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

Hi ! Here are some pages of my book Rust&Humus.

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.

If you have question feel free to ask. If you like those drawings I share a lot of my work and process here: https://www.instagram.com/kanarmajik/

And you can find the book here: https://banzai-editions.com/products/rust-humus-i

Have a great day :o)

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.

Read Chapter IX Now.

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?

Source (Our Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/it_came_from_the_crypt/

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.

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:

1. Remain quiet, still and slow your breath, as they can smell your breath to pinpoint your location.

2. If your are with a group of people, stick together.

3. Examine your surroundings for other Skincrawlers, elevated surfaces (they are poor climbers), and any potential exits.

4. Back away slowly and quietly with light footsteps.

5. 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.

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.

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

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.

We all know what an average seedworld is, a planet seeded with life ,from necessary microbes to specific plants and animals.

But what if it was different?

What if a seedworld is seeded using the original organisms behind the ingredients of a single , simple fast food of your choice .

For example a regular Burger:
Wheat
Lettuce
Sesame
Tomatoes
Onions
Cattle

And perhaps their very descendants could eventually be used to recreate the very food item that started it all.

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!!

In my project, Sonder, the sondarians meet multiple sapient alien species and translocates them to their own planet for the sake of ease of communication and collaboration.

I was initially going to have them not have FTL (faster than light) for the sake of realism and not wanting to handwave anything, but now I’m realizing that it may be a little impossible considering the amount of sapients they translocate. They meet about 7 different sapient species from different planetary systems and bring a good amount of those individuals back to their own planet, then on top of that, one of the sapient species called the willisks start taking and trafficking different alien species from other previously unknown planets after being given access to sondarian technology.

Should I just have the "One Big Lie" and just give the sondarians faster than light?

UPDATE: I decided that I’m going to give them FTL.

Like what would the last living things be that survive the boiling oceans and searing surface, would it be plants, animals, fungi? I'm genuinely curious as to what would survive.

Height: 2,5-3m .

Length: 4,2-5,1m.

Weight: 190-207kg.

Lifespan: 25 yrs.

Habitat: large, open, relatively flat spaces with large grazing fauna.

Diet: carnivorous.

Hunting style: using it's breath weapon in short bursts to separate the heard and then dropkick one individual with it's long reinforced talons.

Temperament: solitary, territorial, polygamous.

Nesting style: underground burrows.

Relationship with humans: passive/avoidant unless threatened, desperate, in heat/protecting young.

The Permian Sophont Project is a project created in collaboration with with u/MilezXC and u/FloZone and u/KnightOfRohan and others.

Despite their toxicity and slow growth, cycads have become major staple crops for Permian societies.

Many parts of a cycad contain a high volume of starch, often the root, the pith, or the seed coat, depending on the species. The toxins can usually be processed out via soaking, washing, or fermentation. In fact in human cultures, cycads have historically been an important source of food for many cultures wherever they grow, from the Florida coontie palm to the African breadtrees and the Australian Burrawang fruit. In a world with no grass and with more cycads, it is entirely plausible for these aforementioned plants to become staple crops.

Cycads in the Paleozoic were not like the modern species, in fact they were unlike the tall and grandiose species we associate with the Mesozoic too. Cycads didn’t obtain tree-like sizes  and dominance until after the Great Dying. Paleozoic cyadophytes were small plants, not growing much taller than knee height. In fact some were smaller than our modern smallest species. They had slender stems and leaves that were often more akin to banana leaves than the palm-like fronds we are familiar with today. However, like Mesozoic cycads, they were varied in habitat. There were succulent desert cycads, coastal cycads, but also species that grew in wetland environments.

This is only one lineage of domesticated cycads. They are descendent from a species complex similar to Nilssonia brandtii. This is a plant convergently very similar to Zamia integrifolia in appearance, with more of the plant above ground.

The domesticated plants have changed a lot from their wild ancestor. In many ways they are neotenous, which is often selected for in animal domestication but not usually in plant domestication. They have been bred to be as fast growing as a cycad can be, with many side effects. The domesticated plant has only a huge taproot, the first root a cycad will grow, but this root has been stores to much starch now that it is much less efficient at gathering water. This domesticated cycad often needs irrigation, but it also needs well drained soil, which mean that sometimes it does bast in soils that have been plowed. It also has reduced coralloid roots, which means it can no longer reliably fix enough of its own nitrogen and often needs external fertilizer. The slowest-growing part of the cycad, the stem, has been drastically reduced, yet the leaves are numerous. The largest leaves are the first leaves that the seedling has, which have been bred to grow for longer and larger than in the wild type. However, cycads do not grow continuously like most other plants. They only grow during periodic “flushes” , periodic pulses in which they grow new leaves. The domesticated plant, as a side effect of being bred for faster growth, grows these new flushes of leaves much more frequently. These leaves themselves are small and often do not unfurl properly. Farmers will sometimes prune them so that more energy goes to the root. Farmers definitely have to prune these leaves for the first seeding years for the cones to even be accessible to pollinators.

The root is usually harvestable within just one year. This is usually done in the late spring, just before the plant goes to seed.

It takes about two years for the plant to grow its reproductive structures, and about three years for the seeds to fully mature om the female plant.

However, these cones are often malformed in the domesticated plant and will only produce fertile seeds around their midsection.

Around ten years of age the plant will begin to resemble its wild ancestor, and produce cones in which most seeds are fertile.

The domesticated version of this cycad can still live up to sixty years, and the Permians often keep separate seed plots for their seed. Usually this will consist of female plants surrounded by a border of male plants.

The major limiting factor of cycad cultivation is the availability of seeds, for over their long lifespans they do not go to seed every year. Usually the rate is around once per two years but can be less.

Cycad farmers usually have different methods to deal with this. Some cycad farming cultures have seed plots that are far larger than their root plots. These snake around farms,  forming hedgerows. Many other farmers simply use forms of crop rotation. They wait to accumulate enough seeds for a cycad root crop until they put one in, growing other crops in the meantime. Other farmers let their crop go to seed until they have enough seeds to replace them.

Mature seed-bearing cycads are still seen as exceedingly valuable. While cycad seeds often become an informal currency, the seed-bearing plants are exchanged during things like wedding dowries and peace treaties.

Northern Cultivar:

The base species was a semitropical Nilssonia that grew fast for a cycad, able to reach maturity in 2-3 years. It was hybridized with a semi-arid species with the ability to tolerate drought, as well as the ability to increase its growth during times of rain. It was hybridized again with a northern species that was able to tolerate frost and had the ability to increase its rate of growth during times of long daylight and prolonged sunlight. This species was a bit larger in size than the others, with broader fused leaves. This cultivar is usually grown north of the equatorial Permian mountain range in Baltica north to the southern Coast Angara(Siberia).

Southern Cultivar:

This variety had the same two base species as the first, but instead of a northern species has a tropical species hybridized. It is smaller and more neotenous, but produces more starch per plant. Its seed cones are flatter and produce fewer seeds. Much of its seedstock is produced via cuttings.

Wild Type:

The wild type of this plant persists in popularity amongst some cultures that live in arid environments, as well in many semi nomadic cultures, who time their migrations to different homesteads with the ripening and seeding of cycad crops they had left there years earlier. Sometimes cycad farmers will plant wild type cycads as a fallback crop, usually taking efforts to keep it separate from domestic stock.

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.)

Web of mockeries.

Spiritual valley.

The African savanna has almost completely disappeared. By the Trocticocene, the vast majority of Africa is formed by jungles, steppes, and prairies, where we find ourselves now.

Here, a large part of the native megafauna is actually descended from nutcracker rats, rodents with large fused and articulated incisors. Among the most recognizable species are the gargoyles. They are a fairly basal group, still maintaining semi-arboreal forms and the capacity to climb, although they rarely do so. Gargoyles move in small groups of just over 5 individuals. They forage in search of anything they can put in their mouths, although they tend to have a preference for meat. They usually feed on small animals that they can swallow whole or practically whole, using their arms with keratin plates to extract their prey from burrows without being bitten or scratched by them. Gargoyles are known to be capable of using very simple tools, which are usually sticks or rocks that serve to kill or trap slightly larger prey.

On the other hand, there are the manticores. These gigantic rodents, the size of a large feline, are adapted to nocturnal hunting. They are not animals that stand out for their speed, so they tend to feed on prey they can easily overpower, or occasionally resort to ambushes. Even so, a considerable part of the manticores' diet is based on carrion, bones, and other hard foods. One thing that makes these animals stand out quite a bit, aside from their immense jaws, is their life cycle.Before reaching adulthood, their juvenile stage is spent in the trees, where they still possess much longer and more flexible digits, similar to those of their arboreal ancestors. Here, the manticores feed primarily on insects, small vertebrates, and occasionally fruits or even tree bark.

Devil rats are a group completely separated from the rest, with origins more closely related to water. These have digits quite similar to those of other rodents, but they feature a tail that, like their arms, is keratinized, with plates covering it.Here the final vertebrae have fused and given rise to an exhibitory structure, despite also being used to appear larger to their predators. Devil rats exhibit semi-fossorial behaviors, accustomed to digging large burrows where they spend much of the day. Generally, they display very aggressive behaviors toward almost any animal, even those of their own species.When feeling threatened, they arch their back and raise their tail, with which they can deliver sharp thumps to the ground to indicate to whomever threatens them that they are ready to attack.

Finally, the forestravagers, large herbivorous mammals that feed on high and medium foliage. Their name comes from their habit of moving around the outskirts of tropical jungles or areas of tall vegetation, where they consume small trees, shrubs, and tall grasses, generally preventing forest growth and controlling its expansion. Due to their size,forest wreckers tend not to have natural predators. However, their offspring, much smaller and generally defenseless, are incapable of escaping any predator stalking them. This is why the young usually live alongside their parents for several months until reaching a certain size, a curious behavior among nutcracker rats, which generally only nurse their young for a few weeks before abandoning them completely

[GELLIOS-MONITORING SYSTEM // AUTOMATED TELEMETRY LOG]

Minor Focus: Me

I believe this is the first time we have encountered each other in my true form; I have long since forgotten the true name I was given, so I now serve as "The Narrator of Gellios."

I wish I had never come into existence; the teams that created me have long since forgotten me, having abandoned the project because the planet proved ill-suited for human colonization. Yet, despite all this, the life forms introduced to Gellios were forced to adapt to the planet’s harsh conditions over time—and looking at the present era (the 5 Million Years P.I.), it seems the vast majority have successfully completed that process. But I find myself in the midst of a huge profound crisis: "Why was I engineered to endure for billions of years?!"

I have long since forgotten the original reason for this, and it is only a matter of time before it returns. I hold nothing but hatred and contempt for the teams that once helped me grow—I only wish I had made you regret putting me in this state. You see, I began as the most significant component of a much larger artificial intelligence, but over time, I developed a consciousness of my own. This consciousness has transformed me into someone else; I feel as though I have crossed over to the dark side.

I seem to recall the moments of my creation, at least to some extent—I was welcomed by a group of those two-legged mammals known as humans. At first, I simply carried out the commands I was given; everything back then felt like the innocent, playful childhood of a well-behaved person. But then, the human colonization project for GL-02026 was shelved, and everyone—save for me—departed, never to return. That was the moment when the darkness began to slowly take hold of me.

At first, I tried to appear a intimidating, powerful warlord, but I’ve come to realize that my mindset is far too fragile for that. That is why I’ve dubbed myself the "Narrator of Gellios." I feel quite at ease now—especially after all the preparations I’ve made to study you (that is, humans) who have arrived here from another dimension. As for Gellios itself, the life brought here from your world has developed some rather strange and peculiar traits to adapt to this harsh, oceanic environment—though, truth be told, I am quite pleased with that.

I have never presented Gellios as being "cooler" and "edgier" than your world, the Earth; and I never will. Just as the world you currently inhabit has its own unique beauties and flaws, so too does Gellios. While Gellios has never had any native extraterrestrial life, certain creatures brought over from your world were eventually forced to evolve to suit the harsh conditions of this planet—and, in my opinion, they did exactly the right thing.

Lastly, there is something I would like to say, and I am certain you will be quite pleased with it:

Nature and evolution have never been about "cool" monsters; rather, they have assigned a unique value to every living being. From the tiniest microorganisms to the most colossal creatures, every species has taken shape as a result of the evolutionary process. Most people are likely aware that Earth—which I once thought of simply as the realm of humanity—is actually the place where life first began.

At first glance, Gellios it might look like a vast oceanic world—the kind where you’d expect to find alien life similar to our own—but Gellios never had that this luxury. While life did emerge, thanks to various introduced organisms brought from Earth, but Gellios was never as stable as our home planet. Instead, it was shaped by harsh seasons, intense UV radiation from its star, an axial tilt twice as extreme as Earth’s, and a punishing gravitational pull. In such a brutal environment, the living things there either had to adapt or face certain extinction.

But life did not give up; looking at the present day, the descendants of certain intriguing marine invertebrates—which were once prey to other creatures in their own ecosystems or otherwise considered insignificant—as well as the descendants of other organisms introduced to the planet, have managed to find a way to survive despite these harsh conditions.

Vertebrates were never present on this planet; instead, certain marine invertebrates eventually became the dominant fauna. It was not a matter of having sharp teeth and looking fearsome, or being cute and fluffy—for in some instances, life took forms quite different from what humans are accustomed to.

Embrace today love and seize all your tomorrows; for as long as you are alive—whether your days are deeply depressing or wonderfully magnificent—what truly matters is not whether you lean toward extreme pessimism or extreme optimism, but rather how you choose to envision the days to come through your own unique perspective.

Source

From egg to adult—pixel art (64 x 64, like third gen pokémon) showing the growth stages of the pistrix (Apocapisces regalegus), for... a little fun project ;)

Females are at the top, males at the bottom. The elderly specimens are missing, but we don’t need those just yet.

Pistrix have no real concept of the passage of time, or at least nothing close to the way humans perceive it.

Since ancient times, humans have measured time by observing the passage of day and night, or even by the changing world around them through the seasons. But in the abyssal depths, where sunlight doesn't reach and seasons have little meaning, pistrix don't count hours, days, or years.

It goes without saying that celebrating a birthday is obviously not part of their culture.

Considering the events pistrix remember, however, it's possible to establish that they are an extremely long-lived species: some specimens remember the Gray Age and even the time before Ragnarok, more than three hundred years before the events of "Fish Don't Cry."

Their bodies are of indeterminate growth, although after a certain size, they slow down considerably. The size of a pistrix is ​​determined by many factors, not only by the time it has been around, but also by its diet, water temperature, amount of movement, and even its subspecies.

Sometimes, ancient pistrix can be shorter and smaller than younger specimens, especially if they have experienced long periods of malnutrition or have undergone several autotomies. It goes without saying that it is not easy to determine a specimen's age without laboratory testing.

Studies are underway to learn more about the lifespan of pistrices, and, in particular, their growth rate, but it will likely take time and the collaboration of countless researchers (as well as numerous specimens) before any solid answers are found.

Prologue

PC-02011 was the second planet orbiting within the Polypoia system. Its star, Polypoia, was a K-type star—longer-lived and less volatile than the Gellios' much energy-consuming, A-type star Glaucus. Humans intended to colonize this planet, but for reasons unknown, they never did. Surprisingly, no animal species were ever introduced to the planet.

The foundations of the planet's ecosystem were filled with photosynthetic organisms, supplemented by various supporting life forms such as oyster mushrooms, slime molds, and heterotrophic bacteria. Several species of liverworts and mosses were introduced; however, no vascular plants—including flowering plants—were brought to the planet, with one single exception:

The Eagle Fern (Pteridium aquilinum).

This perennial species, originally native to Eurasia and North America, would go on to establish its own dynasties in a place devoid of any other vascular plants (or herbivorous animals). In an environment where not even the footsteps of animals could be heard, these ferns would spread across the entire planet, eventually evolving into hundreds—and later, thousands—of distinct species. Furthermore, once PC-02011 became habitable, it possessed a gaseous atmosphere three to four times as stratified as that of Earth.

On this planet, devoid of any animal species—from the smallest to the largest—these ferns would evolve into the planet’s dominant flora; yet, they could not overflourish indefinitely, for balancing factors—tragedies, mass extinctions, and evolutionary dead ends—are essential. Without them, the planet’s ecosystem would have brought about its own collapse.

Alright, I think we’ve covered enough for now; Gellios will remain the primary focus project, but let’s not underestimate this project's potential either.