#alien biology

[twiggyart6]

Life on Erid! the weird alien fauna!! so cool!!! Rockys there too for scale :3

things ive been thinking bout in no particular order

radial symmetry. it's actually been hard to get out of the mindset of down the middle symmetry that the majority of earth life has- you'll see on some of these I couldn't help but break it and give them different limb structures- it's also been tough cuz ill sketch a critter and go "man this just looks like a really unique Eridian" and have to change enough to make it look like an actual animal

apposable thumbs. humans became so advance in large part to us evolving apposable thumbs, I realized on Erid it doesn't have to be the same. most predatory creatures on Erid have the same claw/grasping structure. Eridians had no evolutionary reason to have a more advance way of grabbing stuff- they became advanced for other reasons

life made of nonorganic material. Eridians are made of mostly heavy metals and minerals. what else can life use as building materials on Erid? there could be long fibers made of a silica- making a fiberglass like material, steal made thin and flexible like wool, polymers forming a natural flexible plastic, etc.

haven't really thought about specific predators and prey (yet,) just kinda making fun shaped guys and thinking about how they move around :) also not a biologist or a chemist or anything like that! just a creative with too much time and an interest in speculative biology - combine with my obsession with this silly alien best friend story <3

also want to sketch some potential domesticated animals, farm livestock, working breads, pets!!! stay tuned :3

[convocation-conduit]

My take on Eridian reproduction from my Scientific Method fic. Feel free to use in your own fanworks; credit is appreciated but not necessary <3 please cred if you repost the diagram though

Edit you can buy this as a print now if you want

[fetlockflowers]

"Why is it when you smile I want to leave the room?"

"I suppose it's because of my overwhelming charm."

[fandom-is-my-drug]

On the topic of making Eridians ambush predators, I think making them the apex predator of Erid, and then adding Grace into the mix, would be pretty funny in babysitting duties.

Grace would be the equivalent of releasing a golden retriever into a baby-proofed room with your kid to lunge them for hours. If that golden retriever had magic organs that detected magic and could teach them about science. The kids would get tuckered out whenever they left from Grace's classes, because they'd get only a burst of energy when playing, but Grace wouldn't. His body is built to keep on going and going and going some more, and while it terrifies the Eridian xenobiologists who just learned what a long distance pursuit predator is, the pebbles LOVE IT. He's practically the best babysitter you could imagine, since the parents would tire faster than he ever would, so he'd keep up with the pebbles until they run out of energy.

Even better, if Adrian and Rocky have kids together, they could easily just pawn off their kids to Uncle Grace when they want some alone time, and Grace would barely even notice the difference. They'd be able to catch their breath, and Uncle Grace wouldn't even break a sweat keeping up with the rambunctious kids, getting them completely tired out and still have energy to go.

[carnotoro]

A hot new sophont enters the galactic scene: the Ekts (also known colloquially to humans as “Raptor Crabs”)

[ancientdreams-in-a-modernland]

Bernard: what if Conner can have babies since he is an alien? How can we be sure he doesn't have the anatomy for it?

Tim: go to sleep Bern. It's 5 am.

Bernard: okay..

..

..

Tim: WHAT IF THOUGH-

Bernard: RIGHT??

[70sscifiart]

Don Ivan Punchatz, 1989, for The Worlds of the Federation, by Lora Johnson - found in this fascinating thread covering a rare bit of Star Trek lore.

[tachvintlogic]

Humans are a bad influence

Human: It really is an amazing coincidence...

Ztsaxhi: Hey guys, the food replicator glitched out and gave me way more food than it should. Want some? It's kind of like human "chips."

Käfavayarlop: Is it safe for my species?

Ztsaxhi: Let me check... no poisons but...oh damn, the food guide says it has capsaicin that's painful for you. Sorry.

Human: Ooh, Let me have some then!

Ztsaxhi: Go ahead.

Käfavayarlop: But wait, weren't we just saying that Käfavayarlopen and humans have weirdly similar taste buds—

Human *bites into chip*: Wow! Hggh, that is— REALLY spicy! You were not kidding about capsaicin.

Ztsaxhi: Are you okay?

Human: Fine! It's actually good, I swear. *eats the rest of the chip*

Käfavayarlop: Your face is turning red.

Human: Yeah, capsaicin does cause pain, that's the spiciness, but it's a good kind of pain. It adds to the flavor. *takes another chip*

Ztsaxhi: So "spiciness" is just pain?

Human: Kind of. It's—It's an acquired taste.

Käfavayarlop: ...I want to try.

Ztsaxhi: No!

Human: Let them! Though I will warn you this is not beginner friendly.

Käfavayarlop: *bites* Sacred Gonork! My mouth is on fire!

Human: You good?

Käfavayarlop: No. *takes another bite*

Ztsaxhi: No, don't keep eating it!

Käfavayarlop: But it's good.

Human: Is bovine milk safe for them? We probably need it.

Ztsaxhi: I'll check, yes it is. Wait, is this what all those jokes about humans pairing Ztsaxhi cuisine with milk are about?

Human: Yeah, it helps with the pain.

Ztsaxhi: Why would you even eat food that hurts you?

Human and Käfavayarlop: It's an acquired taste.