Darwin IV is a fictional planet that was the subject of Wayne Barlowe's book
Expedition and the television special, Alien Planet, based on Expedition.
Although the details of the discovery and exploration of Darwin IV differ in the
two presentations, both are essentially the same in their depiction of the
planetary environment and its native life-forms, whose abundance and variety
prompt the name Darwin.
Introduction
Book
Expedition describes Darwin IV as the fourth of six planets orbiting a binary
star system approximately 6.5 light years from the solar system. Darwin IV is
discovered by a benevolent and technologically superior alien race known as the
Yma. The Yma also provide suitable transportation to the planet for a number of
human observers by means of an unspecified faster-than-light drive system. This
technology reduces the travel time to a much more manageable 2 year journey,
during which the explorers inhabit "sleep-pods." Barlowe notes that the
Darwinian day lasts 26.7 hours and that its gravity is 0.6 times that of the
Earth. Darwin IV's most notable surface feature is "Mare Amoebicus", the Amoebic
Sea.
Television
In Alien Planet, a more basic scenario is presented where a ship called the Von
Braun is sent to explore an alien world outside the solar system. The Von Braun
is sent to a binary star system about six and half light years from Earth. At
20% of the speed of light (0.2c), it takes over 40 years to travel to this
system. Upon arrival it goes into orbit around Darwin IV, the Von Braun deployed
the Darwin Reconnaissance Orbiter to scan the planet from orbit. The Von Braun
also dispatches three identically shaped lighter-than-air probes to the planet
surface. These three probes are:
Leonardo da Vinci (nicknamed "Leo" and colored blue).
Isaac Newton (nicknamed "Ike" and colored yellow).
Balboa (named after Vasco Nú?ez de Balboa and colored red). Balboa did not
survive entry into the Darwin IV atmosphere, because one wing of its lifting
body transport failed to unfold. (Balboa was evidently doomed from the
start--the screenwriters of Alien Planet never proposed a nickname for it, and
it wasn't named in full name.)
In both stories the low gravity and dense atmosphere allow for aerial organisms
that would be impossible on Earth.
Senses
The species on Darwin have all evolved sonar, echo-locating using pings (ex:
Rayback), clicks (ex: Gyrosprinter), high pitched squeals (ex: Sea Strider
Nymphs), roars (ex: Emperor Sea Strider), and more, since they have evolved to
the point where their eyes no longer exist or are atrophying. Many have
complicated cephalons to aid in this sense. The majority have also evolved
biolights; but rather than communicating information in the visible light
spectrum, biolights on Darwin IV function in the infrared range, as all
Darwinian animals are quite sensitive to that spectrum. It is important to note
that their sensory organs to detect light in the infrared spectrum are more
comparable to thermoreceptors found in pit vipers or rattlesnakes. The
Rimerunner still has one bizarre, retractable, atrophying eye, a remnant from a
time when sight-based organisms still had a place on Darwin IV. Also, most
species are hermaphrodites.
List of species
Below is a list of the species found on Darwin IV. NOTE: Species marked with a
"*" are featured in both the Alien Planet TV special and the book Expedition.
Unmarked species are found exclusively in the book.
All species in Alien Planet were mentioned or depicted in Expedition; however,
it should be noted that the Electrophyte was only briefly depicted in the book
and was only fully explained in Alien Planet.
Animals
Amoebic Sea* - The Amoebic Sea is a gelatinous sea of single-celled organisms.
All the water in the Amoebic Sea is absorbed and sealed within the gelatinous
mass to prevent further evaporation, as the planet is slowly losing water over
the eons. It is home to Emperor Sea Striders and Sac-backs. Littoralopes often
visit the Amoebic Sea, tearing the matrix and gorging themselves.
Arctic Sedge Slider - A ten-meter-tall biped, the Arctic Sedge Slider is
perfectly adapted for life in the cold. The Arctic Sedge Slider's name comes
from the furrows it leaves in its wake. This creature has an ingenious
adaptation for the cold. When temperatures drop low, or when a fierce arctic
storm approaches, the Arctic Sedge Slider has the ability to retract its head
deep into its warm body cavity. When conditions are favorable again, its head
reemerges again and it resumes its activities. The Arctic Sedge Slider has what
may be the biggest sonar bulge of any animal on Darwin IV. This massive organ
produces sonar pings in, not one, but multiple frequencies. Since the bulge is
located on the Arctic Sedge Slider's back, it gives the animal the ability to
"see" in 360 degrees. This makes it much more difficult for a predator to catch
an Arctic Sedge Slider by surprise. A pair of Arctic Sedge Sliders.
Arrowtongue* - Averaging about eight feet (2.4 meters) tall, an Arrowtongue
impales its prey with a 26-foot-long, serrated, arrow-tipped proboscis. Like
many spiders on Earth (and like most predators on Darwin IV), Arrowtongues are
liquivores, injecting digestive juices into their prey and then sucking out the
liquefied food. They are fierce, solitary hunters found across the planet. Like
most of Darwin IV's animals, their pointed, spade-like heads contain no true
jaws. They use sonar in order to find other species and food, and possesses
several tail-like appendages in addition to it long balancing tail. The
Arrowtongue's body and legs vaguely resemble the bipedal predatory dinosaurs
during Earth's Cretaceous Era, such as the T. rex. A picture of a rather
threatening looking Arrowtongue
Beach Loper - The Beach Loper is a biped with a trunk vaguely reminiscent of an
elephant's. It is a distant peripheral cousin of the immense Emperor Sea
Strider. A Beach Loper being attacked by a swarm of Beach Quills
Beach Quill* - Beach Quills are short-range attack hunters and are some of the
smallest creatures on Darwin IV. They attack in colonies and kill their prey
with a neurotoxin. In Alien Planet a large colony kills a Groveback. They can
propel themselves by means of a folded muscular "foot". An image of a Beach
Quill.
Belly-Thrower - A monopedal (single-footed) animal which has an eating habit
similar to that of a starfish on Earth; it inverts its stomach outside the body
and catches prey in it.
Bladderhorn* - This creature is a bright blue, rather comical-looking bipedal
animal, with two "antlers" extending out of the sides of its head, which are
actually sacs designed to inflate and make it look much larger than it truly is.
Bladderhorns make bellowing sounds by deflating the air sacs. The Bladderhorn
uses its "antlers" for communication, which, in Alien Planet, causes Leo to
conclude it's a good candidate for communication. Leo shows the Bladderhorn a
symbol puzzle, but the Bladderhorn becomes apparently agitated, bellowing at
him, and then runs away. Ike sees the same Bladderhorn near the conclusion of
the exploration. Bladderhorns fight with their bladders like antlers, using
bioluminescent light shows and their bladders to scare away predators and
rivals. Image of a Bladderhorn with its proboscis drinking from a pond.
Bolt-tongue - Though it resembles a small Arrowtongue, the Bolt-tongue has some
key features that distinguish it from its larger relative. Its skull is longer
and narrower than the Arrowtongue's, and it lacks the small fleshy spines of its
savanna counterpart. Its sonar bulge is in the form of an arc running down the
front top of its head. Its back lacks biolights and has a large patch of gray
running from the tip of its skull to the end of its tail. The Bolt-tongue
inhabits sub-polar regions of the northern icecap, where it preys upon several
species of arctic herbivores. Its tongue has a larger and more pronounced
serrated arrowhead tip than its cousin. The head of a Bolt-tongue.
Butchertree* - Many species prey on the numerous, fast breeding Prismalope, but
the Butchertree is the only species that actually lures the Prismalope instead
of chasing it. Dotting the plains of the northern hemisphere, the Butchertree
kills just about anything unfortunate enough to come within range of its four
branch-daggers. They have a bizarre relationship with an unnamed flying
organism, which is the primary food source of Prismalopes. The Butchertree grows
underground tentacles that heavily resemble these flyers, allowing the "tree" to
lure Prismalopes close enough to try to capture and eat them. It is unknown just
how this species reproduces. One possibility is that the small flyer it
associates with transfers eggs and sperm between individuals. Another
possibility is that the flyer itself is the second gender of the species, an
extreme form of sexual dimorphism. Either way, young Butchertrees are found
close to their "parent", and are connected to them through an umbilical cord
similar to that of the "growths" that mimic the flyers. The cord disappears once
the young are capable of nourishing themselves. In Alien Planet the Butchertree
is one of only two species shown to prey on Skewers. A sketch of a butchertree.
Daggerwrist* - The Daggerwrist is a human-sized tree-dwelling carnivore. It
glides from tree to tree with the assistance of thin membranes, or patagia,
similar to those of a flying squirrel. Its forelimbs are large daggers designed
for clinging to plaque-bark trees and killing prey, mainly Trunk-suckers. Unlike
most of Darwin IV's predators, the Daggerwrist has what could looks like a jaw.
But the lower "jaw" is actually part of the skull that detaches to stab its prey
and inject the needed digestive enzymes. A Daggerwrist perched on a tree, a
sketch of a Daggerwrist gliding, a sketch of a Daggerwrist's head.
Diskflyer - Diskflyers live around the Amoebic Sea and operate within very
distinct four square kilometer territories. It is not known whether young
Diskflyers stay within the territories in which they were born or if they leave
to establish new territories of their own. Diskflyers are hermaphroditic, like
most of Darwin IV's fauna, and mating impregnates both partners. It is not known
whether diskflyers give birth to live young or eggs, but it is probably the
latter.
Ebony Blister-wing - An immense flyer, the Ebony Blister-wing can sometimes
attain wingspans in excess of 1,000 feet.
Emperor Sea-strider* - The Emperor Sea-strider is the one of the largest known
creatures on Darwin IV. In Alien Planet, the Emperor Sea-strider is 70 feet
tall, but it is much more massive in the book Expedition. Though their exact
size is unknown, if Mr. Barlowe's account is correct, they would be 620.1 feet
tall. Emperor Sea-striders walk on the surface of the Amoebic Sea with their two
massive feet. Emperor Sea-striders are found only on the Amoebic Sea for the
reason that the sea is the only source of food in numbers large enough to
support such creatures, much like krill is for baleen whales on Earth. When
Emperor Sea-striders are born they are capable of flight, but as adults they are
bipedal. They have a bizarre way of feeding; their mouths are located on their
feet, so it basically eats the organisms by stepping on them. The identifying
traits they have are a mouthless crested head, two very large orange biolights
(which are cavities in the book), two large tails (which is actually a tail and
a phallus according to the book), and smaller blue biolights accenting their
crests and tails. Painting of adult and nymph Striders.
Eosapien* - Eosapiens are the sentient natives of Darwin IV in both Alien Planet
and Expedition. The Eosapiens appear to be highly mobile, airborne, and
semi-sentient. They possess limbs with tentacle-like fingers, navigate with
organic rudders, and use large sacs of methane to provide lift. Eosapiens have
rudimentary intelligence roughly equivalent to that of our own early ancestors
like Homo erectus. They carry spears for hunting. Their name means "Dawn
Thinker" in Latin. In Alien Planet they were one of only two species able to
prey on Skewers. Leo was assaulted by an Eosapiens shortly after trying to
communicate with a Bladderhorn. A group of Eosapiens apparently interpreted a
camera disk launched by Ike as a threat; the last image from the camera disk
showed the Eosapiens flying away, carrying a limp Ike. The floating balloon
probe resembles the floating Eosapiens, and the launch of the video disc was
probably interpreted as throwing a weapon. This species differs in appearance in
the book compared to Alien Planet. In Alien Planet, the Eosapiens fingers were
made more tentacle-like and longer, and they increased the size of its bladders,
had spears instead of clubs, their skin color and hunting strategies also differ
from what is found in the book. Barlowe's version of an Eosapien with a club.
Fin Leg - Small, silver, barrel-shaped herbivores with two fin-like limbs, hence
the name. Even though it only has two fins, it walks on four points, two on each
fin. They feed of the semi-liquid membrane of the jelly-bladder plants.
Finned Snapper - A carnivore with 2 front legs and an airfoil like hind quarters
that lifts it when it runs. They feed on Jetdarters by flicking their agile and
dexterous hunting arm.
Flipstick - Flipsticks are tall, cylindrical creatures. The Flipstick's
signature form of locomotion involves leaping into the air and flipping 180° to
land on its opposite end. These 60-meter-tall creatures feed on microflyers by
jamming their sonar with an oscillating tone, then scoop them up in feeding
scoops.An ecosystem showing Flipsticks.
Follow-wing - Small violet flyers that usually follow Skewers to scavenge from
their kills. They are related to the Skewer, but they are only 2 meters long.
Forest Gulper - A large creature that lures creatures into its mouth by scent,
then slowly digests them alive. They resemble a gigantic green barrel with a
thick snake-like tail, and a pair of atrophied beating wings. These wings are
used for flight in the Gulper's larval stage, but become vestigial as the animal
matures. A Forest Gulper about to devour a Spade-nose
Forest Slider - Forest Sliders are bipedal animals that are born with four
limbs, but as their rear skid hardens and matures, their hind limbs shrivel and
eventually fall off. A Forest Slider drinking from a stream in a forest, a young
Forest Slider with one of its hind limbs shriveling away.
Gelsucker - The Gelsucker is a quadruped, but also has a pair of clawed arms,
giving it a total of six limbs. Gelsuckers are so called because they feast on
the flesh of the Jelly Bladder plant, which grows in small groves on the
outskirts of pocket forests. They use their clawed arms to rip the Jelly
Bladders open, and then use their extendable proboscis to suck out the
semi-solid flesh.
Gill-Head - A biped with a spike on its chest to support it, almost like a third
leg. They are one of the last remaining terrestrial air-sifters, such as the
Rime-Runner. The Eosapien prey upon it.
Groveback* - In Alien Planet the Groveback is one of the largest creatures
native to Darwin IV. When fully mature, they are large enough to have entire
stands of trees grow on their backs during the long periods of dormancy spent
buried in the ground. Once mobile, they travel on two large front legs and a
rear appendage shaped much like a boat rudder. The feeding habits of the
Groveback differ between the book and the film. In Alien Planet, the Groveback
feeds by absorbing nutrients from the soil through the skin of its underbody. In
the Expedition, the Groveback is a filter feeder, feeding on the microscopic
plants and animals that number in the millions in Darwin IV's air currents.
Considering the Groveback's size and speed, the first mentioned lifestyle may
sound more realistic, but when considering the multitude of slow filter feeders
and a many nostril-like orifices covering the Groveback's head, the latter
lifestyle is just as possible. Picture of Groveback, another view of a Groveback
from Alien Planet.
Gyrosprinter* - The "antelope" of Darwin IV. However, unlike the antelopes of
Earth, the Gyrosprinter has just two legs arranged in a rather unconventional
manner - one right behind the other. The legs appear to have evolved to become
fused from two forelegs and two hind legs over millions of years; the
Gyrosprinter's ancestors were probably once quadrupeds like Earth's quadrupeds.
Unfortunately, such a placement of legs can be a problem for balance. The
Gyrosprinter has solved this by having two balance organs (similar to the inner
ear of a human) located in two thick prongs protruding from either side of its
body. It has two hearts, a two meter long tongue, and its nostrils are located
on its shoulders. The Gyrosprinter is able to out run its predator (the
Arrowtongue) A Gyrosprinter resting.
Hook-tailed Flyer - A yellow, medium-sized flyer with a hooked tail and a single
float bladder.
Ice Crawler - Quadrupeds that resemble pillbugs are nearly motionless and make
comically flatulent noises when emerging from their "sleep sack". Ice Crawlers
on a beach with Rime-runner
Ice Dart - A small flying animal that has three pointed tubes for feeding and
drinking, one on its face, another on its bottom sides, and a third one on its
rear. It also pokes itself on ice during snow storms.
Jetdarter* - One of Darwin IV's more bizarre aerial life forms. The Jetdarter is
a scavenger whose compact body assumes a dart-like shape. It has no wings to aid
in flight. Instead, it has a biological version of a ramjet engine - complete
with a turbine of bone and gristle. It has two legs which fold up during flight,
although on Alien Planet, they do not appear to have legs at all. The Jetdarter
forms nests in the pocket-forests and fears many predators, such as Electrophyte
plants and Finned Snappers. Anatomical sketch of a Jetdarter, Image of a
Jetdarter.
Keeled Slider - The Keeled Slider is a large brown animal with kneeled arms. It
builds special egg chambers to keep eggs and young. It slides down muddy
mountains. It is not hermaphroditic. Two Keeled Sliders.
Littoralope* - The Littoralope are the creatures that use huge Sea-Strider
skulls for shelter in Expedition. In Alien Planet, the Littoralopes are
described as placid, slow-moving quadrupeds with little evidence of
intelligence. They also have tails resembling their heads, similar to Symets,
which did not appear in Alien Planet. This feature probably evolved to confuse
predators. Photo with Littoralopes living inside of a Sea Strider's skull, Alien
Planet version.
Mummy-nest Flyer - They are black flyers, with a tail that bends back to meet
the front of the body (like scorpions, except the tail is curled under the body,
not above). Unlike some flyers, they are not jet propelled, so they have to flap
their wings to fly
Mummy-nest - This animal has sphincter-like orifices on its body. It is later
invaded by Mummy-nest Flyers (though they may have once been one and the same).
Prairie-ram - Prairie-rams are ubiquitous liquivores that impale their prey's
chest to suck out bodily juices. Picture of a Prairie-ram.
Prismalope - A triped of Darwin's plains, Prismalopes often travel in herds. The
first thing one notices about this creature is its massive prism-shaped head.
Though it appears ungainly, it houses the Prismalope's grasping tentacles, which
it uses to capture small prey. This fast-breeding creature is preyed upon by a
multitude of predators, both terrestrial and airborne. The Prismalope hunts a
flyer that is "protected" by the Butchertree. Prismalopes with Butchertrees in
the background.
Prongheads* - Prongheads are bipedal predators that feed on Gyrosprinters and
Littoralopes. They are named for the three hollow prongs protruding from their
faces that act as tubes to siphon liquids from their prey, since they use their
feet to inject their digestive fluids into prey. They hunt in pack in a similar
manner to wolves on Earth. A Pronghead surveying the plains in search of prey,
Image of Pronghead in Alien Planet.
Rayback - An agile and aggressive predator of Darwin IV's grasslands. This
creature gets its name for the four tall ridges that project from its back.
Apart from its ridges, the Rayback does not appear to have any specialized
features. Its only weapons are its lightning-fast speed and a dagger-like
tongue. It is fierce and attacks anything that moves. It was the first animal
encountered by Barlowe, and apparently, his sudden appearance caused it to start
attacking him and his vehicle. A biped, it bears a general resemblance to the
Bolt-Tongue and Arrowtongue. Picture of Rayback.
Rimerunner - The Rimerunner is a one-legged animal from the polar regions of
Darwin IV. Supported by only one leg, the Rimerunner hops across its arctic home
like a kangaroo. It eats only aerophytes and other microscopic airborne
organisms. At the front of its head, the Rimerunner sports an umbrella-like
organ. This organ, suspended by thin neural cables, is a sophisticated sonar
system along with a simple and atrophying eye. Picture of a Rimerunner.
Rugose Floater - Rugose Floaters are heavily wrinkled, fish-like aliens that
float in the air. During spawning season, they have eggs trailing behind their
"fins" and reduce to their crescent shape when spawning is complete. This is the
creature seen on the front cover of Expedition and at the top of this web page.
Larger image.
Sac-back - The Sac-back lives at the edge of the Amoebic Sea. The Sac-back gets
its name from the sac on the male's back. The sac is used to store pre-digested
food from the "sea", which is later fed to the females. Male and female
Sac-backs live completely different lives. Males live on the surface, walking
around on their three legs. Female Sac-backs dig "tombs" in which they bury
themselves. Once buried, the only part of the female that sees the light of day
is her mouth and tentacle. Two Sac-backs mating.
Scavengewing - Scavengewings are flying animals that have a special digestive
system suitable for eating carcasses.
Skewer* - The largest aerial predator of Darwin IV. It is an enormous flying
creature, with a wingspan of 50 feet (over 15 m). Not even the largest
pterosaurs (like Quetzalcoatlus, with its 40-foot wingspan) from Earth have a
wingspan even approaching that size. Its wings do not flap but squeeze, shifting
shape to shift flight. It is actually propelled by combusting methane gas in
four jet-pods on its wings. This allows the Skewer to travel at speeds of 200
miles per hour. Its killing tool is a hollow lance that impales its prey,
injects digestive enzymes, and sucks the corpse dry. The Skewer also hunt in
groups, each Skewer dropping the spoils and another swoops in to feast. A pair
of Skewers in flight with some Follow-Wings.
Spade-nose - A quadruped that lives in forests and has a blue spade-like nose,
hence the name. It is a common prey of the Gulper. Image of a Gulper about to
devour a Spade-nose.
Springwing - The Springwing is a winged animal with forelimbs somewhat like
those of a horse's. The appearance of a Springwing is similar to that of a
mountain goat. It springs itself off cliffs, gliding with the alpine updrafts to
reach its destination Photo of a Springwing.
Stripewing - The Stripewing is a lazy flying creature with stripes on its wings
which breaks into a hopping frenzy each night. Stripewings will fold themselves
into compact shapes. They can often be seen, massive colonies, sleeping on the
surface of the Amoebic Sea.
Symet - Symets are herbivores named for their protective symmetry. In
Expedition, Barlowe observes a herd of Symets in a desert in bordering the
Vallis Przewalski. The symmetry may have evolved to confuse predators. Image of
a Symet.
Thornback - The Thornback is an herbivore that walks on its three-legged gait.
It has a large "thorn" on its back shaped like a shark fin. Its head vaguely
resembles that of a rhino's. Image of a Thornback, Thornbacks pursued by an
Arrowtongue.
Trunksucker* - The Trunksucker is a small animal that glides through Darwin IV's
forests and clings to Plaque Bark Trees, sucking their sap. The first dead
creature that the probes find on Darwin IV is in fact a Trunksucker, most likely
killed by a Daggerwrist. Image of a Trunksucker from Alien Planet.
Tundraplow - An animal that digs part of its body in the ground. It gets food
from its underground proboscis, pulling plants from underneath.
Unth* - The Unth is a mountain creature with asymmetrical tusks. Unths are named
for the sound they make when they take a step. Unths live in herds. The Unths of
Alien Planet are first encountered by Leo, but Ike meets up with this peaceful
herbivore near the end of his journey. The Unth herd was apparently spooked by
either the Bladderhorn duel nearby, or the mystery creature (which turned out to
be an Eosapien), which deactivated Leo. Two Unths fighting in a snowstorm, a
sketch of an Unth.
Unnamed Flyer - As of yet, this species has no common name. This flying creature
is the main food source of the Prismalope in the northern plains. This species
has developed an intriguing relationship with the Butchertree. Within a 15 ft or
so radius of a Butchertree are a dozen or so small growths. The growths are
actually part of the Butchertree, connected to it by underground tentacles.
These growths are physically identical in appearance to the small unnamed flyers
and are used to lure the Prismalopes and other prey. This camouflage is also
able to deceive prey into coming inside the Butchertree's attack range, where
they then find themselves skewered and drained of fluids. Two Prismalopes
unwittingly getting too close to a large Butchertree while investigating unnamed
flyers (or the Butchertree's decoys).
Hammer-Head Veldt Wing - A hooded flying animal that has a crescent shaped head
at the end of a skinny neck.Hammer-Head Veldt Wing being chased by a hungry
Rayback.
Sea Strider Nymphs* - Hatched from eggs, the tiny Sea Strider Nymphs are
attracted to an energy source located beneath the adult's mouthless head.
Hollow, light-weight creatures, they cannot yet walk, but they fly about Darwin
IV on their short wings, like Earth's hummingbirds.
Vegetative Organisms
Plaque-bark Tree* - These trees are tall with straight trunks, regular side
branches, and sparse leaves. The Trunk Suckers feed on them. Daggerwrists can
often be found clinging to the branches.
Tube Grass - Long grass which is hollow like a tube giving the plant its name.
Aerophyte - Microscopic vegetative organisms that float on Darwin IV's air
currents and constitute a major source of food for several species on the
planet.
Fodderball Weed - The Fodderball Weed produces football-like fruits called
zimns. These weeds have a lightweight construction that puts them at the mercy
of every wind.
Jelly-bladder Plant - These are plants with jelly-like forms on their stems. The
Gelsuckers love to eat these.
Float Ball - These are bushes with stems so small they look like they're
floating.
Stickball Plant* - The Stickball Plant is part sponge and part virus. The only
creatures that eat them are the Gyrosprinters.
Beachfinger - These are grass-like plants that thrive near the Amoebic Sea.
Hillvine - Hillvines are long plants that grow in the hills.
Cliff-polyp - These are red grass like plants that are only eaten by Springwings
and Bladderhorns.
Red Mountain-spike - These are big spiked plants that are eaten by Bladderhorns.
Arctic Polar-vane A red plant that lives in the tundra. It rotates, feeding of
the energy generated by the two suns.
Snow-bulb - Snow-bulbs are large white bulbs that live in Darwin IV's icecaps.
Electrophyte* - These mushroom-like plants electrocute Jetdarters, and then
consume it alive. Image of Electrophyte
Gourd Tree* -15-story tall plants that are supported by root-like stilts. Gourd
Trees are either hollow or spongy inside. They have to be for the stilts to
support them. In Alien Planet they are encountered by Leo and Ike, comprising
the trees surround the landing site of the probes. In Expedition, the Gourd
Trees are called Steeple Gourds.
