Why it evolved

The newly opened ecological niche on Tethys Shallows favors pioneers that can exploit available resources. By specializing on the 'Drought-Dweller' and abundant algae, the Tethys Bloom-Eater reduces competition with larger, generalist fish like the Famine Fins and Gulpfin. This dietary shift led to a reduction in mouth size and the development of a filtration system, allowing it to process large volumes of water and sediment for sustenance. The trade-off is a loss of the generalist feeding flexibility of its parent and increased vulnerability to specialized predators like the Mud-Stalker, as it is now slower to burrow and its reduced mouth offers less defense.