#chiropteden

[gingerjaydraws]

Forgot to post this earlier, but better late than never!

A male bluehead sunwhale (Lagunamenyaring lohamanga- meaning blue headed lagoon filter) finds itself quite literally out of its depth after it travelled a little too far into open water from its usual shallow water habitat. He has quickly found himself besieged upon by a pair of great blue whalers (Magnecetivenator thalassodominus- meaning great whale hunter, ocean lord), each of which are nearly half his own length. Great blue whalers are the largest of the whaler sun sharks, built for hunting transient sunwhales and other giant open water sunwhales in coordinated pairs. While the Bluehead male is decently large at nearly 50 feet long, transient sunwhlales can get up to over 70 feet long. The pair rushes up to him as he make a break for shallow water, aiming for his sides and gills with their serrated teeth, built for biting chunks out of their large prey. But the male Bluehead isn’t defenseless. His main defense is to flee, and with a large forked tail, he is surprisingly speedy for his size, but his pursuers are also built for speed, perhaps even more so than himself. Instead he leans towards defense, putting out his pectoral fin to block the male whaler from reaching his gills. The pectoral fins of sunwhales are robust and flexible, and can be used as bludgeons against predators. Some species, especially the smaller ones, have serrations on their pectoral fins and tail keel that can slice through flesh, and their pure size alone means that a tail smack or other blow can deal serious damage. For now, the male Bluehead’s only hope is to make it back to the safety of shallow waters and others of his kind, but only time will tell whether he makes it.

[gingerjaydraws]

A male Whitetuft sapphire bat (Azulitonycteris byssuculmen- meaning cotton topped little blue bat) attempts to court a female.

Sapphire bats are a part of the Gembat subfamily, within the songbat Clade. They are named after their bright blue coats, which are more prominent in males, while females are often greyer or browner in color. Sapphire bats are often found in tropical to subtropical forests, inhabiting the understory and canopy. They are omnivorous, feeding mostly on fruits, but also supplementing their diet with insects and nectar.

Gembats are named after their colorful, often iridescent fur. Their hairs are hollow and translucent, allowing light to refract like bird feathers or butterfly scales. Like all songbats, the male of every species sings a unique song, most of which are too high pitched for humans to hear. Most songbats are also polygamous, with males attracting and defending harems. Most roost in tree hollows, caves, loose bark, or in foliage.

The Whitetuft sapphire bat is found in the swamp forests of Isla de Mareas chispeantes, a small island in the far west of the moon. They are a part of the tufted sapphire bat complex, all of which are known for the long fur on their heads. They are endemic, but abundant, and can often be found resting on the sides of trees in small groups during the day.

[gingerjaydraws]

Finally, after long last, I drew something again!

Puffin bats (Genus Puffinycteris- meaning puffin bat) are medium sized auk bats found throughout the poles. There are over 40 species, each differing slightly in color and pattern. Like all auk bats, puffin bats are descended from day-flying bats and therefore have re-evolved full color vision. They use their colorful faces and ears to identify their own species. Puffin bats nest in dens and burrows dug into the soil at the tops of cliffs. Their young are pale, ranging from white to buff to orange. Like all marine bats, they are monogamous, with the male bringing food to the nursing female, though pups are weaned after about 2-3 weeks. They feed on small schooling prey such as sundines, shrimpchovies , and cuttlesquid.

Species represented:

White-faced puffin bat (P. nomeblattis- meaning unhelpful name): The scientific name comes from the fact that there are indeed many species of puffin bat with white faces. Adults have small round ruffs. The face is peachy white, with apricot cheeks. Pups are white.

Black-edged puffin bat (P. Quadratabarbatus- meaning square bearded) : adults have creamy white faces, with a black-edged squarish ruff. There is a hint of yellow. Pups are a pale yellow.

Golden-cheeked puffin bat (P. Aurantibucca- meaning golden cheek): adults have golden faces, with a brown edge to their pointed cheek ruff. Their eye spots are large and creamy, and take up the whole forehead. Pups are apricot orange.

Buffy puffin bat (P. Pallidus- meaning pale): often referred to as "Buffy Puffys" by the scientists studying them. The face is a pale yellow, with a pointed ruff. Pups are cream.

Sunfaced puffin bat (P. laetus- meaning colorful): strong orange ruff is pointed upward, with a bright yellow face. Pups are bright orange.

Orange-throated puffin bat (P. Larankunka- Aymara for orange throat): named after their strongly orange throat and chest. The stomach is whitish. The ruff is wide and squarish, with an orange face and dark brown cheeks. Pups are golden

Five striped puffin bat (P. makuilitlajko- Nahuatl for five striped): another slightly frustrating name. It is named after the five bold stripes on its bare face, but several other species also have 5 stripes. The number of pale stripes on the face of puffin bats ranges from 2 to 7. This specie's ruff is rounded and slightly elongate, with a pale forehead, orange cheeks, and dark edge. Pups are butter yellow

Willie's puffin bat (P. Waggeri): named after Dr. William "Willie wagtail" Wagger, the head of marine bat studies. Ruff is triangular and slightly down turned. The face is rufous orange, with darker cheeks and a touch of golden brown between. Pups are Buffy yellow.

Smoky brown puffin bat: (P. perditus- meaning lost): one of the southern species of puffin bats. Many southern puffin bats are cooler and darker colored than northern puffin bats. There are also less species at the southern pole, suggesting that they may have evolved in the north and only recently made the crossing. A couple theories exist, such as being blown south by massive tropical storms, or simply by natural migration. Smoky brown puffin bats have a square, low cornered ruff. The face is golden and the cheeks are dark. The eye spots are large and shift forward. Pups are greyish buff.

Ashen puffin bat (P. cinereus- meaning ash-grey): another southern species, it is actually found on the southwestern trailing end of the anole islands, one of few species of bat to do so. The ruff is round and bright lemon yellow, with a thin black edge. Pups are silvery grey.

Emperor puffin bat (P. Imperator- meaning imperial): this species has a curiously shaped rough, with a long curved trailing edge. The forehead is orange, with white cheeks and dark grey beard tips. The throat and chest are slightly brighter than the belly. Pups are pale orange.

White-fronted puffin bat (P. albifrons- meaning white front): this species is named after their large eye spot, which takes up the whole forehead. The ruff is squarish and orange, with a brown face. Pups are peach.

Scale island puffin bat (P. restricto- meaning restricted): only roosts on scale island. Small vulnerable population of around 70,000. Rough pointed. Face golden orange, cheeks lemon. Pups are golden orange.

Yellow-bellied puffin bat (P. flavoventrus- meaning yellow belly): ruff is rounded. The face is brown, with golden cheeks. Pups are lemon yellow.

Sooty puffin bat (P. fuligunosus- meaning sooty): another dark southern species. Ruff is squarish, with white face and dark cheeks. Pups are tangerine

Spot-faced puffin bat (P. Faciamaculatis- meaning spotted face): ruff is round, with a bright yellow face and dark cheeks. Young are pale yellow.

Strawbeard puffin bat (P. paleubarbus- meaning straw beard): closely related to the Buffy and spot-faced puffin bats. Ruff is squarish and yellow. Pups are pale yellow.

Rufous puffin bat (P. rufus- meaning reddish): an unusual southern species with reddish pelage. Ruff is long and pointed, with a dark forehead and cheeks, but a white chin region. Pups are pale mahogany.

Ranges are shown on the map. (Sorry if they're hard to read, I should've chosen the colors a tad better)

[gingerjaydraws]

I’m back baby!

Rocket and dart frogs were one of the three terrestrial vertebrates (along with anoles and the titular stripe yellow-eared bat) introduced to Chiropteden. Their diversity exploded, and there are a lot of stranger and fascinating forms, but many stayed small and simple.

Pictured top left are the sharknose dart frogs (Squalorostrus- meaning shark nose). These dart frogs are mostly terrestrial, found in lowland rainforests. Both males and females carry the tadpoles to temporary puddles and tree holes. I don’t really have any species names for these ones.

Pictured bottom left are the pinky dart frogs (nanobates- meaning tiny climber). They are more arboreal than most other dart frogs, found in the understory and canopy of many wet forests. Only males carry the tadpoles to bromeliads and tree hollows. Species pictured:

Pictured top left: Speckle-bellied pinky frog (N. multimaculosus- meaning many spotted)

Pictured top center: Kokoii island pinky frog (N. Kokoii- meaning from Kokoii) (pronounced koe-koe-ee)

Pictured top right: yellow hooded pinky frog (N. Flavucephalus- meaning yellow headed)

Pictured center left: teal-spotted pinky frog (N. callainaventris- meaning turquoise belly)

Pictured true center: dark-eared pinky frog ( N. Cacaoauris- meaning chocolate ear)

Pictured center right: yellow-throated pinky frog (N. Flavuguttatus- meaning yellow throat)

Pictured bottom left: caramel pinky frog (N. Altubates- meaning high climber)

Pictured bottom center: golden pinky frog (N. Abberans- meaning strange)

Pictured bottom right: Cola pinky frog (N. Coca-named after coca-cola)

Pictured on the right are the blue-bellied dart frogs (Azuriventris- meaning blue belly). They are found in the understory of many forested habitats, wherever there is a steady rainfall. Only males carry the tadpoles to small pools and tree hollows. I don’t really have any species names for these ones either.

Pictured center are the golden eyed rocket frogs (Foliorepus- meaning leaf crawler). These frogs are found in the lost leaf litter of the tropical and temperate rainforests. Males and females carry tadpoles to moving water such as streams and creeks. Species pictured:

Pictured top: Oak rocket frog (F. quercus- meaning oak)

Pictured 2nd: Jungle rocket frog (F. Nigraguttatus- meaning black throated)

Pictured 3rd: pinky bellied rocket frog (F. Torrens- meaning stream)

Pictured 4th: golden rocket frog (F. Aureus- meaning golden)

Pictured 5th: Wirt’s rocket frog (F. Autumnus- meaning autumn)

I kind of wish I had more to say, but these guys really are just that simple. They’re very similar to their ancestors. I’m tired. See ya!

[gingerjaydraws]

Cooking up something fishy...

[gingerjaydraws]

I just realized I never posted this on Tumblr!

I don't have much to say about it right now, but I can give a small overview of all the habitats just for kicks

Tropical rainforest: mostly dominated by kapok, breadnut, and fig descendants, with some tropical eucalyptus. Montane rainforest is a little different than lowland, but that's for a different time (AKA when I decide to make bioregions)

Temperate rainforest: similar to earth, dominated by pines, spruces and firs, but also full of mosses and ferns, and even a couple cold-resistant bromeliads.

Temperate coniferous forest: similar to the temperate rainforests, but slightly drier, with different plant assemblages.

Temperate mixed forests: similar to those on earth. Some drier areas have pine-oak forests.

Temperate deciduous forests: similar to mixed, but instead of an even mix, it's mostly deciduous trees such as oaks, maples, birches, poplars, and alders.

Tropical dry forests: range from. Seasonal jungles to open woodland. Predominantly eucalyptus, with some north American tree descendants finding their way in as well.

Bamboo forests: bamboo. Mostly mono typical (made of one species). Spotty and found mostly in Highlands.

Wetlands: an incredibly varied habitat that includes marhes, swamp forests, flood savannahs, bigs, etc. Often full of reeds, orchids, irises, clovers, and water plants.

Tropical wet grasslands: regularly flooding grassland. Mixed slightly with wetlands. More like meadows and praries than full savannah.

Tropical dry grassland: slightly higher elevation, doesn't flood during the rainy season.

Montane grassland: found above the tree line. Wet and shrubby, similar to páramo.

Tropical shrubland: found in small patches in the southeastern mountains.

Mangroves: self explanatory

Overall, I would compare the Bat Island habitats to those in South America and Australasia specifically.

[gingerjaydraws]

While chiropteden is most famous for it’s main animal, the bat; there is much more to this world.

Chiropteden would be nothing without its ecosystem. A bat cannot live on its own. They need food, shelter, and water. Along with that, those plants need pollinators, the waters need fish, and the land needs insects and other animals. Among the list of included creatures are vampire crabs, isopods, jumping spiders, poison dart frogs, tetras, Cory catfish, Caridina shrimp, butterflies, bees, lanternflies, mosquitoes, and others. (I’ll probably publish the seeding list at some point.)

One of the biggest and most influential of the non-bat creatures are the anoles. Anoles on earth are famous for their quick adaptation and evolutionary abilities, and they have done the same on Chiropteden. Hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of species exist in a menagerie of forms and habitats. Some have become large, with powerful jaws and dull teeth to break through crab and snail shells. Others have evolved to dive into the rivers and creeks at the sign of predators, and even to hunt for aquatic prey. But most stay similar to their ancestors, living in trees and eating insects. Others sit somewhere in the middle, being similar overall to their ancestors but differing in small subtle ways.

One such group are the blue rock anoles (caeruloviverratellus- meaning blue cliff climbers). Blue rock anoles are found on the rocky coasts and cliffs of the northern temperate rainforests. They are good climbers, often being found clinging to the nearly vertical surfaces of wind and wave swept rock, searching for isopods, crabs, and insects. Many are also found in sea bat colonies, where they actually feed on pests and leftover food. Some are even found climbing on adult bats and searching for parasites. Needless to say, they are a very welcome addition to many colonies and are often a signifier of good health. Most are a grayish blue color, with contrasting white or blue dewlaps.

Most of these anoles are currently unnamed, but I am working on making maps and I may very well make a range map for them at some point and add it later. Well just have to see.

[gingerjaydraws]

The descendants of vampire crabs have had a lot of success in Chiropteden, from the amphibious pancake crabs to the colorful tree crabs, but the most unusual of all would be the watchtower crabs

Watchtower crabs (vigilanturricanceridae- meaning watching tower crabs) are large terrestrial crabs, named after their elongated carapace and high-set eyes, which allows them to see a larger field of view. Many of these crabs are social, being found in small loose groups on the forest floor. Females carry the eggs and then hatched young until they are large enough to fend for themselves. Because of this they lay very few eggs, only about 12-20.

First is the bamboo spirecrab (proceresesarma volotsangana- meaning tallest crab of the bamboo). Spirecrabs are the largest of all watchtower crabs. They are found in heavily vegetated habitats, specifically those with tall narrow plants such as reeds and bamboo forests. These crabs are cryptic, moving slowly and usually found in pairs or trios. Males and females look similar. Bamboo spirecrabs are found in the bamboo forests of the main island. They are widespread and variable, often ranging from a leafy green to an almost golden yellow. One subspecies in the highland forests are a pale silvery color.

Next are the red-eyed watchtower crabs (trimascarnis rufuluscus-meaning red-eyed crab with three males). Threeform watchtower crabs are unique, even within this strange clade. True to their names, males have three forms, the female like sneakers, the powerful clawed brawlers, and the colorful courters. These three males exist in a sort of rock-paper-scissors situation, with each bearing out another. Courters are lovers, not fighters, and will spend a lot of time and energy dancing and flirting. They are highly devoted partners, bringing females food and alerting her to danger. However, they are easily ousted by the slightly larger and much more powerful brawlers. While the claws of the courters are larger, they are flat and wide like a shield, and are not as structurally strong as the bulky claws of the brawlers. Brawlers get physical, grabbing and shoving each other, locking claws with a combatant and pushing. They often mate with several females, but they are not very attentive, preferring to mate with every female available. And they are beaten out by the sneakers. Sneakers are small and similar to females, only with slightly brighter claws. They often join groups of females and breed discreetly under the brawlers' noses. Courters, however, spend a lot more time courting and flirting and often notice the Interlopers and see them off. Many other classes fall into similar archetypes, such as the spirecrabs having similar claws in both sexes, and mating being a brief ordeal.

The red-eyed watchtower crabs are found in the rainforests of a north-central island. They are pretty typical for their genus, but are named for the bright ruby-red eyes of the brighter males.