can be used to bash predators with the heated spikes, or simply to swim at surprising speeds through the waters. 

(3) Spikes don’t cause him to combust, unlike normal crashfish. They do heat up quite a bit however, evaporating the surrounding water and creating the illusion of an explosion. This allows him to either flee or retaliate to an attack. 

(Assessment) Only dangerous when attacked. Caution is needed to not startle him. 

(Etho)

(1) Large “wing” allows for graceful swimming in a multitude of depths. They generate an incredible forward thrust in movement, allowing for a large amount of distance being covered in smaller amounts of time. 

(2) Shows tool-using intelligence at the very least, covering his mouth with a facemask made from plant materials. This usually consists of ghost reed, but other variations such as bloodvine and spotted dockleaf have been observed as well. 

(3) The translucent flesh is incredibly poisonous, rendering him inedible. While the human appearing upper body holds poison as well, it is only enough to make him taste bad to predators. A determined or desperate predator could theoretically eat this part of him. 

(Assessment) Incredibly intelligent, better to be wary of its actions. 

(Doc)

(1) Arm is missing, presumably from an attack of another, perhaps larger or more aggressive creature. There is a large amount of scarring on this side of his body, presumably from the same attack.

(2) Extra fin at the end of the tail allows for powerful propulsion through the water and liquid rock. The tail itself is heavily scarred, and incredibly heat resistant. 

(3) The sclera of the remaining eye is completely black, while the pupil is pink-tinted white. Presumably to not be blinded by the lighting of lava. His canines are too big to fully fit into his mouth when  closed, forming a terrifying smile

(Cleo)

(1)  Tail stores excess blood, helping digest it faster. It is extremely squishy and holds very little defense- if something wants to get close to her.

(2) Rows of teeth are in a needle-like shape to better tear into flesh and get at blood, while her nose is designed to scent the waters for spilled blood. 

(3) Tendrils are used to grab objects of interest, fleeing prey, or decomposing bodies to feed on when visibility is low. 

(Assessment) Incredibly dangerous when hungry. Avoid when she’s hunting.

(Stress)

(1) Her eyes are extremely bioluminescent, however she has not been observed to search for food at night, nor in particularly dark areas. It is unknown as to what evolutionary advantage these may have- if there is any at all. 

(2) Tendrils may help with movement in the waters, but how they exactly do so is unknown. Smaller fish have been observed taking shelter in their wake from predators. 

(3) Almost the entirety of her back is covered by a thick chitinous shell. Nothing, save for a leviathan-sized creature can break through said sell, leaving her to swim undisturbed. 

(Assessment) Nonaggressive- safe to approach. 

(False)

(1) While lacking mandibles in this form, she makes up for it with thick claws on quadruped limbs. These are used to rend prey completely immobile. Either the prey will be stunned via a glancing blow, or go into shock from the sudden blood loss of having their intestines wrenched from their body. 

(2) Her flippers help with quick turns when pursuing prey, and for getting onto the land, similar to that of a turtle. 

(3) A powerful tail propels her through the water at surprising speeds, allowing for her to easily overtake potential prey. 

(Rendog)

(1) Dorsal spines can move independently from each other, allowing for an extremely high level of maneuverability in the water. 

(2) His sclera are a borderline black color, presumably to help absorb lighting for night time hunting. Curiously, this is not seen on other stalkers. The teeth never stop growing, so chewing on hard objects to keep them under control and sharpen them is not uncommon.

(3) A wide tail end allows him to have great forward propulsion, which when paired with fins adapted to allow for quick turns, gives him an advantage when hunting prey. Almost all of his body's adaptations are built for speed. 

(Assessment) Incredibly friendly towards any creature that hasn’t shown overt aggression. 

(Evil X)

(1) His tendrils allow for extremely fast swimming speed, especially in forward movement. This allows him to get sufficient ramming speed to easily break any prey’s hiding spot.

(2) Body tissue, especially around the throat and mouth area are incredibly heat resistant. Even his hair consists of material that will not immediately melt from the sheer heat.

(3) Muscles in the arms and hands are incredibly compact, but still keeps the fine motor control found in humans. These limbs are designed to balance fine control with deadly strength, tipped with sharp claws and his fingers attached with thick webbing. This is presumably to prevent prey from escaping his deadly grip. 

(Assessment) Incredibly dangerous if provoked- better to stay out of his way

(Worm Man)

(1) Thick scales protect him from the extreme heat of the lava caves. These also allow him to touch extremely hot materials, such as metal or molten rock for a time, before needing to go farther away. 

(2) The antennae on his head help sense varying energy sources, allowing him to find and track food even if it moves a large distance away.

(3) He has near invisible pads line his hands, allowing him to grip onto smooth surfaces and sources of food without the threat of being knocked off. However, this means he can also get stuck onto things when under stress.

(TFC)

(1) Specialized cells line the arms and torso allow for him to let out an emp blast at will. This is usually signaled by a clapping motion. 

(2) The six limbs allow for walking on the land and swimming in the water. One appears to have been removed, but this doesn’t seem to have slowed down his movement. 

(3) A clear membrane covers a hard shell-like tail. This shell-like exoskeleton protects important organs inside. Most of the space is taken up by a massive stomach. 

(Assessment) Be wary of EMP blasts and avoid shining lights in his face

(Hypno) 

(1) Reflective scales line his back, which may blind any would-be predators. The yellow tips on his hair has a similar effect, being incredibly luminescent. 

(2) The long tail is used to paddle through the waters, usually at a slow pace. However, it can allow for sudden bursts in speed, usually to flee from potential threats. 

(3) The panels vibrate at varying speeds, making a wide variety of noises that can manipulate preys’ senses. Most of these frequencies are barely within the human hearing range, with most surpassing those limitations.

(Assessment) Don’t look- Error- Look at him. . . Share the beauty. . .

(Python)

(1) A long snake-like body allows for a near ridiculous range of movement in the water, be it in a small space or open ocean.

(2) He has two rows of sharpened teeth, with the rows father back facing inwards to trap struggling prey. Unlike other crabsnakes, he has eyes, allowing for him to find prey without it needing to swim close to his position. 

(3) The patterns on his back may be for camouflage in the caves, but so far data is inconclusive to their full purpose.