The Emperor Sea Strider is the largest lifeform on Darwin IV, standing at about 75.4 feet tall when fully grown. They are bipedal animals who live on the Amoebic Sea, thought to be the only surface that can support its weight.
Overview[]
The Emperor Sea Strider is an immense life form from the book Expedition by Wayne Barlowe, and the Discovery Channel special Alien Planet. In the book and movie, they live in and around the region known as the Amoebic Sea, not actually a Sea at all, but in fact a vast symbiotic colony of animals who trap water inside their bodies. Emperor Sea Striders feed simply by walking on the surface of the sea and biting off chunks of these animals with the mouths on the bottom of their feet. A group of short, glowing tentacles trails down the lower parts of their bodies and do not seem to serve any important function. While walking they emit waves of sonar, like every other complex organism on the planet. Its young are small flyers that orbit an energy source below its head. Despite their immense size, they are not without predation; according to one account a Sea Strider was killed by a group of Skewers. In the Alien Planet show, Ike encountered them by chance while getting caught inside of a enormous mineral storm and clung to a rock in the middle of the sea. He detected some very loud roaring and sent a Camera Disk to investigate. He discovered the creatures and followed them while searching for the missing Leo.
Young Sea Strider
Nymphs[]
Sea Striders begin life as aerial creatures with fluttering wings who look completely different compared to adults: nymphs have wings, smaller shorter legs which cannot support their weight and contrary to their parents, are preyed on by the very sea the adults feed on, though whether or not the young also feed on the sea is a mystery.
Predators[]
- Skewers
- Amoebic Sea (when in nymph form)
Prey[]
Trivia[]
The original book gives the sea strider a height of 620 feet. In the film, this is reduced to 75.4 feet.