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Name: Metamorphling Gilltail (Tumescaeus cuniculuiapetus)
Creator: OviraptorFan
Ancestor: Srugeing (Tumescaeus volatilis)
Habitat: Maineiac Temperate Riparian, Maineiac Volcanic, Maineiac Rocky
Size: 25 centimeters long (dispersal form), 25 centimeter wingspan (dispersal form), 80 centimeters long (neotenic form)
Support: ?
Diet: Larvae: Omnivore (Shelpads, Redmosses, Testudiatoms, Mikuk larvae, Feluk larvae, Aphluk larvae, Meiouks, Neuk larvae, Sudisflutanses, Miniswarmers, Snotflora, Twinkiiros, Pioneeroots, Marbleflora, Twinkorals, Chitjorns, Padlers, Luminus, Grabbyswarmers, Chainswarmers, Eusuckers, Mudferra, Minifee, Swarmerweed, Srugeing larvae, Metamorphling Gilltail lavae), Scavenger, Detritivore; Neotenic form: Omnivore (Larvaback, Scuttlers, Frabukis, Miniswarmers, Snotflora, Twinkiiros, Pioneeroots, Marbleflora, Twinkorals, Chitjorns, Padlers, Luminus, Grabbyswarmers, Chainswarmers, Eusuckers, Mudferra, Minifee, Swarmerweed, Srugeing larvae, Metamorphling Gilltail lavae, Bubblebush, Vermees, Minikruggs), Scavenger, Detritivore; Dispersal form: Nothing
Respiration: larvae and neotenic form; Semi-Active (Gill System), dispersal form; Active (Lungs)
Thermoregulation: larvae and neotenic form; Ectothermic, dispersal form; Heterothermic
Reproduction: Sexual, Spawning in Water, Two Genders

As populations of srugeing grew in numbers, some groups would end up in areas where bodies of water are highly variable with some only lasting days while others can last decades. While at certain points the srugeings needed to develop quickly to escape quickly shrinking ponds, there were also situations where developing into their short-lived adult forms proved unnecessary and even disadvantageous since they could breed more than once in the longer lasting bodies of water. With these highly variable conditions, some groups of srugeings would evolve to be highly adaptable, able to live in whatever conditions they hatched in. These would become a distinct species, known as the metamorphling gilltail.

When they hatch from their eggs, metamorphling gilltail larvae will begin to eat anything around them to support their fast-growing bodies. Unlike their strictly carnivorous ancestors, metamorphling gilltail larvae are very opportunistic, eating flora and detritus as well. They continue living like this until about 16 centimeters long, where the particular body of water they hatched in will then influence their future development. If the larvae hatched in a small pond or another body of water that quickly dries up, they will begin to undergo major changes in their anatomy such as their pectoral fins growing massive and the development of their pelvic lungs. This specific version of an adult metamorphling gilltail, known as the dispersal form, lives somewhat like the adult forms of their ancestor but with some minor differences. While the adults of their ancestor did still eat on occasion, the metamorphling gilltail dispersal forms do not eat anything at all and instead focus entirely only on finding other bodies of water and breeding.

Certain other bodies of waters, however, can last for years or even decades which then means maturing into their dispersal form is no longer necessary for the metamorphling gilltails. When they hatch in these kinds of conditions, the larvae instead just keep growing bigger and bigger until they become their mature neotenic form. As they grow larger, their growth rate begins to slow down once they become around 30 centimeters long, while the lifespans of the neotenic form has extended to several years rather than the mere week of the metamorphling gilltail’s dispersal form. Much like when they were larvae, the neotenic forms are omnivorous and will eat a wide variety of small flora and fauna as well as larger microbes.

In the rare cases where these larger bodies of water do dry up, possibly by a particularly harsh drought, and the environment becomes too small to sustain the neotenic forms of the metamorphling gilltail, the adults will eventually perish. Before they do die, however, the neotenic forms will often spawn in the shrinking pool one last time as water levels go down. The larvae that hatch from this last generation will grow rapidly and mature into their dispersal forms who will then fly off to find other sources of water to breed in.

Here is my submission for the Prime Specimen challenge! I will say I was inspired from the Metamorph Birds known as Efts from Sheather888's World of Serina.

This post has been edited by OviraptorFan: Jul 8 2021, 10:50 AM

Minnosparrow (Tumescaeus piscespasser)
Creator: Coolsteph
Ancestor: Srugeing
Diet: Omnivore (Cloudswarmers, Gushitos, Xenobees, Gliding Glushstrider, Gushflier, Cloudgrumps, Kuyasha)
Size: 40 cm long
Habitat: Maineiac Salt Marsh, Maineiac Temperate Coast
Support: Unknown
Respiration: Juvenile: Semi-active (Gill); Adult: Semi-active (Gill-Lung)
Thermoregulation: Heterotherm (Muscle Activity)
Reproduction: Sexual, Spawning in Water, Two Genders

Minosparrows are air-breathing, fishlike fauna which breed in water, have air-breathing aquatic young, and spend their short adult lives almost constantly airborne.

Life Cycle

The young, which cannot fly, live in large pools and shallow bodies of water inland in the marsh. They are herbivorous, but in their adolescence gain a taste for meat and start eating various small fauna. However, they are good at leaping out of the water at a young age. The juveniles can swim rapidly, leap out of the water, and glide to nearby ponds, allowing them to evade aquatic predators or escape ponds which are getting too shallow.

Adults live for a few weeks along marshes and estuaries, flying in groups. They snap at each other with their beaks during the spawning season, but are not especially competitive or complex in their mating behaviors. They land at the edges of pools and shallow bodies of water inland to spawn.

Physiology

Minosparrows have somewhat narrower heads than those of their ancestor. Soft, fatty tissue smooths out some dips in its body, such as around its intake hole, making it more aerodynamic. Its lower fins are thick and fleshy, acting as “landing gear” and allowing the adults to land on soft mud or wet sand. Like its ancestors, it has no scales: its body is smooth and slippery. Like all gilltails, they do not have bones, so they are lighter than they may seem. They do have gristly reinforcing structures at the base of the wings and around the intake valve, however.

Their circulatory systems and muscle tissue is efficient at storing and using oxygen: a holdover from its distant ancestor the Chum Gilltail, which had to adapt to low-oxygen conditions. The Minosparrow, however, is even better at quickly using oxygen in its body, to the point its muscle tissue is dark red from its oxygen-storing pigments. Like opahs, they keep themselves warm through sustained muscle activity. They breathe in the following way: humid air enters their intake valves, the air goes through tubes in their bodies and is absorbed by lunglike structures in the back, and is then "exhaled".

The upper fins have sensory strands, giving it information on its body’s stability in the air. (It lacks the inner ear mechanisms common among Earth animals that give balance information.)

Lacking teeth, they swallow prey whole. They favor Cloudswarmers, and fauna over flora.

Behavior

The adults have lifestyles somewhat more like sparrows or swallows than flying fish; their tails become proportionately shorter and less muscular, since they don't move their tails rapidly to get out of the water. Where the wind is weak, though, they may strongly leap upward like a stranded fish to take off. They can take off quickly, but don't fly especially fast or high, similarly to gamefowl like turkeys. Indeed, they usually fly about four feet up from the ground. They can't make especially sharp or quick turns, though they can still navigate well when the obstacles are sparse. Their greatest strength is stamina, allowing them to fly for three to five hours at a time with no rest, or longer if there’s coastal breezes. They feed almost constantly on small, airborne organisms in the marsh and outlying coastlines, and are active both at night and at day.

They are not particularly intelligent, and occasionally smack into Leafy Plyentworts (which lure in the Gushitos they eat) like a bird smacking into a glass office building. Their camouflage, schooling, slippery bodies and large numbers of young ensure their survival. They have several predators, including Tipsnappers, an occasional predator.

Scaled Srugeing (Tumescaeus protolepis)

Creator: TheBigDeepCheatsy
Ancestor: Srugeing
Habitat: Both: Maineiac Temperate Coast, Maineiac Salt Marsh; Adult: Maineiac Temperate Beach, Maineiac Temperate Woodlands; Larva: Maineiac Temperate River
Size: 25 cm Wingspan
Support: ?
Diet: Adult: Scavenger, Detritivore; Larva: Omnivore (Bloister larvae, Krillpedes, Cloudswarmers larvae, Mistswarmers larvae, Miniswarmers, Scuttlers, Frabukis, Chitjorns, Orangemosses, Redmosses), Scavenger
Respiration: Adult: Active (Pumping Gill Lung); Juvenile: Active (Pumping Gills)
Thermoregulation: Adult: Heterotherm (Muscle Movement and Basking); Larva: Ectotherm (Basking)
Reproduction: Sexual, Spawning Eggs in Water, Male and Female

The scaled srugeing split from its ancestor, the srugeing. To deal with environmental pressures of retaining water and being preyed upon, the scaled srugeing had to evolve a feature never before seen in other beakworms; it evolved chitin scales all over its body, which give it its name. The larva are covered in a thick layer of hard scales that can shed off when being attacked by predators; while the adult retains a light layer of scales that not only help them retain more water, but also give them some protection against one another. These scales take on a near-black hue to help blend in with the black volcanic sand and mud of Maineiac. To further help with it being able to hide from predators, its gills have developed muscles that help move water through its body without requiring it to constantly swim around in order to breathe. Such an adaptation has also come in handy for the adult's breathing methods, giving it an advantage over its ancestor and its relatives. However, the adult scaled srugeing still requires humidity in the air in order to properly breathe. The adult scaled srugeing also has its ancestor's purple stripes expanded to surround its compound eyes, not only to attract mates, but also prevent glare from the sun; the scales surrounding the lung-like structure is a bright shade of purple to further attract mates by swelling up said structure to catch their attention.

For the scaled srugeing's life cycle, the larvae live in the Maineiac Salt Marsh and the Maineiac Temperate River during the fall, where they feed on various smaller organisms including miniswarmers, chitjorns, and frabukis. As they get larger, they begin leaping out of the water and move out into the Maineiac Temperate Coast for more space, more food to consume, and to escape from getting too cold during the winter. After a little over one year has passed and spring begins, the scaled srugeings are fully grown leave the water and fly towards the Maineiac Temperate Beach and Maineiac Temperate Woodlands to feed on decaying flesh and flora, especially rotten fruit. This ends up helping keep the environment cleaner than without them. While they live in the woodlands and beach, they are vulnerable to predation, but they manage to get around this with their more aerodynamic wings that allow them to fly rapidly in various directions. Unlike its ancestor's short lifespan, the adult scaled srugeing lives for 5 months, which comes in handy for when it needs to migrate. After spending a few months inland, the adults all fly back to the Maineiac Salt Marsh to begin their mating rituals of showing off their brightly colored gill-lung scales, charging into and pecking one another for the opportunity to mate. Once the winners are together, they fly down to lay their eggs and die, starting the life cycle all over again.

Srugeing is a nuisance to spell.

Does rotting fruit count as detritus or scavenging? I never got a clear answer on that.

Raised Vibrancy and Brightness to show scale details

Name: Wading Heart (Strutiotherium Aquapede)
Creator: Clayren
Ancestor: Hearthead (Strutiotherium primis)
Habitat: Huggs Salt Marsh, Biocat Salt Swamp, Gec Salt Swamp and Glicker Salt Swamp. Hunting Only: Chum Tropical Coast, Elerd Temperate Coast
Size: 1.2 m Long
Support: Endoskeleton
Diet: Carnivore (Marine Urpoi, Chum Gilltail, Elegant Emperor Phibisian young, Twinkiiro Gilltail, Spineless Toadtuga, River Hikahoe, Spinemander young, Scuttleball Gillfin, Diamond Pumpgill, Gulperpump, Thornback Waterworm)
Respiration: Active (Microlungs)
Thermoregulation: Endotherm (Feathers)
Reproduction: Sexual (Male and Female, Hard-Shelled Eggs)

The Wading Heart split from its ancestor. Sometimes mistakenly called “Waiting Heart” due to the slow, patient method by which it hunts, the Wading Heart is named for its habit of hunting gilltails and other marine prey in shallow areas. The Wading Heart retains the powerful muscles which give its ancestor a distinctive heart-shaped upper proboscis. These muscles control two long tusks which can be used to spear or grab prey which comes too close. On males these tusks have a black band around them, which is used for mating. The light-sensitive eyestrils of female Wading Hearts can easily pick out the dark black bands on a male and follow them. Males will perform a complex series of motions with their tusks for females, displaying their dexterity and stamina. Both are important because a Wading Heart without good tusks is helpless.

The Wading Heart has longer and more slender legs than its ancestor. The powerful muscles which allow the Hearthead to achieve tremendous speeds are less valuable to a hunter like the Wading Heart. Thinner legs are less heavy and don’t sink into mud as much. The organism also lacks feathers around its legs, as these are liable to become waterlogged in shallow water and slow it down. The hooves of Wading Hearts are splayed, which helps it walk on muddy swamp beds.

The body of the Wading Heart is overall more slim and streamlined. Living in warmer climates than the Hearthead, it has shorter feathers and a smaller set of back plates. The Wading Heart rarely needs to sprint like the Hearthead, so the smaller openings to its microlungs is no problem. The bluish-grey and white coloration of the Wading Heart helps it blend in and surprise swimming prey.

Mating pairs of Wading Hearts live alone, generally, although there are instances of several pairs living in close proximity if prey is abundant. A mating pair with a female that is gravid will locate a section of floating dead flora to construct an egg cradle. Those nearer the coast will often make use of discarded or damaged pieces of Seashrog nests, while pairs further inland rely on trunks or branches knocked down by storms, floods, disease or old age. With their powerful tusks the pair will carve out a hollow area in the flora, which they will fill with dry grass, feathers and other materials that will help incubate their eggs. The egg cradle is kept in a dry area and watched by one of the two once the eggs are laid and the larva will spend their first weeks there as well. Besides keeping eggs warm, these cradles also protect eggs and larva from sudden floods, floating like canoes when waters rise.

This post has been edited by Clayren2:Electric Boogaloo: Jun 21 2021, 06:09 PM

Hairoot (Astrangaloradix Pilosus)
Creator: Clayren
Ancestor: Strangleroot (Astrangaloradix suffocare)
Habitat: Vivus Temperate Rainforest, Darwin Temperate Woodland, Darwin Temperate Rainforest, Darwin Tropical Rainforest, North Darwin Tropical Woodland, Javen Tropical Rainforest, Javen Temperate Rainforest
Size: 20 cm wide (central bodies), 5-400 m long (full network)
Support: Cell Wall (Cellulose)
Diet: Photosynthesis
Respiration: Passive (Stomata)
Thermoregulation: Ectotherm
Reproduction: Sexual (Super Fast Asexual Budding, Sexual Airborne Spores)

The Hairoot split from its ancestor the Strangleroot and spread into the Vivus Temperate Rainforest. Adapted to cling to stones, these organisms began to climb the Gargantuan Obsiditree to get ample sunlight in the more competitive environment of the Vivus Temperate Rainforest. The spherical centers of the Strangleroot became more numerous and some adapted into flat, trunk-facing adhesive pads that use many tiny hairs to grip the Gargantuan Obsiditree.

More small hairs cover the branches of the Hairoot, which act as trichomes to collect and channel moisture from the air. The Gargantuan Obsiditree “sweats”, using evaporation to cool down its dark black surface and avoid overheating. Given the sizes to which these organisms can grow this creates something of a microclimate around the Obsiditree, with the air near the trunk being more humid than the surrounding area. This allows the Hairoot to grow without a connection to the soil.

Like most members and descendants of the Pioneerroots genus group, the Hairoot is host to nitrocycle microbes which live in its roots. These roots extend from under the main bodies of the organism, finding crevices and holes in the Obsiditree. When these main bodies receive enough sunlight they begin to produce airborne spores. On a fully grown Gargantuan Obsiditree, with the right wind conditions, the spores of a Hairoot can travel incredible distances. Thanks to this dispersal method the Hairoot can be found almost anywhere there are Gargantuan Obsiditrees. Once a Hairoot spherical body ceases to receive adequate sunlight due to the growth of its host it will die and be discarded. This returns nitrogen to the soil beneath the Obsiditree.



This post has been edited by Clayren2:Electric Boogaloo: Jun 26 2021, 01:58 PM

Name: Vibrant Manestrider (Ornitherium audatorquem)
Creator: OviraptorFan
Ancestor: Brighteyes (Ornitherium micoculum)
Habitat: Javen Temperate Rainforest, Javen Tropical Rainforest, Dixon Tropical Rainforest
Size: 160 centimeters long
Support: Endoskeleton (Chitin)
Diet: Omnivore (Clusterblades, Obsidian Shrub, Carnofern Flugwurm, Olshkra, Osziza, Tusovinda, Obsidiroot saplings, Carnossamer, Twin-Tail Orbibom, Hydrabowl, Hanging Olshkra, Mainland Fuzzpalm saplings and berries, Tropical Gecoba Tree fruit and saplings, Crystal Swordgrass, Whiskrugg, Branching Qupe Tree saplings, Neuks, Cryobowls, Glaalgaes, Xenobees, Minikruggs, Vermees, Pioneeroots, Marbleflora, Chitjorns, Silkruggs, Xenowasps, Teacup Saucebacks, Sunstalks, Supershrooms, Sapshrooms, Dartirs, Sapworms, Tamed Berry Arbourshrooms, Gamergate Gundis, Weird-Boned Twintail), Scavenger
Respiration: Active (Unidirectional Macrolungs)
Thermoregulation: Endotherm (Feathers)
Reproduction: Sexual (Male and Female, Hard-Shelled Eggs)

Within the rainforests of both javen and dixon, the high abundance of flora tempted populations of brighteyes to become terrestrial, resulting in them becoming unable to glide. But as the obsidiforests rose to prominence and their patterns started to stick out like a sore thumb, these populations of brighteyes would evolve several distinct adaptations to avoid becoming prey. This led to the evolution of the vibrant manestriders, which would replace the populations of brighteyes within the javen forests.

While the vibrant manestriders do supplement their diet with tiny fauna and carrion from time to time, the bulk of their diet consists of local flora species such as clusterblades and carnossamers. Much like their ancestor, the short and powerful mandibles of the vibrant manestride makes short work of its food.

Much like its ancestor and cousins, the vibrant manestrider retains the extremely derived “eyestrils”, where the back of each eyestril is reflective and directs light towards the light-sensitive patch at the front of the structure. By squashing and stretching this eyestril, the sauceback can focus light similarly to a lens, allowing the eyes to see in high definition and color. This useful adaptation allowed them to easily find food and spot potential predators.

When the vibrant manestrider spots a predator, such as a terrorbeak, the sauceback will quickly sprint away using their large legs, which have become longer than their ancestor for a larger stride. To avoid tripping on themselves while running, the complex feathers on its legs have reduced in size to not get in the way as much. The tail has also elongated to act as a better counterbalance while the vibrant manestrider is walking or running.

While echolocation does not play a prominent role in their senses, vibrant manestriders will still use it on occasion since the obsidiforests can have very little light at times. Sound, however, plays a much larger role in their lives than that of the brighteyes or their relatives. This is due to the vibrant manestrider being much more social, living in small groups that keep in touch by sound. Both sight and hearing, however, play major roles when it comes to mating.

Vibrant manestriders have a specific mating season, which occurs in spring. During this period of time, males are bombarded by powerful hormones such as testosterone and go into a state not too different from elk or deer going into rut. At the same time, the males grow in a large poofy mane with vibrant colors, both in the visible spectrum and in the ultraviolet spectrum. These manes are used entirely for display, with males performing elaborate dances where they shake their manes and step back and forth while making a wide variety of sounds, not unlike that of a bird singing to a potential mate.

While males will seek out mature female vibrant manestriders, their drive to mate means they will try to mate with almost anything if deprived of mature females. This ranges from other male vibrant manestriders, other kinds of fauna, and even random objects. This can sometimes end badly for the males, since the urge to mate may overrun the instinct to flee from predators, resulting in the death rates of male vibrant manestriders to skyrocket during the mating season. Once spring ends and the mating season draws to a close, the male vibrant manestriders will begin to calm down as their hormone levels diminish. No longer serving a purpose, the vibrant feathers making up their mane will begin to be shed off as they not only make them stick out to predators. Any females who successfully mate will nest with other vibrant manestriders to increase the chances of their eggs hatching. In a similar fashion to most other saucebacks, the vibrant manestrider’s larvae are blind and featherless, entirely relying on their single parent for warmth and food(which has to be regurgitated early on in their lives).


A male Vibrant Manestrider outside of breeding season, with the mane having been shed off. Females of the species also look like this, since they do not grow manes.

There you guys go! I tried to do something for pride months and thought "hey! There are the saucebacks that see well in color, so why not take advantage of that?" and this was the result!. Im not sure if I did it good, so your opinions on this would be appreciated guys!

This post has been edited by OviraptorFan: Jun 23 2021, 11:05 PM

Icehog (Pachyleucophis choerops)

Creator: Giant Blue Anteater
Ancestor: Emperor Seaswimmer
Habitat: North Sagan 4 Ice Sheet
Size: 3.5 m long
Support: Endoskeleton (Bone)
Diet: Carnivore (adults: Bejeweled Emperor Scylarian, Needlenose Scylarian, Vicious Seaswimmer; juveniles: Charybdis, Redbone Gilltail, Speckled Spinderorm, Hanging Necarrow)
Respiration: Active (Lungs)
Thermoregulation: Homeotherm
Reproduction: Sexual, Live Birth, Two Genders

Replacing its ancestor, the Emperor Seaswimmer, in the North Sagan 4 Ice Sheet, the Icehog's unique traits were driven by the intense competition for food with the scylarians. Evolving a purely white coloration matching that of the polar ice, it not only gained an upper hand against them—as the species grew bigger, it has come to eat the competition as a primary food source. Inheriting the ambush tactics of its ancestor, the Icehog lies low in wait near masses of ice for scylarians or the Vicious Seaswimmer to pass by before quickly rising up, capturing them unawares. As a more fusiform body, powered by a hypocercal caudal fin, rushes towards the quarry, stabilizing it in this pursuit is a pair of large canine teeth that project to the side, rudimentarily acting as fins. As these teeth angle downward from their upper jaw, they also function in restraining and wounding the prey item as it's being held in the mouth.

It retains monogamy from its ancestor. Taking advantage of the vibration-sensitive fatty bulge in their lower jaw, mated pairs establish their territory with low-rumbling calls that aren't so much heard as they are felt. Unpaired females make slightly higher-frequency rumbles to attract males. Predictably, there will be a lot of takers. To compete for the female, males aggressively rumble at each other, with the meeker ones usually backing down. The bolder ones, however, will try to gash their obstinate opponents with their front tooth. This will leave scars, but they are never life-threatening due to this species's thick blubber. In fact, larger males can bear numerous scars, a testament to their endurance as they simply wait out their smaller, younger rivals' aggression until they become exhausted and swim away.

It gives birth to fewer offspring, maximally up to two at a time (and, in rare cases, three). However, not only are they larger than the Emperor Seaswimmer's, they strike out on their own, aided by their white coloration blending in with the ice, being harder to detect by either predator or prey.

Becoming further adapted for its frigid domain, it is now an true homeotherm, maintaining a constantly warm body temperature, which is insulated by the thick layer of blubber inherited from its ancestor. This metabolic enhancement, further bolstered by the atmospheric oxygen it breathes, gives it a greater advantage over its prey, being able to move faster despite the cold polar water of its habitat.

This post has been edited by Giant Blue Anteater: Jun 25 2021, 12:14 PM

Pygmy Lyngbakr (Taumafiskur parvosicete)
Creator: Nergali
Ancestor: River Lyngbakr
Habitat: Maineiac Temperate Coast, North Jujubee Temperate Ocean Sunlight Zone, Jujubee Tropical Ocean Sunlight Zone, South Jujubee Temperate Ocean Sunlight Zone, Oz Temperate Coast, Hydro Tropical Coast, Jlindy Tropical Coast, Dass Temperate Coast, Soma Temperate Coast, Chum Tropical Coast, Elerd Temperate Coast, Driftwood Islands Tropical Shallows, Driftwood Islands Temperate Shallows
Size: 4 m Long
Support: ???
Diet: Carnivore (Strainerbeak, Scuttleball Gillfin, Shadow Seaswimmer, Sardchovy, Pebbleback, Cerulean Gillfin, Bejeweled Emperor Scylarian, Royal Scylarian, Hullback, Diamond Pumpgill, Bigmouth Strainerbeak, Ceryco, Ocean Scorpodile, Bargeskin, Torpcoat, Marine Tamow, Tilepillar, Plump Gillfin, Speartooth Seaswimmer, Rusty Seaswimmer, Hemodohve, Sindohve, Sinduhk, Jlindohve, Southern Strainerbeak, Crushermaw Scylarian, Spineflipper, Aqueryn, Aabaalki, Fiesta Leafshell, Hustlyn, Coasterlina Leafshell, Tamwodjir, Shorelance), Scavenger
Respiration: Semi-Active: Ram Gills
Thermoregulation: Ectotherm
Reproduction: Sexual, Live Birth, 2 Genders

With a turn towards predation, the river lyngbakr found itself taking up the mantle of apex predator within the regions it inhabited and dominating a niche that previously had only been held in the open ocean by the hafgufas. No longer would they be content to dine just upon plankton and shoals of tiny gilltails like most other lyngbakrs, for instead they had turned to actively hunting much more sizeable prey, such as seaswimmers and scorpodiles. With time, as competition grew within the great Maineiac river, some descendants of these powerful predators made their way back towards ocean. They did not, however, remain the huge predators that stalked the riverways, but had instead shrunk in size. They were now pygmies amongst their own kind.

While still fairly large for a scylarian, this rather dramatic shift in size came about as an adaptation towards hunting. Lacking a very hydrodynamic form - the morphology of most earlier lynbakrs bore remnants of their ancient scylarian's serpentine form, and were slow, passive planktivores - their tails have begun the process of being selected towards a more lunate shape. Evolutionary pressure is selecting for thinner, taller tails, not unlike those seen in terrorfang hafgufas, but such a process takes time. While the shape would be poorly suited for fast-paced swimming in a larger organism, a much smaller one, meanwhile, would be able to better utilize it, and as such over the generations these lyngbakrs have grown smaller overtime. While they are unable to terrorize anything even close to approaching their own size, they are more than capable of hunting down a variety of smaller prey species, as long as they can either catch them unaware our outpace them.

Forming pods of up to thirty members, they loosely group together in the search of prey, relying on their numbers to confuse and overwhelm prey while at the same time deterring would-be predators. Mating occurs year-round, with the resulting offspring being born after nearly a year-long gestation period. Said young will remain with the pod for up to four or five years, after which the males will head off to live on their own or form smaller packs of three to five members, while the females will remain with the original pod. The average lifespan for a pygmy lynbakr, assuming it doesn't succumb to wounds, disease, predation or otherwise, is about twenty years, though some particularly venerable members may live as long as forty.

This post has been edited by Nergali: Jun 26 2021, 04:47 PM

Flunezen (Spinomaxbrachia obsidianus)
Creator: Solpimr
Ancestor: Fluneinzee
Habitat: Dixon-Darwin Boreal, Vivus Boreal, Darwin Temperate Woodland, Darwin Temperate Rainforest, Javen Temperate Rainforest, Vivus Temperate Rainforest
Size: 70 cm Long
Support: Endoskeleton (Bone)
Diet: Carnivore (Sapworms, Minikruggs, Vermees, Xenobees, Barkback juveniles)
Respiration: Active (Lungs)
Thermoregulation: Ectotherm
Reproduction: Sexual, Two Genders, Mucus-Coated Hard-Shelled Eggs

The Flunezen has replaced its ancestor in Darwin Temperate Rainforest and Darwin Temperate Woodland and spread through out the temperate and montane forests of the supercontinent. They spend much of their time within the branches of obsidian trees such as the Obsidoak and the Gargantuan Obsiditree. The microclimate within the trees is several degrees warmer than the surrounding environment which is important for the ectothermic Flunezens. Although they sleep within obsidian trees and rely on them for shelter during the winter they do not spend their entire lives in them and will venture out into other trees in the warmer months.

Flunezens are visual hunters and have excellent eyesight and hand-eye coordination. Like their ancestor their eyes are mounted on a 'V'-shaped crest which greatly broadens their field of vision. Most prey is captured with their hands rather than their mouths, their long forelimbs giving them the ability to reach prey on other branches. Their back plates have been reduced to small spines giving them more flexibility in their backs.

They are solitary but not overly territorial and will tolerate the presence of others of their kind. Like their ancestor they lay hard-shelled eggs covered in adhesive mucus which glues them to the bark of their host trees. Eggs are laid on the tops of thick horizontal branches deep within the tree's foliage and hatchlings instinctively emerge from the top of the egg to prevent them from falling out of the tree. Apart from seeking suitable locations for their eggs they do not exhibit any parental care, and the young are highly precocial.











Note (won't let me make this a separate post)
I increased the length of the flingers, thickened the mouthline, and added the left side limbs (though they are mostly hidden you can sort of see them behind the right limbs). Support is listed as unknown on the ancestor but I'm fairly sure they have bones.

This post has been edited by kopout: Jun 23 2021, 10:37 AM

Sweet Red Spade (Clustus Vividiorque)
Creator: Clayren
Ancestor: Clusterspades (Clustus [Undefined])
Habitat: Barlowe Temperate Rainforest, Barlowe Temperate Woodland, Barlowe Chaparral
Size: 50 cm wide
Support: Cell Wall (Cellulose)
Diet: Photosynthesis
Respiration: Passive (Stomata)
Thermoregulation: Ectotherm
Reproduction: Sexual (Seeds, Sticky Spores), Asexual Budding

The Sweet Red Spade replaced its ancestor, the Clusterspades, on the continent of Barlowe. The Sweet Red Spade has sharp protrusions along its leaves which discourage herbivores. One leaf, however, is highly specialized. A long, central leaf is folded in upon itself and sports bright red, orange, and yellow colors. This coloration catches the eyes of Xenobees, which are also attracted to the nectar the central leaf produces. Xenobees will enter the fold at the center of the leaf to get at this nectar, at the same time encountering numerous sticky spores produced by the organism. As they travel from plant to plant Xenobees will carry these gametes and aid the Sweet Red Spade in reproduction.

Name: Gundiseater (Vermisorex lingent)
Creator: Clayren
Ancestor: Teacup Saucebacks (Vermisorex spp.)
Habitat: Javen Temperate Rainforest, Dixon Tropical Rainforest
Size: 17 cm Long
Support: Endoskeleton
Diet: Adult: Carnivore (Gamergate Gundis); Larvae: Scavenger, Carnivore (Vermees and similar/related species)
Respiration: Active (Microlungs)
Thermoregulation: Endotherm (Feathers)
Reproduction: Sexual (Male and Female, Eggs and Larvae)

The Gundiseater split from the Teacup Sauceback. Gamergate Gundis are found throughout the mega-continent of Dixon-Vivus-Darwin-Javen and provide plentiful prey to a number of specialized predators. In the grasslands and temperate woodlands of the south the Twigfisher Shrog uses sticks coated in sticky saliva to hunt for the small organisms. In the forests of the east the Smirking Soriparasite preys on small plents like the Gamergate Gundis while searching for a host. The Smirking Sorioparasite shares this range with the Spinebutt Plexo, which digs up burrows and nests using its powerful legs. In the Dixon Tropical Rainforest and Javen Temperate Rainforest there were no such predators, with the exception of the generalist Interbiat, which will eat most any small organism it finds in the grass. The Gundiseater now fills this niche.

The Gundiseater has evolved a longer proboscis and tongue. This tongue is coated in a sticky saliva, like that of the Twigfisher Shrog, which allows it to grab Gamergate Gundis deep in their colonies. When a colony is too deep for the tongue to reach, its tusks and hooves are used to dig a hole that will grant access. The Gundiseater retains the olfactory pits common to all Saucebacks, with some modifications. These pits are larger on the organism than they are on its ancestor, the Teacup Sauceback. While it has ears, these olfactory sensors are the primary method by which it hunts. They are mainly used to track the scent of Tamed Berry Arbourshroom fruit, which is usually found near a Gamergate Gundis nest. With a reliable source of food and little competition the Gundiseater is larger than previously existing Teacup Saucebacks. The Gundiseater remains a very small organism, however, and easy prey for most large predators.

The Gundiseater has a number of traits that help it avoid predators like the Interbiat. The sizeable ears are affixed to the long proboscis of the organism, when it feeds it will often twist this portion of its body so as to position one ear towards the sky to listen for approaching Interbiats and the other near the ground to listen for terrestrial predators such as the Twinpaw Twintail. Its white coat allows the Gundiseater to blend in with the white mud of the Javen Temperate Rainforest and Dixon Tropical Rainforest. If chased the Gundiseater will spit large quantities of sticky saliva to try and slow down or trip up pursuers.
The larvae of a Gundiseater is a small, wormlike organism that burrows through the mud. It subsists on a diet of Vermees, Dungshell Fraboo larva and Krugg larva. Very few larval Gundiseaters survive to adulthood, but the species lays many eggs and at least a few from every batch survives.

This post has been edited by Clayren2:Electric Boogaloo: Jun 26 2021, 01:58 PM

Name: Agropspyt (Vertidermus infernalihabitus)
Creator: OviraptorFan
Ancestor: Greenscale (Vertidermus leptus)
Habitat: Vivus Boreal, Vivus Rocky, Vivus Volcanic, Vivus High Grassland
Size: 120 centimeters long
Support: Endoskeleton (Jointed Wood)
Diet: Herbivore (Marbleflora, Pioneeroots, Sunstalks, Hengende, Fibreflora, Gecoba Tree fruit, Fibrillius, Bloodsap Melontree fruit, Tepostone, Twin-Tail Orbibom, Crystal Swordgrass, Marblemelon, Phalangrass, Strangleroot, Robust Arid Ferine berries, Bristlepile berries, Mountain Pagoda Crystal, Kory Claw, Pagoda Crystal), Photosynthesis
Respiration: Active (lungs)
Thermoregulation: Endotherm
Reproduction: Sexual, Live Birth, 2 Genders

Facing increasing amounts of competition for other herbivores as well as a wide variety of predators, some populations of greenscales adapted to these selective pressures by becoming highly aggressive. Since they developed the habit of facing attackers and preferring to fight over flight, these greenscales evolved ferocious weapons to maximize potential damage to anything they attacked. Combined with developing coloration and patterns to blend in with their environment, these populations would split off from their ancestors and became the agropspyt.

In some ways the agropspyt resembled its ancestor, with the two toes on each limb helping them navigate rough terrain and big claws that can help dig up roots and tubers. The agropspyt is also covered in photosynthetic scales, though they have a large amount of anthocyanin found within their tissues which allows them to blend in with the abundant purpleflora. The large powerful bill helps the agrospyt to deal with particularly tough and woody flora or the shells of crystal flora.

Since the agropspyt can’t outrun potential threats such as the bubblewraptor, they instead rely on their numbers, weaponry, and sheer aggression to fend off attackers. When isolated, which rarely occurs, the agropspyt will constantly try to face the closest threat. They open their mouths and show off their blue tongues as an active warning. If the assailant does not retreat, the agropspyt will lunge forward, trying to use its powerful beak or large claws to deal lethal wounds. The butt-nostril has become shorter and bulkier while developing a larger amount of spines which deters predators from grabbing it. If something does try to attack there, the agropspyt can temporarily lean its weight forwards and lift its hindlegs off the ground, where they can be used to deliver deadly kicks. The hind legs have large claws and strong spines on the legs to cause more damage with their kicks.

All of these weapons mean solitary predators rarely bother attacking a solitary individual, with an agropspyt’s main threats coming from pack-hunting carnivores such as the bubblewraptor which can attack it from multiple angles. Agropspyts, as a result, stick together in tightly-knit groups where they can fend off pack-hunting predators by sheer numbers. If one predator is attacked by an agropspyt, the whole group will swarm and maul it, usually leaving it dead or close to death. Agropspyts will also use their numbers to drive off other herbivores from their preferred sources of food, as something like a frilled greenscale does not want to fight what can be best described as a gang of highly aggressive herbivores adapted for fighting.

Since living in a group has proven so vital for the species, interspecific conflicts have pretty much disappeared in the agropspyt. The few times there is aggression between one another is usually squabbles over food, which usually boils down to a nip or at worst a swipe of an agropspyt’s forelimbs. Males also do combat each other over mates, though in these matches it's more a show of strength then actual physical violence, with the males bobbing their brightly colored heads in front of their opponent until one of them backs down.

The agropspyts will rear their young as a group, though two agropspyts will care for their young as a pair, with the females giving birth to 2-3 babies at a time. Once the young are born, one of the two adults will leave the safety of the group to feed as well as gather vegetation to bring back to feed their offspring. It's at this period of time when agropspyts are most vulnerable, as predators can take advantage of the adults going out to get food since they are in a small group at most but are more often alone. After the young are able to walk, which takes a few weeks, the whole group of agropspyts will leave the nesting site behind with the youngsters keeping pace with the adults.

An unlucky Bubblewraptor has had its ankle snagged and then broken by the jaws of an Agropspyt while the rest of its group moves in to maul the shrew.

Here we go! Im pretty proud of this plent species! I was trying to go with a creature that solves their problems through violence.

This post has been edited by OviraptorFan: Jul 7 2021, 07:03 PM

Name: Valley Constrictor (Spiniderpus contundo)
Creator: Clayren
Ancestor: Spinemander (Spiniderpus flumine)
Habitat: Wright Tropical River, Wright Salt Swamp, Wright Tropical Riparian, Pipcard Tropical River, Pipcard Salt Swamp, Pipcard Tropical Riparian, Kenotai Tropical River, Kenotai Salt Swamp, Kenotai Tropical Riparian, Bardic Tropical River, Bardic Salt Swamp, Bardic Tropical Riparian, North Dixon Alpine
Size: 1 m long
Support: Endoskeleton
Diet: Carnivore (Baraxshot, River Hikahoe, River Scrambler, Chut Snorkpiper, Dixon Finback, Axebeak Gilltail, Spineless Toadtuga, Thorny Toadtuga )
Respiration: Active (Lungs)
Thermoregulation: Mesotherm
Reproduction: Sexual, Two Genders, Viviparous

The Valley Constrictor split from its ancestor in the Dixon region. An ambush predator, the Valley Constrictor will lie in wait on muddy river banks or at the bottom of shallow swampy areas. The rudimentary electrocytes of the Spinemander have further developed in the Valley Constrictor, as have its system of electroreceptors which line its sides. Using electrolocation, the Valley Constrictor can sense when potential prey is near. It will then grab prey with its mouth and wrap its body around the organism, using powerful muscles along its body to squeeze it. The pressure will result in a lack of blood flowing to the brain and other vital organs, leading very quickly to unconsciousness and death. Amphibious organisms such as Baraxshots, River Hikahoe, River Scramblers and Chut Snorkpipers are the main sources of prey for the Valley Constrictor, although it will also hunt water-bound prey at times as well.

While quite a bit larger than their ancestor, the Valley Constrictor is not an apex predator. Tarawaka are a frequent threat to juvenile Valley Constrictors and adults during their yearly migration to the Great Dixon Valley are preyed on by Long-Tailed Flunejaws and lesser Argusraptors. To defend itself the Valley Constrictor can use its electrocytes to shock predators that touch it. The shock is mild and leaves no lasting effect, but can give the organism time to escape. The row of spines and thickened scutes inherited from the Spinemander remains, although their cheek pouches have lost their spike as it often got in the way when moving through narrow areas.

Every year, when the warmer seasons begin, adult Valley Constrictors will make their way upriver to the North Dixon Alpine. Between the North Dixon Peak and the Central Dixon Peak lies a large valley dotted with ponds and lakes. To maximize genetic diversity the Valley Constrictors of all four major river systems in Northern Dixon will gather here, swimming when they can and crawling when they must. M and females will form a mating ball composed of multiple individuals, typically with a ratio of 10-to-1 in regards to gender. When the heat of the season reaches its peak the adults will return to their rivers and swamps. Females will gestate over a dozen or so young for roughly six months before giving birth to live young. These young will absorb their internal yolk sacs in a day or so and then begin to hunt for prey. Smaller prey like Toadtuga at first, but as they grow they will target larger organisms.

Name: False-Spinemander Fraboo (Kornudactyla falsum oculus)
Creator: Clayren
Ancestor: Naked Fraboo (Kornudactyla nudus)
Habitat: BioCat Tropical River, BioCat Tropical Riparian
Size: 20 cm long
Support: Exoskeleton (internalized shell)
Diet: Detritivore, Planktivore
Respiration: Active (lungs and pores)
Thermoregulation: Ectotherm
Reproduction: Sexual, Metamorphosis (Egg, Larva, Pupa, Adult)

The False-Spinemander Fraboo replaced its ancestor the Naked Fraboo in the BioCat Tropical River and Riparian. The Naked Fraboo lost its shell, internalizing it. While this proved no disadvantage while it had no predators, the appearance of Wadesnappers and juvenile Goliath Flunejaws put pressure on the Naked Fraboo. Three developments have made the False-Spinemander Fraboo better able to survive predation that its ancestor. First is the patterns which cover its back, giving it the appearance of a Spinemander. Spinemanders hunt along the floor of the BioCat Tropical River and their backs are covered in sharp spines. Wadesnappers and Goliath Flunejaws are reluctant to grab what looks like a Spinemander, preferring easier prey. Furthering helping the illusion, the False-Spinemander Fraboo’s legs are shorter and stockier, bringing it closer to the river bottom. Finally, the False-Spinemander Fraboo has re-evolved the retractable neck and head wrap which its ancestor lost. Rather than using it as a shell the False-Spinemander Fraboo will extend and retract the resistant wrap repeatedly when threated. This movement is used to scoop mud and dig a hole for the organism to hide in.

Like the Naked Fraboo it has a complex life cycle, growing from eggs to larva to pupa to adult. Adults will lay large numbers of eggs in nutritive sacks in the Biocat Tropical River which will hatch into small filter-feeding larva. After eating enough these larva will turn into pupae and change into an adult False-Spinemander Fraboo. While most of its slimy chrysalis will be discarded, a portion of it will harden into the scooping neck wrap of the adult.

The False-Spinemander Fraboo breathes through several pores located along its body. When submerged in the water they extract air from water using intestine-like lungs. They have a fine blood based on iron, giving it a reddish coloration.

This post has been edited by Clayren2:Electric Boogaloo: Jun 29 2021, 10:03 AM

Quilled Pinyuk (Pennayakus chalicotherizinosaurus)

Creator: Hydromancerx
Ancestor: Pinyuk
Habitat: Drake Boreal, Drake Rocky, Drake Chaparral, Yokto Temperate Riparian, Drake Temperate Woodland
Size: 190 cm Tall
Support: Endoskeleton (Bone)
Diet: Herbivore (Vesuvianite Tree leaves, Baseejie leaves, Towering Grovecrystal leaves, Greatcap Baseejie leaves)
Respiration: Active (Lungs)
Thermoregulation: Endotherm (Feathers)
Reproduction Sexual, Two Genders, Hard-Shelled Eggs

The Quilled Pinyuk split from its ancestor the Pinyuk. It has moved further down south and up into higher elevations. It has increased in size and has changed its diet to mainly feed on the Vesuvianite Tree. Its posture has also changed to a more upright stance in order to get to the crystal leaves. While it can still walk on its front limbs, they mostly use their back limbs.

Its feathers are green to mimic the Vesuvianite Tree's leaves and yellow legs to mimic its trunk. Their limbs have thick protective armor. They also have sharp quilled feathers to help protect it from predators. They are slow moving and spend all day eating and digesting food. While not tall enough to eat fully grown Vesuvianite Trees they can can at least eat the younger saplings. When eating crysalflora, they crush up the leaves and eat gastroliths to help mash any remaining pieces of food that were not crushed by their teeth.

The Quilled Pinyuk lives in groups of 15-30 members that communicate to each other with deep, bleating calls. Males fight for females by fighting with their scythe-like front hoofs. This can result in injuries or death. The male is recognized by its larger chin-spike and orange feathery crest (not shown in the picture). The scythe-like front hoofs are also used to pull down branches for eating leaves.

They build saucer-shaped nests out of mud, fuzzweeds, and their own down feathers. When nesting, the females will sit on their eggs in order to keep them warm, and remove excess feathers to keep them cool. Once hatched, females remain in the nests with their offspring and males go out to search for food. Quilled Pinyuks lay 4-6 eggs at a time. They do not grow their quills until they have reached sexual maturity, so they need to be protected by the herd.

This post has been edited by Hydromancerx: Jun 29 2021, 04:59 PM