Aster Scyllid

Databank Text

Megahecaspid aster. A colony of shell-forming, algae-like organisms analogous to Earth’s haptophytes or coralline algae.

1. Megahecaspid
   A colony of hecaspids — organisms with fatty or starchy interiors surrounded by many shields of calcium carbonate.

2. Bacterial symbiote
   These hecaspids use internal bacterial reservoirs to feed on sunlight, chemical, or even radiation. (Electrical feeding is theoretically possible but not yet observed.)

3. Nutrient trove
   The interior of the colony is a reservoir of high-density food storage. An appropriate nickname might be ‘sea tuber’ (not to be confused with the nickname for deep-sea metallic nodules).

Assessment: positive sign for biodiversity. Await further updates.