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Stigeon (Acipensagi prominenza)

Creator: MNIDJM
Ancestor: Diamond Pumpgill (Adamasargus angustus)
Habitat: Sparks Tropical Coast, Ramul Subtropical Coast, Russ Subtropical Coast, Ramul Subtropical Mangal, Steiner Subtropical Mangal, Steiner Tropical Mangal
Size: 80 cm Long
Support:
Diet: Carnivore (Krillpedes, Larvaback, Bijadadu, Kyutescoot, Lureflab, Squaphaneer, Steiner Squaph young, Flabnose, Flat Swarmer, Archipelago Uktank)
Respiration: Active (Pumpgill)
Thermoregulation: Ectothermic
Reproduction: Sexual, Two Sexes, Eggs

The '''stigeon''' arose in response to increasing competition in the Ramul-Steiner ecoregion. Their ancestral [[Diamond Pumpgill|diamond pumpgills]] found themselves pushed further out towards the periphery of their environments, no longer having available food to form large schools. Those that migrated to the [[Sparks Tropical Coast|]] and surrounding [[mangal]] found an open environment, thus allowing them a reprieve, but the subtropical population had to adapt, and were eventually replaced by their descendant there. The stigeon is more solitary than their ancestor, and significantly more aggressive. Fully carnivorous, they now become more specialize towards hunting the scooters in the region, those will hunt other prey when available. They are still thin, but have lost the distinctive diamond shape of their ancestor, instead adapting a long streamlined body plan. This allows them to weave through the flora to chase after their prey.

Their most obvious feature is their beaks, which have grown considerably from their ancestor. Beaks of this size are in danger of breaking, so the stigeon has grown a layer of skin tissue over the top of the beak. This skin is vasucalr and the bottom is lined with tissue that produce more beak material, allowing them to recover from potential breaks in their beaks.

cool , I think it fits the ancestor

Maybe you could describe more in depth regarding how the gilltail hunts scooters? Does it catch them if they are out in the open? Does it flush them out of cover? Stuff like that.

Plus it would also be nice to describe things like how it avoid predators and how its reproduction works.

The gen number is blurry.

QUOTE (HethrJarrod @ Jun 5 2023, 12:31 AM)

The gen number is blurry.

I always make them blurry

Sorry if there’s a clear reason that’s gone over my head but, why exactly is the beak hypertrophied to the extent seen here? Is there a specific manner in which it’s hunting that necessitates it? It doesn’t seem to be really reaching into anything too often, and there are better proportions to have for pushing its way through foliage to catch prey.

I’d also recommend just offhand that the tip of the beak should probably not have a flesh covering over it as seen here, since it will likely be brushing up against things a lot and may end up quite irritated or even injured, plus if prey fights back that area provides a possible spot to target and cause pain as opposed to having it be just beak there and thus less vulnerable to retaliation.

This post has been edited by Oofle: Jun 5 2023, 09:05 PM

QUOTE (Oofle @ Jun 6 2023, 01:02 AM)

Sorry if there’s a clear reason that’s gone over my head but, why exactly is the beak hypertrophied to the extent seen here? Is there a specific manner in which it’s hunting that necessitates it? It doesn’t seem to be really reaching into anything too often, and there are better proportions to have for pushing its way through foliage to catch prey. I’d also recommend just offhand that the tip of the beak should probably not have a flesh covering over it as seen here, since it will likely be brushing up against things a lot and may end up quite irritated or even injured, plus if prey fights back that area provides a possible spot to target and cause pain as opposed to having it be just beak there and thus less vulnerable to retaliation.

Yeah I agree with several of Oofles points here, like how the upper jaw should have more beak at the tip to avoid abrasion.

In fact, why exactly is the beak so long in the first place?