Juln

The Juln is a common variety of creature found across several planets in the Tau Ceti system, which fall under the domain of the Couatl Pact. It flourishes on both Tau Ceti e and f, both of which lie within the habitable zone of the star. A non-sentient creature, the Juln is notable for its unique life cycle and reproductive systems.

Life Cycle
The Juln is an organism which differs greatly from any Earth creature in that it has a hybrid lifestyle, utilizing some structures found in multiple domains of Earth organisms. The Juln life cycle begins with a zoospore, a small spore which floats on air currents, directing itself with flagella to a bright spot, where it settles. The spore then lays root-like structures, extending limbs into the ground to collect minerals, while photosynthetic structures collect energy. After about 10 days galactic time, the spore begins differentiation of its main body. Over the course of about 50 galactic days, it grows in size until it can fit in the palm of the hand, at which point it develops limbs and abandons the sedentary structures it was using. As the only mobile lifeform on either planet, the Juln occupies apex predator status, feeding on the various sedentary flora and fauna of Tau Ceti e and f. After maturing completely, growing to the size of a small craft, the Juln begins to prepare for reproduction. It becomes sedentary, retracts and digests its limbs, and constructs several million new zoospores which are stored on the epidermal layer of the creature. It then digests most essential organs, and the entire metabolism of the creature is directed toward inflating a large air sac, which is pressurized until it ruptures, destroying the organism and blasting the spores into the air at high speed. It is believed that millennia ago, the Juln lived only on Tau Ceti e, and the rupture of a single abnormally large specimen released the zoospores at such high velocity that they made it into space, and landed on Tau Ceti f, accounting for the presence of the organism on both planets despite their completely different composition of other organisms.

Cultivation
Colonists of Tau Ceti e and f regularly cultivate the Juln, planting spores in large enclosures, feeding the creatures until they reach maturity, and slaughtering them for meat and other resources. The flesh of the Juln, which becomes extremely tender in the time immediately prior to the rupture, is one of the most delicious meats in the galaxy, which I can attest to. It is very popular among the rich and upper class, and is a particular favorite of the Nymphaeaceaen upper class, served often in their pleasure houses on Qualia.

-Crassius Hadrana