| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Species | Tunic aeolian ("tunic of the wind") |
| Type | Anchored Lifeform (Tunic) |
| Attitude | Passive |
| Biome | Any |
| Scan Required | Bioscanner |
The Oxygen Tunic is an anchored lifeform that periodically emits bubbles of oxygen, which can refresh the player's oxygen supply.
Appearance
The Oxygen Tunic is a veiny, bulbous, onion-shaped tunic with a long tube that expels oxygen. It features a color gradient ranging from dark purple at the top to cyan at the bottom.
Behavior
The base of the Tunic expands slowly before suddenly contracting. This action releases a bubble of oxygen that:
- Refills the player's oxygen bar by 30 points.
- Fills all equipped Air Bladders.
Databank Entry
Source: Scan an Oxygen Tunic
Tunic aeolian. A bizarre animal that splits seawater into hydrogen (on which it feeds) and oxygen (which it releases).
1. Tunic
Like Earthly tunicates, this is a complex animal with a heart, nerve chord, and a flexible exterior shell (the tunic).
2. Radiolytic metabolism
At the heart of the oxygen tunic is a nugget of radioactive metal such as uranium, radium, or thorium. Radiation from this nugget splits water into hydrogen and oxygen through radiolysis. The oxygen tunic retains the hydrogen to feed an internal colony of sulfur-reducing bacteria, and releases the excess oxygen.
3. Blue glow
Cherenkov radiation from the core excites radioluminescent pigments in the tunic, producing a distinctive blue glow. This may be a warning to would-be predators that the oxygen tunic releases poisonous quantities of oxygen.
4. Implications for life on this world
The oxygen tunic's metabolism suggests that this world has an energetic geology and a biosphere adapted to use radiation as a food source. It also has interesting implications for life without sunlight. On Earth, even deep-sea vents depend on oxygen produced by photosynthesis. No such dependency exists here.
Assessment: Emergency oxygen source for divers. Beware that repeated use could lead to radon buildup, with serious health risks including cancer.
Gallery
In Game
 An Oxygen Tunic expelling an oxygen bubble.
 The body of the Oxygen Tunic expanding before releasing an oxygen bubble.
 Bioluminescence at night.
