local science nerd | 24 | any pronouns I post speculative biology and original art here; I reblog general posts on @xenogallery and vg stuff on @serpent-century
A Tattered merchant travels through the woods when he is stopped by two teenagers. While he checks on them with concern, they have other plans. Because, what the merchant does not know is that these two adolescents were exiled for being vampires: Tattered with such a compulsive need to drink blood (an essentially sort of nutrients in their diet) that they drink not only from animals, but from others of their own kind.
The high levels of pink and purple pigmentation in the plants on their planet mean all the wood and fiber they use for clothing, when not dyed, is either pink or purple. Being completely covered in fur, though, clothing tends to be a way to show off personal style and wealth rather than for modesty.
Here, two pre-contact Kipip pause in their travels, soaring low over the desert sands, to witness a total solar eclipse.
The planet Anyanayap is well known for its vibrant orange and yellow skies, a phenomenon caused by the large amounts of sand and dirt blown up into the atmosphere. During a total solar eclipse, though, the sky is painted a deep crimson, making it quite the event to behold. The planet’s native intelligent species, the Kipip, does not see this eclipse the same way—rather literally, in fact.
Rather than having eyes with color-sensing cones, they see changes in light and shadow through their photoreceptive whiskers, and smell changes in heat through thermosensory pits along their muzzle. So, when viewing the eclipse, the Kipip see the darkening of the sky, the bright corona around the moon, and sense the sudden drop in temperature.
Having relied on warm air rising from the sands to glide, it seems this pair must wait out the eclipse to continue their journey.
Two of them I decided. Since it is the 2k celebration.
Congrats @weird-wayne-yankovich and @clownplague for the incredible designs and victory.
However, everyone's work was so good I had an extremely tough time deciding so I tried to capture many more of my favorites on here (the harvest was plentiful this year).
As last time I will draw something for the two winners.
To those who didn't get to be on the announcement art, I loved your creatures to death. Thank you all so much.
About resonants: the sex types are SUPER cool, but your description of them as 7 chromosome variants that typically appear only in adjacent pairs + where the males are located causes a problem: for example, Matriarchs produce only invalid combos, except for pairing with an FG, which CAN output an AG offspring! So the genetic basis has GOTTA be something else, probably on 2+ chromosomes. (I'd suggest a 'silent' 8th sex that's either prenatally lethal OR has a phenotype range confined to existing male sexes)
Thank you for pointing this out, actually! I thought about talking about the explanation for this in the original guide, but it seemed a bit complicated for that guide. The concepts there are meant to be more high school level, while I’d consider this like college level Resonant genetics.
As it turns out, from a genetic standpoint, there are 49 Resonant sexes. While there are only 7 apparent phenotypes, these hidden chromosomes greatly affect reproduction.
So here’s how sex inheritance works for them:
Resonant sex chromosomes of what are called “presenting” and “cryptic” chromosomes.
As you’d expect, “presenting” chromosomes determine the anatomical class and secondary sex characteristics, while “cryptic” chromosomes do not. Cryptic chromosomes aren’t useless, though; they allow for wider compatibility for reproduction and allow for a reduced chance of developing cancer and other conditions caused by damage to the DNA. Almost all chromosomes in Resonants have what are essentially back-up DNA, part of an adaptation to defend against the higher levels of radiation on their home planet.
For reproduction, gametes pull from one of the presenting chromosomes, and one of the cryptic chromosomes.
Unlike in humans, where fertilization is a matter of speed, in Resonants, it is a matter of compatibility. Fusals (G-type gametes) develop ligands related to the chromosomes they carry, and if they successfully bind to the cell surface receptors on the egg (R-type gamete), fertilization can successfully occur.
This system can lead to some curious results. Some couples are only capable of producing offspring of one sex, some produce multiple, and some couplings results only in children of different sexes than the parents.
Example: An Atlas and a Mask pairing are capable of producing Diver, Mask, and Oracle offspring.
The most frustrating thing can come when a couple cannot produce anything at all. One Matriarch and Crimsonite coupling may produce many children, but another may be unable to conceive. Cryptic chromosomes can be the determiner of compatibility, but without genetic testing, cannot be known. But Resonants are clever, and quickly found a workaround.
See, a number of genes regulation the immune system are found on the sex chromosomes in Resonants—hence why intersex individuals commonly develop disorders of the immune system. Blood types are determined by both the presenting and cryptic sex chromosomes, and so can be used as a rough approximation for compatibility. The pair will both have a small sample of blood taken and mixed together. Higher levels of agglutination (signaling a smaller chromosomal overlap) are believed to have greater fertility.
Another technique is a bit more trial-and-error, and involves strategically pairing up individuals and observing how many and of what sex offspring they produce to deduce their chromosomal typings. This is a highly prized art in Matriarchal cultures, where it is common practice for Matriarchs to arrange who reproduces with who. This job may be given to young Matriarchs trying to prove themselves as a good heir to the reigning Matriarch, or to Oracles. In many cultures, the presenting chromosomes are thought to represent a physical aspect of compatibility, while the cryptic chromosomes represent a more spiritual aspect, hence why it is sometimes the provenance of the more mystical sex.
I will admit that the chart is wrong, though. I was thinking of both the simple and the more complex system when I made it, so it doesn’t make much sense under further scrutiny. The real chart looks something more like this:
It's been a ride here on Tumblr and I'm really happy to be going on that ride with you. Now with 2000 of you, which is insaneeee. Thank you all so much!
Since Kula's are to date my biggest post here, this time, the competition will be dedicated to them.
How to participate in the Kula show:
Create a unique a Kula breed and make a picture of one to show off (can be a drawing, a 3D model, or even a photo edit.)
Try to be ethical about your creation (eyeless and legless breeds would be a little too cruel).
Registered animals can have dyed coats and accessories.
Don't worry too much about perfect anatomy, this is a silly competition but try to keep them readable as a Kula.
Post your Kula as a reblog of this post. You can also tag your post with #kulashow (or if you submit on a different website: twiter or instagram).
Application time ends on the 10th of June (10.6. or 6.10. if you are US).
Here are some variable beasts to inspire you! (They can be similar, just not the same).
And the base
And as usual, the winner of the competition gets something drawn from me. This can be your character or a species of your choice.
I'm not yet fully decided on the number of winners so we will see.
Took some loose design inspiration from Bleeding Heart doves and Borzois here!
I like to imagine these guys as a breed mostly kept by wealthy or aristocratic Slomen for both hunting and as a status symbol. They are bred to be so reactive to motion that they will jump at just about anything that moves, including their handlers, hence the need for a hood. A case of a useful trait becoming exaggerated to define a breed.
Like the land plants of Earth, the Mahweir species engages in what is known as the “alternation of generations”, but with four forms instead of two. Essentially, each generation of this species produces offspring that differs in form and reproductive type from its parents. This has lead to the Mahweir being mistaken as four different species, but the fact that this cycle will always take place, without fail, is solid evidence of it being one species. We discuss the forms below.
(A) Terreids
The first form in the generational cycle of the Mahweir is known as a Terreid. This form is completely sessile, often found growing on the forest floor or on the trunks of trees. They consist of a mycelial network that grows beneath the ground or bark, and a mushroom-like fruiting body. This is a sporomycete generation, reproducing asexually and folding up its cap to release spores into the air during reproduction. Terreids were often assumed to be a non-intelligent form of Mahweir, but recent discoveries have found them capable of understanding language and even performing rudimentary forms of communication through connection to their mycelial networks. This had led to a shift in treatment of Terreids, once farmed as though they were unintelligent fungi.
(B) Aereids
Germinated from the spores released by Terreids, Aereids make up the next generational cycle. Gases stored in their cell’s vacuoles make them remarkably light, allowing Aereids to live an entire life suspended in the air. They maneuver themselves using feather-like fronds covered in millions of near-microscopic mycelial threads, allowing them to almost swim through the oxygen-rich atmosphere. They are sexually-reproducing gametomycetes, reproducing by injecting their zygotes into arthropods native to their planet. Despite their simple appearance, Aereids are shockingly intelligent, and capable of living for decades. In Mahweir cultures, they often serve as scholars, philosophers, and spiritual leaders.
(C) Canneir
The Canneir make up the next link in the generational cycle of Mahweir, living a unique experience compared to other generations, and oftentimes even between Canneir individuals. This is due to their nature as parasites; they are formed when Aereids inject developing zygotes into the arthropod-like animals of their homeworld. There they germinate, feeding upon the still-living animal as they develop an extensive mycelial network they will eventually use to puppet the exoskeleton left behind. They are asexually reproducing sporomycetes, releasing an explosion of spores upon their death. Canneir can possess any number of different arthropods, including the Zisk—this is often a source of controversy among sophonts, but it is often cited that it was only through the cooperation of the Mahweir and the Zisk queen Skychaser, who let Canneir parasitize her drones, that either species was able to achieve space travel. Canneir can live from only a few years to many decades, depending on the their host’s body’s ability to sustain them.
(D) Mahweir
Confusingly, the last form in the generational cycle are known as Mahweir. The name for this form became the colloquial name for the species largely because, when first encountered by the UFW, this form made up the majority of the space-faring population. Formed from spores released after a Canneir’s death, Mahweir initially resemble a sort of crab, with a small, tangled body of mycelium and a chitinous pseudoskeleton to support it. To survive, Mahweir bond together, entangling their grasping tendrils to form one larger super-individual. This connection goes beyond the physical, though: by undergoing a quick and simple process to fuse certain tendrils, Mahweir are able to directly connect their minds to one another. This process is like unfolding a piece of your brain and linking directly to another person’s. Mahweir may spend the majority of their life as one super-individual, or may live in many as it suits their needs. A Mahweir maintains their individuality of consciousness throughout this process, though extended fusion with other individuals can result in a sharing of memories and personality. Mahweir “Great Minds” take advantage of this quirk of biology to maintain living libraries containing thousands of years of memory and knowledge, which Mahweir individuals are encouraged to visit many times throughout their lives to upload and download new information with the mind. Mahweir are sexually reproducing gametomycetes, reproducing with others in a super-individual and spreading the zygotes through the air from structures grown on their backs. These zygotes remain inert until conditions are correct, after which they develop into Terreids, beginning the cycle again.
Two extra notes:
Mahweir are native to the same planet as the Zisk, sharing a long and sometimes fraught history with the other species.
Modern Mahweir super-individuals increase their mobility, function, and comfort when off-planet by living in mech suits. I’ll get around to drawing these soon.
The arthropod depicted in the above chart is a Fairy Hopper. They are roughly about the size of a medium-to-large Earth dog, with large, useless wings. Fairy Hoppers are secondarily flightless, instead using them for mating displays. They are domesticated by Zisk consorts as show animals, and make a common host for Canneir due to their durability lending a longer lifespan.
Thinking about Kul’imi facial diversity across various ethnicities, feather textures, ages, and weights as I do anatomy practice.
Feat. (from left to right) a Northerling from the black sand beaches of the True North, a stylish young adult who resides in Central Station (capital of the Union of Found Worlds), an older Kul’imi with rare silken feathers, a short-feathered Northerling hailing from the northern mountain ranges, and a child at the Kul’imi equivalent of a human tween.
A bit of a change of pace from my typical scifi spec bio, but I’ve been drawing a lot of fantasy art lately and started thinking about my goblins again.
In my D&D homebrew/original high fantasy world, Fulcire, the goblinoids (a family consisting of such species as the goblins, hobgoblins, and bugbears) are distinct from the humanoids, having evolved from a different common ancestor. They are the older of the two families, having evolved somewhere between 20,000 and 70,000 years earlier. Goblins were the first of the family to evolve in their modern form, making them the oldest intelligent mortal life on the plane. They alternate between quadrupedal and bipedal stances, are opportunistic omnivores, surviving on a mix of gathering and scavenging, but never actively hunting. Before the modern age of city-building, they kept migratory paths that they traveled across over the span of several years. These days, though, they tend to live more sedentary lives in the isolation of deep wilderness, because where their’s and humanoid’s paths cross, a fight almost always seems to end up breaking out.
More fun facts below:
- As a weird quirk of their evolution, goblinoids are better able to understand large numbers as a concept than humanoids. Where the humanoid mind struggles to imagine numbers into the thousands, tens-of-thousands, and beyond, goblinoids do not. This is theorized to be due to the fact that goblinoids evolved from an animal that had a herd-like social structure, rather than a pack-like one. An individual could need to know hundreds to thousands of other people on a personal level, and those that could work in such large numbers tended to be the most successful members of the herd, eventually selecting towards this particular quirk. As a result, Goblins and goblinoids are fantastic trend-spotters, and have both a fantastic memory and a quick mind for mathematics. It’s no coincidence that their agriculture requires keeping careful track of plant and animal populations across wide tracts of land over many years, and figuring out how to manipulate them season-by-season to the benefit of both themselves, and for the local ecosystem.
- Goblin clothing and fashion is quite unique when compared to humanoid clothing. Goblins do have a taboo against nudity in most cultures, but the structure of their body means that what they must cover differs. All goblinoids are mammalian, though their breast tissue is on their stomach, not their chest. To have an exposed belly, then, is considered appropriate for men, but not women, in Goblin societies (this, of course, can vary depending on societal practices regarding nursing, but that’s a whole different topic). An exposed chest, meanwhile, is commonly considered a sign of bravery in warriors, though more often than not warriors will wear chest-plates in real combat. Everyday styles, such as an exposed chest, are designed to allow for ease of movement in both bipedal and quadrupedal stances. The classic shirt, as humans style it, tend to pull and rub at a Goblin’s shoulders, which are structured more like that of a very flexible cat than a human. A lean towards functionality does not stop Goblins from accessorizing, though, covering clothes in embroidery, beadwork, and decorating with anything that shines or makes a nice jingling sound. Patterns and motifs may stem from Goblin folklore and history, or may be adopted from other species’ cultures. Clothing style is not restricted based on sex in any case other than when it comes to nudity in a particular culture, but it is common for those with magical ability to wear styles that differ from those who do not.
- Goblins have brightly pigmented skin, ranging from green to yellow to red, with the depth of color believed to signal good health. They may very rarely have striped or spotted patterns on their skin, but if not painted-on, this tends to be the result of an individual having some hobgoblin or bugbear ancestry, rather than a naturally occurring pattern. Compared to humanoids, they have an extended hairline, which starts lower on the forehead, extending down the neck and back, and across the shoulders. It often stops at the low-back, but it is not unheard of to have a furred tail. They range between 2.5 to 3.5 feet in height when standing bipedally, though are taller when their ears are taken into account. They are mammalian, and give birth in litters of 1-3 pups per season. Goblins have retractable claws, and their teeth fall out regularly across the seasons, though they only fall out all at once if a Goblin is in truly dire health. Lost teeth are often given as a sign of affection to family, friends, and/or lovers. While Goblins may not be religious, they are often spiritual, and keeping a loved one’s tooth is thought to help keep track of them, in life and in death. In fact, when a particularly beloved Goblin passes, when they are interred below the roots or in the hollow of a tree, they are often buried with great numbers of living Goblin’s teeth, so that they may find and recognize one another again in the world beyond.
Unlike most other Resonant cultures, the people of the Central Stonelands tend to be semi-nomadic; each spring (or the closest equivalent, on their world), they travel out to the coasts, where young adults may choose to leave to start a “marriage” to a new Matriarch, older individuals are given their breeding partners for the season, and young G-type men prepare for their migratory flights out across the sea in search of annual phytoplankton blooms. As they leave and the summer arrives, the women and children travel back to more permanent settlements on the arid inland region known as the “Central Stonelands”. There they gather and forage, learn new crafts, and rear new young in familiar climes.
The above image depicts such a scene, a mundane moment in the life of a Central Stonelands Resonant. Children run and play, admonished by a young Atlas who has been tasked to carry supplies for an older Oracle, who prepares a feast for the evening in the cooking tent. Off to the side, a Diver teaches a Resonant teenager how to use a peeler for food preparation, and in the distance, Resonants go about their daily activities.
