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Description
Life in one of Cerulea's vast cave systems. Various forms of polyp sacs take the role of local "vegetation". Two different types of predatory radials are present- a group of active hunters roaming on the ground, and a terrestrial death flower clinging to a cave wall. In the air flies the apex predator of the caverns- a cave demon.

In eastern Occidentalis, western Orientalis and many of the in-between islands there are vast networks of caves. They appear to have all been part of a single even vaster mega-network prior to the earlier single continent splitting in two around 11 million years ago. Out of all of Cerulea's biomes, these caves are arguably the most "alien".

The sunless surroundings are not good for Cerulea's plants who, like the plants of Earth, rely on photosynthesis. Yet there are large masses of "vegetation" present. This comes in the form of polyp sacs, that strange kingdom of Cerulean organisms that look somewhat plant-like but are in fact closer to Cerulea's animals. As heterotrophs feeding through various means like filter-feeding aerial spores, catching small pseudo-arthropods with predatory bulbs, and catching tiny soil creatures with predatory roots, the lack of sunlight is no issue. The lack of needing to compete with plants for space to lay down roots has made the polyp sacs of the caves more numerous and successful than the polyp sacs of any other habitat on Cerulea. The caves are also home to the largest of all the polyp sacs- tree-like forms growing to up to as tall as 9 m.

One quite intriguing aspect of Cerulean cave life is that all the cave dwelling polyp sacs and many of the cave dwelling animals are bioluminescent. As such, instead of the caves being pitch black with the occasional light from holes in the cave ceiling, they are instead well lit with an ethereal glow.

Among the cave dwelling animals, radials are quite common here. In fact the radials seem to be more common and successful in cave habitats than anywhere else on Cerulea. Exactly why this is the case is still a matter of debate among Cerulan biologists. In any case the radials of the caves come in a wide range of forms and lifestyles from grazers and browsers of the polyp sacs, to fearsome predators.

Unsurprisingly the pseudo-arthropods, Cerulea's largest animal group by far, are well represented in the caves. They range from tiny insect-sized forms to enormous ones like the cave demons- the largest aerial predator on Cerulea and an apex predator of the cave systems.

Various shield heads live in the caves, primarily as grazers and browsers. Though some of the cave shield heads feed on small animals, none are major predators. It seems all the large predator niches of the caves are occupied by radials and pseudo-arthropods.

Interestingly, vertebrates have very little presence in the caves, ranging from being downright absent in many places to being represented just as minor creatures such as the occasional fish living in cavern pools.

The caves are also a good place to see some of Cerulea's odd archaic animal groups like the blob-like amoeboids and the bizarre-looking spore creatures.

Description
Life in one of Cerulea's vast cave systems. Various forms of polyp sacs take the role of local "vegetation". Two different types of predatory radials are present- a group of active hunters roaming on the ground, and a terrestrial death flower clinging to a cave wall. In the air flies the apex predator of the caverns- a cave demon.

In eastern Occidentalis, western Orientalis and many of the in-between islands there are vast networks of caves. They appear to have all been part of a single even vaster mega-network prior to the earlier single continent splitting in two around 11 million years ago. Out of all of Cerulea's biomes, these caves are arguably the most "alien".

The sunless surroundings are not good for Cerulea's plants who, like the plants of Earth, rely on photosynthesis. Yet there are large masses of "vegetation" present. This comes in the form of polyp sacs, that strange kingdom of Cerulean organisms that look somewhat plant-like but are in fact closer to Cerulea's animals. As heterotrophs feeding through various means like filter-feeding aerial spores, catching small pseudo-arthropods with predatory bulbs, and catching tiny soil creatures with predatory roots, the lack of sunlight is no issue. The lack of needing to compete with plants for space to lay down roots has made the polyp sacs of the caves more numerous and successful than the polyp sacs of any other habitat on Cerulea. The caves are also home to the largest of all the polyp sacs- tree-like forms growing to up to as tall as 9 m.

One quite intriguing aspect of Cerulean cave life is that all the cave dwelling polyp sacs and many of the cave dwelling animals are bioluminescent. As such, instead of the caves being pitch black with the occasional light from holes in the cave ceiling, they are instead well lit with an ethereal glow.

Among the cave dwelling animals, radials are quite common here. In fact the radials seem to be more common and successful in cave habitats than anywhere else on Cerulea. Exactly why this is the case is still a matter of debate among Cerulan biologists. In any case the radials of the caves come in a wide range of forms and lifestyles from grazers and browsers of the polyp sacs, to fearsome predators.

Unsurprisingly the pseudo-arthropods, Cerulea's largest animal group by far, are well represented in the caves. They range from tiny insect-sized forms to enormous ones like the cave demons- the largest aerial predator on Cerulea and an apex predator of the cave systems.

Various shield heads live in the caves, primarily as grazers and browsers. Though some of the cave shield heads feed on small animals, none are major predators. It seems all the large predator niches of the caves are occupied by radials and pseudo-arthropods.

Interestingly, vertebrates have very little presence in the caves, ranging from being downright absent in many places to being represented just as minor creatures such as the occasional fish living in cavern pools.

The caves are also a good place to see some of Cerulea's odd archaic animal groups like the blob-like amoeboids and the bizarre-looking spore creatures.