#hydrodamalis

[all-mammal-creechur]

Stellar's Sea Cow Hydrodamalis gigas

An extinct marine mammal that was found only around the Commander Islands in the Bering Sea between Alaska and Russia. Its range likely contracted to such an extreme degree due to the glacial cycle. Within 27 years of its discovery by Europeans in 1741, the slow-moving and easily caught mammal was hunted into extinction for its meat, fat, and hide.

img source (1898 illustration)

[nazrigar]

Shark Week Day 2: Shortfin Mako Shark

Day 2: Featuring Marko, the Shortfin Mako Shark and his faithful pet, Benny, the Blue Shark!

Marko here is a Sea Cow herder, as herding is the other most important form of sustenance for Merfolk besides farming. Herders lead their flocks, pods and herds from area to area, looking for the best grazing and feeding grounds for their livestock.

The most famous herd animals are Sea Cows, specifically the Goliath Meershten here, who aren’t even fully grown.

The Meershten is based off of the extinct Steller’s Sea Cow, who were taken from us far too soon during the 1760s.

Day 1: Blacktip Reef Shark

[antediluvianechoes]

Sea cow's fate by batworker

The carcass is a bloated, blubbery boon, enough meat to last for more days than a borophagine can hold in its head. The dogs patrol the sea cow’s perimeter, climb its hulk, reassuring themselves that the carcass is indeed real. Seabirds are less dubious of the thing and have to be chased away, but the dogs are suspect. Even after filling their bellies on the fatty flesh, the find just feels too good to be true.

[quaggasculpture]

Dugong VS Hydrodamalis Helsinki Natural History Museum. #naturmuseum #naturalhistory #naturalhistorymuseum #helsinki ##helsingfors #suomi #finland #dugong #hydrodamalis #hidrodamalisgigas #steller #stellerseacow #ostsee (at Finnish Museum of Natural History)

[artbyconnorross]

The Steller’s sea cow is deservedly one of the most famous extinct mammals, but did you know they weren’t the only giant sirenians? Hydrodamalis cuestae, belonging to the same genus as the Steller’s sea cow, is just one example; a massive 30ft long dugongid that is known from California and potentially Hokkaido, Japan. Though it would’ve fed on seagrass, I’m sure the occasional foray into the famous Californian kelp forests would have occurred. Valenictus, a strange walrus lacking all teeth besides its teeth, as well as leopard sharks and sheepshead wrasses swim by.

[thecreaturecodex]

Hydrodamalis

Image © Carl Buell. Accessed at “National Geographic: Phenomena” here

[This one is stretching the boundaries of “prehistoric” creatures, as it is decidedly modern, but extinct nonetheless. Their extinction is one that I consider among the most tragic.]

Hydrodamalis CR 3 N Animal This bulbous creature resembles a whiskered, globular whale, with a short broad tail and nails on its flippers. The skin of its back is leathery and cracked.

The hydrodamalis is also called the giant sea cow. They are gentle giants native to cold kelp forests in coastal ocean waters, but are frequently hunted and driven to extinction by humanoids. As such, they are common only in isolated areas, where they can be free of persecution. A hydrodamalis is oddly adapted to the water—they have little need to hold their breath, as they are so buoyant that they always float at the surface. There, they graze on seaweeds that they can reach with their downturned, whiskered mouths.

Hydrodamalis are social creatures that gather in order to have more eyes to watch out for predators. They are monogamous creatures that mate for life, and a mated pair is nearly inseparable. They give birth to only one baby at a time, and adult or near-adult children frequently associate with their parents until they find a mate of their own.

Variant Hydrodamalis In warmer waters, manatees and dugongs are peaceful grazers that feed on sea grasses and algae. Unlike hydrodamalis, they have to dive for their meals. A manatee or dugong is a hydrodamalis with the young simple template, no buoyancy special quality and the hold breath special quality. A manatee or dugong is a CR 2.

Hydrodamalis as Animal Companions Starting Statistics: Size Medium; Speed swim 30 ft. AC +3 natural armor; Attack slam (1d6); Ability Scores Str 12, Dex 12, Con 14, Int 2, Wis 11, Cha 5; Special Qualities buoyant, docile, low-light vision

 7th-Level Advancement: Size Large; AC +3 natural armor; Attack slam (1d8); Ability Scores Str +4, Dex –2, Con +4; Special Qualities loses docile SQ

Hydrodamalis                CR 3 XP 800 N Huge animal Init -2; Senses low-light vision, Perception +11 Defense AC 16, touch 6, flat-footed 16 (-2 size, -2 Dex, +10 natural) hp 42 (4d8+24) Fort +10, Ref +2, Will +3 Offense Speed swim 30 ft. Melee slam +1 (2d6+2) Space 15 ft.; Reach 10 ft. Statistics Str 20, Dex 6, Con 23, Int 2, Wis 11, Cha 5 Base Atk +3; CMB +10; CMD 18 Feats Endurance, Iron Will Skills Perception +11, Swim +13; Racial Modifiers +4 Perception SQ buoyant, docile Ecology Environment cold oceans Organization solitary, family (2-5) or herd (6-20) Treasure none Special Abilities Buoyant (Ex) A hydrodamalis does not sink as a result of a failed Swim check. It gains a +4 racial bonus on all CMD checks made to hold it underwater. Docile (Ex) A hydrodamalis’ natural attacks are all treated as secondary natural weapons.

[thankonomics]

Hydrodamalis | ESNO