Alpha Ray Species

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Alpha Ray
Age	Several millions of years old
Status	Has four living descendants: Ghostray Jellyray Rabbit Ray Crimson Ray

The Alpha Ray species is the hypothesised common ancestor of the four living ray species on the planet today; the Jellyray, Rabbit Ray, Ghostray and Crimson Ray. The data bank entry for this creature is obtained after all four living rays have been scanned or by going to the Disease Research Facility and scanning the display that has the rays in it.

Appearance

The entry for the Alpha Ray species states that it would have shared the forward-mounted eyes of the Ghostray and Crimson Ray, as befits a predatory creature. It would also have been similar in size to a Ghostray and likely shared the translucent skin.

Data Bank Entry

Ray Species on 4546B

Different species of ray indigenous to 4546B, each adapted to different environments. The specimens are 99.99% genetically identical to those encountered on the planet today, suggesting that rays in particular have undergone little evolutionary mutation in the past millenium. Ghostrays, jellyrays, crimson rays and rabbit rays likely all share a common evolutionary ancestor. The 'alpha ray' would have evolved deep in the ocean trenches, quickly growing in line with available food supplies. It would have most resembled the ghostray in size and appearance, with translucent skin for camouflage and forward-mounted eyes for hunting. A fast and fearsome stalker of small creatures in the dark. While some rays have stayed within the limits of the cave systems where they first evolved, others are relatively more recent adaptations to new environments, likely the results of overpopulation. All of the rays on 4546B have given up predation in favor of herbivorous scavenging, and use poisonous flesh to protect themselves.

Source: Scan Ray Species in the Disease Research Facility

Theory

Based on the forward-mounted eyes of the Crimson Ray, the PDA theorizes that it, and the other three ray species shared a common, predatory ancestor. Appearance-wise the Alpha Ray species is thought to have been close to the Ghostray. The Ghostray is possibly the first creature that the Alpha Ray species evolved into, the Jellyray also being an old species whilst the Crimson Ray and Rabbit Ray are suggested to have been more recent evolutions.

It is also possible that it could be related to the aerial Skyray, and even the side swimming Arctic Ray and Arrow Ray.