Tales of Xenogaea

The blog of an aspiring writer. My collaborative worldbuilding Discord server (content updates will be more frequent over there): https://discord.gg/q4XSjeQuwF

[captainswaglord500]

Thurman's Chameleodrake

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Reptilia (Sauropsida)

Clade: Eucrocopoda

Clade: Archosauria

Clade: Pseudosuchia

Clade: Suchia

Clade: Paracrocodylomorpha

Clade: Poposauroidea

Clade: Ctenosauriscoidea

Clade: Enantiotyrannoidea

Order: Euenantiotyrannoidea

Clade: Chameleosuchia

Family: Chameleosuchidae

Subfamily: Chameleosuchinae

Genus: Chameleosuchus

Species: C. thurmanii (“Thurman's chameleon crocodile” [named after Marshall Thurman, a prominent 19th-century Xenogaean naturalist])

Ancestral species: possibly Arizonasaurus babbitti

Temporal range:  late Pliocene to recent (2.78 mya - recent)

Information:

In the deep southern stretches of Xenogaea’s Isle of Perils lives an inconspicuous forest predator: *Chameleosuchus thurmanii*, better known as the *Thurman’s chameleodrake* or the *Bodzhi gecko*.

Known to the Xenogaeans as *sosira-mora* ((Modern Standard Xenogaean: /so̞.ʂːa.mo̞.rə/, “crocodile lizard”), the Thurman’s chameleodrake is a roughly housecat-sized (2-2.5 feet long and roughly 13 lbs when fully grown) pseudosuchian belonging to a group of derived poposauroids called *enantiotyrannoids* (clade *Enantiotyrannoidea*). This group of animals is extremely ecologically diverse, producing both predator and prey niches. Named for their passing (yet superficial) facial resemblance to the more well-known tyrannosauroids (which, being dinosaurs, are avemetatarsalian archosaurs rather than pseudosuchians), enantiotyrannoids were once a more common group across Archaeonesia, reaching their heyday during the Jurassic. Increased competition from actual dinosaurs, however, and a series of minor regional extinctions thinned down their diversity over the last 150 million years. In the present day, while some species can be found on other seedworlds, enantiotyrannoids only consist of a handful of species in Archaeonesia, most of which are endemic to the Arava Desert or, more broadly, other southern regions of the Isle of Perils and some offshore islands flanking all sides of the continent, being a particularly large component of the local fauna on the Droko Island (also known as Magellania) to the northwest and the North Barrier Islands to the far northwest. In several regions, they are known to coexist with dinosaurs in similar niches, which seems to indicate they are capable of some level of niche partitioning. Enantiotyrannoids are noted, however, for having slower metabolisms and growth cycles than similarly-sized theropods, exhibiting more poikilothermic tendencies and tending towards nocturnal foraging and hunting. In the modern day, the chameleodrake family (family *Chameleosuchidae*) is the most speciose, though the Thurman’s chameleodrake is one of the smallest members of this group.

Originally native to the southernmost stretches of the Isle of Perils, being found in both the Arava Desert and (more commonly) the southeastern swamps and rainforests, due to its domestication by some indigenous peoples in Xenogaea (and subsequent dissemination throughout the region via trade), the Thurman’s chameleodrake is now common all throughout Xenogaea as both a domesticated and feral species. It is also found in many countries as part of the exotic pet trade, with Australia and the United States having the largest populations of domesticated chameleodrakes. Despite its common trade name, the *Bodzhi gecko*, it is not native to the Bodzhipan Valley region of the northwestern Isle of Perils nor is it a gecko. This  moniker likely arose due to confusion with, ironically enough, not a gecko, but an *actual* chameleon species native to the northwestern Isle of Perils, the *goliath chameleon* (*Eochameleo borealis*), which is of similar size and is exceptionally terrestrial for a chameleon. This creature, however, is not nearly as common in the exotic pet trade despite being highly-coveted, thus some breeders and retailers may have begun labeling chameleodrakes as “geckoes” to cash in one buyers not savvy on reptile taxonomy. Alternatively, it could have initially been confused with another species of large lizard from the Bodzhipan Valley region, the *gwei* or *horned gecko* (*Ceratogekko bodzhipanensis*), which is smaller than both the Thurman’s chameleodrake and the goliath chameleon, being only around 10-12 inches in length (which is still quite large by gecko standards, putting it just behind the New Caledonian giant gecko [*Rhacodactylus leachianus*] and the extinct *Gigarcarnum delcourti*), but nonetheless highly coveted. However, its more restrictive range and dietary requirements make it harder to care for, meaning that they are in high demand but low supply, hence leading to chameleodrakes being labeled “geckoes” to deceive foreign buyers and reptile enthusiasts. Nonetheless, its coloration is reflective of its original jungle habitat: typically a vibrant green in coloration with yellow and blue markings on their crest, the Thurman’s chameleodrake blends in effortlessly amongst the dense tropical foliage of the rainforests it calls home.

Though many pseudosuchians are not viewed as particularly vocal animals in relation to their dinosaur cousins, the Thurman’s chameleodrake is quite the exception in this regard: the broadcast call of this species is a loud, shrill, chirruping rattle followed by a series of throat-knocks, commonly called the “tambourine”. A stressed or scared chameleodrake may also tense up its posture, raising itself on two legs and making a raspy hissing or gurgling sound before lunging at perceived threats. Chameleodrake chicks are known to make a soft chirruping squeak. Parents may respond with a call called the “rak-rak”, an onomatopoeia of a vocal used to communicate distance from chicks in the foliage or to establish/reinforce bonds. Territorial calls typically consist of hissing gurgles or, more rarely, jaw-popping. The mating call of the Thurman’s chameleodrake consists of a high-pitched, warbling drumming sound.

A generalist semi-arboreal predator, the Thurman’s chameleodrake hunts a wide array of small- to medium-sized prey animals, ranging from large arthropods and small mammals/birds all the way to prey the size of rabbits, chickens, and even small primates. Pterosaurs are a common prey item, the chameleodrake dropping down from tree branches above to get the jump on prey. In cities, it is a common predator of “pest” animals like rats and pigeons, and there is sporadic evidence to suggest it may pray on feral chickens in Xenogaea’s countryside as well. However, the Thurman’s chameleodrake is itself invasive throughout parts of Xenogaea, and its proclivity for hunting small birds has led to some regional species suffering greatly. It is also known to prey on bat-hawks, the smallest known wyverns and the only group of wyverns with substantial representation outside of the Isanunti Mountains. In turn, though rare, the Thurman’s chameleodrake is preyed upon by the glitterback, though anecdotal evidence suggests the two species may prey on one another mutually on occasion but otherwise avoid one another where they are sympatric. In areas where the Thurman’s chameleodrake is sympatric with other chameleodrake species, it has been known to prey on young/immature individuals of other species. Other small reptiles, however (typically non-archelosaurian and thusly including everything from lepidosaurs to small parareptiles) appear to make up most of its diet.

Nimble-bodied, agile, and exceptionally adaptable, the Thurman’s chameleodrake is a perceptive sight-based predator with intelligence on par with mammals filling similar small arboreal predator niches. While not particularly social, the Thurman’s chameleodrake can and does readily tolerate others of its kind in its habitat, and several unrelated individuals may even live in the same tree. However, pack-hunting/mobbing behavior is not known outside of anecdotes. Despite extensive adaptations in the structure of the feet for climbing, the Thurman’s chameleodrake, like other chameleodrakes, is perfectly comfortable both on the ground and in the trees, and in fact, considerable amounts of time are spent hunting on the ground, their vibrant green bodies providing ample camouflage against the colorful jungle floor foliage. However, the Thurman’s chameleodrake is extremely environmentally adaptable and can survive in a wide range of conditions, and thusly, it can also be found in far more arid regions as well. Like all enantiotyrannoids, while endothermic, the metabolism of the Thurman’s chameleodrake is slower than that of similarly-sized dinosaurs. Because of this, it can go significantly longer without food in the event of starvation, entering a state of semi-torpor in which its bodily functions slow for days or even weeks at a time. Like its chameleon namesakes, this animal can and does move its eyes independently of one another, though unlike chameleons, which use this trait for hunting, this trait appears to have actually evolved in responses to predation: due to its small size, it is susceptible to many small-to-medium-sized predators, and thusly, being able to keep one eye above or to the side and another on the ground/branches ahead allows them to more accurately judge the presence and distance of potential threats. Nonetheless, it is far from a pushover, and when threatened, will stand up on two legs, arms splayed outward, spines raised, and hiss before lunging. The Thurman’s chameleodrake rarely if ever makes its own nests, instead preferring to take ones abandoned by primates or large birds of prey. Naturally curious and inquisitive animals, even wild chameleodrakes may readily approach (and attempt to climb) humans, though chameleodrakes tend to explore unfamiliar objects by biting or nipping, making it unrecommended to allow wild individuals to get close in most instances. While the Thurman’s chameleodrake, like all chameleodrakes and like most enantiotyrannoids, tends to prefer a quadrupedal gait over a bipedal one, it has been known to stand, walk, and even run on two legs for short periods of time, often to survey its surroundings on land. While hypercarnivorous in its dietary preferences, some evidence exists to suggest they gain most of their water needs from supplementing their diet with fruit semi-regularly, though as this phenomenon is seen mostly in domesticated individuals, it is unknown if this is merely a behavioral/physiological difference in domesticated individuals or a broader trait of the species as a whole.

The Thurman’s chameleodrake has no specific breeding season year-round, though the sexual receptivity of females is often dependent on a variety of external factors, namely availability of resources and weather patterns. Thurman’s chameleodrakes mate for life, and thusly, a male’s courtship rituals are sophisticated: often, he will gift the female small kills repeatedly over the course of several days, doing a “push-up” motion along the branches/ground while doing so and making the aforementioned warbling drumming sound. If she accepts, she will eat his kills and leave a small pile of discarded bones at the base of the tree. Copulation typically occurs in the tree itself, the male gently biting down on the back of the female’s head to mount her. In a few weeks time, she will lay a clutch of around 30-40 eggs in the nest which she will guard for the next couple weeks, the male retrieving food for the both of them during this time. When the chicks hatch, they will spend roughly the first few weeks or so in the next before venturing out of the nest with the supervision of one or more parents. In a few months, they are typically large to fend for themselves and are chased out of the parents’ nest. However, it will take until roughly 8 months to reach sexual maturity and around 1-1.5 years to reach adult size. In the wild, they can expect to 10-15 years, and in captivity, up to 20-35 years.

A domesticated variant of this species, the *fancy chameleodrake* (*C. thurmanii domesticus*), has existed since around 5,000 BC, likely domesticated by ancient tribespeople in the region as a means of pest control around smaller settlements, though a second, less popular theory promotes the idea of self-domestication in their case. Regardless, the fancy chameleodrake is now found all across the region, both feral and domesticated, and in cities, they are commonly found free-ranging, feeding on vermin. Genetic evidence strongly suggests that the Thurman’s chameleodrake may not actually be a singular species but rather a species complex, as certain populations/subspecies appear to actually be of closer relation to species commonly recognized as separate rather than other populations of their own. Notable predators of this species include birds of prey, medium-sized pterosaurs, and several varieties of non-avian theropods. Many primates, however, including the semi-sapient *goblins* (who will be getting their own post soon), are known to kill them on sight due to their proclivity for targeting small/immature monkeys and adapids. Likewise, while rare, they are known to occasionally steal eggs from the nests of larger animals, meaning many nesting animals are wary around them. However, at least a few seem to have formed something of a bond with them: some sauropod species are known to tolerate chameleodrakes hitching a ride on their backs in exchange for them eating parasites off their backs (namely blood-sucking pterosaurs). While not super common, chameleodrake meat has been (and continues to be) a rare delicacy in some areas, being roasted over an open fire first to loosen/char the scales enough to be removed, then cooked into stews or simply served as is with sauces. It does, however, have a stigma of being a “famine food” or “poor man’s food” alongside fish in some areas. Though rare, it does occasionally appear in emblems and traditional artwork in the region, with it appearing on the provincial flag for the eastern province of Xapaka. Likewise, it does appear scarcely in some ancient Bodzhipan civilization artwork, a material culture from the country’s northwestern region, suggesting that it had spread via trade long before the Bodzhi migrations, which were reseponsible for the dissemination of what would later become the Xenogaean languages in the modern day. While not a particularly popular pet within Xenogaea relative to the *fancy hatchetbill*, a small, domesticated terror bird species, it is extraordinarily popular outside of Xenogaea and is one of the most-exported domesticated animals to come from the region. With over 5 million individual in the wild and a domesticated population suspected to be even larger, typically listed as “Least Concern” due to a healthy breeding population and large, contiguous native range.

[captainswaglord500]

Pelagic Sawshrimp

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Subphylum: Brachiognatha 

Infraphylum: Gnathomorpha

Clade: Chondrostomata

Clade: Caridoprionididomorpha

Class: Caridoprionidida

Clade: Caridoprioniformes

Order: Caridoprionida

Family: Caridoprionidae

Subfamily: Caridoprioninae

Genus: Caridoprion

Species: C. pelagica (“pelagic shrimp-saw”)

Ancestral species: a creature similar to Pikaia gracilens

Temporal range: ~7.5 million Nicoch years to recent (1 Nicoch year = 1.3 Earth years)

Information:

In a far-off galaxy on the other side of the cosmos lies an ocean planet called Nicochnya. Slightly larger than Earth and orbiting twin stars, this planet was seeded by the Eos during the Permian around 255 million years ago. One of the most prominent groups seeded from Archaeonesia were a peculiar group of basal chordates called brachiognathes (subphylum Brachiognatha). In the 255 million years since, Nicochnya has experienced a great deal of environmental changes, having recently gone through the end of a global ice age, causing its sea levels to rise hundreds of feet and blanketing 85% of the planet’s surface underwater, and as the environments changed, so, too, did the brachiognathes themselves, radiating into fish-like forms in the absence of true fish. One species, Caridoprion pelagica, or the pelagic sawshrimp, can be found prowling the planet’s seaways.

Typically approaching 12-16 feet in length and weighing about as much as 1,500 lbs, the pelagic sawshrimp is one of the larger species of caridoprionidans (class Caridoprionida). One of Nicochnya’s most common aquatic megafaunal predators, the pelagic sawshrimp can be found in the hundreds of thousands if not millions in the tropical and subtropical oceans of the planet, primarily dwelling in open ocean, though vagrants may be found in the shallow tropical seas of the region as well, inhabiting the edge of the continental shelf. They typically prefer the photic zone of the ocean, though they can also be found in the mesopelagic zone and have been occasionally spotted in the bathypelagic zone. Though typically solitary in nature, it may sometimes show facultative social tendencies similar to those of sharks and crocodiles, wherein multiple individuals who happen to be in the same place at the same time may work together to catch prey. While typically not aggressive to divers, it is noted as being an extremely inquisitive species which often nudges or lightly bites objects and things which catch its curiosity (sometimes affectionally called “love taps”), something which can be mistaken for aggression. Amongst the sawshrimps, it shows a remarkable degree of intelligence, often tracking and analyzing prey from afar before attacking. Known to migrate long distances in search of food, a pelagic sawshrimp may travel as much as 20 miles in search of food on a given day, making use of its acute sense of smell to smell out suitable prey from afar. Some have even been found following shoals of smaller brachiognathes in order to pick off members on the peripheries. All that said, its keen eyesight is its main advantage, and some scientists believe it may be almost on par with some fast-moving Earth fish like tuna.

Showing a remarkable degree of convergent evolution to the extinct eugeneodontiform Edestus, the pelagic sawshrimp is adapted primarily to hunting shelled cephalopods like the many species of belemnoids and ammonites found in Nicochnya’s waterways, though smaller brachiognathes and the few species of placoderms found on Nicochnya frequently make up part of its diet as well, taking a particular liking to a variety of derived brachiognathes with armored shells called spritefish (order Ichthyoteuthida). It may also scavenge the carcasses of megalocephs (order Megalocephida), a group of more derived brachiognathes who fill a niche on Nicochnya analogous to whales on Earth, and on rare occasions, where other food sources are exhausted or the individual is injured, they may prey upon the planet’s native sophonts, the mermaid-like Hiirgava, themselves a variety of brachiognathes. It often relies on ramming its prey at high speeds to kill and dismember it, the prey sliding along the teeth and being torn in half as it bites down. Prey which may not otherwise be killed quickly may be thrashed around violently to dismember it before being devoured.

Though pelagic sawshrimp are not vocal in the way more derived brachiognathes are, they can produce a sound variously described as “grunting”, “chirping”, “scraping”, or “growling” by grinding together the teeth in their pharyngeal jaws. The function of this remains unknown, though it appears to be used most commonly when in proximity to larger predators, suggesting it may be a way of warding off potential threats.

Unlike the sharks whose visage they invoke, the pelagic sawshrimp does not engage in internal fertilization, but rather, they will congregate along the continental shelf in massive numbers, males and females alike, where the females will release their eggs into the water while the males release sperm on top of the eggs, fertilizing the eggs externally. The eggs will then be carried by the ocean currents, and those that are not eaten by other ocean animals will eventually settle in the shallow seas, where they will hatch after a few days. The larvae, called fry, are microscopic and planktivorous, feeding on zooplankton and gradually growing in size of the span of several weeks. By around a month, they will become known as “pups” and are about the size of a human thumb. At this point, the pups will graduate to larger prey, feeding on small brachiognathes and cephalopods. They will continue to grow until they reach adult size at between 6-9 years old and sexual maturity and sexual maturity at roughly 8 years of age, at which point, they will join the other adults in the open ocean, leaving the shallows behind. A healthy adult can expect to live anywhere between 25-37 years.

An incredibly intelligent animal, this creature holds an incredibly rich and complex relationship with the Hiirgava. For one, its habit of attacking trapped animals in their nets and taking speared or harpooned fish makes it a nuisance to many hunters. However, its great intelligence also means that it can be tamed and trained much like a dog, and many Hiirgava tribes have used this to their advantage throughout the ages, capturing their eggs and raising them in confined spaces until large enough to be used as hunting and travel companions, fetching prey for them as well as wounding it and slowing it down long enough for hunters to deliver the kill shot. However, there is also an element to this creature’s relationship with the Hiirgava that is deeply religious in nature, as it is believed to be to be able to travel between the world of the living and Fīīshāālun (Central Hiirgava: /ɸiː˧.ʃaː˧.lun/~/ɸiː˧.ʃaː˧.lun/, /βiː˧-/, /-ʒa˧-/~/θa˧-/~/ða˧-/, /-lun̥/, “(The) Eternal Sky”, “(The) Endless Sky”), the so-called “Cosmic Ocean” which is said to house the souls of the deceased as the many stars which lay in the night sky and where the celestial gods of Hiirgava mythology are said to dwell, as well as being believed to act as a psychopomp which leads the souls of the deceased to the depths of the ocean, where they meet the death god and god of the deep, Shuurash (Central Hiragava: /ʃuː.raʃ/~/ʒuː.raʒ/~/θuː.raθ/~/ðuː.rað/, /-r̥-/), who puts them through a series of trials they must first pass before being allowed to ascend to Fīīshāālun. However, this does not stop some from consuming the animal’s flesh, and those tribes living in less prey-dense water may raise them for food. It is also known for its uncanny ability to detect underwater earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis well before they strike, and thus, it is when these animals act erratically that the Hiirgava know to head for open water. One of the easiest of Nicochnya’s oceanic wildlife to transport and take care of, it is a popular animal in aquariums across the cosmos. Breaching behavior has been observed amongst this species, though its function is unknown. Some researchers suggest, however, that it may be a way to rid themselves of skin parasites. It is known by many names amongst the denizens of Nicochnya, such as ps’aanǃúúrfíí (Central Hiirgava: /p͜sʼaːn.ǃuːr˥.ɸiː˥/~/p͜sʼaːn̥.ǃuːr̥˥.ɸiː˥/, /-βiː˥/, “the dagger-mouthed one”/“the one with a mouth like daggers”) and lúnɗáápmìtnráá (Central Hiirgava: /lun˥.ɗaːp˥.miʈ˩.ɳaː˥/~/l̥un̥˥.ɗ̥aːp˥.m̥iːʈ˩.ɳ̊aː˥/, “star swimmer”) by some Hiirgava tribes and to the Serelqi, a settler species from another planet which descend from dromeosaurs, t’aant’úúrvíí (Nicoch Serelqi: /tʼaːn.tʼɯᵝːɮ͈˥.ð̼iː˥/, borrowed from Central Hiirgava ps’aangǃúúrfíí) or sanjûč (Nicoch Serelqi: /san.d͡zɯᵝt͡ʃ˧ ˥ /, “water dzooch [a dog-like creature domesticated by the Serelqis on their homeworld]). 

[captainswaglord500]

Last post of the year! Enantiosaurs Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Clade: Sarcopterygi

Clade: Tetrapodomorpha

Clade: Stegocephalia

Clade: Tetrapoda

Clade: Lepospondyli

Order: Nectridea

Family: Urocordylidae

Subfamily: Sauropleuridae

Subfamily: Sauropleuridae

Clade: Enantiosauria (“opposite lizards”, in reference to their reptilian-like morphology despite being only distantly related to true reptiles) 

Ancestral species: possibly Sauropleura pectinata

Temporal range: early Permian to recent (280 mya - present)

Information: A common sight in the waterways of the Isanuntis, while the enantiosaurs (clade Enantiosauria) may initially be mistaken for mosasaurs or pseudosuchians in their incredibly reptilian-convergent build and anatomy, their possession of external feathery gills and leathery yet porous skin gives away their true phylogeny: as derived urocordylids, they are nestled amongst the nectridean lepospondyls, a clade of unclear relations to other amphibian-grade tetrapods itself but presumably being either part of the non-amniote reptiliomorph lineage or the lineage leading to true amphibians. Such distant relations to ecologically similar reptiles is reflected in the translation of their lineage's name, the Ancient Greek calque translating to "opposite lizards", in reference to their mosasaur-like build despite being only distantly-related to reptiles as a whole.

Enantiosaurs are a clade as diverse in their behavior as they are in morphology: many smaller species, such as the dwarf enantiosaur, are somewhat social creatures, either apathetically tolerating the presence of other individuals or actively grouping together for protection, while larger species, such as the bôjôr and the long-necked enantiosaur, tend to be comparatively solitary and territorial in nature. Though not properly endothermic, they exhibit poikilothermic tendencies and thusly can remain active in colder water temperatures than most other large-boded amphibian-grade tetrapods in the region, making them efficient pursuit predators in icy mountain streams and rivers. Enantiosaurs as a group exhibit some level of neoteny, as evidenced by the presence of larval gills on adult specimens, though many retain an ability to breathe on land so long as the skin is kept moist, and thusly, many species can and do exhibit basking behaviors, coming ashore to escape predators, search for food, or merely to get some sunlight. Interspecies interactions are complex and varied: while the closely-related sapphire-crested enantiosaur and long-necked enantiosaur may readily tolerate one another’s presence by virtue of their different feeding habits and the latter’s smaller size making them less of a spatial nuisance, others, such as the bôjôr and the false bôjôr, are highly antagonistic, the former regularly attacking the latter should they happen to be in the same area of lake at the same time. Even more intense are the scuffles between the bôjôr and the long-necked enantiosaur, the two largest enantiosaur species, as while they rarely interact, both fill apex predator niches in their respective habitats, and when the latter occasionally ventures into the former’s territory, scuffles are often deadly. While some species, such as the spear-crested enantiosaur and the gilt-nape enantiosaur are active pursuit predators, other species, particularly the long-necked enantiosaur, are ambush predators, lying motionless on the lake bed or on the surface and waiting for prey to come within striking distance. Eyesight is well-developed in many species and is the primary means of locating prey and navigating their environments. It should also stand to reason that because of this, most species are either nocturnal or crepuscular, as this is when prey is less likely to spot them. For unknown reasons, species which inhabit the Mourŷnkeidar, Xenogaea’s longest river, which starts in the highlands and empties along the coastline of the midlands, seem to avoid the river below a certain elevation, possibly due to the presence of crocodilians further down the river.

Enantiosaurs vary greatly in size depending on species, the smallest species, the dwarf enantiosaur, being roughly 2 feet in length and weighing only 2-3 lbs. By contrast, the bôjôr reaches nearly 20 feet and weighs roughly a ton, while the similarly-sized long-necked enantiosaur reaches around 22 feet in length and roughly 1,800 lbs. Likewise, he coloration of species is also highly varied, though most species are some shade of mottled greens and yellows whereas deeper-water may have shark-like countershading with a slate-to-black-colored back and flanks and a white-to-cream-colored underside. The bôjôr is weakly bioluminescent with blue patches down its side.

Exceptionally more vocal than may be expected, enantiosaurs have a wide repertoire of vocalizations for varying purposes. Many species emit a kind of dolphin-like clicking, seemingly as a rudimentary form of echolocation, and territorial grunts and rumbles are used to stake out claims to a given section of the water and to ward off intruders. Hissing and bellowing may be used as a way to convey agitation or to warn potential threats before biting. Amongst more social species, sounds similar to croaking have been reported as well as “pulsing” sounds used in murky water by other social and asocial species to communicate in low-visibility levels and alert others of their presence. 

Population sizes for species varies incredibly and is influenced by habitat preferences. The most populous species is the sapphire-crested enantiosaur, which is widespread throughout the waterways of the Isanunti Mountains and has an estimated total wild population of around 60,000-80,000 individuals. By contrast, both the bôjôr and the long-necked enantiosaur are believed to have mature adult populations in the mere hundreds (possibly even dozens in the former case). Over a quarter of known enantiosaur species are moderately endangered due to human activity in the region. Evidently, enantiosaurs are varied in the habitats they prefer, though all living species are restricted to the waterways of the Isanunti Mountains, having once been common across all of the Isle of Perils in prehistory. The bôjôr, false bôjôr, spear-jawed enantiosaur, and gilt-nape enantiosaur are all endemic to Lake Ndoskani, the region’s largest lake, the bôjôr inhabiting the lake’s deeper, open waters, the false bôjôr and the spear-jawed enantiosaur preferring the surface of the lake’s open waters, and the gilt-nape enantiosaur inhabiting the weedy shallow shores of the lake. The sapphire-crested enantiosaur is found all throughout the rivers and streams of the Isanunti Mountains, though it has been known to make its way into Lake Ndoskani proper, preferring its shallower depths, and the long-necked enantiosaur is found strictly in riverways and lakes along the southern portion of the Isanunti Mountains, rarely venturing into Lake Ndoskani proper to avoid competition with the bôjôr.

All enantiosaurs are carnivorous or omnivorous in nature, though a high degree of niche partitioning in the kinds of prey they hunt can be observed. The bôjôr hunts primarily large, slow-moving amphibian prey in the depths of Lake Ndoskani, while the false bôjôr hunts smaller (though still relatively bulky) prey such as diving birds and medium-sized amphibians. The spear-jawed enantiosaur specializes in hunting fast-moving, shoaling amphibians such as the many microsaur and salamander species found in Lake Ndoskani, while the gilt-nape enantiosaur exploits a similar niche in shallower waters while also taking small mammals and birds that come to the lakeside to drink. The dwarf enantiosaur feeds primarily on small crustaceans and plant matter in Lake Ndoskani, while the sapphire-crested enantiosaur, being substantially more bulky than its relatives, eats primarily crustaceans and plant matter but may also take smaller amphibians and prey up to the size of deer and antelope at the edge of streams. The long-necked enantiosaur, by contrast, is well-adapted to hunting large, fast-moving amphibian prey, its long, toothy snout allowing it to quickly snap at prey.

Reproductive habits are largely the same across species: few enantiosaurs mate for life, the one possible exception being the sapphire-crested enantiosaur. Mating is thusly spontaneous and occurs when a prospective female calls out to any prospective males. This call is usually a kind of infrasonic booming which travels  across a wide area, being able to be felt even if not heard. It is rare for a female to mate with one male during the mating season, instead often mating with several to ensure the fittest brood, and scuffles over mates can become quite intense if two males happen to find the same female at the same time. After a period of weeks, she will lay her eggs somewhere relatively easy to guard, such as in submerged caves or in thick aquatic vegetation, where she will guard over the coming weeks until they hatch. At this point for most species, either one of two things happen: the mother will care for the hatchlings for the first few months of their lives until they are large enough to fend for themselves, or all maternal instincts cease and the young must flee immediately upon birth, their mother viewing them as little more than easy food at this point. While the true enantiosaurs (genus Enantiosaurus) and the long-necked enantiosaur often take nearly 8-10 years to reach sexual maturity, having reached physical maturity at roughly 3-4 years old, other species tend to mature far quicker, reaching sexual maturity by around a year old and physical maturity by a year and a half. The average lifespan per species is typically around 30-40 years, though on the high end of the range, there is the bôjôr with a lifespan of between 60-80 years and at the low end, the dwarf enantiosaur with a lifespan of 8-12 years.

While now restricted to the waterways of the central mountain range, these animals were once much more widespread across Archaeonesia, with fossils of similar animals being found in both freshwater and estuarine fossil sediments dating as far back as the Permian, suggesting an early split from other urocordylids. It appears, however, that the introduction of marine reptiles like ichthyosaurs and nothosaurs to the region in the following Triassic era may have led to ecological pressure that the enantiosaurs could not cope with, though nonetheless, they would manage to remain common in freshwater environments until competition from phytosaurs and chronosuchians began to drive them to extinction. A single tribe, Enantiosaurini, would survive in montane environments, the regions being far too cold and difficult to traverse for such reptiles to colonize, and thusly, the enantiosaurs have managed to survive all the way to the modern day by becoming specialized aquatic predators in montane ecosystems. Living enantiosaurs can be divided into roughly two clades: the more anatomically conservative Enantiosaurina and the more anatomically derived Dolicholophina (“long crest”, in reference to the more elongated head shape and bony crests members of this clade possess). Nonetheless, both groups’ anatomy is quite derived and evokes a distinctly crocodilian visage, with short, thick limbs primarily adapted to act as fins, long, paddle-like tails, and sharp, interlocking teeth visible even when the animals' jaws are closed. While the most famous and speciose genus is perhaps the genus Enantiosaurus proper, they appear to be a paraphyletic grouping as currently defined, as several smaller former genera appear to actually be deeply nested within Enantiosaurus proper based on genetic data, while certain species, such as the gilt-nape enantiosaur, appear to be highly morphologically divergent from other members of the genus to the point where their classification may warrant placing them in a separate genus. While neoteny appears to be the ancestral condition of the entire clade, gene editing can seemingly induce them to mature into an "adult" form which lack gills and can move and breathe on land comfortably, suggesting their obligate aquatic nature may actually be a derived trait rather than an ancestral one. These creatures feature prominently in the folklore of the highland people, being viewed as guardian spirits of the lakes and rivers by many. The bôjôr, however, has the distinction of likely inspiring an enduring myth on Lake Ndoskani of the Lake Ndoskani Monster, a highly-aggressive creature said to be nearly 40 feet in length which capsizes boats. While the myth of this creature’s creation varies by the tribe living on the lake, the most common motif is that it is either a manifestation of the spirit of the lake, which the people living around the lake had angered eons ago by disturbing the balance of the lake and thus the creature was sent as a peacekeeper of the lake’s natural balance and a reminder of mankind’s place in the natural world, or that it was a bastard son of the Xenogaean underworld and mountain god, Tradal, which had crawled up from the underworld through the geothermal vents in the lake bottom and now guards the entrance to its former home, brought as a reminder to the people of the lake to value the sanctity of life and to not waste it through greed and hedonism, lest the beast drag them down to the underworld and to an early grave. A general name for the clade in Standard Xenogaean, txusko’o/txúsko’o (/ˈt͡ʃu.sko̞.ʔo̞/), translates to “little ancestor”.

[captainswaglord500]

WANDERING AMPHIPTERE (CONTINUED 5: THE FINAL CHAPTER PART 2)

As a result of its complicated relationship with the native peoples, the creature has many names across its native range: while a broader name used throughout much of its range is the aforementioned name ǧihuutheñasatri/ǧihúútheñásatri, Xenogaean-speaking peoples of the northeast refer to it as akaakaqattutxevai/akáákaqáttutxévai (Standard Xenogaean: /ˈa.ka:.kə.qɑ.ʈ:u.ˈt͡ʃɛ.vəi/, “devourer of dragons”). In the lowlands, it is known as końamesha/kóńamésha (Standard Xenogaean: /ˈko.ŋa.ˈmɛ.ʂə/, from Ingglurn qxhóngmers [/q͡χø.ŋ͡meʂ/, of unknown etymology and probably a borrowing from a substratum language]), while the people of the highlands call it pfe’ulodzotkaań/pfe’úlodzótkaań (Ayelotu Xenogaean: /p̪͡fe.ˈʔu.ɬo.ˈd͡zot.ka:ŋ/, “grave robber”). Regardless of what you call this creature, few dare to incur its wrath, yet the bravest of Xenogaean society may attempt to steal the eggs of a wandering amphiptere and raise their young for an ancient animal sport called guendo/gúéndo (Standard Xenogaean: /ˈgʷɛ.ⁿdo̞/), similar in nature to coursing. This sport historically entailed giving a group of wyverns (often wandering amphipteres but other species were also used) a live prey animal, often a small ungulate of some kind, which was then released onto a track with obstacles that the wyverns had to maneuver over or around. The owner whose wyvern either got the prey first or reached the finish line first won the match. Because wyverns tend to ambush prey from above, many of these animals historically had their styliform bone (the long finger-like bone supporting the wing membrane) clipped in a practice called “despurring”. While the traditional form of guendo has been outlawed for the better half of a few centuries, a more modernized version of it still exists, though with heavy regulations, the first being that the wyverns cannot be “despurred” to prevent flight and the second being that live prey cannot be used, instead using a small robot to simulate fleeing prey. Nonetheless, the modernized form of *guendo* has still received criticisms for cruelty to the animals, in particular the grievous injuries some wyverns face running into obstacles at such a high speed. Some have tried to counteract this problem by making the obstacles out of foam so that the wyvern’s fall is cushioned, though even this is not without problems. Nonetheless, despite being a cultural icon throughout the region, it is threatened with extinction, with only around 5,000-8,000 mature individuals in the wild. Habitat loss, human extermination attempts in retaliation for attacking livestock, and limited genetic diversity are listed as potential threats to its long-term conservation. On the more biological side, there is a posited commensalist relationship between the wandering amphiptere and certain smaller species of wyverns in that they seem to scavenge from the leftovers of the wandering amphiptere’s kills, though since video footage of this in action has never been taken, it is hard to say whether or not this is true. Of the amphipteres, it appears to be the most derived member, and likewise, it is also in a monotypic genus, with no living sister species (though a smaller species, C. aravaensis, is known from the Oligocene-to-Pliocene Txeren Formation [Sayetic Xenogaean: /t͡ɕe.ɾeŋ/] in the Arava Desert).

[captainswaglord500]

Wandering Amphitere (CONTINUED 4: THE FINAL CHAPTER PART 1)

In the folklore of the Highland Xenogaean peoples, the competition and mutual territorial aggression between the wandering amphiptere and the terror wyvern has come to symbolize the balance between sky and land, or freedom and restraint. In many stories, the amphiptere embodies the spirit of agility and independence, while the terror wyvern represents grounded power and resilience. Myths tell of ancient “sky wars” between these creatures, teaching respect for nature’s boundaries and the cost of overreach, instilling a cultural reverence for both species. Likewise, the wandering amphiptere’s feathers, particularly rare to find but nonetheless prized, are often used in ceremonial wear or as family heirlooms in some cultures in Xenogaea, particularly amongst the Hnipixe people. It’s common for travelers to carry small, crafted amulets inspired by the amphiptere’s feathers or claws, which are believed to offer protection during long journeys, a reference to its long seasonal migration patterns. Such migration paths often intersect with human trails, and thusly, locals practice a kind of “mutual respect” by avoiding areas where amphipteres are known to hunt and roost temporarily. In some villages, people even leave out food offerings like meat scraps to avoid confrontations, hoping to appease the amphipteres and gain their blessings for a good season. Indeed, throughout much of Xenogaea, this creature is venerated as a guardian spirit or omen, an unusually charitable attitude, given its proclivity for attacking livestock. Its lone, high-altitude life and striking silhouette against the cliffs have inspired awe and respect from many communities, who believe that disturbing or harming a wandering amphiptere brings misfortune, so they generally avoid encounters, choosing to leave offerings or speak respectfully if one is seen.

[captainswaglord500]

Wandering Amphiptere (CONTINUED 3: YOU'VE GOTTA BE KIDDING ME)

Because territorial skirmishes turn deadly so quickly, the wandering amphiptere has taken to nesting at higher altitudes than it hunts to avoid the terror wyvern preying on its chicks, using loud, rumbling throat knocks to scare away the terror wyvern, and a preference for hunting in less heavily-forested areas, where the terror wyvern tends to live. In the midlands and lowlands, however, it has to worry about predation from far larger theropods, as well as a menagerie of synapsids, both mammalian and non-mammalian in nature. Due to its solitary nature, the wandering amphiptere is exceptional at problem-solving, being unable to rely on other members of its species to solve tasks, and has multiple hunting strategies corresponding to different prey in the region it lives. Its preferred hunting habits, however, are to either fly overhead and dive-bomb pray, pinning it to the ground while the animal quickly dispatches it, or to simply run it into exhaustion, being able to run upwards of 30 miles per hour for several minutes at a time, its endurance unmatched by most prey. When attacking, a white nictitating membrane (as shown on the bust of the head in the bottom right corner) shields its eyes from possible damage. As with many mountain-dwelling species in Archaeonesia, it is exceptionally tolerant of acidic water conditions, being able to drink the otherwise toxic waters of the volcanic mountain chain. However, it also appears to be able to retain water for extended periods of time, a trait which allows it to thrive in the desert regions it sometimes frequents. Naturally inquisitive in nature, they may follow humans for afar out of curiosity. Wandering amphipteres are infrequent breeders with no consistent mating season. Though a prospective female may call out to attract any nearby males, who may woo her by bringing her a fresh kill, chance encounters may also lead to copulation, albeit more violent, the male often biting down on the back of the female’s neck before mounting her. Regardless of the method through which reproduction is pursued, males are unusual amongst wyverns (and non-avian theropods as a whole) in their lack of paternal instincts: after copulation has been completed, the two animals part ways. Gestation of the eggs inside the mother takes roughly 2 months, after which, she will lay a clutch of 2-3 eggs, which, after roughly 1.5 months, will hatch into chicks. Wandering amphiptere chicks are born partially precocial, able to walk and stand shortly after birth. However, they will not be able to fly until they are roughly 6 months old, at which point, the mother begins teaching them how to fly and hunt. By 1.5 years of age, they will have gained both their adult size and plumage, and by 8-9 years old, they will have reached sexual maturity, an unusual case of a large time gap between physical and sexual maturity. Once they have reached 3/4ths of their adult size, the mother drives them away from the nest, at which point, they are left to fend for themselves. A healthy adult wandering amphiptere may expect to live nearly 40-50 years.

[captainswaglord500]

Wandering Amphiptere (CONTINUED 2: ELECTRIC BOOGALOO)

As its name would suggest, the wandering amphiptere is one of the few wyvern species natively found outside of the Isanunti Mountains, being highly migratory in nature: during the spring and summer months, it spends its time at high altitudes in the mountains, though in fall and winter, it migrates down into the jungles, dry forests, and semi-arid grasslands of the Isle of Perils’ midlands and the arid Arava Desert of the continent’s lowlands. That said, lone individuals may find themselves taking a like to a particular area for an extended period of time, and thusly, there are sedentary populations of these creatures in the wild as well. Often referred to as a so-called “facultative apex predator” due to it having no natural predators in its montane distribution but being a frequent subject of predation at lower elevations by both megafaunal synapsids and other megafaunal reptiles alike, there are few creatures that are off the menu for an adult wandering amphiptere. Though it prefers small, fast-moving prey, such as lagomorphs and rodents, it will readily go after small ungulates, primates, macropods, flightless birds, small pterosaurs, small dinosaurs and the chicks of larger dinosaurs, therapsids, and even other wyverns. It is also known to eat the eggs and young of other wyverns, and though there is scant evidence for this, cannibalism has been reported, with larger adults preying upon the chicks of other wandering amphiptere as well as juveniles and subadults. It is a known predator of other amphiptere species, readily preying upon its smaller cousin and more nimble cousins. Though its ancestors evolved to eat primarily fish, the wandering amphiptere is also an adept scavenger, its naked head being perfect for squeezing inside the orifices of dead animals and extracting the internal organs, which it seems to prefer above all else. Even the mighty teratorn is not safe from the wandering amphiptere’s hunger, as an unattended teratorn chick makes for the perfect snack for this predator. Predation on human livestock is well-documented, with it showing a clear preference for poultry. Unlike other wyverns, which can only engage in powered flight in short bursts, namely to gain lift, the wandering amphiptere is capable of true powered flight. Like its smaller cousins, however, its flight muscles are relatively weak, and thusly, while it is able to use powered flight over short distances, it relies on coasting on air currents to move long distances, not unlike the vultures it often shares its habitat with. Exceptionally solitary in nature compared to other wyverns, a group which is otherwise known for hunting in groups and nesting together in massive colonies in the highlands, the wandering amphiptere is highly territorial and does not take kindly to other wyvern species intruding on its hunting grounds. Even another wandering amphiptere on its hunting grounds is rarely tolerated, and scuffles over territory are often fatal for one or both parties. This aggression also extends to humans, which it sees as competition for food. Most large mammalian predators in the region readily avoid areas where a wandering amphiptere frequents, knowing full well that the creature’s wrath is not worth facing in the face of hunger. It tends to readily avoid human settlements, occasionally scavenging from refuse bins and dumpsters. Though it fills a niche similar to the larger azhdarchids of the region, it appears that there is some level of niche partitioning between the two groups of archosaurs, with the wandering amphiptere effectively outcompeting smaller azchdarchids in the Isle of Perils, thus leaving only the larger species throughout most of Archaeonesia. The territorial aggression between the wandering amphiptere and the terror wyvern is quite intense, possibly due to the fact that the wandering amphiptere is the second-largest wyvern species and thusly the only one which can directly compete with the terror wyvern for territory and food.

[captainswaglord500]

Wandering Amphiptere (CONTINUED)

C. exulans, though humble in its origins from a Yi qi-like ancestor, may be the single largest “gliding” (technically a true [but weak] flying) animal ever to walk the earth, measuring nearly 12 feet in length and 8-9 feet in height with a wingspan of nearly 24 feet and a weight of around 500 lbs, a feat made possible only through Archaeonesia’s incredibly powerful winds as oceanic breezes attempt to cover the same ground in the same amount of time going over the pocket dimension’s airways. Even amongst other wyverns, it is exceptionally large, dwarfing all of its close relatives. This also makes it the largest endemic non-avian dinosaur in the Isle of Perils’ central mountain range, the *Isanuntis*, only losing the title of first place to a more distant and flightless cousin, the terror wyvern, a member of its own family of wyverns, the gorgoviperids (family Gorgoviperidae). Unlike other amphipteres (family Amphipterygidae), it is noticeably more drab in color, with little variation in the colors of males and females of the species nor in their stature, a rarity amongst wyverns, which are notable for their extreme sexual dimorphism, often to the point where Western scientists initially mistook the male and female morphs of the species to be different species entirely. However, this is not where the aberrations end, for unlike the gregarious nature of other wyverns, the wandering amphiptere is distinctly solitary in nature, though not unlike other members of its family, it is quite vocal and well-known for its highly-distinct vocalizations. It uses a long, undulating call described as a “whistle-howl”, which rises and falls in pitch over several seconds, as a form of long-distance communication, doubling as both a mating call and a broadcast call to communicate the boundaries of its territory over a long distance. A rumbling series of croaks is used as a general warning call for smaller threats, such as humans. A quick, staccato series of raspy chirps is used in social interactions parents and offsprings or to call to hatchlings. These chirrups are also used to convey submission in interactions between two wandering amphipteres. A vocalization described as a “low, rhythmic purr punctuated by sharp clicks” is used as a sign of contentment or to soothe young amphipteres. The purr resonates at an infrasonic frequency, creating vibrations that both nearby amphipteres and humans alike can feel. A shrill, piercing shriek is used in moments of high alert. If a potential threat is detected near their nesting areas or young, this shriek warns others in the vicinity. This shriek can startle even larger predators, doubling as a warning call towards larger animals. Many have long-noted its eerily human-like quality, with ancient records writing of its calls as, “A ghostly wailing across the peaks of the mountains.” Lastly, in courtship displays, this is a melodic hum, soft and rhythmic, creating harmonics that layer with each successive note. Males and females often sing in duet, creating a resonant, haunting song that drifts beautifully through the thin air of the high peaks.

As its name would suggest, the wandering amphiptere is one of the few wyvern species natively found outside of the Isanunti Mountains, being highly migratory in nature: during the spring and summer months, it spends its time at high altitudes in the mountains, though in fall and winter, it migrates down into the jungles, dry forests, and semi-arid grasslands of the Isle of Perils’ midlands and the arid Arava Desert of the continent’s lowlands. That said, lone individuals may find themselves taking a like to a particular area for an extended period of time, and thusly, there are sedentary populations of these creatures in the wild as well. Often referred to as a so-called “facultative apex predator” due to it having no natural predators in its montane distribution but being a frequent subject of predation at lower elevations by both megafaunal synapsids and other megafaunal reptiles alike, there are few creatures that are off the menu for an adult wandering amphiptere. Though it prefers small, fast-moving prey, such as lagomorphs and rodents, it will readily go after small ungulates, primates, macropods, flightless birds, small pterosaurs, small dinosaurs and the chicks of larger dinosaurs, therapsids, and even other wyverns. It is also known to eat the eggs and young of other wyverns, and though there is scant evidence for this, cannibalism has been reported, with larger adults preying upon the chicks of other wandering amphiptere as well as juveniles and subadults. It is a known predator of other amphiptere species, readily preying upon its smaller cousin and more nimble cousins. Though its ancestors evolved to eat primarily fish, the wandering amphiptere is also an adept scavenger, its naked head being perfect for squeezing inside the orifices of dead animals and extracting the internal organs, which it seems to prefer above all else. Even the mighty teratorn is not safe from the wandering amphiptere’s hunger, as an unattended teratorn chick makes for the perfect snack for this predator. Predation on human livestock is well-documented, with it showing a clear preference for poultry.

[captainswaglord500]

I told myself I would never make Yi qi-descended wyverns, but alas, here I am. XD (NOTE: the information on this creature will be given multiple posts [linked at the bottom] because I am having troubles getting it to post as one singular post. You can find the link to part #2 at the bottom.)

Wandering Amphiptere

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class/Clade: Reptilia (Sauropsida)

Clade: Archosauria

Clade: Avemetatarsalia

Clade: Dinosauria

Clade: Theropoda

Clade: Neotheropoda

Clade: Tetanurae

Clade: Coelurosauria

Clade: Maniraptoriformes

Clade: Maniraptora

Superorder: Scansoriopterygoidea

Order: Dracoviperoidea

Clade: Eudracoviperoidea

Family: Amphipterygidae

Genus: Ciconiavenator

Species: C. exulans (“wandering stork-hunter”)

Ancestral species: possibly Yi qi

Temporal range: early Pleistocene to recent (2 mya - present)

Information: As true flying dinosaurs, their distant avian cousins, attempted to colonize the skies, early wyverns found themselves in a predicament, unable to radiate into the large-bodied aerial predator niches the pterosaurs occupied (and continue to occupy) in near-totality, their uniquely specialized anatomy being both a blessing and a curse. As they began to increase in size, however, they faced competition from established coelurosaur clades, the troodonts and dromeosaurs in particular proving to be rather challenging to compete with, made even more complicated by the fact that the latter were now branching into arboreal niches themselves in the smaller microraptorian forms, and early mammals, too, were beginning to become more specialized in insectivore niches, which the early wyverns occupied. But whereas this would’ve normally spelled the end for such a clade, a minor extinction event near what was likely the Late Cretaceous gave them an opportunity to diversify: on the mainland of Archaeonesia, the microraptorians had gone extinct, along with several other clades of arboreal coelurosaurs. Based on genetic data, as the fossil evidence itself is too scarce to confirm directly, in this absence, they would begin to rapidly upsize and diversify, first radiating into the niches of small vertebrate predators and, over time, evolving into far larger forms which would eventually colonize mountainous areas, having outgrown the trees they once called home. It is only during the Paleocene, however, that direct fossil evidence emerges of this clade, and by then, they had already diversified into a variety of predatory niches, perfecting the art of gliding better than any group which came before. Continued: https://www.tumblr.com/captainswaglord500/767366398303420416/wandering-amphiptere-continued?source=share Continued 2: Electric Boogaloo: https://www.tumblr.com/captainswaglord500/767366685340712960/wandering-amphiptere-continued-2-electric?source=share Continued 3: You've Gotta Be Kidding Me!: https://www.tumblr.com/captainswaglord500/767366850349858816/wandering-amphiptere-continued-3?source=share

Continued (Part 4: The Final Chapter Part 1 [WHY, TUMBLR, WHY? T-T]): https://www.tumblr.com/captainswaglord500/767366997957902336/wandering-amphitere-continued-4-the-finale-part?source=share Continued (Part 5: The Final Chapter Part 2 [Please, I have a wife and kids!]): https://www.tumblr.com/captainswaglord500/767367092690386944/wandering-amphiptere-continued-5-the-finale-part?source=share

[the-isj]

Hello everyone! I’m Jester. This is my main blog and is mainly for reblogging things.

My conlanging blog is @vitsara for anyone interested! :D

[captainswaglord500]

This is one of my close friends, give them a follow! :)

[captainswaglord500]

Goliath Spiny Shark

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Clade: Eugnathostomata

Clade/Class: Acanthodii

Order: Ischnacanthiformes

Family: Ischnacanthidae

Genus: Tyrannoselache

Species: T. polycanthus (“many-spines tyrant shark”)

Temporal range: late Miocene to recent (7.7 mya - present)

Information: 

T. polycanthus, better known to the natives of Xenogaea as horduuń/hórduuń (/ˈxo̞r.duːŋ/, “dread”) or mevoskaska/mévoskaska (/ˈmɛ.vo̞.ska.ska/, unknown etymology, likely of pre-Xenogaean substratic origin), and to Western scientists as the Goliath spiny shark, is unusual amongst the acanthodian family (a group of stem-chondrichthians [cartilaginous fishes] colloquially called “spiny sharks”) for its sheer size: around 17-18 feet in length and weighing between 2.7-3 tons, the Goliath spiny shark is one of the largest known non-coelospondyl acanthodians ever discovered, practically rivaling the sizes of its distant shark cousins and with an attitude to match, nearly 100 times the size of its closest known relatives, making it an anomaly amongst its family, its size a mystery, especially amongst an already wide assortment of other large predators in its environment. However, the most commonly-accepted theory is that its ancestors adapted to life in the deep sea before eventually moving back to shallower waters, its size an atavism of its ancestors’ deep sea gigantism. Nonetheless, despite its humble origins, the Goliath spiny shark is still a force to be reckoned with, being notoriously territorial and responsible for many sinkings of small boats and canoes. Like the sharks it is distantly related to, its method of killing prey, although gruesome, is highly effective: prey is usually pursued from below before the animal, with a sudden burst of speed, seizes it, propelling the both of them into the air as it violently shakes its prey to dislodge bite-sized chunks. An incredibly patient and persistent predator, it has been known to stalk prey for several miles, sometimes even propelling itself onto land to chase fleeing prey. Alternatively, prey may be flanked and rammed into from the side before a similar method of dispatching it is utilized. Speaking of prey, as a near-apex predator, the Goliath spiny shark is an opportunistic predator which hunts a wide variety of different prey items, both vertebrates and invertebrates alike. Though sea turtles and cephalopods appear to be some of its favorite prey, it has been known to eat pinnipeds, sirenians, small cetaceans, sea-monkeys/mermaids, small-to-medium-sized marine reptiles (namely plesiosaurs and ichthyosaurs), and several varieties of large reef fish and sharks, hybodonts, and other shark-like fishes. In areas where it shares its habitat with the mud tiger, the two species are known to occasionally prey on one another, and though never confirmed, great whites are notably absent from the areas where the Goliath spiny shark is found, suggesting either predation on young individuals or competition for the same food sources. Individuals living near the edge of the deep ocean may also sometimes venture out into deeper waters to pursue tuna. Scavenging is also quite common. 

Found all across Archaeonesia’s shallow seas, the Goliath spiny shark primarily stalks the waters around kelp forests and coral reefs, though it has occasionally been as much as 10 miles inland. Typically a nocturnal or crepuscular hunter, its eyesight is superb, with its sense of smell, although substantially better than a human’s, being relatively rudimentary in comparison to sharks. Contrary to the stereotypes of sharks and their relatives being ram ventilators, the Goliath spiny shark is not, being able to remain perfectly still on the ocean floor while still being able to breathe, and it does so during the day to rest. While not necessarily gregarious, 2 or more individuals may occasionally work in groups to take down large prey, and cooperation with other large carnivores is also documented. Nonetheless, these animals tend to be territorial and generally do not take kindly to trespassers, chasing off crocodilians and mosasaurs which enter its territory and readily killing other large predators which enter its domain. Cannibalism is well-documented, with larger adults readily consuming subadults and juveniles who stray too close. Notably, however, it will abandon its hunting grounds entirely if large predatory placoderms show up (with the exception of the estuarine flatshark, which it is notably tolerant towards due to pursuing different prey animals), large mosasaurs, and orcas are spotted in its area. Exceptionally intelligent for a fish, it appears to some ability to solve rudimentary problems and seems to be able to way-find with great efficiency, memorizing landmarks or other pieces of the scenery and returning to these areas if hunts have proven successful there before. They also engage in what is believed to be playful behavior, nudging objects in their environment and reorienting them seemingly as a way to stimulate itself when not hunting. Its peculiar habit of arranging objects, namely stones and pieces of corals, in highly-organized patterns across its hunting ground, and its strong tendency to correct their positions when the waves or other animals move them out of place, has consequently earned it the affectionate (and somewhat humorous) nickname of the “OCD fish” or the “autism fish” in online spaces. 

An exceptionally colorful large predator, it is covered in spotted and striped patterns all along its body of varying black and brown hues while its flanks are tan and its underside cream-colored, and during the spring and summer months, when these massive fish breed and when food is most available, the colors of the male will become all the more vibrant. Males will court a female by presenting her with a fresh kill, after which copulation begins. Goliath spiny sharks are internal fertilizers, the males utilizing a pair of modified pelvic fins called claspers to inseminate the female before the two part ways once more. Gestation is quite long, taking anywhere from 10-12 months. Unlike other acanthodians, the Goliath spiny shark is ovoviviparous, giving birth to around 2-4 pups. Cannibalism in the womb is known but does not appear to be common. Nonetheless, when the pups are born, they immediately flee to find cover, as the mother may eat her own young if they linger for too long. For the first decade of their life, they will slowly begin to reach full size, eventually moving out of the safety of the coral reef and into less obstructed waters, around 16-18 years old, they will reach sexual maturity. If all goes well, a young Goliath spiny shark can except to live between 50-60 years.

Both feared and revered by the Native Xenogaean peoples, this creature is seen as what is known as a so-called “realm-walker”, a creature said to have the supernatural ability to cross between worlds. This ghostly ability to migrate between the celestial world, the world of the living, and the underworld means that it is regarded as, in some aspect, sacred and therefore untouchable, though its aggressive nature complicates this relationship. As such, it is seen to embody the force of nature itself, unpredictable yet majestic in nature. Amongst the Banguani, in lieu with their Polynesian culture, the Goliath spiny shark is seen as both a god in its own right and as an ancestral spirit, perhaps a unique example of the traditional Xenogaean and surrounding Austronesian folklores converging on a similar worldview. The Hachin people of the outer islands also view it as a minor death and ocean god called Qxhóíràà (Hachin: /q͡χoi˥.ɾaː˩/), a sentiment mirrored by the Hnipixe people of the western Isle of Perils, who see it as their version of the Draconic sea god, Angiosaa, whom they called Dyehnyíí-tk’ùùxyap (Hnipixe: /ɟe.ɲ̊iː˥.tkʼuː˩.çɑb/, “shark king”). It appears prominently in the traditional artwork of the Hnipixe as well, seen as an emblem of strength and courage. Alas, despite this animal’s ability to captivate the spirit of people across many cultures, attempts to export it to foreign aquariums have proven difficult, as its needs, although not impossible to meet, are rather fickle. On rare occasions, this species has been spotted outside of the Archaeonesian archipelago, with a relatively stable population believed to be inhabiting the waters immediately surrounding the outside of the border mountains. Reports of Goliath spiny sharks have also surfaced across parts of Remote Oceania, being sighted as far as Jarvis Island in Micronesia and being reported from French Polynesia as well. Granted, such reports cannot be confirmed, particularly when its general aversion to deeper waters, which it would need to cross to read such locations, are taken into account, but nonetheless, such stories of Goliath spiny shark sightings outside of their native Archaeonesia are commonly circulated amongst cryptozoological circles. With around 9,000 mature adults in the wild, its population appears to rebounding from a century-long decline, the cause of said decline being unknown but possibly related to disease. Fossil deposits of this species go back as far as the late Miocene some 7.7 million years ago.

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River Horse

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Perissodactyla

Family: Chalicotheriidae

Subfamily: Schizotheriinae

Genus: Euhippopotamus

Species: E. eachuisgeoides (“kelpie-like true river horse”)

Temporal range: late Pleistocene to recent (120,000 kya - recent)

Information:

While the more familiar members of the odd-toed ungulate lineage include the horses, rhinoceroses, and tapirs, a distant cousin of all three lineages flourished throughout the Oligocene and Miocene epochs of Earth’s history: the chalicotheres. Uniquely ape-like in build, these creatures were wiped out by climate changes and, perhaps, competition from the simians proper. However, a rather aberrant lineage of chalicotheres has managed to cling on within Archaeonesia as a group of aquatic grazers: Euhippopotamus eachuisgeoides, a creature known to the native inhabitants as  *antastukekemua/ántastukekémua* (/ˈa.ⁿtaʂ.ʈu.kɛ.ˈkɛ.mʷə/), the so-called “river horse” (not to be confused with the hippopotamus proper).

An aberrant chalicothere, this odd-toed ungulate has taken up a rather unorthodox lifestyle amongst animals of its clade, its lineage becoming aquatic browsers sometime in the last 20 million years. Indeed, these animals spend as much as 3/4ths of their day in the water and may hold their breath for around 7-8 minutes at a given time. Most important activities are conducted in the water, from eating to mating. While these animals can defend themselves well from most aquatic predators, they can and do fall victim to large land predators, even though their territorial nature and sharp claws serve as a deterrent against even some of the most determined predators. As such, these animals rely on their numbers, forming herds of as many as 50 individuals, to protect themselves from danger, protecting their waterways fiercely from any would-be attackers. An exceptional swimmer unlike the hippopotamus with which it shares its name, the river horse uses its powerful limbs to propel itself through the water. However, should their usual waterways dry up, they may walk up to 50 miles in 1 day in search of a new suitable habitat, rolling in mud to keep cool and avoid the risk of water loss via perspiration. Herd structure is matriarchal, with the oldest female typically serving as the so-called “leader”. Herds are typically unisex, though as the males are generally more solitary, there is usually an imbalance in the ratio of female to male river horses. The river horse’s sense of smell and hearing are its most developed sense, with its eyesight being rather weak by comparison. 

An exceptionally large chalicothere, this animal stands nearly 9-10 feet at the shoulder, nearly 13-14 feet in length, and weighs a staggering 3 tons, with minimal sexual dimorphism, females being only slightly smaller than their male counterparts. Found throughout the waterways of the eastern part of Isle of Perils, this creature can be found in both riverways and in slower-moving bodies of water, such as lakes, where it feeds off of aquatic vegetation and occasionally the stray fish or two. Though it can tolerate mild salinity, it rarely ventures into the coastal marshlands.

Similar in coloration to a hippopotamus, its skin is usually a pinkish-gray color with very little variation in skin tone. Like other members of its family, the river horse is not a particularly vocal animal. However, snorts are used to communicate danger, bellowing or screeching communicates distress, and a distinct vocalization dubbed “rumbling” is used as a mating call by males to attract females.

Mating typically occurs during the wet season, where males will attempt to court as many females as possible. He may do this by running across the lake bed and attempting to breach the water several times, all while making a low rumbling call. If the female accepts, she will join him in this so-called “dance” and copulation will occur. As males are polygamous, they play little role in raising the foals they sire. Gestation takes around 12-13 months and when nearing labor, the mother will go to land to give birth. River horse foals are born with cartilage sheathes around their claws to avoid injuring the mother on the way out. These young are also born with like hair across the body which is lost as they grow older in addition to being precocial, able to stand within a few minutes of birth and swim shortly thereafter. The young are weaned roughly at the 9 month mark, reaching sexual maturity at around 1-1.5 years old and physical maturity at around 4-5 years old. A lucky river horse may live to be anywhere from 25 to 30 years old in the wild, and 35-40 years old in captivity.

Though aggressive to humans like the hippos it shares a name with, the river horse is significantly less so, generally paying no heed to humans unless young are nearby or they are being harassed. It features heavily in artwork, tapestries, in temple sculptures in the regions where it is found and is often portrayed as a “guardian spirit” of the river. Though there have been attempts to domesticate river horses, the results have been mixed: in all likelihood, the species is likely too aggressive to properly domesticate, though individuals raised in captivity can become tame. Though this animal’s flesh can be eaten with no adverse health effects, and despite its seemingly blubbery appearance, its flesh is rather tough and sinewy and is said to not taste particularly good, meaning few hunt it. When these creatures are nearing death, they may isolate themselves from the rest of the herd and move onto land to die in peace. One of the biggest threats to this animal’s conservation is habitat loss: in antiquity, this species was far more widespread across the Isle of Perils but is now mostly found in the southeast. With a wild population of around 19,000, the river horse’s population is low but appears to be stable, one of the few species minimally impacted by the arrival of introduced species to the region.

[captainswaglord500]

Polomos City (artwork by Dipfruit)

The capitol city of Xenogaea, Polomos City, named after the Polomos River (Xenogaean: /po̞.ˈɬo̞.mo̞ʂ/, also spelled Polómos), a tributary of the larger and more well-known Mourŷnkeidar (Xenogaean: /ˈmo:.rɨ̞.ˈᵑke:.dəɾ/, also spelled Móúrŷnkéídar), is the largest city in Xenogaea by both area and population density, boasting a whopping 42 million people living in an area of around 17,000 square kilometers, housing roughly 8% of the entire population of the country in its northernmost corner. It also appears to be the oldest continually-inhabited urban center in Xenogaea, with surveys of the land indicating settlements submerged under the rest of the city may date back as far as 14,000 years ago, with some even more scant evidence suggesting the city may be even older by another couple millennia. As such, it is also highly important to reconstructing early Xenogaean history. Despite arguably being the most historically important city in the region, it is a common misconception that the Xenogaean royal family's palace is located here: though the family owns a so-called "summer palace" here, the main palace is actually located in the city of Ndoskani (Xenogaean: /ˈⁿdo.ska.ni/, also spelled Ndóskani) in the country's Isanunti mountain range. Like many cities throughout the country, Polomos City is heavily fortified to keep out indigenous megafauna, making use of infrasonic cannons oriented along a ring of outposts to drive away wandering dinosaurs. If, however, a stray dinosaur does manage to wander within range of the city walls, guards are placed there to sedate, immobilize, and transport it to a safer location. In years past, megafauna which wandered into city walls were killed on sight due to fear of danger to the public, though as many species in the region are now heavily endangered, such protocols were revoked in favor of a "catch-and-release" method. Despite its status as the capitol system and the center of lawmaking in the country, Polomos City is infamous for its rampant petty and organized crime alike, something which the city's police department has frequently been accused of either enabling or directly engaging in themselves. As such, it's often referred to "Xenogaea's bloodiest city" or "Xenogaea's dirtiest city" (though ironically, it's actually ranked 1st place for the cleanest city countrywide).

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Cockatrice (Artwork by Yuujinner)

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class/Clade: Reptilia (Sauropsida)

Clade: Diapsida

Clade: Archosauria

Clade: Dinosauria

Clade: Saurischia

Clade: Eusaurischia

Clade: Theropoda

Clade: Neotheropoda

Clade: Averostra

Clade: Tetanurae

Clade: Avetheropoda

Clade: Coelurosaria

Clade: Maniraptoriformes

Clade: Maniraptora

Clade: Pennaraptora

Clade: Oviraptorosauria

Clade: Edentoraptora

Superfamily: Caenagnathoidea

Family: Caenagnathidae?

Subfamily: incertae sedis

Genus: Ornithosaurus

Species: O. necrophilus (“death-loving bird lizard”)

Ancestral species: possibly Microvenator celer

Temporal range: late Pleistocene to recent (87,000 kya - present)

Information:

A ravenous scavenger, the cockatrice is by no means at the top of its food chain, though its uniquely offensive, musky odor, ear-splitting vocalizations, and proclivity for traveling in large groups called flocks make it a creature which few predators wish to tolerate. Add onto this its territorial aggression, and you have what may be Archaeonesia’s most detested scavenger. Cockatrices use their superb sense of smell to detect carrion from several tens of miles away, primarily feeding on the carcasses of various reptilian and mammalian megafauna, sometimes flocking around fresh kills made by larger predators and using their sheer number to overwhelm the carnivore into relinquishing its kill. Though it usually eats carrion, it is also classified as an opportunistic feeder, readily going after small vertebrates. Found primarily in the Arava Desert and the surrounding grasslands in the western half of the Isle of Perils, this medium-sized oviraptorosaur is known all throughout the Isle of Perils, including its central mountain range, making it one of the few non-avian dinosaurs to live in that region. It is also one of the few non-avian dinosaurs to actively seek out human settlements, particularly to feed on discarded scraps of food. Actively seeking out human settlements, it is known to scavenge from trash heaps and refuse bins, which make it a local pest in some areas. Entire flocks of these animals, as many as 40 individuals sometimes, may swarm landfills. Similarly, these creatures will use their sheer number of overwhelm larger carnivores into relinquishing kills before greedily tearing into their spoils. A pecking order can be observed amongst these animals, typically in which the largest male gets first pickings on the corpse. When feeding on carrion, as gruesome as it may be, they will typically eat away at the orifices first before hollowing out the cadaver. Due to its exceptionally strong stomach acids being able to kill most bacteria, it can eat carrion which most other scavengers would otherwise find too putrid or dangerous to consume. Attracted to shiny objects for the purposes of adorning their nests with them, they have been known to steal jewelry, though those which live farther from human settlements may instead use quartz and other naturally occurring crystals to adorn their nests. These animals are exceptional jumpers, being able to clear fences nearly 12 feet all and jump nearly 25 feet in a single bound. Exceptionally territorial in nature, groups may mark trees and rocks with a pair of scent glands behind their ears, which produce the foul musky odor typically associated with the animal. As these animals are quite social, their ability to recognize patterns (and more specifically faint color patterns and facial differences) allow them to differentiate between one another with remarkable ease. They can also recognize human faces with exceptional accuracy. Grooming behavior is well-documented, and like primates, it plays an important role in establishing social relations. Primarily diurnal, these animals rely on scent and eyesight to find food, and typically, a few individuals will venture away from the nesting grounds at a given time to locate food before they’ll go back and alert the others of its location, utilizing what is sometimes described as an elaborate“dance”, consisting of many different vocalizations, as well as head and body movements, to communicate location, much in the same way honeybees do. As the many environments it lives in are teeming with predators, a few individuals will take shifts throughout the night to watch the nesting grounds while the others sleep. A pouch at the base of the neck, commonly called a crop, allows the animal to store food before digesting it, though it serves a dual function of allowing it to transport food back to the nest to feed its offspring.

Though a given flock of cockatrices may not necessarily consist of entirely closely related individuals, it is more common than not for a flock to consist of a set of parents or grandparents and several generations of offspring. During the beginning of the dry season, around early December, the males’ colors will become substantially more flashy and eye-catching, his wattle flushing a bright maroon and violet color and the undersides of his wings flushing a pink hue, and although related species are known to engage in mock fights as part of mating displays, this species instead relies on a less violent method of winning approval from the females they wish to court: designing the most colorful display. A male will create a nest and adorn it with the most colorful materials he can found, anything from flowers and fruits to rocks and crystals. However, this is only part of the courtship ritual. While a bright nest may earn some initial interest from female suitors, it is what he does next that determines his success: performing an elaborate dance, sometimes with a shiny rock clutched in his beak, he will angle his head up towards the sky, revealing his brightly-colored wattle and wings. High-stepping in a circle around her, his throat will undulate to make a deep, rattling bellow, beating his wings and jumping up and down to keep her attention. If she accepts, she will join him in this dance and copulation begins. Cockatrices mate for life, and in 1.5 months time, she will lay a clutch of 2-4 blue eggs in the nest, and for the 5 weeks it will take for them to hatch, she will not leave the nest, the male fetching her food and water via his crop. When the young are born, they are, in a rare exception amongst non-avian theropods, altricial, being born nearly featherless and unable to walk for the first few weeks of life. By a month old, they will be able to walk. By a year, they will have reached half their adult size, being large enough to join their parents in the search for food. By 2 years, they will reach adult size, and at around 3.5 years, they will have gained their adult plumage and will reach sexual maturity. Many may choose to stay with their parents’ flock, though some may go off and form flocks with other young cockatrices. If they’re lucky, a cockatrice may expect to live 20-30 years.

Around the size of a cassowary, this species is around 5.6 feet tall, roughly 9-10 feet in length, and weighs around 200 lbs on the heavier side. There is no notable sexual dimorphism between species. The naked head is highly fluorescent, the neck being reddish yellow and the wattle/fleshy growths on its face being yellowish-orange and bluish-purple. The beak is red and the eyes are white. Plumage is white on the body and most of the wings, though near the base of the neck, the tail, and the wing feathers, the plumage starts to turn black, with the wing plumage having many beige spots along their length. Its legs are yellowish-gray.

Long-renowned for its dissonant calls, this species generally communicates with others of its kind with rasps, shrill humming, and a sound variously called “bleating” or “bugling”. Territorial calls consist of loud, deep booms which rumble across the land. However, it may hiss or honk if aggravated or in an attempt to intimidate and size up other scavengers/carnivores, and it has a characteristic shrieking whoop referred to by some as a “dinner bell call” to other cockatrices that food has been located.

Much in the same way that vultures are viewed as unclean and malevolent animals in Western society, so, too, is the cockatrice in Xenogaean society, made dually ironic for the fact that vultures also exist in the region, albeit typically in more montane environments. Long seen as a bad luck omen, stumbling across a dead cockatrice was said to signal impending disaster, particularly famine or drought, and in fact, it was said that if one did stumble across one, or managed to kill one, they were to immediately cremate it and spread its ashes in a river. Nonetheless, it does appear in some heraldic imagery and was venerated amongst some indigenous peoples in the region, particularly to the southeast. It was said the Bronze Age Aravan King, Kuntapurexa, infamous for his brutal conquests across the Isle of Perils, was followed by a horde of cockatrices which reaped the benefits of his conquests, feeding on the corpses of those he and his men killed as they went from village to village pillaging and marauding. The deafening sounds of these animals from afar was therefore used by some villagers as a way to determine how close Kuntapurexa and his men were to their settlement and therefore whether or not to abandon the town. How true this was, however, remains up to speculation, as no surviving historical records seem to confirm if this was a true account or not, with the possibility of it being a tall tale being rather likely. That said, if one can get past the animal’s revolting smell and dietary habits, a tame cockatrice makes for an exceptional companion animal, being exceptional at navigating, tracking, and retrieving items and trinkets, and in times past, some would use these animals to discretely transmit messages across long distances in a similar manner to messenger pigeons. On top of that, its affectionate nature towards those it’s acquainted with makes it decent as a pet as well, minus its food requirements. In fact, while some cities actively try to exterminate or otherwise relocate cockatrices within their walls, others may actively promote breeding programs for the animals in an effort to reduce waste in landfills. Despite being classified as a caenagnathid oviraptorosaurian, this placement is tentative: though its skull anatomy and genetic data would seem to support an inclusion amongst the Caenagnathidae or at least closer to the Caenagnathidae than the Oviraptoridae, the anatomy of its arms (and its wrists in particular) is exceptionally basal, more akin to that of therizinosaurs or ornithomimosaurs than to that of other oviraptorosaurs. Amongst an indigenous group in the Arava Desert region known as the Nge'echets, the cockatrice was seen as an embodiment of the desert itself, almost a god in its own right, far contrary to how their Xenogaean-speaking neighbors viewed the animal. As such, offerings were left out to the animals as a way of asking for safe passage from one oasis to the next as part of their migratory lifestyle. Nonetheless, amongst all native cultures in the region, the consumption of this animal’s meat is considered taboo due to its scavenging lifestyle. In lieu with its scavenging lifestyle, flocks of these animals may follow sick or injured animals for miles, waiting for them to collapse before finishing them off, hence it was long said that spotting a cockatrice behind oneself was a sign that death was on one’s doorstep. In some regions, they are also associated with the Xenogaean death goddess, Yerakiya, seen as either her messengers or even as a form she herself takes in the world of the living. Bones of this animal date back to the late Pleistocene, around 87,000 years ago, and fossil member of the genus are known as far back as the Miocene. A smaller closely-related species found on an offshore island, the basilisk (O. insularis), went extinct in the 18th century due to the introduction of pigs by British colonists. With around 2,000,000 mature adults in the wild, populations appear to be stable but declining in certain areas. 

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Spiny Gilleylowe (second picture by u/M4theus4rts)

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Clade: Eugnathostomata

Clade: Acanthodii

Class: Coelospondyli

Subclass: Polydonta

Order: Daeognathiformes

Family: Daeognathidae

Genus: Guailong

Species: G. htaahsingkaalensis (from Mandarin 怪龙, “strange dragon of the Htaahsingkaal Plateau”)

Temporal range: Jartunian to recent (5.6 million Vuleto years [roughly 14.4 million Earth years] - present)

Information:

When the intelligent alien race known as the Eos created Universe-895, fleeing the destruction of their own universe, they sought to bring life to a virgin universe, seeding each world with the necessary organic molecules and compounds needed to jumpstart abiogenesis. While these procedures succeeded on some worlds, they found that for as many worlds that successfully produced life, there were just as many which had not, and far fewer which produced sapient life. This was when they would launch *Khau Tsvoa'oodhh-ptaach* (IPA: /kʰaw t͡svoaʔoːðː ptaːt͡ʃ/), or Project Universe Seed. Project Universe Seed started with the creation of an island chain called Archaeonesia encased in a pocket dimension in the deep oceans of Precambrian Earth, using the uniquely extreme and isolated conditions of the archipelago as a way to incite an evolutionary arms race and eventually force intelligent life to evolve, continually seeding the island chain with lifeforms from all throughout Earth’s geologic history. From there, candidate species would be selected and genetically modified before being placed in similar “petri dish” environments created on other planets, inciting further genetic and evolutionary divergence within the specific confines of this new planet’s conditions. Other planets which yielded life from abiogenesis procedures were also subjected to similar experiences, being given their own equivalents to Archaeonesia as a testing ground for early lifeforms before they would be genetically modified and seeded on other planets. On some planets, Archaeonesian-derived lifeforms and lifeforms derived from abiogenesis procedures on other planets would even be mixed within the same environment, the idea being that in the face of new competition in an unfamiliar environment, this would provide further ecological strain and force the native lifeforms to become more creative with how they adapted to their new homes. Because of these procedures, most life on planets nowadays is either remarkably similar to Earth life or utterly and truly alien, with a great many planets sporting silicon-based lifeforms living alongside carbon-based ones. To manage their experiments from afar, the Eos would create an advanced AI system which fully automated the environmental and ecological processes of each planet and, in particular, each isolated island chain which served as a testing ground for life which would later be seeded across the entire planet in various waves. During the Permian epoch, they would seed life from the original Archaeonesia experiment (as well as an experiment on a planet called Throng) on a Uranus-sized exoplanet called Vu’ulen (Vuleto: /vuʔulen/).

Notable for the fact that it orbits a sun which emits infrared radiation, Vu’ulen’s sky and landscapes glow a vibrant red, its vast oceans tinted maroon. With slightly lower gravity than Earth, fliers on Vu’ulen can get substantially more bulky than they would on Earth. The entire planet is in the middle of a hothouse era, with permanent ice sheets only occurring at the farthest extremities of the poles and large tropical storms being common along the coastlines. Two major continents, a northern continent named Hlaahtto (Vuleto: /ɬaː.θːo/) and a southern continent named Tahzzugi’i (Vuleto: /taʒː.ug.iʔi/), make up the majority of dry land on the planet, with several smaller subcontinents and large island chains along the fault lines. On Tahzzugi’i, high up in the velvet steppes of the Htaahsingkaal Plateau (Northern Sungnap: /θaː.ʃiŋ.kaːð/), a peculiar lifeform descended from the Archaeonesia seeding glides across the alpine winds: Guailong htaahsingkaalensis, the spiny gilleylowe.

Despite its seemingly reptilian appearance, the spiny gilleylowe is actually a member of a far more peculiar lineage: descended from a clade of terrestrial vertebrates called coelospondyls (class Coelospondyli), it’s actually a highly-derived acanthodian, descended from a Brochoadmones-like ancestor. This makes the spiny gilleylowe a closer relative to sharks, rays, and chimeras on Earth than to any proper tetrapod. Originally a dominant clade back on Archaeonesia, the introduction of amniotes quickly spelled disaster for the clade, leading to the complete extinction of larger-bodied members of the clade while the survivors were relegated these animals to small, generalist niches. However, on Vu’ulen, where the only other vertebrates are largely relegated to small herbivore niches by the presence of silicon-based lifeforms dominating large herbivore and carnivore niches, the coelospondyls were able to proliferate into small-to-medium-sized predator niches on the southern continent, filling a niche akin to that of small canids on Earth. On Earth, the spiny gilleylowe would be far too large to fly, reaching between 4-6 feet in length and between 15-30 lbs on average, yet Vu'ulen's lower gravity allows this rather bulky animal to coast on the wind currents for several miles at a given time, climbing up and throwing itself off of high ledges to gain lift. 

Though this creature’s names in the native Vuleto language, xuu’ (Vuleto: /xuːʔ/, “biter”) or hlaa'-thi'-phooht-unu-iig-xu/hlaa'thi'phoohtunuiigxu (Vuleto: /ɬaːʔ.tʰiʔ.pʰoːθ.unu.iːŋ.xu/, “[the] creature which kills with one bite”), indicate a deadly nature, this creature is not known to be aggressive towards most sophonts, though it is known to approach them in groups out of curiosity much in the same way seals and dolphins will approach and attempt to play with humans. While it is indeed venomous, with a potent hemotoxic venom capable of killing animals up to the size of a small elephant, these creatures only rarely bite, preferring to either flee or swing their spiny tail in front of them and hiss aggressively as part of a threat display when confronted with danger. It will only bite if cornered, injured, or aggressively handled. Their otherwise docile nature and so-called “ugly-cute” appearance has made them a popular pet amongst the native Vuleto species since time immemorial, with ancient cave paintings depicting the two species hunting together. Its affectionate nature when hand-reared from birth and ease to train have earned it the moniker of the “Vuleto skydog”, and it is amongst the most popular animals in the intergalactic pet trade. In fact, the Northern Sungnap language, spoken in its native region of Vu’ulen, refers to the creature by a far less intimidating moniker because of the close association between the Northern Sungnap ethnic group and the spiny gilleylowe: ìíghhilxwááhthsòtnááuuhlxhààdrìíng (/ìíɣ.hil.ʍáːθ.ʃòt.náː.uːɬ.χàː.d̠͡ʐìíŋ/), or “(the) one who sails (the) sky at dawn”.

Though adapted for mountainous terrain, primarily inhabiting karst mountains and cliffs, these animals appear to do moderately well in montane forest environments as well, being found at lower elevations in smaller numbers. A largely nocturnal/crepuscular animal, they sleep under trees and large boulders during the day before emerging in the evening/night to forage and socialize, migrating in search of food on other mountain tops, their red skin helping them to blend in with the sky and surrounding vegetation. A highly social and intelligent predator, it shows a high degree of convergent evolution with Earth mammals in behavior, having social hierarchies and highly complex family units. These family units typically consist of a mated pair and several generations of offspring. Social in nature, these creatures tend to sleep next to one another and have been observed play-fighting. A highly vocal creature, its long, whooping calls can be heard from miles away, a way of marking its territory to other spiny gilleylowes. Shrill hissing and loud shrieking are also reported vocalizations, the former an expression of agitation and the latter a vocalization in pain in addition to a call of excitement. Primarily a sight predator, it is able to see infrared light (as per its planet’s available light rays), visible light, and ultraviolet light. By contrast, its hearing is significantly less advanced but still passable. Though it has one set of true eyes, two pairs of photoreceptive “proto-eyes” can be found on one side of the main pair. What evolutionary pressures led to this animals developing tube nostrils is unknown, though it has been suggested that its lineage may have briefly returned to an aquatic or semiaquatic way of life at some point before switching back to land, which would explain the underdeveloped digits on its frontmost pair of limbs.  The function of its long, backwards-pointing tube nostrils is not exactly known, though it is suspected to potentially aid its sense of smell. 

Spiny gilleylowes are simultaneous hermaphrodites and mate for life, courting one another by chasing each other through the mountain tops and divebombing each other. Spiny gilleylowes are simultaneous hermaphrodites and mate for life, courting one another by chasing each other through the mountain tops and divebombing each other. Once on the ground, whichever one manages to overpower the other is the one who penetrates, mating occurring either with one individual on their back or with the tail pushed to the side. Gestation takes roughly 5 weeks before the eggs, which are amniotic in nature, are laid in a den situated between boulders or inside the refuge of a cave, the young hatchings, as many as 10 to a clutch, in 4 weeks time. Young spiny gilleylowes, called pups or nuggins, are born blind and deaf and are like this for the first 2 weeks of life. Dependent on their parents for the first 2 years of life, some youngsters may leave their family behind and form their own family group at 2 years old, when they’ve reached physical maturity, while some will stay behind with their family group. By age 3, they will be old enough to rear young of their own. By age 4, they will have gained their adult coloration, being born completely pink.

Formerly common in the Southern Thsutluug (Southern Sungnap: /t͡ɕʊ.t͡ɬuːɣ/) mountain range in the south of Tahzzugi’i, it has been largely extirpated by the Southern Sungnap peoples, an ethnic subdivision of the Vuleto species, who considered it to be an evil spirit and a pest animal which attacked livestock. By contrast, the Northern Sungnap peoples historically viewed it as a guardian spirit, having a long history of husbandry with the animal, hence it managed to maintain much of its original range further north. This species features prominently in the traditional artwork of the Northern Sungnap, and historically, artistic depictions of the Draconic god Hamalutan (spelled in Northern Sungnap as Hmatlan /m̥at͡ɬan/) portrayed him as having a spiny gilleylowe perched on its shoulder. Amongst the central regions of Tahzzugi’i, the spiny gilleylowe is a delicacy, and in the late summer months, a festival known as Aakunduug (Transitional Sungnap: ɑːkuⁿduːɣ) is held, where these creatures are rounded up, killed, and eaten in large numbers. The name “gilleylowe” itself is hard to trace etymologically: folk etymology traces its origin to an interaction between the Vuleto and explorers from the planet Torthon, where the Torthonians asked what kind of creature it was, only for one of the Vuleto to answer in Vuleto, “Gi hlii hloo” (IPA: /gi ɬiː ɬoː/) (“I don’t know”). However, it’s more likely that it originates from a word in the Mluhxo’ (IPA: /mluχo̞ʔ/) language, ghiriirwoo (IPA: /ɣi.ɾiː.ɾʷoː/), meaning “to glide/coast on the air”. This creature is the mascot of The Vu’ulen Intergalactic Tourism Agency (or TVITA for short) and is responsible for a large portion of (eco)tourism industry on the planet. This animal is resistant to its own venom’s effects, and studies show it may also have a heightened immunity to other biotoxins as well. This has made it vital in the developmental of antivenins across the universe. 

[captainswaglord500]

An Unusual Post...

!!!MANDATORY CW: SEXUAL COERCION/EMOTIONAL ABUSE!!! Unfortunately, I have not found a way to physically mark spoilers behind a black bar like Discord or Reddit allows you to do, so any potentially triggering material is unmarked. Read it at your discretion.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hey, all! I normally post about worldbuilding, but today, I'm doing something a little bit unusual: I'm opening up about a rather personal matter so that I can hopefully move on with my life as well as maybe provide someone with a wake-up call that I myself missed... (Don't worry, before you ask, I'm not leaving this platform anytime soon!)

Abuse can take many forms. Sometimes, it's someone laying a hand on you. Other times, it's someone shouting at you. However, it can also take forms that don't always register to us in the moment as a breach of our trust and safety as individuals, and unfortunately, between late December of 2020 and mid-April of 2021, I fell victim to a kind of abuse I would have never expected to have been subjected to. However, this requires some backstory...

In the summer of 2019, I went to a language immersion camp to study Japanese. In the two short weeks I was there, I met a few people who I ended up staying in touch with. While I have long since fallen out of touch with many of them, there was one person at that camp who I ended up meshing really well with. For the sake of legality (and to avoid sending harassment their way), I cannot publicly disclose their actual name, so I will call them “Sam”.

“Sam” was kind of like me: very into nerd subculture, a little socially awkward, and also a writer. Naturally, we bonded rather easily over these shared passions. Between early Fall of 2019 and around February of 2020, we were in sporadic contact. However, right around when COVID rates skyrocketed in the United States in March of 2020, we started to grow closer. It turned out “Sam” was working on a story they wanted to adapt into a podcast and, knowing that I had been interested in voiceover work at the time, asked me if I would be interested in voicing one of their characters. Elated at the idea of being able to do some amateur voiceover work, I ecstatically agreed. For about a year, I recorded lines on and off for “Sam’s” podcast and in that time, I became close with them and the other VAs. It was a small team, but we were very tight-knit.

However, things were not all sunshine and rainbows, and things would start to quickly unravel in December of 2020. At this time, “Sam” had seemingly transitioned to a woman and publicly announced this on the server. Naturally, I congratulated them for finding their identity. This was when they started to steer things in a rather inappropriate direction: in that same server, in front of an entire group of people, they confessed that they had had a crush on me and (quote) “thought they had missed their chance when they found out I was primarily attracted to the opposite sex” (sidenote: I identified at the time as pansexual and still do). Their advances came at a time in my life where I was several depressed and wasn’t good at establishing boundaries, so, while incredibly uncomfortable with these public advances from someone who was technically my boss, I ended up playing along with it and pretended to be enthusiastic, unsure of what to do, and accepted their romantic advances. However, nothing could have prepared me for what “Sam” quickly escalated things into in private…

Less than a few hours into us officially having started dating, “Sam” would start telling me they had loved me ever since they had first laid their eyes on me back at our summer camp. Deep down, I think I knew something was wrong and was worried that if I said something, they’d fire me from their project, but I was so depressed at the time, I was just glad to be receiving attention from literally anyone, so I ended up ignoring this clear red flag. That’s when they swiftly turned the conversation in a sexual direction. Every instinct I had was telling me I needed to get away, but my fear of what they might say or do if I rejected them overrode all else, so, as is a theme for the rest of the post, I went along with it. At the end of the night, “Sam” would confess to me that they had masturbated to completion to our conversation, something which disgusted me so much, I nearly vomited. This would quickly set the tone for the rest of our relationship.

Over the course of 4 months, save for a short 2-week break-up where I dumped “Sam” and then came back because I was afraid of being alone, “Sam” would essentially objectify me. Our relationship essentially boiled down to them only messaging me when they were aroused and me “helping them out” so that they’d leave me alone. At various points, “Sam” pushed my boundaries and began trying to get me to agree to increasingly more depraved sexual scenarios. Ironically, it would be Sam who broke up with me the second time, citing me being “emotionally absent”. Sadly, this is not where this story ends.

Since that breakup, “Sam” and I continued to stay friends, though there was a very clear tension from both of us for the nearly half a year we stayed in touch. The podcast fell out of production in this time. During those last six months, I will admit that I behaved rather poorly, constantly lashing out at them for minor grievances, and though I don’t excuse my own poor behavior, to say “Sam” was much better would be a lie. “Sam” would constantly trash my work, and while I always have been open to constructive criticism, this went well beyond any reasonable criticism and started to veer into outright bullying. Finally, after months of fighting, this tension blew up into a particularly heated argument where they confessed to having used me as an “experiment” because, in their words, “It was something I knew I couldn’t fuck up since we’d just go back to being friends in the end.” Somehow, we managed to briefly mend the friendship after this argument, though in about a month time, we would finally end our friendship due to a separate disagreement where I voiced my frustrations with “Sam’s” toxic behavior during our relationship.

“Sam” has never reached out and apologized to me for how they had treated me while we were together, has never acknowledged that they coerced me into a sexual relationship, and as far as I am currently aware, “Sam” has completely detransitioned as of us no longer being friends, something which has made me strongly suspect they had only transitioned in an attempt to get into a sexual relationship with me (which, if true, is both deeply disrespectful and hurtful towards the trans community, and as I am aware that there is a negative stereotype surrounding trans women being perceived as sexual predators, I would like to highlight that this person is an anomaly and not a representative for the entire community in that regard, so please do not extrapolate this person's abusive behavior to the trans community as a whole because that is frankly sick and disgusting and I will not stand for people politicizing my abuse for hateful motives). It has been over 3 years (almost to the day, even) since our relationship ended, and there are still nights where I have vivid recurrent nightmares about the scenarios “Sam” tried to get me to agree to. I have suffered from serious trust issues ever since then, and even now, I still have trouble 100% trusting most people I let into my life, especially people who bare a physical resemblance to them. People have laughed (yes, you read that correctly) when I have told them this story, even though no part of it is funny to me and it has scarred me so deeply, that even now, I had to sift through old messages just to make sure I recalled the events correctly because my brain blocked out so much of it. Perhaps the hardest part in all of this is the fact that from the outside looking in, I seemed like a willing participant, and there are indeed times where I, too, question if I somehow wanted it deep down, when in reality, I was just scared and desperate for anyone to love me. Had I been in a better place, and had there not been a power imbalance, I would have never agreed to anything “Sam” had attempted to impose upon me, much less entered a relationship with them in the first place. Part of the reason I made this post is so that I can finally put my trauma behind me and move forward with my life, but part of it is to also show anyone else who may presently be in a toxic relationship that they are not only not alone, but to also say that you are not powerless. We have this cultural mindset that sex offenders are these creepy strangers we meet in dark, dimly-lit alleyways when in reality, it is most often someone we already know and sometimes even someone we are very close with. If you have self-doubts, that doesn’t make you less of a victim. If you were physically aroused, that doesn’t make less of a victim. That is a normal way to feel in response to sexual trauma, but nonetheless, be kind on yourself. You have survived this far, you will survive well into the future.  

If someone you know is being abused, be their voice. And if you’re being abused, tell someone. Breaking the cycle of pain starts with us.

-SwagLord500

[captainswaglord500]

Common Sea Monkey/Mermaid

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Primates

Suborder: Haplorhini

Infraorder: Simiiformes

Clade: Hydropithecoidea

Family: Hydropithecidae

Genus: Hydropithecus

Speices: H. ichthyophilus (“fish-loving water ape")

Ancestral species: possibly Eosimias sinensis

Temporal range: Pliocene to recent (3.0 mya - present)

Information:

Though seal-like in appearance, H. ichthyophilus, better known by the natives as *sunsaapali* and to the English-speaking world as the mermaid or common sea monkey, is, as its name suggests, not a pinniped, but rather, an aquatic primate. A member of a broader clade known as the hypdropithecoids or sea monkeys, the ancestors of this clade were likely basal simians (though its exact placement in the primate family tree cannot be determined by morphology alone since it shows a mosaic of features found in both the New World and Old World clades of monkeys, as well as features which point to a stem-simian origin) which made the transition from land to sea sometime in the late Miocene (though the common sea monkey itself is a relatively young species, with the oldest fossil material dated to around 3 million years ago in the late Pliocene). Around 10 feet in length and around 800 lbs in weight, this creature is among the larger members of its clade. Sexual dimorphism is minimal, with males being only slightly larger than females and sporting larger canines. It is also the most widely-distributed member of its clade, being found in open ocean habitats all across Archaeonesia with a total wild population of around 90,000 mature individuals, whereas most of its relatives are confined to the deep coastal waters east of the Isle of Perils.  Primarily a pelagic predator, this creature’s diet is incredibly varied, going after small marine reptiles (including venomous sea snakes), a wide assortment of open ocean fish, cephalopods (including ammonites), flying sea birds, pterosaurs, and even flightless birds like penguins and some varieties of auks. This species is known to dive to the twilight zone, as far as 2,000 feet deep, in the search for food, where it hunts large deep-sea arthropods. Most of the water it needs to survive is obtained through its food. Coloration in this species is highly varied. The most common color variant is the “skipjack” one, named after its similarity to the color patterns of the skipjack tuna with its blue and white countershading. However, other color morphs exist, including a melanistic, leucistic, dark brown, light/sandy brown, “humpback” (gray and white like the whale it’s named after), mottled grey and white, and a piebald one.

A highly social and intelligent aquatic primate, the common sea monkey has a highly complex matriarchal social structure, living in family groups of up to 30 individuals. Pack-hunting is a common phenomenon and typically occurs when hunting larger prey, the younger and more limber juveniles corralling prey towards the larger and more powerful adults. Orphaned young are often cared for by other female members of the group, and young are frequently passed around from adult to adult when the respective parents of the young sea monkeys are off foraging. Though a formidable predator in its own right, it is still subject to predation from other ocean-going predators, namely whales, sharks, and large marine reptiles. To counter this, the common sea monkey uses a variety of “songs” to indicate both the identity of the predator as well as how close it is to the group. A highly vocal animal, this species communicates with a wide variety of sounds other than just “singing”. Clicking is a common vocalization, seemingly a form of echolocation as is seen in dolphins. Barking and gurgling are both used to convey aggression. This creature’s eyesight is superb, allowing it to see in pitch black seas. Like dolphins, it sleeps with one eye open and can hold its breath for hours at a time. A swift swimmer, it relies on its speed and maneuverability to escape predators, though it will attack if seemingly cornered, biting its attacker viciously. Another common way to evade predators is to spontaneously void its bowels, clouding the way with a noxious cloud of feces which both disorients its attacker and overwhelms its sense of smell. Breaching is a frequent behavior and appears to be done to swiftly grab seabirds or pterosaurs out of the air. Curious animals, they will readily approach divers and may also jump onto boats to escape predators. Some may even offer divers fish or crustaceans seemingly as a peace offering, a common gesture between sea monkey family groups. 

This species mates year-round, although it occurs most frequently during November and December. The large tusks of the male are a secondary sex characteristic and are typically merely for show rather than function. The larger the tusks, the more attractive he is to females. Unusually for mammals, this species exhibits polyandry, with females having multiple mates. Gestation takes around 6 months, and the babies are born without claws or teeth to avoid injuring the mother during birth, being born feet first as well to prevent the risk of drowning during birth. Full size is reached by 2.5-3 years old and sexual maturity by 4. Young males are kicked out of the group by this period, which leads them to seek out other family groups to join, while the females typically stay with their original family group. In the wild, they can live as long as 26-30 years and in captivity, they can easily live to 34-40 years.

Though it primarily dwells in open oceans, these creatures are known to occasionally enter coastal waters and come ashore, particularly during tropical storms, which has led to a belief in many regions that these animals bring storms. Despite this association, these animals are seen rather positively by the natives. In other regions, these creatures are believed to be the reincarnated souls of sailors who died at sea. On the eastern coast, their tendency to swim alongside the outrigger canoes of the Banguani people, a culturally Polynesian minority in the region, up and down the coastline in search of food has led to a more humorous name amongst some as “Banguani sea dogs”, the idea based on the belief that the Banguani had a special association with these animals. Indeed, there is some truth to this. The Banguani people consider the common sea monkey to be the spirits of their ancestors and sometimes pay tribute to the animals by offering them some of their catches. In some areas, this species was also a historic food source, being heavily hunted in antiquity, with cave paintings all throughout the region directly depicting this. In the modern day, few people eat these animals, namely due to the fact that since they’re now known to be distantly related to humans, there is a fear of pathogens spreading from common sea monkeys to our own species, but many still hunt them for their teeth and tusks or to take their young, which are highly sought-after by aquariums and wildlife institutions abroad for their unique biology. Nicknamed the “mermaid” for its passing resemblance to the mythical creature, fringe theories suggest that a population of these creatures which escaped Archaeonesia when the border mountains crumbled back into the sea might be responsible for myths of mermaids and selkies. Interestingly, along the southern seas of the Isle of Perils, this creature is very rare, possibly due to the presence of seals and sea lions, which suggests that there may be an element of competitive exclusion between the two groups. It is sympatric with most other species in its clade, though there appears to be little interspecies competition between them, suggesting some level of niche partitioning. Remains of common sea monkeys have occasionally been found in the stomachs of giant deep-sea cephalopods, suggesting that some deep-sea creatures may prey on them. When dying, these animals are known to isolate themselves, seemingly swimming to shallow waters or nearby shorelines to die, a behavior suggested to have an evolutionary basis: by isolating themselves, the smell of their dead body will not attract predators to the larger group and therefore risk additional casualties.