Species 1

Morphology: Species 1 is flat and circular in appearance. Fully grown individuals are approximately 5 meters tall and 50 meters in diameter. They have small limbs at the edge of the central part of their body, which is extremely thin and somewhat akin to a leaf on Earth. This “leaf” collects sunlight for photosynthesis. Due to Kepler-442’s peak wavelength being around 658 nm, species 1 is dark red in color in order to maximize red-orange absorption (Kiang et al., 2007). The limbs can plant into the ground and gather nutrients or act as locomotory organs. At the center of their central part, they have an elongated bud-shaped organ. Occasionally, a thin, elongated organ that is used to detect sunlight sprouts from the central bud. This process is shown in figure 1.

Behavior: Species 1 is a slow-moving, photosynthesizing autotroph. They use the organ sprouting from the central bud to detect when sunlight is decreasing. In order to maximize energy production, they will move in large herds (hundreds of individuals) with the planet's rotation to stay on the dayside of the planet. Since Kepler-442 b’s rotational period is relatively long, if they are stuck on the night side of the planet, they will die as they will not have enough energy to sustain their large size. 

Reproduction: Species 1 reproduces sexually; however, individuals of species 1 have both reproductive organs. Twice a Kepler-442 b year, species 1 will expel thousands of reproductive units, akin to seeds on Earth. Species 1 is fertilized through pollinators, who transfer gametes from individual to individual. 

Development: Many reproductive units are consumed by various organisms before they pass the first stage of development, and the few that survive will typically grow to maturity. The first stage of development typically takes 2 Kepler-442 b years. It is characterized by fast growth and constant photosynthesis. The second stage of development typically takes 4 Kepler-442 b years. It is characterized by reaching sexual maturity. After that, individuals will live upwards of 50 Kepler-442 b years.

References