Content:Fytothanatos (squid plant)

From SporeWiki, the knowledge base dedicated to Spore

Literally "death plant," the fytothanatos, or squid plant as it is better known, truly lives up to its name. This 8 ft long 6 ft tall predatory plant is one of the most dangerous ones on Nitaria. While at first glance it doesn't look very menacing, its hard outer "case" conceals its deadly weaponry.

Contents 1 Description 2 Attack 2.1 sensory hairs 3 range

[edit] Description

A squid plant looks like a large yellow seed pod layed on its side. The rounded end of the seed pod is supported by a trunk of thick roots. The pod portions are divided horizontally into four sections.

[edit] Attack

The squid plant is covered in fine sensory "hairs" (even the exposed roots), like that of a Venus fly trap. But these sensory hairs detect electrical signals, and are not activated by touch. Below the ground, its roots are also covered in sensory hairs, but these ones detect vibrations. When a small animal strides past a squid plant, it opens up its shell, and extends 10 long, thick vines, or "tentacles." It grabs the prey, and small fibers on the tips of the vines inject incapacitating toxins (in the same fashion of a jelly fish). When the hairs have been released, the squid plant drags the paralyzed prey into its "body," and digests it at will.

[edit] sensory hairs

early chryidian scientists thought that the squid plant was a stationary animal, due to its near preciseness of grabbing prey. As the years have gone by, scientists figured out that it was actually a magnificent plant. Its sensory hairs contol the tentacles mainly, depending on how strong the electric signlas are on them. fr example, if the hairs on the head of the vines sense more electricity than the ones in the back, the hairs "tell" the vines to keep extending. When the hairs on the end of the vines sense less electricty than the ones in the back, i "tells" the vines to wrap around, thusly constricing the prey. each one tentacle is "conected" with the other, which are in turn all "connected" to the squid plants body. Through this remarkable and confusing system, the squid plant can almost always pinpoint the exact location of is prey, making it an efficient carnivorous plant.

[edit] range

the squid plant is found all throughout the altarian jungle

MORE TO COME

---