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a live specimen of RPC-723
Registered Phenomena Code: 723
Object Class: Beta-Yellow
| Hazard Types:Additional Properties: |  Grouped |
 Contact |
 Visual |
 Aquatic |
| Hazard Types:Additional Properties: |  Immeasurable |
 Organic |
 Regenerative |
Containment Protocols: Live specimens are kept at Site-028 within 250 liter tanks kept at a constant 5°C. The chamber is to remain dark at all times. Routine cleaning and maintenance of tanks occurs every Wednesday at 11:00 AM local time. During cleaning and maintenance personnel are allowed to use red lights at a maximum of 50 lumens. Electronics of any kind are not permitted in the chamber. Deceased wet specimens are to be preserved in 70% ethyl alcohol.
Wild specimens of RPC-723 found within 3 kilometers of human settlement are to be swiftly fumigated using pesticides, collected, and incinerated in a private area. For colonies found within high-traffic areas such as tourist destinations, a cover story is to be made to divert attention, and civilians are not to be allowed within 500 meters of the fumigation site.
Description: RPC-723 is a cosmopolitan family of sessile filter-feeding organisms known by the scientific name Xenophyta. Despite resembling aquatic life such as Ceratophyllaceae1 and several species of coral, molecular analysis shows that RPC-723 is not closely related to any other species of family on earth, instead representing its own phylogenetic family. RPC-723 is commonly found in dark, submerged environments such as flooded caves, unmaintained aquatic infrastructure, or in rare occasions the deep sea. RPC-723 lives in large colonies ranging from as few as 4 members to as much as 3000 individuals. Despite their ubiquity, no fossils or accounts can attest to the existence of RPC-723 prior to its initial discovery in 2007. As of ████, there are ███ subspecies of RPC-723, most abundant inside caves within rain forests in Central America and South East Asia.
The main body plan of RPC-723 consists of a firm, tuberous mass buried beneath sediment responsible for storing nutrients, and housing the reproductive and nervous system, it connects to the roots, which absorb minerals from sediment and water and excrete waste product from the base. The arms of the RPC-723 are soft, leaf-like structures that mainly serve to capture and digest bacteria, and absorb oxygen in the water. The most recognizable part of the arms—and the species as a whole—is the presence of bioluminescent cells and eyes capable of distinguishing between hue and brightness. Xenophytes use these to communicate with one another by creating rapidly alternating patterns of light, creating large networks and exchanging information with one another, In large enough numbers, meadows pose the risk trigger seizures in individuals with photosensitive epilepsy.
RPC-723 shows sensitivity to light, shrinking in size when exposed to any light source. With enough exposure, individuals can go blind and eventually die of unknown causes. The only exceptions are its own light, and blue light emanated from LED screens. RPC-723 has an unexplained proclivity to blue light, turning its arms towards any source. Individuals with prolonged exposure to blue light grow █ times more than individuals with no exposure.
RPC-723 generally live to about 7 years old in the wild, and up to 10 in captivity. Mature individuals can grow up to 30 centimeters, with some subspecies growing up to ███ centimeters in length. They reach sexual maturity at 2 years old and reproduce via spawning much like sea sponges, starting as free-floating larvae and eventually latching onto a surface before growing. However, it is not understood how RPC-723 proliferated so rapidly, or how colonies form deep within isolated areas far from others. The most isolated instance being located in █████ ███ █████, Costa Rica, 30 kilometers away from the nearest colony in █████ ██ ███, Nicaragua.
Discovery: Beginning on June 29th, 2007 multiple reports of "glowing plants" began circulating near South of Market, San Diego. It was initially discovered by sanitation workers performing maintenance on local sewage systems. By October, sightings of RPC-723 were reported globally.