Meanwhile in rivers... Bdelloid rotifers have been wildly successful. Soon after they were seeded, the rotifers developed a form of neoteny in which their cells keep dividing through out their life cycle instead of just using cell enlargement at maturity. Due to this innovation, rotifers have been able to reach much larger sizes, being able to occupy new niches in their environment. However, the males of this group are still microscopic. In a similar way to zombie worms, planktonic male rotifers will enter females through the cloaca and live inside them, functioning as living sperm bags. Females intentionally search for these males in the water column and compete for them. The female with the most males will be able to produce the most eggs. Females are produced by eggs all year while males only hatch in winters and live shortly. This arrangement evolved as a protection against harsh conditions since sexual reproduction can produce more adaptable offspring.

The most abundant group of Macrorotifers are the Minnofers. They swim in close proximity to one another against the currents of rivers to gather food and oxygen. Some species live in rivers connected to oceans which may lead to oceanic Macrorotifers in the future. Males hook to the sides of the female's cloacas and deposit sperm only to die within a month or so. For the most part, this clade still reproduces through parthenogenesis. They lay clumps of eggs on the bottom and leave them to fend for themselves. This revolutionary group will lead to tons of spectacular descendants in the future.

Cleaner macrotifers are helpful denizens of the reef. Like their name implies, they will clean parasites off of larger animals including the Moray Stabworm. The worm becomes healthier without the parasites and the macrotifer gets a nice meal. Cleaner Macrotifers will wedge themselves in coral and stick out their colorful toe fins to signal a cleaning station. Cleaner Macrotifers are in the most diverse and successful Motifer clade, the Rochovies.

While Motifers have evolved advanced body systems that have allowed them to reach tremendous heights in evolution, they are not the only Macrotifers on Alluvius. Evolved from animals similar to the Grovifers, the Sessifer group has also made their way into saltwater habitats. Unike their relatives, Sessifers have evolved a pair of hearts near the base of the tail and never evolved proper gills. Instead the animals breathe through their enlarged and folded corona. This corona is also capable of moving in all directions through muscles at the base. All extant species of Sessifers either create a calcified tube (Colonifers) or a calcified cuticle (Clampifers), ones that didn't were simply outcompeted by their superior derivatives. Males of most species are highly disproportianate compared to females and planktonic broadcast spawners. Though tropical varieties exist, ocean Sessifers are most common in colder nutrient-rich waters. They play an important role in building cold and deep sea reefs. (ANATOMICAL UPDATE: No macrotifers have nephridiphores, the nephridia/kidneys are connected to the bladder.)

• Clampifers are solitary Sessifers that build a calcified cuticle. This cuticle is built upon for it's entire life like a mollusk so no molting is required. This group also grows a periostracum around the cuticle, an organic "fuzzy" layer typically used to support the calcified layer like scaffolding. Though what's unique about the Clampifer's periostracum, is that it contains blood vessels and is used primarily for oxygen exchange. This usually gives the animals a blue tint when alive. In most species the periostracum is either shed occasionally or contains toxins to prevent algae growth. The corona of Clampifers are extraordinarily long, they curl in random ways in a similar manner to the brachiopod's lophophore. Some species still have segmented feet used to move according to water current but most have the foot fused with the rest of the body, having the anus and nephridophores not far below from the mouth. Clampifers are important ecosystem builders in cold water environments, being the primary creators of cold water reefs. They're rare in tropical waters, only having species a centimetre or two long.

• Colonifers are a unique colonial group of Sessifers, while not as abundant as their Clampifer cousins they still fill a very unique niche in the cold water reefs. These worm-like Sessifers create calcified tube hives that can contain anywhere from one to hundreds of individuals depending on species. Hives will typically have a large hollow chamber where eggs and young are stored. All Colonifers in the colony are females, males are either produced rarely or not at all and when they are, they're exclusively produced for extra genetic diversity in large colonies. To feed young in the colony, females produce fecal palp for the larvae. Once larval Colonifers mature they will either inhabit a newly built tube or crawl out of the colony and create a new one with parthenogenic offspring.

Galactic Discifer - A grouping species that lives in calcified gorgonian colonies. When danger approaches they will dart quickly within their coral homes. Their brilliant colors are used to recognize individuals, a handy tool in a reef community filled with other similar Discifers. They eat various plankton and invertebrates on rocks.

Conure Simpfish - Simpfish are a type of shoaling discifer that gathers in harems with one large female and several smaller males. Females will typically have an agressive attitude to other reef dwellers and be picky when choosing males for the shoal. During the day, the group patrols the reef with few standing in their way while at night they huddle under rock overhangs and breed. Conure Simpfish will eat various small animals floating in the water.

Grungle Torpedoes - Large solitary Torpedoes with relatively muscular fins and an appetite for meaty benthic foods. This group is closely related to the Sarcoptifers, but not close enough to be considered part of it. Grungle Torpedoes will use their powerful fins to disturb the sand bed while their tail keeps them in place. This exposes ephyrazoans and nemerteans for their powerful jaws to chomp on.

Sea Fan Toobifer and Giant Reef Toobifer - Both are closely related, having hook-like toes to cling onto rocks, yet they're slightly different. Sea Fan Toobifers are smaller and usually live in deeper waters with the soft gorgonians they're most comfortable within. They catch any floating particulates and Blipworms they can reach with their folded corona. Giant Reef Toobifers live in shallow waters and are more predatory, they use the corona to catch small Flappifers swimming by.

Sponge Cuddle Ankylofer - Peaceful species that primarily eat algae and the occasional sessile invertebrate. Their strong jaws are used for crunching on hard rocks and for defense if predators come too close, though it takes a lot to irritate them to that extent. At night Sponge Cuddle Ankylofers sleep in sponges, sometimes nibbling on them to wear down their ever-growing "beak".

• Ramifer - Car-sized filter feeders living in tropical and subtropical marine habitats. They inhabit open waters near reefs where many plankton and small motifers congregate. To feed the Ramifer will ram into shoals of prey as their name implies. They are the most intelligent group within the clade, a necessary adaptation for navigating their environment. During the Summer, many Ramifers will group by dropoffs to mate. Males will hug each other and swim upward quickly to fight for mates, whichever lets go is the loser.

• Dustifer - Typically man-sized bottom dwellers that feed by stirring sand. The group possesses prehensile corona for filtering efficiency, a convergent adaptation with the Tortacles. Dustifers typically inhabit sandy bottoms in tropical shallow waters whether they be marine or brackish. They use their well developed jaws to dig and disturb various benthic organisms for consumption in the water column. Dustifers typically hang out in groups of a dozen or so individuals which work together to protect young. When threatened they will try to crush attackers with their powerful jaws. When Dustifers mature they will either move to another group or stay if there are young to protect. In the Dustifer group hierarchy young are valued most and given the most food, females come second, and males get the least amount of food. This system promotes individuals to leave groups if there are too many. Adults are largely not preyed upon but young can be hunted by Barrotifers and other predatory Sarcoptifers.

• Whiskifer - Passive and blind freshwater filter feeders. Whiskifers spend most of their time calmly swimming in lakes and rivers within tropical or temperate zones. This slow life style ensures small prey aren't spooked so they don't swim away from the Whiskifer's maw. If threatened, they are able to swim in a quick burst. This usually results in a literal and figurative slap in the face for the predator. Whiskifers do not group together intentionally but also don't mind other individuals. Mating is very simple and young are younger adults. They will typically have litters of 5 or 8. Whiskifers use smelling to find mates and food since they usually live in murky water.

Descendents of the Gluttifers, the Whoppifers are the largest animals to ever swim on Alluvius, reaching lengths of up to fifteen meters. After the NeoEdiacaran extinction, most coldwater Motifers thrived. Colder temperatures meant a wider habitat range, higher oxygen levels, and higher nutrient levels; creating the perfect haven for plankton and nekton alike. This lead to a diversity boom in the Gluttifer group, their descendants now inhabit many marine and freshwater habitats. In the far north and south hemispheres, Whoppifers filter feed upon metric tons of krill-like Origifers and Blipworms. They typically migrate in groups that move toward the tropics to reproduce and toward the North or South to feed. Unlike whales, Whoppifers are unintelligent and do not communicate in meaninful ways besides males fighting over females by bumping into eachother. Pods do not form hierarchies and are not entirely made up of related members. Every migration, Whoppifers from the North and South switch pods to find new mates.

This new group of Gluttifer descendants that includes the Whoppifer and many relatives is called the Protoskelifers. This is because they are the first group of the Motifers to develop a true endoskeleton of cartilage and bone. This had originally evolved entirely to support a larger animal rather than for protection since this group didn't have to worry about predators... at the time.

The conditions of the Rhizophorean led to an increase in Tortacle diversity. Their previous habitat had remained very similar from the extinction and new niches opened for them to take. We'll talk about Tortacle descendants that moved out of the deep sea later. The Tentacular Tortacle is a very large Motifer that is the apex predator of the abyss. During the day they are mostly dormant, drifting in the deep in an ominous manner. At night, the voracious hunters activate and strike at other smaller Tortacles which feed on Rochovies which feed on glowing Origifers. The Tentacular Tortacle's vision is incredibly well developed to see in the dark. Their red coloration disguises them since most Motifers can't see that color.

Eelifers are a group of Motifers derived from Barrotifers with elongated bodies. Most species live in rivers or Clampifer reefs, where their eel-like bodyplan helps them fit through tight spaces. Some Eelifers live in the pelagic deep, using bioluminescence to lure small Rochovies. All species are carnivorous ambush predators that typically feed on Rochovies, Nemertigents, Croissantworms, and Imperials.

Motifers have finally made it to terrestrial environments in the form of Lurkifers, descendants of Eelifers with lungs. Most Lurkifers retain gills and require an amphibious life style, but some like the Inchifers and Terrifers rely entirely on lungs for respiration. These lungs evolved as a separate section within the sensory orifice, also used for smelling and hearing. Lurkifers became amphibious originally because of the need to crawl to different bodies of water when in droughts. Many fish on Earth will do this as well, leading some eel and catfish to becoming terrestrial albeit subterranean. Niche-wise, Lurkifers function similarly to eels, snakes, caecilians and other amphibians. Terrestrial species are born aquatic with gill chambers that are sealed once mature.

Swampifers - Most abundant of the Lurkifers and common in rivers and lakes. All swampifers have lungs and gills, typically using the terrestrial environment as an escape or a means to another body of water. Most hunt either croissant worms, blipworms, rochovies, or origifers. Most species are around a meter but some can reach four or five meters long.

Terrifers - Terrestrial descendants of the Swampifers. Terrifers dominate the southern side of the continent's terrestrial ecosystems. All Terrifers have aquatic larvae, preventing them from conquering dryer environments. Adults however are fully adapted for terrestrial life, their sclerotized protein cuticle preventing dessication. Most Terrifers rely on terrestrial nemerteans or limpacoelomorphs for food, few may eat other Terriffers. Due to their cold blood, Terrifers will either bask in sunlight or rest under foliage to alter their body temperature.

Inchifers - Descendants of Terrifers with odd inch-worm movements. Like their relatives, Inchifers mainly eat terrestrial nemerteans and Limpacoelomorphs though some will eat plants. What's special about this group is their cartilage notochord and ability to leap from tree to tree. Most species are aquatic in their larval stage and arboreal in their adult stage, requiring a great climb upward once they reach maturity. These animals dominate the upper rain forests and mangroves, hopping without a care in the world. Like the aquatic Tortacles, some predatory Inchifers have tentacle-like corona used for grasping prey. Very few species are fully herbivorous, usually being very slow and relying on special bacteria to digest leaves. All Inchifers have modified their back fins and lateral fins into a cup-like form for better grip on trees.

Descendants of the Reef Stalkers have seen great success in the Rhizophorean, taking over large oceanic predator niches. All living Sarcoptifers give live birth.

Podifers - Medium predators that doninate the reef. Most Podifers live around reefs, usually hunting Blipworms and Macrotifers at night. Others are open water species that use coordination to hunt schools of Rochovies. All Podifers are at least loosely social, most only grouping together for mating migrations and feeding frenzies. They communicate by clamping their jaws repeatedly to signal for food or danger. Their intelligence is roughly similar to that of Earth's reef sharks, so close family bonds usually aren't formed.

Tunifers - Incredibly fast predators with flat body shapes. Tunifers will swim into schools of Rochovies in open waters at alarming speeds, catching as many meals as possible. They typically form loose aggregations for hunting and fight for mates by kiss fighting.

Carnifers - Top predators in the ocean, hunting Tunifers, Podifers, Blipworms, Ramifers, and anything in between. All Carnifers are large solitary beasts that use their intelligence and incredible bite strength to take down anything that will fit in their mouth. The largest species specialize on hunting larval Whoppifers and other filter feeding Sarcoptifers, in a similar manner to Earth's Otodus megalodon.