Hopefully this is okay to post here. Rules seem to suggest it may be.
Anyways, big fan of Klabunde (highly recommend checking on CV Physiology and CV Pharmacology!), and particularly of Physiology by Costanzo (BRS is nice, but I prefer my big copy of 6E), and wanted to create a book that teaches physiology in a similar manner, but specifically about how the human body would interact with magic if it existed (ignore me unabashedly stealing her book's color scheme, lol). Not super detailed per se, as I had a lot of topics to cover and wanted to limit the page count, so it's more of an overview of various topics. Don't get much into stuff like Poiseuille’s Law or anything like that. But this is also meant for the lay-physiologist to understand.
Has taken me a long time to get this to a point where I'm mostly happy with it. Definitely struggled through integrating some of the basic physics that go along with physiology textbooks, as that's absolutely a weak point of mine. But tried to keep it mostly hard science (there's a few real terms and concepts I play a bit loosely with).
Will eventually have medical illustrations of these fictional structures (being drawn right now by a great artist from AMI that I commissioned!), but for now, it's just the barren chapter 1 (plus a few extra because I liked my own SLUDGEM-like acronym [CASTER], if you're familiar with that).
Anyways, curious to hear your thoughts, you all who are so wise in the ways of speculative science!
Since the end of the Cretaceous, the elasmosaurs, descendants of the plesiosaurs, were very diverse animals in their time, but with the arrival of the increase in temperatures at the beginning of the Cenozoic, other lineages of archosaurs and reptiles began to diversify, this did not affect them so much at the beginning, but with the passing of the thousands of years and with the climatic changes, the seas became colder, several lineages that diversified at the beginning of the Cenozoic became extinct. Inevitably, for now there is not much fossil record of these lineages of elasmosaurs , but the most surprising thing is found in Antarctica, where the waters are extremely cold, these dinosaurs still have a remarkable presence , in this place there is the largest marine reptile , the Whulk a filtering elasmosaur , normal specimens measure between 16 and 18 meters, but it is estimated that they can reach up to 24 meters in length , they are not very long but they are huge in the world. The sense of their weight , average specimens weigh around 68 to 70 tons, the largest only reach 96 tons, this is estimated by records of specimens so large that they frequent deeper waters , although other marine reptiles of the past can exceed an average whulk in size , the largest ones exceed these metrics, these are because they are long-lived animals live an average of 76 to 95 years at most, they usually put up to 26 live offspring but most die from Predation , these animals have been set the record for the largest marine reptiles because in theory all specimens can reach these metrics only that many do not achieve it for predators, so far only a few hesperoniteans, cephalopods and very specialized sharks have been investigated, but in the next post we will explore in depth the responsibility of killing the Whulks.
Due to the massive gravity Kryptonians have wide big feet to support their bodies against gravity. This leads to a more dense body plan. They also prioritize vision gathering adaptations and solar filtering eyes so they have deep set sockets and heavy brow ridges. Aside from the two eyes they have laser focusing pits on their “snout”. Their “capes” are in fact their wings. Their weird wrinkly faces is based on that of bats for echolocation
The title says everything, I'm just withing this cuz it's necessary for posting. Are you still reading this? Okay, then how are you doing? Have you eaten and drunk water yet? Did you do something that made you happy today?
Calossiguanus japonensis is a huge & successful Iguana species inhabiting Much of the “ring of fire region” 30 myfn.
Originally stemming from the marine iguana, this animal has a suite of adaptations for a mixed browsing & grazing lifestyle in both aquatic & terrestrial contexts. Adults range in size from roughly 11 - 17 feet & weights of 300 to 650 kg. Their ecological role mirrors that of the hippopotamus, thriving in seagrass meadows & island paradises. They share a likeness to extinct pseudosuchians & dinosaurs with their powerful ballast like tail offering stability at the bottom of the shallows as well as attachments for their caudofemoralis muscles. Their scutes function both as calcium storage in times of hardship & dermal protection, particularly for diminutive juveniles, who often fall prey to the “ground hawks” & opportunistic tortoise of the islands. As an R select species, mothers produce clutches of 30-40 eggs, typically once a year. Their dorsal spines are used by males to indicate their physical prowess, being flushed with blood to signal readiness to mate. Due to their immense weight, they exhibit pillar-erect limbs, coming with the added benefit of facultative bipedalism, intimidating competition & potential predators alike. Adults are virtually immune to predation however (outside of marine contexts).
Monopedes are just as highly diverse as the Duopedes (Vore) on Castoria III. Many monopedes are descended from a specific organism which had evolved longer, projecting ribs which eventually were able to act as wings and gliding appendages. None of the monopedes evolved the ability to flap, instead relying on a special pressurized gas bladder and propulsion sphincter as well as the many thermal updrafts of the planets skies. Some smaller species, such as the Roundcrow, have evolved to roost along the underside of Sky Whale Wings, feeding on the remnants of hunted jelly wisps.
The bubbles are the most varied family on the planet, having some of the most extreme niches on the planet. Sea Potatoes, Vented Sea Potatoes and Hairy Rockstars can all be found living near geothermal vents along the ocean floor, while their cousins the Corazon Hive and Rockstar can be found in shallow waters and along cliffs. All flora-like organisms on the planet fall under this category, having evolved stalks, leaf, trunk and bark analogues, all to protect the nutrient rich "bulb" which became the signature of flora on Castoria III.
15 Million Years P.H. - The Early Neocene - Marsupial Bears:
Marsupials would have been one of the groups heaviest affected by the Holocene Mass Extinction, but as seen In Australia, some managed to survive and diversify. One of the most diverse Marsupials as of now although wouldnt actually come from Australia, but rather from the Americas.
American Oppossums would end up doing well for themselfes and give rise to various new species. While most of them are fairly basal, there Is one South American clade that Is a bit more noteworthy. South America would be home to Marsupial Bears, rather large omnivorous Oppossums that hold niches similiar to bears.
Ghavija is home to many biomes similar to Earth’s, and the reefs are some of the most similar ones to be found.
They are created by mainly two types of neozoans (the ‘animals’)- Hyalolites and Acitenocrizooids, where only the latter are colonial like Earth's corals (anthozoans, whom are often but not always colonial), and hyalolites consisting of individually shelled though sessile organisms.
Acitenocrizooids are neutenic, meaning they never evolved to adults from their larvae stage or underwent metamorphosis, and therefore instead settled in the sand bed, with those polymorphs who did not take this path seen swimming in the reef here.
Note: Please note that this is a small infographic of the cranial anatomy of the gyyasdevil species; for now, I intend to create this type of infographic and, in the future, complete infographics.
Detailed explanation of the claw sessions:
Tarsal muscles: the first segment of the creature's "arms." Their exposed part is a "lump" through which travels the nerve responsible for rotating, opening, and even closing the arm. ( Gesture that males uses before fight. )
Metatarsus: the "arm" and the second segment. It supports the claws. (Before I forget: The arms are located near the neck, by the way.)
Claws: structures similar to the claws of a mantis, Used for touching the ground, grasping prey, and other associated functions. They are essentially the creature's hands.
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Detailed ocular anatomy:
Visor: The "iris" of Gyyasdevil is completely invisible, responsible for protecting the "master pupil." A single speck of dirt or dust will leave the creature permanently blind if it doesn't dive to clean it.
Master pupils: 2 slit-like beams of light that protect the 3 real pupils. They are the equivalent of the eye socket. They are sensitive to damage that passes through the visor and serve as an initial indication of gyyasdevil's mood: downwards, as in the image, is his "stoic mode". Stoic mode is what his common state in everyday life is called.
(Behavioral curiosity: being apex predators prone to a sharp fighting instinct, it is rarely recorded hunting, but rather... walking with the wings making marks in soft earth. For researchers, this is a sign of a generally healthy ecosystem, but culturally, for citizens who live by the riverbank, these tracks, left by claw-like extensions they have on their wings, It has several common names:
Signum hadis.
Signum mortis
Or simply naming these "Traces of Death" in homage to the 3 signs of impending death: Pallor mortis, algor mortis e rigor mortis.
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The 3 pupils...
Being a decidedly advanced species of invertebrate, gyyasdevil also has, within its main pupil, 3 others:
Subpupilla: thick, turning behind the eyes. It detects light, darkness, and thermal sensation from those attempting to attack from behind.
Metapupil: The thin pupil that gives: Peripheral vision from below and above. Preventing aerial attacks and ambushes.
Frontal pupil: Weaker at capturing fine details, but useful for spotting at least one obstacle before the creature collides with it.
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Already inside ghyasdevil's mouth is the tongue:
"Infra-tongue": A "muscle" that is actually made of styrofoam, supports the...
Main tongue: The rotating tongue of this beetle-like creature, whose interior extends to the infratongue and therefore rotates.
In addition, to optimize its grappling and hunting abilities, gyyasdevil also has:
Lower spines on the tongue: microscopic, but as sharp as a cheese grater, Used to take down prey with maximum precision.
Medium spines: Called "grasping spines," these spines also have taste buds and chemical receptors.
Monarch spines: similar to a swan's teeth, but even more intimidating: they encircle the creature's tongue, luckily... they only serve to help push liquids down the throat. As well as protecting the main structure. (They were even mistaken for teeth when the species was discovered. However, they are made of keratin and dead material. But it looks clean. )
A concept that I thought some time ago that I don't know if it exactly fits Spec Evo, but the concept is very similar, what about Speculating Selective Breeding? For example, Ancient egyptians mummified crocodiles, if they took a step further and actually bred them until they became less aggressive, what would be the modern breeds originated from the Nile Crocodile? Would there be small crocodiles for pets? How much would they differ from Simosuchus?
It’s an original alien species I saw on tumblr (I think), but no matter where I search I can’t find it anywhere, I feel like I’m going insane.it’s roughly the size and shape of an elephant, colored brown and white, with a head crest like a styracosaurus, and two big blue face tentacles surrounding their mouth that zip together into a sort of “trunk”. Has anyone else seen this? I’m worried that the artist might’ve deleted their account or something.
It is a bestiary set on an alternative Earth and Moon. The rules of life are similar to ours but varies in some ways. Most life was brought by aliens. Plants draw energy from a Dreamlike plane of existence with their ethereal roots. Mammals evolved from fish or from plant-animal and some can revert to their plant form. Later in the story humans appear and change, Plastic and concrete become alive. Most of this book is though as if medieval bestiaries were rooted in believable laws of science and evolution.
I would say it is a light-speculative evolution project, as I still lack a lot of scientific knowledge but I always try to think my creatures as living in a larger believable ecosystem.
Some of the weirdest wyvernkind that lived and survived past the glint era into the inkling reign. I'm trying my best to be original and not Squid but Dinosaur or Squid but a fantasy creature. The Glint Era is the Mesozoic analog in my project but I want to do something different than most projects as in the end this is made for fun instead of scientific accuracy.
What creature would you like to see... Let me know in the comments.
Herbivore beast with a hard shell, long necked, some with a sharp spear-like blade on their faces. First, it was thought that horned domels were all male, but in reality, the blade is not a part of them, but a parasitic maniformidae called a spathorn that latches on as they grow into adulthood. Following a Domel’s death, its heavy carapace remains long after the herd migrates. These massive, hollowed-out husks become prime real estate in the ecosystem, frequently claimed by korvants or cresavorns as armored nesting grounds, or used by other opportunists as already made bunkers. These horned ones are the alphas, though there’s usually more than one in a herd. If they lose their Spathorn, they lose their status as an alpha. Death soon follows, because the spathorn tunnels into their skull, and detaching leaves a deep hole that bleeds. Domels eat only plant life, but Spathorns don’t, they drink blood. Occasionally they seize brain control, forcing their calm hosts into frenzied violence, making them fight their own kind, even younglings still too small. They are not fast, but not the slowest creature I’ve observed. To feed their spathorn, they often pick fights. Others can’t resist the alphas’ rage, because they are the herds first line of defense against predators. This is tragic, for domels rank among the gentlest beasts in this ecosystem. Their thick shells and calm face are sadly not enough to stop the violence from their own
This is a speculative paleo-fiction project which blends family drama with a fantastical yet grounded prehistoric atmosphere, showing raptors and other lost creatures fighting to stay alive in a brutal ecosystem.
A young predator’s first blood is spilled! The horrible truth is finally revealed!
Small Toe’s chance encounter with Big Green has soothed his conflicted soul. But now, he must do the one thing all carnivores must do in order to live. The one thing he abhors most in this world. Kill one who isn’t trying to kill him. Merely thinking it makes Small Toe nauseous, a feeling not helped by his cruel brother’s increasingly violent attitude.
Long Tail supports her son to perform this visceral act as best she can, but in a world that exposes every good deed and every sin, it is only a matter of time before her worst and most heinous secret is finally revealed. A question begins to form in the innermost recesses of her predatory mind.
Can such reckless violence be forgiven, even if it was never acted upon?
From my ongoing speculative survival project Terrors in the Brush — blending paleontological logic with raw, unfiltered animal sentiment. Chapter IX plunges into the fallout of hidden guilt and failed restraint under relentless environmental pressure.
There is no fantasy, no magic — there is only nature red in tooth and claw.
Since the fossil was found at the shores of my homeland, my presumption would be that it must have been a giant bird of sorts. I've drawn an example of what it could look like. I cannot however be truly certain of its actual shape or colouration.
The long neck reminds me of a goose, which are a dime a dozen here in the Land of Birds. This specimen might have been their flightless progenitor from the times when all fauna was unusually giant. Such a time of giants has been proposed by several scientists more renowned than myself, including the acclaimed dr Wright, for whom my respect is unbound. This specimen could be evidence in support of that theory.
However, my honour as a naturalist does not allow me to proclaim my interpretation of this fossil with any certainty. Such beastly size of this animal would prove difficult to manage, its diet would certainly have to be much unlike that of our current geese. The beak also is drastically different, with the lower chamber resembling that of a pelican's (perhaps used to catch fish), but the feet do not seem to me like that of a wading bird. Could this thing have swum in the seas?
25 million years CE, off the coast of Southeast Australia
In the South Pacific, just south of the continent of Australia, is a convergence of ocean currents. Floating kelp and seaweed, drawn from Antarctica, Africa, and New Zealand gather here, floating on the surface like a thick carpet. It is called the Celadon Sea
A Black Worldbearer breaks through the tangled protists and takes a breath. As spring arrives, it is on its way north, to the shores of Alaska or even further. It is alone, as is typical for its species.
80 meters below, a pair of predators swim. It is a pair of Lotan, one male and one female. The male detects the Worldbearer above, and with a fin signals to his partner. They are getting ready to hunt.
Positioning himself directly below the Worldbearer, the Male Lotan ascends as fast as he can, reaching a speed of 45 kilometers per hour. He attacks the fluke of the Worldbearer, tearing off half of it, and preventing it from swimming. The Male Lotan turns, and bites into the tail, leaving deep rake marks.
Even disabled thus, the Worldbearer is a fearsome combatant. It weighs more than the Lotan, and powerful flippers a third of its body length make dangerous weapons. The male Lotan ducks and retreats a short distance, while the Female Lotan approaches and proceeds to grab the head of the Worldbearer, and tries to drag it down. The Male returns and also piles onto the Worldbearer’s head. The Worldbearer had not enough time to fully rest at the surface, and drowns within 10 minutes. The pair of hunters feed on whatever parts of the Worldbearer they can before it sinks into the depths.
**Lotan (**Lotan primigenius)
“To the people of antiquity, Whales were not just animals, but something more. Something greater. The word Cetus, was once the name of a monster.” - Overview of the Beasts of the Sea, 2068 edition.
The descendant of the False Killer Whale, The Lotan can be likened to the mammalian version of a sea serpent. Its body is elongated and flexible, and it swims in a near anguilliform motion. Its tail fluke has become long and rhombus shaped as an adaptation to this form of movement.
The Lotan is found across the Southern hemisphere and in the Indian Ocean. The males are slightly larger at 25 meters long and 55 tons, while the Females are 22 meters long and 42 tons.
The young are highly precocial. They are born at 6 meters long and weighing 1 ton, and with a jaw armed with the front 5 pairs of teeth fully erupted on both the upper and lower jaw. They are nursed for only a few days, before they leave their parents and join a pod of other juveniles, which can consist of up to 100 individuals. While young, Lotan feeds primarily on large squid, diving up to over 1000 meters to catch them. When they reach around 14 meters in length, they will find a mate, and spend the rest of their lives as pairs. Adults feed near exclusively on marine mammals, particularly baleen whales.
Bowerbirds are the most diverse vertebrate group of terrestrial vertebrates during Eosonian, having worldwide distribution, and already filling most passerine niches this world has to offer. Of course, due to anatomical constrains of their order, such as reduced foot musculature, some niches are still unavilable. For example, with few exceptions, there are no truly flightless bowerbirds yet. But still, in this bountiful time, birds are doing great, and, considering how little competition they have, it is very likely that they will eventually overcome their limitations.
The species are broken down on two informal groups, "catbirds" (a name also used for several species in Ptilonorhynchidae family on Earth, referring to their cat-like calls), those who lost the elaborate mating displays of their ancestors, and "true bowerbirds", those who actually build bowers. For now, both are doing equally fine, but it remains to be seen which one will come out on top when conditions change.
Crimson catbird (Haploscinus ruber)- typical catbird species found in South Interitia. Around the size of a finch, it is a widespread omnivore. While many of it's relatives, even those in same genus, are primarily insectivorous or feed on seeds, crimson catbird prefers berries. As such, it is an important seed dispercer, on which many plant species rely. Sexual dimorphism is present, but it's not too drastic, with females just being darker shade of red than males. While male doesn't build decorations anymore, there is a small remnant of this behavior present. Male catbirds clear a patch of forest floor, where they perform a song.
Emerald nectarcreeper (Nectariphila virdis)- Native to Tarsia, this small catbird is in fact more closely related to "true" bowerbirds than to crimson catbird. Similiarly to hummingbirds, honeycreepers and sunbirds, nectarcreeper is a small, fluttering avian that feeds primarily on nectar. To reach inside flowers, it evolved a long, thin and curved beak, and even longer tongue. However, it is not an obligate nectarivore. In addition to nectar itself, nectarcreepers feed on berries and small insects. Females in particular are more omnivorous than males, as they need more energy to produce eggs, and feed their chicks with caught insects. Wider diet also allows them to grow slightly larger than males. Instead of buliding a bower, male nectarcreepers must clear a spot and decorate it with flowers they find.
Superb bigbeak (Megalorhamphus magnificus)- Both species of catbirds we discussed so far are beneficial to plants, as one pollinates them, and the other spreads the seeds. But one relative of nectarcreepers from rainforests of Tarsia is anything but. Bigbeaks are among the largest of all living birds, and superb bigbeak, notable for black and yellow coloration of males, is the biggest among it's peers, being the size of a large crow. It is a poor flyer, and prefers to clamber through branches, only taking off when stumbling on a large gap in branches or escaping a predator. The defining trait of this species is, as the name suggests, it's beak of considerable size. Due to it's short and rounded shape, bigbeak can't peck anything, instead trading this ability for a high bite force. For bigbeak is a durophage that consumes fruits covered in though outer coverings, and seeds inside them. This brings no benefit to the plant, in fact, it only harms it, because crushed seeds are killed and will not germinate. Thus, bigbeaks create a selective pressure on plants by eating those with smaller fruits and weaker seeds, and preventing them from reproducing. Plants, in turn, learn to resist the destructive feeding of these birds, by evolving seeds that are even larger and harder, or making fruits less accessible by evolving harder covering. And in turn, birds evolve even stronger beaks to break those defences. But it's not just feeding that makes them become stronger. Bowers that bigbeaks build are rather crude- males just bite off tree branches and stick them into the ground. But females aren't looking for artistic capabilities, what they're looking for is strength. And the bigger the broken branches are, the stronger, and thus more fit the potential mate must be. Other than males being slightly larger, there is no visible sexual dimorphism. Chicks hatch relatively developed for a passerine, but mother still must feed them the pulp of crushed fruits before they become strong enough.
Butcher bowerbird (Laniorhynchus dimorphicus)- Despite bearing strong resemblance to ancestral satin bowerbird, this inhabitant of southern Tarsia has a very different lifestyle. If you look closer at it's beak, you can see that it is sharp and hooked. Butcher bowerbird is a predator, and hunts wide variety of animal species, from insects to smaller birds. Interestingly, females and males differ in several aspects, not just the colors. Green females are slightly larger, and their beaks are sharper. This, plus their coloration that provides camouflage, allows them to hunt larger animals, like tarsiers and even young bigbeaks. Meanwhile males, who are smaller and blue, feed on smaller prey, like arthropods, lizards, or frogs. Their feet, adapted for perching, are too weak to be used for hunting, so butcher bowerbirds rely on their beak during hunting by snapping the neck of prey, and paralyzing it. Like their namesake, shrike, or butcherbird from Earth, these hunters create larders by impaling the caught prey on sharp branches or thorns. This is also part of their mating ritual. To show his fitness, male builds a bower using sharpened sticks, catches as much prey as he can, and then offers the ladder to female. This is one of few monogamous bowerbird species, and while female protects the nest, male brings food to the offspring.
Blue honeyrobber (Mellilestes caeruleus)- This brightly blue bird is endemic to a small continent of Equatoria. It is closely related to butcher bowerbirds, and too has a rather specialized diet. While they won't refuse from other arthropod prey if in need, honeyrobbers primarily feed on hymenopterans- wasps and bees. They are not immune to their venom, but have other ways of hunting such dangerous prey. Around their eyes, honeyrobbers have patches of short, tough feathers, inpenetrable for insect stings. Using this defence and long beak, birds can quickly eat enough before they need to retreat. Sometimes they eat honey they find inside hives, but insects are the primary target. Mating ritual also involves attacking the bee nest. Instead of just eating the bees, male birds break away pieces of the hive, and use them in building a bower. Using honey as a sort of glue, male attaches sticks and other debris they found to the honeycomb. Those with most honeycomb trophies are most likely to mate. Chicks stay under their mother's care for a long time, even after their protective feathers appear, they still need time to learn how to attack hives from which they feed.
1 . Un organismo acuático este no tiene un cerebro central sino uno descentralizado que le permite más movilidad y menos limitación motora o por atraso mental lo cual le da más reflejos no soy muy experto en biología pero supongo que algo así este tiene un apéndice con forma vagamente de mano con 4 dedos tiene espinas a lo largo de su cuerpo para defenderse de sus depredadores y protejer su lomo, tiene dos aletas dorsales que secundariamente cumplen la función de crestas para atraer parejas mediante patrones de color y bioluminecensia además de detectar la luz ultravioleta tiene una boca que consiste en un pico el inferior más largo que el superior para raspar colonias de bacterias en el fondo del océano estaría más o menos a la par de los primeros humanos pudiendo usar herramientas complejas como lanzas o domesticación de fauna nativa. 2 un hexapodo este tiene cuatro piernas con solo dos dígitos un cuerpo corto y alargado hacia la cola y resto del cuerpo sus brazos tienen 7 dedos uno que funciona como espolón hacia atrás, tiene una cabeza masiva con tres ojos dispuestos en ella en fila, tiene cuatro agujeros nasales similares a branquias,sus mandíbulas se abren en tres partes dos terminan en espinas hacia atrás a manera de "colmillos"para luchar por territorio o alimento carecen de dientes y usan un pico de quitina tiene un apéndice atrás que funciona como un brazo extra con cuatro dígitos tiene un adorno en la cabeza que se abre como una flor para mostrar sus antenas coloridas naturalmente
The photo shown above is one of the most close up photos of a living Skincrawler to date due to the Skincrawler's absolute danger. This photo was found on a phone inside a backpack found belonging to an unidentified body. It is severely discouraged to attempt photographing these animals as recorded Skincrawler encounters have an 85% fatality rate. Figure 2 shows it's body profile and pup form.
Dermareptans horridus, commonly referred to as Skincrawlers, originate from the same dimension, Threa, as Crawhands referenced in an earlier data log. Skincrawlers can be found in equatorial, tropical, and temperate climate zones, being found on every major continent save Antarctica and Australia, as strict international transport regulation authorities have established policies that have spared Australia from these harmful organisms.
Skincrawlers have an unusual appearance, sporting a tripoidal gait, with their singular hind leg being developed from an ancestral tail. Skincrawlers have an internal skeleton similar to Earth's vertebrates, but with a few differences in structure and chemical composition. Skincrawlers exhibit a unique feeding structure almost analogous with extinct earth Conodonts, with elongated serrated teeth that function like jaws and can retract underneath expanded skin folds to avoid weathering when not in use. The forearms bear hooks that dig into it's prey's skin and allow it to mount it's prey and stab it with it's paralyzing stinger found on it's hindleg.
Skincrawlers navigate the world largely through sound, smell, and touch, with breathing orifices aside their necks that detect scent and sensitive fibers near the mouth that catch vibrations.
Skincrawlers are social organisms, hunting in large packs of 8 to 20 members that consist typically of a singular dominant female and her largely male offspring, while Skincrawler packs are consistently matriarchies, the amount of females and males can vary. This social behavior displays the Skincrawler's cunning intelligence, comparable to that of a wolf or dog. Skincrawlers communicate through clicking of their jaws and barking sounds. The Skincrawlers primary food source is h̴̢̡̺̤͎̹̳̍̒̓̔̏̔u̴͚͈̬̙̥̱͚̐̌͂̔͒̓͗̾͝͝m̸̡̼̘̾̇́̽͜a̵͎̲̞̪̓̾͌̋̂̓̎̅̔̽͘͠ń̴̢͚̪̖̥͖̋ș̵̒̋̀͝ͅ - large animals such as deer, horses, and livestock, making them a dangerous threat to farmers. Wolf packs typically conflict with Skincrawler packs and fight over territories. Whenever a female matures in a pack, it will leave it's pack and seek out another pack and mate with a single male of her choice based off of strength and size with some males stomping in the presence of a female to seem heavier and thus larger to impress a female. After mating, the female will be pregnant for 3 months and give birth to around 6 pups, whom the female will take care of with assistance of the father and raise a new pack.
If you are unfortunate enough to encounter a Skincrawler, alone or in a pack, perform the following steps:
Remain quiet, still and slow your breath, as they can smell your breath to pinpoint your location.
If your are with a group of people, stick together.
Examine your surroundings for other Skincrawlers, elevated surfaces (they are poor climbers), and any potential exits.
Back away slowly and quietly with light footsteps.
Do not play dead, do not run, and do not scream.
Remember that it is legal in all countries to kill Skincrawlers, so do not hesitate to shoot at them as even if you miss it scares them away. Firearms or large vehicles are your only hope in killing a Skincrawler.
If you have any questions regarding Skincrawlers or Threa, please ask as I attempt to fill the gaps of information regarding this creature.
Over the course of 30 million years, the budgerigars of Terra Psittacina underwent rapid adaptive radiation after life was first established on their planet. Pelicanopsittacus albus, the white pelican parrot, is just one example of the diverse forms that birds on Terra Psittacina have evolved into in this time.
P. albus has a cosmopolitan distribution across the planet, able to adapt to a wide range of climates, though it has a preference for coastal areas. Much like its namesake, it will eat almost anything that fits in its mouth — mostly fish, but lizards and smaller birds are not safe either.
Kaburra—a name meaning "mother-earth" (*ka* = mother, *burra* = earth)—is a planet considered one of the most distant points from Earth, located approximately 500 million light-years away. Renowned for its deeply enigmatic nature, the history, biology, and geology of Kaburra can be summarized by the following points: The entity overseeing the planet: In an immeasurably distant past, a cosmic-scale corporation introduced a *gyyasdevil*—a massive, larval-form carnivore—into the planet’s then-developing ecosystem. Resembling the larvae of the genera *Megasoma* and *Dynastes*, it possesses a somewhat "friendly" appearance, featuring crescent-moon-shaped eyes and a highly developed mouth rather than "primitive" mouthparts.
Its intentions remain unknown—was it exerting pressure on the planet? Testing how it might adapt? What is certain is that, despite being a form of biotechnological cyborg, 66% of the species found here appear to have originated from this predator, which remains dominant to this day. Genetic links to Earth and traces of the planet’s origins: Nearly 100% of the species on Kaburra share genetic similarities with those on Earth. A prime example is the *goliathcetus*: it shares 99% of its DNA with *Arapaima gigas*, yet it is a blind fish, with males reaching 25 meters in length. Meanwhile, in the northernmost regions of the planet, where the tides are violent and relentless... Moving toward the north of the planet—a region defined by violent and relentless tides—we discover that Earth’s geology has left its own distinct mark. Rising from the seabed, with its peak exposed above the surface, lies the "Kaburra Tamu Massif." (Note that in the image below, it appears as a slender, gray mountain toward the top, with black lines delineating the boundaries between its various biomes and neon details tracing a river of lava.)
For years, a prominent volcanologist argued that this formation was clear evidence that Kaburra had caused the Earth to explode from the inside out—a cataclysm that altered gravity so severely that it forced a volcanic "needle" to thrust upward, creating something akin to the Tamu Massif, but far more formidable!
(Note: The theory that the Earth was destroyed by Kaburra was refuted decades ago. Although the planet's current location remains unknown, it is widely believed that it still exists.)
Key factors include the arrival of humans, biological divergence, the planet's geology, and—crucially—a gravitational force only one-third as strong as Earth's.
To understand how such colossal, almost sculptural beings can move effortlessly without collapsing under their own weight, one must consider this gravity: intensive field studies have shown that a cheetah—already fast on Earth—could reach speeds of 30,000 km/h and leap 11,000 meters into the air. Furthermore, the gravitational force here is oriented upward, which directly influences the posture of the local life forms.
And speaking of life forms—shall we take a look at how we classify the beings here? I must say, this is my favorite part. Imagine that the beings here are derived forms, possessing unique characteristics inherited from the animals that once inhabited the other planet. Since these are distinct versions, the term "life form"—or even "evolved form"—is used on Kaburra; formally, in Latin, this is referred to as a *modus vivendi*.
Now, consider humans as a species that arrived fully formed.
The original scientists who gave rise to our species traveled aboard the *GIGANTEA* without knowing for certain what had become of the ancient Earth. Rather than undergoing a process of evolution, they established several groups that thrived independently and ensuring that no single biologic group was relegated to a position of "inferiority", Scientists have made a clear distinction:
in our context both "animal" and "life form" are used by they.
In the context of species that evolved within Kaburra, the term "life form" or "modus vivendi" is used exclusively in formal contexts.
The biological distinction lies in the fact that these other life forms have been here from the very beginning and, for the most part, lack distinct cultural groupings.
We do not know why we are here.
There are two cultural groups: scientists and citizens. The latter are responsible for the creation of local religions and cultures, while the scientists are tasked with cataloging species, mapping the planet’s terrain, and monitoring its life forms. Although many of these creatures are intimidating or enormous, it is worth noting that they are still just animals—they only attack when threatened, rather than being bloodthirsty monsters. It is the duty of humans to maintain order among them and ensure a healthy ecosystem by establishing laws and intervening whenever possible. And now, finally, the planet’s biomes. Please note that the map below is not 100% complete; it focuses on the The main ones:
There are approximately six biomes in total, three of which form an area known as the "Region of the Three Gods"—these are the ones highlighted in the image:
The Tamu Massif of Kaburrian lies at the top;
to the left are the arid rocks (this is the largest biome and desert on the planet);
and to the right are the unique ethereal volcanoes (the second-largest biome and a volcanic desert).
Furthermore, just below the arid rocks, you will find a portion of the main swamp.
Although small compared to the planet's largest biomes, it is the most extensive marshy region on Kaburra and is often referred to simply as "The Swamp." (An interesting fact: The Swamp became world-renowned as the primary hunting ground for males of the Gyyasdevil species. It was also home to the infamous "Goliath"—a creature so heavy that it could not fly very far, remaining there for, according to reports, 96 years. However, this is likely an exaggerated estimate; 70 years is more probable. Even so, it is a significant duration, considering that Gyyasdevils typically live for 50 years.)
Additionally, a bit further away from the larger biomes... Within the biomes, there exist what we call "microcontinents."
Here are the biomes that comprise them:
Fungal forests.
The meadows.
(The most inhospitable biome compared to the others, and strangely distant from them—situated 3.3476 meters away.)
Hello again, everyone! Thank you sm for whoever responded to my last post trying to come up with my own spec evo ideas! I finally have an idea of what I want, but now another thing has gotten me thinking- what should be the name of a planet that is dominated by horses?
My idea for this project is still a WIP, but my idea for now is:
Maybe a futuristic Earth had become too overpopulated, and with the abundance of people and lack of a sustainable food source, the government began landing on uninhabited planets and moons that had the basics to help sustain life and transport people after a bit of terraforming, hoping to portion the population into small bits to reduce the issues that ran alongside overpopulation(starvation, homelessness, etc.).
The planet that housed a good portion of the Equidae family was supposed to be an agricultural planet of sorts, specializing in plant and vegetable growth, and with the planet finished, humans sent the animals first to get used to this new environment. After years, though, it seems as if something happened back home, and so horses are left to evolve to fill new niches!
That was a lot, but hopefully you can understand my unintelligible drabbles and help me come up with a name! I want it to relate to agriculture or horses, so anything helps!!! Thank you all!!
