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Name: Rockshellion (Volubilis petris)
Ancestor: Rockshorian, Rockruiser
Habitat: Morokov Subpolar Beach, Morokov Subpolar Coast, Wind Polar Beach, Wind Polar Coast, Voyager Barrens Archipelago, Voyager Archipelago Polar Beach
Size: 1 m tall
Support: Endoskeleton (Chitin)
Diet: Omnivore (Mangal Shrubite, Candycane Bonegrass, Miniswarmers, Finback, Follower Gilltail, Gillarill, Nectascooter, Raq Urpoi, Seafin, Seamaster Seaswimmer, South Polar Shardgill, Southern Gillfin, Southern Strainerbeak, Speckled Pumpgill, Strainerbeak, Swarmerscooter)
Respiration: Active (Lungs)
Thermoregulation: Endotherm
Reproduction: Sexual (Male and Female, Eggs)

The rockshorian and the rockkruiser interbred, resulting in the stockier rockshellion. The rockshellion split from their ancestors, spreading along the southern coast all the way to the Voyager archipelago. Along the southern coast they do not have to deal with too many predators. This allows the rockshellion to bury their eggs underneath the soil and go out to hunt while one of the parents stays nearby. The rockshellion can retract its head and fold up its legs, causing it to resemble a small boulder.

The shell of the rockshellion is less porous and weighs more than the shell of its ancestor, resulting in a lower squatting position. It has a hardened plate on its head, and has fewer nostrils. The rockshellion has a fleshy proboscis like its cousin, the bobbysoxer, which allows it to grab at its prey, which it detects with its whiskers and a proto-melon located underneath the head plate.

Supplemental image:


The breathing fan has also shrunk to hide under the shell. Extended, the breathing fan (along with the tail) camouflage as a bunch of larand sticking on the side of a rock.

Supplemental image:


This post has been edited by HethrJarrod: Jun 12 2023, 05:05 PM

Ah, very turtle like.


I enjoy the example drawing of it being all tucked away into itself there.

This post has been edited by colddigger: Apr 5 2023, 12:31 PM

The note about the opportunity shrew is odd. I don't remember it being a coastal predator.

QUOTE (Disgustedorite @ Apr 29 2023, 05:27 PM)

The note about the opportunity shrew is odd. I don't remember it being a coastal predator.

“The opportunity shrew does not reside.”

It’s not.

I said it on discord I'll say it here: I absolutely love these guys

One thing that might be important is adding a comment about what happened to the breathing fan. It makes sense for this species to reduce it or shift its location under the shell so it can more easily retract the tail, but future evo's might need to know where did the breathing orifices go.

QUOTE (HethrJarrod @ Apr 29 2023, 11:27 PM)

QUOTE (Disgustedorite @ Apr 29 2023, 05:27 PM) The note about the opportunity shrew is odd. I don't remember it being a coastal predator. “The opportunity shrew does not reside.” It’s not.

Well, then it wouldn't have been a threat to the ancestor either...

That's my bad, I suggested is as part of the evolutionary narrative for why it stopped using the roofback shell nests.

Edit: still a viable narrative if you take it further back from the roofback itself.



This post has been edited by Jarlaxle: Apr 30 2023, 07:00 AM

needs binomial name

Added part about breathing fan shrinking to fit under the shell and a binomial name.

Approval Checklist:
Art:
Art Present?: Y
Art clear?:Y
Gen number?: Y
All limbs shown?: Y
Reasonably Comparable to Ancestor?: Y
Realistic additions?

Name:
Binomial Taxonomic Name?: Y
Creator?: Y

Ancestor:
Listed?:
What changes?:

• External?: Lost it's shell-nest, has an easier time fitting its limbs in its shell
• Internal?: N/A
• Behavioral/Mental?: Beach nests

Are Changes Realistic?: Y
New Genus Needed?: needed and given

Habitat:
Type?: 2
Flavor?: 3
Connected to Ancestor?: Y
Contiguous?: Y
Wildcard?: N/A

Size:
Same as Ancestor?: N
Within range?: Y
Exception?:

Support:
Same as Ancestor?: Y
Does it Fit Lifestyle?: Y
Does It Fit Size?: Y
Reasonable changes (if any)?:
Other?:

Diet:
Same as Ancestor?: N
Transition Rule?: Y
Reasonable changes (if any)?: Carnivore->Omnivore

Respiration:
Same as Ancestor?: Y
Does It Fit Habitat?: Y
Does it Fit Size?: Y

Thermoregulation:
Same as Ancestor?: Y
Does It Fit Habitat?: Y

Reproduction:
Same as Ancestor?: Y
Does It Fit Habitat?: Y

Description:
Length?: Y
Capitalized correctly?: Y
Replace/Split from ancestor?: Split
Other?:

Opinion: Approved;

@Coolsteph mind giving this a once-over?

I'm busy with something else right now, so I'm going to give only quick feedback on the most obvious things.

The fleshy proboscis looks more like a turtle's beak. Adding wrinkles would make it clearer it's a proboscis. The way the "tusks" are drawn makes it unclear that they're mandibles: I recommend paying more attention to the lines. The spiracles on the base on the tail aren't visible, and their location isn't specified in a supplemental image or in-description. The ear insides are not visible, and the shape of the ear farther away from the viewer doesn't suggest the ear insides are not visible because the ears are pinned back, like an angry cat's.

There seem to be a lot fewer nostrils than its ancestor's, which is important, because the number of nostrils a sauceback has is connected to the number of teeth it has. (https://sagan4alpha.miraheze.org/wiki/Sauceback)

Luminuses and Padlers seem far too small for it to feed on (or, at least, without specialized adaptations for such small prey).

I agree about the padler an luminuses, and also this could really use more beef to the description.

Added supplemental images &
Changed diet to remove Luminises and Padlers.