Forgotten Zoo

The zoology of the most amazing creatures never the walk the Earth. None of the images used here are mine unless otherwise specified. Image credits will be given at the end of the posts if required. 

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Nightcrawlers - Erectomeretrix

Class: Bivalvia

Order: Veneroida 

Family: Mactridae 

Almost alien in appearance, these incredibly bizarre mollusks have only recently been witnessed by modern humans due to urban expansion into their North American swamp habitat, though have apparantly been known by Native American cultures for centuries, which assumed that they were spirits. In reality, they are bivalves that are closely related to clams, and that have evolved to use what were once siphons for pulling in water or food as powerful and muscular limbs for land movement. 

They need to remain hydrated or else they will die, but are capable of moving through shallow water areas and boggy terrain, feeding on small insects that are snatched using toothed openings at the ends of their feet. They use their oddly-adapted limbs to escape from potential predators and survive better in environments that are not permenantly submerged in water. Mobility has proved to be a helpful adaptation for bivalves, despite allowing them to be more commonly hunted by humans and some large fish. 

The Nightcrawlers (Erectomeretrix Fresno) have become deeply engrained into the culture and urban legends of the Fresno region of North America, where they were first sighted in a strange video that was published on the Internet. 

Nightcrawler credits: http://www.geocities.co.jp/NatureLand/5218/arukihamaguri.html

[forgottenzoo]

Angels - Agioraptors

Class: Dinosauria 

Order: Saurischia 

Suborder: Theropoda 

Family: Dromaeosauridae 

Clade: Microraptoria 

Some of the most widespread modern day non-avian dinosaurs, these feathered animals are an advanced group of microraptorids that have evolved to reach larger sizes than their prehistoric relatives because of their isolation in a small Chinese area. They are predators that hunt small mammals such as rodents and mustelids, but have been famously known to consume reptiles such as snakes and dragons. Unlike what is commonly expected of their extinct ancestors, these creatures are capable of fully powered flight using their fused sternum and powerful shoulder muscles. They are well-known for the tuneful songs that they use to communicate with other members of their species, which has resulted in the formation of mythology about them singing glory to the Judaeo-Christian God. As an extension of this behaviour, the creatures usually live in large colonies in mountainous areas and thick forests, in which their beautiful symphonies form an ethereal atmosphere. 

The extremely long primary and secondary pennaceous feathers on their arms and legs make it impossible for them to successfully manipulate objects and catch prey using their forelimbs, and instead rely on their fast neck and head movements to catch small animals by surprise. Their jaws are able to snap shut at great speeds, which allows them to kill prey despite their weak teeth and claws. There are several different varieties of angels, though most of them are known to migrate towards the Middle East during the Winter to seek warmer climates that are more suited to their cold-blooded prey. These migratory habits have allowed their existence to be recorded in various Judaeo-Christian texts such as the Bible. Obviously, however, their biology was woefully misinterpreted. 

Common Angels (Agioraptor Chorodia) are the most regularly seen of their group, and are the most common outside of Asia. There have been sightings of them even in North America recently. 

The Putto (Chnoudatopteryx Cherubim) is by far the smallest variety of modern angel, and is often represented as a small winged human child in classical artwork. Females of the species have a light tan coloured coat of feathers, and are less adept fliers than the males. 

Pazuzu (Demonoptera Babylon) are some of the largest and most potentially threatening members of the angel family. They are believed to have been worshipped as deities by ancient Middle-Eastern societies, and they are demonized in today’s culture. 

Seraphim (Chorodosaurus Angelos) are the largest and most spectacular angels currently known to science, covered in golden and blue feathers and producing sounds that are sometimes deafening to the human ear. They are mostly herbivorous, however, and feed on vegetation that they clip from the tops of trees. 

Common Angel credits: http://www.geocities.co.jp/NatureLand/5218/mikuroraputoru.html

Putto credits: http://www.geocities.co.jp/NatureLand/5218/pedopenna.html

Pazuzu credits: http://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/dino-directory/microraptor.html

Seraphim credits: http://www.geocities.co.jp/NatureLand/5218/tyangyuraputoru.html