Anatomy

Palindromes (Phylum Aozoa)

Let's learn about the insides of these critters. (This page is a WIP. I mean the whole site is a WIP, But this one moreso than the rest of it.

Palindromes have a couple of challenges when it comes to their insides. First, they're radially symmetrical. Secondly, they're front-back symmetrical. And so, their insides also follow this pattern. They have a digestive system that enters through two sides and leaves through three, and their accessory digestive organs wrap around the digestive tract. They don't have a central heart, but small pumps at the base of each respiratory organ, which they have six of. And despite having two heads, they only have one brain in the middle of their body which has five holes in it for the digestive tract to loop in and out. A very absurd animal indeed.

Palindromes use hemocyanin as their primary respiratory pigment as with most fauna on their planet. It isn't very efficient for earthly blood, but luckily for them their planet is a fair bit colder and less oxygenated than ours is. Hemocyanin can only bond a quarter as much oxygen as hemoglobin can, but performs better under colder temperatures. This makes their blood blue. There are still warmer climates on their planet, so equatorial populations tend to have a high concentration of hemocyanin in their blood while oceanic or polar species have a lighter blue blood color.

Palindromes have three cloacas and a gonad on each. Some even have two. Palindromes are only very rarely one sex, and most are a ratio. Some palindromes may have six gonads and some aren't born with any.

Palindromes can clone themselves or reproduce with another. Palindromes don't carry their own young, they simply deposit their gametes in a hidden spot, usually a hole in the ground. Parental instincts vary between palindromes. Some guard their young and some leave them after laying them.