Phytocyte Natans is the smallest of the Phytocyte genus. Like its cousins, it is a simple organism, consisting of photoreceptors and a few simple muscles for movement. Phytocytes travel in large 'fields' across large bodies of water, using their undeveloped 'tail' to propel themselves towards light. Much like plants on Earth, members of the Phytocyte genus can convert light from stars into energy through a process similar to photosynthesis, though instead of forming a permanent symbiotic relation with cyanobacteria, they paired up Pseutoplantis. They reproduce asexually through budding, where the offspring gradually grow and bud off the adult in large numbers. In their infant state, they are incredibly small and grow to their adult size over the course of 3 to 5 months. In rare cases of exceptional growth and favorable living conditions, they can grow over a foot long; those individuals are often sluggish and darker in color compared to their younger counterparts. In the ecosystems where they are found, they are usually preyed upon by more complex organisms due to their large numbers and poor defense mechanisms. Despite this, they have proved resilient, as ancestors of the Phytocytes have existed for millions of years, looking nearly identical to the forms we see today.
Part of the Nuitov Speculative Evolution project! I'm not sure who these guys are closely related to, perhaps a relative or offshoot of the Filostomas
