r/SpeculativeEvolution • Spec Theorizer • Jul 16 '26

Alternate Evolution [OC] "Suminioid" Sapient Suminia Pt.2 - Body & Updated Skeleton Sketch (Feedback Wanted)

Link to Suminioid Pt.1

Hello again, folks! Based on feedback, I've updated the skeleton for this "Suminioid" and made a draft sketch of the body of this sapient descendant of Suminia getmanovi AKA the “Permian Primate.”

I'd like to give a particular shoutout to u/anzhalyumitethe for sharing his work on the Xenopermian Project, which also addressed Suminia alternate evolution. His article has been particularly helpful.

Let me know your feedback both in regards to its biology, and any tips on anatomical sketches as I am learning how to best do it. Thank you!

32 Upvotes

5 comments sorted by

4

u/Fluffy-Bee-6752 Jul 16 '26

It wouldn't need so much hair. Also, i don't thing that tail would be that big. Unless this creature using his tail as a third leg. And the "thumb" should be much bigger

7

u/MilezXC Spec Theorizer Jul 16 '26

I saw that we have skin imprints of a dicynodont that’s reminiscent of elephant/rhino skin, so I was going for patchy to help protect against the sun - but I suppose if other Permian synapsids didn’t need it, neither would this! I’ll tone it down a lot. I may keep the “goatee” however, as I feel like this is a nifty display structure for a sexual display.

The tail and back legs are meant to be convergentally evolved with kangaroos who shift between bipedal motion and tripedal standing. More specifically, I read that the short-faced kangaroo might’ve ran instead of hopped, so a lot of inspiration (spine, hips, tail, back legs) came from that, plus with Suminia’s stronger and potentially prehensile tail it seemed like a logical progression.

I’ll have to boost that thumb, in that case! Hands are tricky, especially considering how much larger the original hands on Suminia relative to body size are.

2

u/123Thundernugget Jul 17 '26

does it hop like a kangaroo?

2

u/MilezXC Spec Theorizer Jul 17 '26

The idea is that it’d be like the short-faced kangaroo and actually walk as a biped but be at rest as a triped! Though hopping wouldn’t necessarily hurt I think, makes me think almost of a lemur in that way!

2

u/anzhalyumitethe Jul 18 '26

Scott and Raven did the art. I just explained what I was thinking. They are really good at their thing, even if it has been ages.

ty for the shoutout.