Northern Ariducene Kelp Forests

As the globe cooled down in the Ariducene, kelp forests returned with an increase in range and productivity. The new kelp forests range from the Bering Sea to Baja California and Southern China. As the world entered the Ariducene, the kelp forests, which were previously only found in the Arctic circle, moved south.

The most common kelp species are in the genus Mariarbor and are descended from Macrocystis kelp, which took over in the Arctic in the Calidocene due to aquaculture allowing for macro-algae to run rampant in the wild. They measure in at 200 feet tall and their stalks are 10 inches  in diameter and are attached to rocks by large, tough rhizomes. Their morphology is almost the same as their ancestors, save for a few changes to fit their size.

Swarmshrimp

Swarmshrimp (Algasquilliadae) are a monospecific family of shrimp. They descend from giant tiger prawns, which exploded in population and genetic diversity in the late Calidocene. They measure in at 1-2 inches in length and come in an irridescent orange, which proves to be a blessing and a curse. Their irridescence drives away predators and attracts them at the same time.

The shrimp live inside of the rhizomes of the kelp and eat the leaves. One of the biggest threats to kelp are urchins, which have developed stronger beaks to tear through the thicker roots. In order to protect their homes and food source, the Swarmshrimp pile on any nearby urchin that hasn't been scared away by their bright colors. The urchins are then devoured completely. Swarmshrimp are colonial organism. They have communal nesting in the kelp roots and will also work together to keep watch and graze. 

Kelplikes

Kelplikes (pseudofilixidae) are a family of anemone found in kelp forests and other areas full of macroalgae. The family is descended from the Dahlia Anemone. They come in a green/brown coloration and the body measures in at 6 inches in length.

There are about 10-15 tentacles that measure in at a foot in length. Tentacles are flat and shoot straight out to mimic the kelp leaves. The tentacles are lined with stinging cells that contain a potent venom that induces a burning sensation in their prey. Their diet consists of schooling fish, jellyfish, juvenile fish, and small invertebrates. Instead of catching their prey by ambushing, they hunt idly and wait for their prey to swim into the tentacles. The stinging cells will fire and the prey will be moved along towards the mouth.

Their pedal discs cling to rocks, holdfasts, and kelp stalks with one stalk holding at least two Kelplikes. If they need to move locations, they wait until nighttime and detach. They swim backwards with the pedal disc facing the direction they're going in with the tentacles acting like a tail fluke.

Bleneels

Bleneels (Anguillablendea) are a genus of blenny descended from the peacock blenny. They measure in at 2-3 feet in length and come in a golden coloration with neon blue green markings. Their morphology resembles an eel save for a few key differences.

The tail fin and anal fin have connected to support their eel-like unjulation locomotions. Their pelvic fins are still used as a sort of stand for sitting on the seafloor. All fins are able to fold up against the body to fit in their burrows or to be hydrodynamic while swimming. 

Microalgae makes up the majority of their diet, but they will also feed on small crusteaceans and mollusks. Bleneels often congregate in temporary groups while feeding to ensure group safety. During mating season, the males will put on a show for the females in the breeding ground by showing off their colorful head crest that they can flick in and out. If the female chooses to mate, she will lay her eggs on a piece of kelp for the male to fertilize them. She will wrap up the eggs in the kelp leaf and guard them for the next few weeks until they hatch.

Callupilluit

Callupilluit (plataleaformes) are an infraorder descended from Atuikopeca. They come in a blue-green coat with green wings and dark blue feet. Their wingspan is 6 feet in length, their feet and 1 foot in length and span, and their body is 5 feet in length including their neck. Their neck measures in at 2.5 feet in length.

The neck is extended to improve flexibility and steering underwater. Callupilluit swim with either their wings or their feet. The wings are used for fast swimming with little control and the feet are used for slower swimming with better control. Their wings have evolved into long flippers, these wings still have flight feathers because of sexual selection. Coats are watertight and have evolved to require little to no preening to maintain.

They are almost fully aquatic, only surfacing to breathe and sleep. While underwater, they can hold their breath for 8 minutes. Their eyesight underwater is decent, but not good enough to keep safe. Callupilluit are vulnerable to practically everything from cannibalism to accidental drowning. 

Their diet consists of fish and occasionally kelp, they are also known to attack each other and way larger animals that are way more powerful than them. They are obviously not very smart. Their beak is long and flat with a flared, hooked tip. Males will oftentimes chase down females and bite them to coerce them into mating. After mating, females will scoot up onto the beach and dig out a nest in the sand with their legs. She will lay about 42 eggs per year and the ducklings will recieve minimal parental care, they will be fed regurgitated kelp and live fish until their coat comes in fully at 4 months old. Once they get their feathers the ducklings are strong enough to climb the walls of the nest and scoot out to sea. The dangerous process of growing up leads to only three to four ducklings surviving to adulthood. Only two of those four will live to reproduce.