*Wort wort*. One of the first kelplike organisms encountered on this world (provisional designation: *kaulos*). Like kelps, it is a large algae, not a plant. Rather than photosynthesis. the wort wort generates energy through fermentation.
1. Living fermenter Fermentation is metabolism without oxygen. Though slow, it produces energy-rich alcohols. The wort wort's bulbs (or worts) contain wort (a sugary fluid) which is fermented by symbiotic bacteria into alcohol. The wort wort collects biomatter too tough for other digest to decay as mash for its wort.
2. Animal genetics The biochemical processes used by the wort wort are derived from fish muscle cells. This is difficult to explain, given that the two branches of life must have diverged billions of years ago.
3. Dark sign The wort wort thrives in low-oxygen oceans. Whether deoxygenation occurred in the past or is only now beginning requires further analysis.
Assessment: slowly contributes energy to the ecosystem by recycling dead matter. Possibly a sign of a past or future mass extinction.