"As an adult, the argantua is largely featherless, apart from tufts along its legs and on the tip of its tail. Most of its body is covered in tiny chitinous scales, which are in reality formed from suppressed feathers. " is just missing the comma after "reality".

Also, quite a magnificent design.

I think this organism speaks for itself, really.

Would be interesting to see other Buttpipers taking on other bizarre evolutionary adaptations!

One I can think of being the tusked buttpiper evolving different tusk shapes ala beaked whales or babirusas!

@OviraptorFan, what's the name origin behind "Krotezuruck"?

QUOTE (Disgustedorite @ Oct 3 2021, 12:19 AM)

I'm liberal with terran names, but "fern" is a bit on the nose...might I suggest fern't?

Or maybe "Ferd"

That reminds me that I need to do my end of our biome swap.

5 organisms, right?

In all sincerity, IIRC, this is just a slightly edited version of a very old picture and I think you can do better TBH. I'd recommend doing a new picture altogether.

MNIDJM

QUOTE (MNIDJM @ Jul 31 2021, 01:42 PM)

Is it one antler or two?

I would think two and that the artist just forgot to put the other one on there.

Don't forget that Scuttlers are plents

Coolsteph, fixed it.

QUOTE (Coolsteph @ Jul 7 2021, 09:45 PM)

I think rotting fruit counts as detritus. I like their red eyes. They look like spooky crow-fish.

Admittedly, I was inspired by cicada compound eyes, so I guess that makes them spooky cicada-crow-fish.

Guangu (Ungulasaurus protoruminans)

Creator: TheBigDeepC
Ancestor: Fat Lizatokage
Habitat: Vivus Volcanic, Vivus Rocky, Vivus High Grassland, Darwin Chaparral, Dixon-Darwin High Grassland, Dixon-Darwin Rocky
Size: 90 cm Long
Support: Endoskeleton (Bone)
Diet: Herbivore (Cryobowls, Glaalgaes, Phalangrass, Strangleroot, Aloberacteus, Inda, Crystal Brambley, Arid Puffgrass, Crystal Swordgrass, Snow Windbulb, Fuzzyfan, Fibreflora shoots, Crowned Kingrush shoots, Crystamble shoots, Robust Arid Ferine Berries, Coniflor Berries, Cragmyr Berries, Feroak Berries, Gecoba Tree Fruit)
Respiration: Active (Lungs)
Thermoregulation: Mesotherm (Basking)
Reproduction: Sexual, Soft-Shelled Eggs Laid in Mound Nest, Male and Female

A passable evolutionary design can only go for so long, especially when it is easily preyed upon by most predators. The final straw that triggered the fat lizatokage’s replacement was the arrival of the agropspyt, which made it harder for it to acquire enough food for itself. At that point, it had to evolve into the guangu.

One of the first adaptations that the guangu went through was its coloration changing due to their ancestor’s original green coloration making it stick out like a sore thumb against the purple flora and various colors of dirt, which constantly put the fat lizatokage’s entire population under threat of extinction. Instead, the guangu has purple stripes on its lower half and its entire skin is colored like the soil it lives around; guangus living in the Vivus region have a more black-colored skin to blend in with the volcanic terrain, while those in the Dixon-Darwin region have golden skin. This type of coloration helps the guangu blend in with its environment, providing a small amount of protection that the fat lizatokage lacked.

Along with coloration, the guangu enhanced its speed with several small adaptations. The first of these is that the guangu takes on a semi-sprawling stance, which gives it a speed advantage over sprawling organisms. To further enhance this stance, the guangu’s feet are raised further up than its ancestor’s, helping it pick up speed at a quicker rate compared to several of its relatives, including its ancestor. It is not only capable bursts of speed, but it is also capable of galloping similarly to a terran freshwater crocodile. Lastly, to help protect its limbs from injury, the guangu has evolved osteoderms on its forelimbs; these are white on the Dixon-Darwin guangus, while they are a dark gray on the Vivus guangus.

In the events it is otherwise unable to escape from predators, the guangu has evolved the capability of autotomy. Autotomy allows the guangu to separate itself from its tail to make a quick getaway. However, this method is not only costly in terms of needing more food to restore its tail back, but it also makes it trickier to gallop without the tail to help balance it, and it can only do this once; therefore, this defense mechanism is only used as a last resort.

The last, but most important, adaptation that the guangu made is that its stomach is divided into two chambers to help it extract as many nutrients from its food as possible, even if it is considered inadequate for most other herbivorous organisms. The first chamber is a hot-spot for microbes that help with fermenting the chewed up vegetation and breaking down the cellulose further. After this fermentation process, the food is regurgitated, chewed again, then swallowed once more, where it goes into the second chamber. The second chamber acts similarly to the average stomach by digesting the heavily-broken-down food, saliva, and microbes and providing the guangu its required nourishment. This allows the guangu to feed on all kinds of plants that the agropspyt would hardly ever bother feeding on, though even the guangu will feed on fallen fruit sometimes. However, in order for the microbes to thrive properly, the guangu is a mesotherm, which helps it maintain a minimum body temperature, making it easier for it to raise its body temperature compared to an ectotherm.

To defend itself, the guangu does the following; first, it will hide among the dirt, rocks, and flora with its rudimentary camouflage. If this fails, it swipes its tail tipped in sharp osteoderms and gallop away from the predator. If the predator persists, it will try to flee into coarse vegetation that can protect it or deliver a nasty kick covered in sharp osteoderms. But if it finds itself in a near-hopeless situation, it will detach its tail as mentioned earlier.

Similarly to its ancestor, the guangu still smell to watch out for predators and find food. The guangu also utilizes its fat storages for energy during leaner times, which gives it an advantage against those desperately seeking food during times of famine. The guangu also uses its colorful dewlap to express general needs and emotions, though its patterns are less elaborate compared to the fat lizatokage’s. The guangu typically has its dewlap as a lighter shade of its skin color, but when excited or attracting mates, the dewlap becomes a brilliant lemon-lime color and it bobs its head up and down in a nodding motion; when angered or heavily distressed, its dewlap becomes an unmistakable hot pink color and it holds its head up high. During mating season, guangus gather in territories and males compete by flaunting their dewlaps to gather as many females as possible. If tension between the males arises, they bite one another, and occasionally swipe their tails at one another until the other relents. Once mating is successful, the females gather leaf litter to lay their eggs in mound-nests similar to those of terran alligators and guard them from egg-eating predators. Once the young hatch, the females do guard their young until they have grown to be 30 centimeters long. Once this occurs, the females no longer raise their young as their parental instincts go no further than that; fortunately, the young are capable of taking care of themselves at this point. Finally, guangus can live up to 15 to 20 years.

QUOTE (Disgustedorite @ Jul 6 2021, 11:42 PM)

moose is bigger and lives the same amount

>Looks it up<

"The life span of an average moose is about 15–25 years."

"The head-and-body length is 2.4–3.1 m (7.9–10.2 ft)"

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

Name: Disasterxata (heh)
Binomial Taxonomic Name?: Magnacaprasaura clades
Creator?: Disgustedorite

Ancestor:
Listed?: Y
What changes?:

• External?: Larger, Reduced "Eye-ears", Heavier body, rearranged teeth and chin-spike to pseudo-beak, bony armor
• Internal?: Thick saliva
• Behavioral/Mental?: Lays eggs in mounds

Are Changes Realistic?: Y
New Genus Needed?: (If yes, list why) Already done

Habitat:
Type?: Tropical, Mountain (2/2)
Flavor?: Scrub, Grassland, Woodland (3/3)
Connected?: Y
Wildcard?:

Size: 3.2 meters
Same as Ancestor?: N
Within range?: N
Exception?: Open niche allows for 4X size

Support: Endoskeleton
Same as Ancestor?: N/A
Reasonable changes (if any)?:
Other?: Needs to be updated

Diet: Herbivore
Same as Ancestor?: Y
Transition Rule?:
Reasonable changes (if any)?:

Respiration: Active (Lungs)
Same as Ancestor?: Y
Does It Fit Habitat?: Y
Reasonable changes (if any)?:
Other?:

Thermoregulation: Endotherm
Same as Ancestor?: ???
Does It Fit Habitat?: N/A
Reasonable changes (if any)?:
Other?: Gracilxata needs updating

Reproduction: Sexual (Male and Female, Hard-Shelled Eggs)
Same as Ancestor?: Y
Does It Fit Habitat?: N/A
Reasonable changes (if any)?:
Other?:

Description:
Length?: Good
Capitalized correctly?: Y
Replace/Split from ancestor?: Replace
Other?: Why the short lifespan for something this big?

Status: Approved

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

Name: Snowmelt Srugeing
Binomial Taxonomic Name?: Volanix annuss
Creator?: Disgustedorite

Ancestor:
Listed?: Y
What changes?:

• External?: Brown chitinous skin, hairs on fin-wing joint, young have larger pectoral fins
• Internal?: Antifreeze proteins in eggs
• Behavioral/Mental?: Rapid lifespan during the summer

Are Changes Realistic?: Y
New Genus Needed?: (If yes, list why) Already done

Habitat:
Type?: Polar (1/2)
Flavor?: Tundra (1/3)
Connected?: N/A
Wildcard?: N/A

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

Support:
Same as Ancestor?: ???
Reasonable changes (if any)?:
Other?:

Diet:
Same as Ancestor?: Y
Transition Rule?: N/a
Reasonable changes (if any)?:

Respiration: Semi-Active (Ram Gill) & (Gill-Lung)
Same as Ancestor?: N
Does It Fit Habitat?: Y
Reasonable changes (if any)?:
Other?: Needs to be updated for Srugeing

Thermoregulation: Young: Ectotherm; Adult: Heterotherm
Same as Ancestor?: N
Does It Fit Habitat?: Y
Reasonable changes (if any)?:
Other?: Needs to be updated for Srugeing

Reproduction: Sexual (Male and Female, Spawning)
Same as Ancestor?: Y
Does It Fit Habitat?: Y
Reasonable changes (if any)?:
Other?:

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

Status: Approved

QUOTE (OviraptorFan @ Jul 6 2021, 05:01 PM)

QUOTE (Disgustedorite @ Jul 6 2021, 07:55 PM) I don't think explaining sexual conjugation is necessary. It's easily googleable. I feel like its still a good idea to add it in here. So that it is not necessary for someone to look it up on google.

Precisely

>Double checks<

Approved

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

Name: Woodyshroom
Binomial Taxonomic Name?: Fungilignum obumbratio
Creator?: Disgustedorite

Ancestor: Supershrooms
Listed?: Y
What changes?:

• External?: Considerably larger, black color, produces spore achenes
• Internal?: Cellulose wood
• Behavioral/Mental?: N/A

Are Changes Realistic?: Y
New Genus Needed?: (If yes, list why) Already added

Habitat: Vivus Boreal, Vivus Temperate Rainforest, Darwin Temperate Woodland, Darwin Temperate Rainforest, Dixon-Darwin Boreal, Huggs Temperate Riparian, Bone Temperate Riparian, Irinya Temperate Riparian
Type?: Temperate, Mountain (2/3)
Flavor?: Woodland, Rainforest, Wetlands (3/3)
Connected?: Y
Wildcard?: N

Size: 1 m wide
Same as Ancestor?: N
Within range?: N
Exception?: Y (Open niche)

Support: Cell Wall (Cellulose)
Same as Ancestor?: Y
Reasonable changes (if any)?: Y
Other?:

Diet: Detritivore
Same as Ancestor?: Y
Transition Rule?: N/A
Reasonable changes (if any)?:

Respiration: Passive
Same as Ancestor?: Y
Does It Fit Habitat?: Y
Reasonable changes (if any)?:
Other?:

Thermoregulation: Ectotherm
Same as Ancestor?: Y
Does It Fit Habitat?:
Reasonable changes (if any)?:
Other?:

Reproduction: Sexual (Conjugation), Asexual (Fruiting Bodies, Spore Achenes)
Same as Ancestor?: N
Does It Fit Habitat?: Y
Reasonable changes (if any)?: Y (Spore Achenes and Conjugation)
Other?:

Description:
Length?: Needs some improvement, but almost there.
Capitalized correctly?: Y
Replace/Split from ancestor?: Split
Other?: Just need a small explanation/elaboration of Conjugation for new people to understand so it doesn't get lost by mistake.

Status:Pending(See Description Other)

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

Name: Barkbuck
Binomial Taxonomic Name?: Cervolepus planilanx
Creator?: Disgustedorite

Ancestor: Scrub Barkback
Listed?: Y
What changes?:

• External?: Longer legs, colorful bark, shorter tail
• Internal?: N
• Behavioral/Mental?: Sprinting from predators ala Gazelles

Are Changes Realistic?: Y
New Genus Needed?: (If yes, list why) Already added

Habitat:
Type?: Tropical (1/2)
Flavor?: Woodland, Scrubland, Grassland (3/3)
Connected?: Y
Wildcard?: N

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

Support: Jointed Wood
Same as Ancestor?: Y
Reasonable changes (if any)?: N
Other?: N/A

Diet: Herbivore
Same as Ancestor?: Y
Transition Rule?: N/A
Reasonable changes (if any)?:

Respiration: Active (Lungs)
Same as Ancestor?: Y
Does It Fit Habitat?: Y
Reasonable changes (if any)?:
Other?:

Thermoregulation: Mesotherm
Same as Ancestor?: Y
Does It Fit Habitat?: Y
Reasonable changes (if any)?: N/A
Other?:

Reproduction: Sexual, Live Birth, Male and Female
Same as Ancestor?: Y
Does It Fit Habitat?: Y
Reasonable changes (if any)?: N/A
Other?:

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

Status: Approved

Approval Checklist:

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

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

Ancestor: Y
Listed?: Y
What changes?: See below
External?: More branches
Internal?: N
Behavioral/Mental?: N/A
Are Changes Realistic?: Y
New Genus Needed?: N

Habitat:
Type?: 1/2
Flavor?: 3/3
Connected?: Y
Wildcard?: N

Size: Y
Same as Ancestor?: N
Within range?: 56 m -> 28 m
Exception?: N/A

Support: Cell Wall (Chitin), Chitinous "Wood" Trunk
Same as Ancestor?: N/A
Reasonable changes (if any)?: N/A
Other?: Vesuvianite Tree needs to be updated

Diet: Photosynthesis, Detritiovore
Same as Ancestor?: Y
Transition Rule?: N/A
Reasonable changes (if any)?: N/A

Respiration: Passive (Stomata)
Same as Ancestor?: N/A
Does It Fit Habitat?: Y
Reasonable changes (if any)?: N/A
Other?: Vesuvianite Tree needs its respiration updated

Thermoregulation: Ectotherm
Same as Ancestor?: N/A
Does It Fit Habitat?: Y
Reasonable changes (if any)?: Y (Sloping branches that keep snow from collecting on it)
Other?: Vesuvianite Tree needs its thermo updated

Reproduction: Sexual (Airborne Spores), Asexual (Budding)
Same as Ancestor?: Y
Does It Fit Habitat?: Y
Reasonable changes (if any)?: N/A
Other?:

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

Status: Approved

Approval Checklist:

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

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

Ancestor: Y
Listed?: Y
What changes?: See below
External?: White fluffy feathers, Dromeosaurine face
Internal?: Spreads seeds via consuming flora
Behavioral/Mental?: Increased intelligence to capability of stealing kills from Wolvershrogs, More social, both parents sit on eggs
Are Changes Realistic?: Y
New Genus Needed?: Y (Taken care of)

Habitat:
Type?: 1/2
Flavor?: 3/3
Connected?: Y
Wildcard?: N

Size: 80 cm Long
Same as Ancestor?: Y (As according to notes)
Within range?: Yes
Exception?: N/A

Support: Endoskeleton (Bone)
Same as Ancestor?: Yes
Reasonable changes (if any)?: N/A
Other?:

Diet: Omnivore
Same as Ancestor?: Y
Transition Rule?: N/A
Reasonable changes (if any)?: N/A

Respiration: Active (Lungs)
Same as Ancestor?: N/A
Does It Fit Habitat?: Y
Reasonable changes (if any)?: N/A
Other?: Corvisnapper needs its respiration updated

Thermoregulation: Endotherm (Downy Feathers)
Same as Ancestor?: Y
Does It Fit Habitat?: Y
Reasonable changes (if any)?: N/A
Other?:

Reproduction: Sexual (Male and Female, Hard-Shelled Eggs)
Same as Ancestor?: Y
Does It Fit Habitat?: Y
Reasonable changes (if any)?: N/A
Other?:

Description: Y
Length?: Satisfactory
Capitalized correctly?: Y
Replace/Split from ancestor?: Replace (within regions stated)
Other?: N/A

Status: Approved

Approval Checklist:

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

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

Ancestor: Y
Listed?: Y
What changes?: Increase in size, extra white feathering, cheeks, short bottlebrush-like tail
External?:
Internal?: Large Gut for processing plants
Behavioral/Mental?: Lays eggs during the summer, hostility towards predators, carrying seeds
Are Changes Realistic?: Y
New Genus Needed?: Y (Taken care of)

Habitat:
Type?: 1/2
Flavor?: 3/3
Connected?: Y
Wildcard?: N

Size: 1.5 Meters
Same as Ancestor?: NO
Within range?: Yes
Exception?: N/A

Support: Endoskeleton (Bone)
Same as Ancestor?: Yes
Reasonable changes (if any)?: N/A
Other?: N/A

Diet: Herbivore
Same as Ancestor?: Y
Transition Rule?: N/A
Reasonable changes (if any)?: N/A

Respiration: Active (Lungs)
Same as Ancestor?: N/A
Does It Fit Habitat?: Y
Reasonable changes (if any)?: N/A
Other?: Fruitsnapper needs its respiration updated

Thermoregulation: Endotherm (Downy Feathers)
Same as Ancestor?: Y
Does It Fit Habitat?: Y
Reasonable changes (if any)?: N/A
Other?:

Reproduction: Sexual (Male and Female, Hard-Shelled Eggs)
Same as Ancestor?: Y
Does It Fit Habitat?: Y
Reasonable changes (if any)?: N/A
Other?:

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

Status: Approved

I have to admit, those arms and hands could use some improving because they look too much like robot arms IMO and one of the hands looks more like a pincer. Other than that and what Dorite said, not a bad take!

https://sagan4.jcink.net/index.php?showtopic=686

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

QUOTE (Nergali @ Jun 13 2021, 02:31 PM)

Made the fixes. I also fixed the reproduction due to an error pointed out to me on the discord.

"With up to three dozen eggs laid", this should be updated admittedly...