#spec-evo — Public Fediverse posts

Did You Know? #Dragonfacts

A lot of dragons from earth appear smaller than dragons from other worlds with more abundant prey. This is because the amount of dragons present would heavily destabilize the ecosystem. They shift to smaller forms so that their bellies fill faster.

When they leave earth for worlds with more food to consume, they work back up to their original form by shifting their size up and down repeatedly until they reach a form that feels right (or until they can’t shift up bigger anymore). This process’s speed can depend on the dragon.

The dragon pictured is little Nep Nep; Neptune Guiying.

Rate this:

Did You Know? #Dragonfacts

A lot of dragons from earth appear smaller than dragons from other worlds with more abundant prey. This is because the amount of dragons present would heavily destabilize the ecosystem. They shift to smaller forms so that their bellies fill faster.

When they leave earth for worlds with more food to consume, they work back up to their original form by shifting their size up and down repeatedly until they reach a form that feels right (or until they can’t shift up bigger anymore). This process’s speed can depend on the dragon.

The dragon pictured is little Nep Nep; Neptune Guiying.

Rate this:

Did You Know? #Dragonfacts

A lot of dragons from earth appear smaller than dragons from other worlds with more abundant prey. This is because the amount of dragons present would heavily destabilize the ecosystem. They shift to smaller forms so that their bellies fill faster.

When they leave earth for worlds with more food to consume, they work back up to their original form by shifting their size up and down repeatedly until they reach a form that feels right (or until they can’t shift up bigger anymore). This process’s speed can depend on the dragon.

The dragon pictured is little Nep Nep; Neptune Guiying.

Rate this:

Did You Know? #Dragonfacts

A lot of dragons from earth appear smaller than dragons from other worlds with more abundant prey. This is because the amount of dragons present would heavily destabilize the ecosystem. They shift to smaller forms so that their bellies fill faster.

When they leave earth for worlds with more food to consume, they work back up to their original form by shifting their size up and down repeatedly until they reach a form that feels right (or until they can’t shift up bigger anymore). This process’s speed can depend on the dragon.

The dragon pictured is little Nep Nep; Neptune Guiying.

Rate this:

Did You Know? #Dragonfacts

A lot of dragons from earth appear smaller than dragons from other worlds with more abundant prey. This is because the amount of dragons present would heavily destabilize the ecosystem. They shift to smaller forms so that their bellies fill faster.

When they leave earth for worlds with more food to consume, they work back up to their original form by shifting their size up and down repeatedly until they reach a form that feels right (or until they can’t shift up bigger anymore). This process’s speed can depend on the dragon.

The dragon pictured is little Nep Nep; Neptune Guiying.

Rate this:

@futurebird I wonder if there's a hashtag to help me connect with my people... #allTomorrows ? #speculativeEvolution ? #specEvo ? Hello...?

@futurebird I wonder if there's a hashtag to help me connect with my people... #allTomorrows ? #speculativeEvolution ? #specEvo ? Hello...?

@futurebird I wonder if there's a hashtag to help me connect with my people... #allTomorrows ? #speculativeEvolution ? #specEvo ? Hello...?

@futurebird I wonder if there's a hashtag to help me connect with my people... #allTomorrows ? #speculativeEvolution ? #specEvo ? Hello...?

@futurebird I wonder if there's a hashtag to help me connect with my people... #allTomorrows ? #speculativeEvolution ? #specEvo ? Hello...?

I.E.R. Speculative evolution sci fi after the Holocene extinction look at this shit https://youtu.be/63aeYG_t8As

SMAUGUST DAY 3 - TEETH

Based on Otiksimr’s Smaugust prompt lineup

In and around the forests of Dragamida, the Lanceleaper (Cutlerdontus audax) can be seen engaging in combat with members of its own species, both to impress mates and as a way of bonding with others. These fights employ a wide variety of attack types, mostly revolving around their tusks, with each Lanceleaper slowly developing its own preferred fighting style over the course of its life. One universal, however, seems to be the use of a jumping joust attack performed with the assistance of its wings. These short jumps are really all their wings are useful for, as they are otherwise too small to get the dragon’s fat little body off the ground.

SMAUGUST DAY 2 - LEGLESS

Based on Otiksimr’s Smaugust prompt lineup: https://www.tumblr.com/otiksimr/790568456634384384/very-quick-smaugust-list-for-next-month-because-i

The Aquamarine Lizeal (Lacertaphoca aquamarina) can be found all around the rocky coasts of the isle of Dragamida. In pursuit of being able to better chase after aquatic prey, it has readapted its body for a swimming-centric lifestyle, seeing its wings and tail rudders become fins and a full tail fluke respectively. As these alone were enough to allow it to fit this new niche, its legs, now only an obstacle to its movement, shrank away into barely-noticeable bumps on the underside of its body. Its nostrils and throat have also developed muscles that allow them to fully shut while underwater, which allow the Lizeal to avoid ingesting seawater while hunting no matter long it stays underwater for. However, it has not yet developed the increased lung capacity common among other aquatic land animals, meaning these swims are often short-lived anyway, with it frequently needing to surface for air. These surfacing periods where it reopens these orifices often result in the accidental gulp or two of seawater, which is immediately met with coughing and gagging as the dragon tries to undo its mistake. It hasn't yet developed those fancy salt removal glands that seals have, either. Probably also important to mention.

The process of the Lizeal genus adapting to its new aquatic lifestyle was remarkably quick, much moreso than other terrestrial animals which have made similar transitions, which is believed to have played a part in some of the evolutionary blindspots that it has been left with. It's far from the strangest evolutionary anomaly that has happened on this island, however. If anything, it's one of the most normal ones.

SMAUGUST DAY 1 - WINGLESS

Based on Otiksimr’s Smaugust prompt lineup: https://www.tumblr.com/otiksimr/790568456634384384/very-quick-smaugust-list-for-next-month-because-i

The Rainbow-Tongued Scamp (Alapoda hormona) resides exclusively within the many damp cave systems of its home island. It is well-adapted for life underground, forgoing many of the adaptations that its surface-dwelling ancestors used for survival, most notably sight and flight. What were once wings have been modified into a third pair of legs, which allow it to keep a better foothold when climbing around the many sheer drops and slick surfaces that comprise its habitat. Additionally, its eyes, having no light to pick up on, are permanently stuck shut, with the dragon instead relying on its senses of touch and, more importantly, taste to tell where it's going. By coating its surroundings in pheromones produced from modified orbital glands, it can create a series of trails for it and its fellow Scamps to follow, using their eponymous hyper-sensitive tongues to pick up info on where they're headed. These trails also serve as lures for ants, the Scamp's main food source, who will single-mindedly follow the pheromone trail into the dragon's den and be immediately devoured.

Why exactly the Rainbow-Tongued Scamp's tongue is so colorful despite living in an environment with no light remains unknown. Theories range from them helping to differentiate the tastes of pheromones, to being a side effect of a subdermal parasitic infection, to simply being a freak coincidental mutation that just hasn't faced any pressure to go away yet. The leading theory is that the Scamp's tongue evolved their signature bands, quote, "because it looks cool." Again, why the way something looks would matter in a pitch black cave remains a mystery.

SMAUGUST DAY 1 - WINGLESS

Based on Otiksimr’s Smaugust prompt lineup: https://www.tumblr.com/otiksimr/790568456634384384/very-quick-smaugust-list-for-next-month-because-i

The Rainbow-Tongued Scamp (Alapoda hormona) resides exclusively within the many damp cave systems of its home island. It is well-adapted for life underground, forgoing many of the adaptations that its surface-dwelling ancestors used for survival, most notably sight and flight. What were once wings have been modified into a third pair of legs, which allow it to keep a better foothold when climbing around the many sheer drops and slick surfaces that comprise its habitat. Additionally, its eyes, having no light to pick up on, are permanently stuck shut, with the dragon instead relying on its senses of touch and, more importantly, taste to tell where it's going. By coating its surroundings in pheromones produced from modified orbital glands, it can create a series of trails for it and its fellow Scamps to follow, using their eponymous hyper-sensitive tongues to pick up info on where they're headed. These trails also serve as lures for ants, the Scamp's main food source, who will single-mindedly follow the pheromone trail into the dragon's den and be immediately devoured.

Why exactly the Rainbow-Tongued Scamp's tongue is so colorful despite living in an environment with no light remains unknown. Theories range from them helping to differentiate the tastes of pheromones, to being a side effect of a subdermal parasitic infection, to simply being a freak coincidental mutation that just hasn't faced any pressure to go away yet. The leading theory is that the Scamp's tongue evolved their signature bands, quote, "because it looks cool." Again, why the way something looks would matter in a pitch black cave remains a mystery.

#screenshotsaturday so I tried making a phylogenetic tree for all ðe life in ðe game 😳
Here's ðe sweetal branch💀

#why #blursed #gamedev #worldbuilding #specevo #MessageLost #evolution #surreal

#screenshotsaturday so I tried making a phylogenetic tree for all ðe life in ðe game 😳
Here's ðe sweetal branch💀

#why #blursed #gamedev #worldbuilding #specevo #MessageLost #evolution #surreal

#screenshotsaturday so I tried making a phylogenetic tree for all ðe life in ðe game 😳
Here's ðe sweetal branch💀

#why #blursed #gamedev #worldbuilding #specevo #MessageLost #evolution #surreal

#screenshotsaturday so I tried making a phylogenetic tree for all ðe life in ðe game 😳
Here's ðe sweetal branch💀

#why #blursed #gamedev #worldbuilding #specevo #MessageLost #evolution #surreal

quick pencil exploration of a #specevo island dwelling flightless #pterosaur

#art #paleoart #dinosaurs

quick pencil exploration of a #specevo island dwelling flightless #pterosaur

#art #paleoart #dinosaurs

quick pencil exploration of a #specevo island dwelling flightless #pterosaur

#art #paleoart #dinosaurs

quick pencil exploration of a #specevo island dwelling flightless #pterosaur

#art #paleoart #dinosaurs

@ai6yr
if only nuclear radiation worked in the magic ways it did in 1950s comic books. Imagine, the Oklo reactor giving weird superpowers to strange microorganisms of the Paleporoterozoic, leading to a totally different history for all life on Earth.

#SpeculativeEvolution
#SpecEvo

@ai6yr
if only nuclear radiation worked in the magic ways it did in 1950s comic books. Imagine, the Oklo reactor giving weird superpowers to strange microorganisms of the Paleporoterozoic, leading to a totally different history for all life on Earth.

#SpeculativeEvolution
#SpecEvo

@ai6yr
if only nuclear radiation worked in the magic ways it did in 1950s comic books. Imagine, the Oklo reactor giving weird superpowers to strange microorganisms of the Paleporoterozoic, leading to a totally different history for all life on Earth.

#SpeculativeEvolution
#SpecEvo

@ai6yr
if only nuclear radiation worked in the magic ways it did in 1950s comic books. Imagine, the Oklo reactor giving weird superpowers to strange microorganisms of the Paleporoterozoic, leading to a totally different history for all life on Earth.

#SpeculativeEvolution
#SpecEvo

@ai6yr
if only nuclear radiation worked in the magic ways it did in 1950s comic books. Imagine, the Oklo reactor giving weird superpowers to strange microorganisms of the Paleporoterozoic, leading to a totally different history for all life on Earth.

#SpeculativeEvolution
#SpecEvo

A centaur from the Shess ethnicity poses with their clan's small flock of Tep, a livestock animal that is farmed for its meat and cheese-like edible silk. Hanging off their foreshoulder and hooked to a belt on their rear waist is a 2 meter long black powder rifle, characteristic of centaur firearms developed before first contact. The shepherd keeps it with them while herding the flock to ward off wildlife that competes with or likes to eat Tep.

#runawaytothestars #rttscentaurs #aliens #specevo

A centaur from the Shess ethnicity poses with their clan's small flock of Tep, a livestock animal that is farmed for its meat and cheese-like edible silk. Hanging off their foreshoulder and hooked to a belt on their rear waist is a 2 meter long black powder rifle, characteristic of centaur firearms developed before first contact. The shepherd keeps it with them while herding the flock to ward off wildlife that competes with or likes to eat Tep.

#runawaytothestars #rttscentaurs #aliens #specevo

A centaur from the Shess ethnicity poses with their clan's small flock of Tep, a livestock animal that is farmed for its meat and cheese-like edible silk. Hanging off their foreshoulder and hooked to a belt on their rear waist is a 2 meter long black powder rifle, characteristic of centaur firearms developed before first contact. The shepherd keeps it with them while herding the flock to ward off wildlife that competes with or likes to eat Tep.

#runawaytothestars #rttscentaurs #aliens #specevo

A centaur from the Shess ethnicity poses with their clan's small flock of Tep, a livestock animal that is farmed for its meat and cheese-like edible silk. Hanging off their foreshoulder and hooked to a belt on their rear waist is a 2 meter long black powder rifle, characteristic of centaur firearms developed before first contact. The shepherd keeps it with them while herding the flock to ward off wildlife that competes with or likes to eat Tep.

#runawaytothestars #rttscentaurs #aliens #specevo

A centaur from the Shess ethnicity poses with their clan's small flock of Tep, a livestock animal that is farmed for its meat and cheese-like edible silk. Hanging off their foreshoulder and hooked to a belt on their rear waist is a 2 meter long black powder rifle, characteristic of centaur firearms developed before first contact. The shepherd keeps it with them while herding the flock to ward off wildlife that competes with or likes to eat Tep.

#runawaytothestars #rttscentaurs #aliens #specevo

Phtanum B - Radulids! This superdiverse clade consists of ground-mowing herbivores, from insect-sized to biblical in scale. Feel free to ask questions about any of them! ^-^

Hashtags: #scifi #sciencefiction #worldbuilding #speculativefiction #specevo #artist #art #fediart #mastoart #speculativeevolution #phtanum #creaturedesign

Phtanum B - Radulids! This superdiverse clade consists of ground-mowing herbivores, from insect-sized to biblical in scale. Feel free to ask questions about any of them! ^-^

Hashtags: #scifi #sciencefiction #worldbuilding #speculativefiction #specevo #artist #art #fediart #mastoart #speculativeevolution #phtanum #creaturedesign

Phtanum B - Radulids! This superdiverse clade consists of ground-mowing herbivores, from insect-sized to biblical in scale. Feel free to ask questions about any of them! ^-^

Hashtags: #scifi #sciencefiction #worldbuilding #speculativefiction #specevo #artist #art #fediart #mastoart #speculativeevolution #phtanum #creaturedesign

Phtanum B - Radulids! This superdiverse clade consists of ground-mowing herbivores, from insect-sized to biblical in scale. Feel free to ask questions about any of them! ^-^

Hashtags: #scifi #sciencefiction #worldbuilding #speculativefiction #specevo #artist #art #fediart #mastoart #speculativeevolution #phtanum #creaturedesign

Phtanum B - Ramjet Dragons! Napalm-ejecting aerial predators, all of them. From the deocardid-downing mirrorback to the colossal firewall ramjet, these alien parodies of mythological earthen beasts do the term justice.

Hashtags: #scifi #sciencefiction #worldbuilding #speculativefiction #specevo #artist #art #fediart #mastoart #speculativeevolution #phtanum #creaturedesign

Phtanum B - Ramjet Dragons! Napalm-ejecting aerial predators, all of them. From the deocardid-downing mirrorback to the colossal firewall ramjet, these alien parodies of mythological earthen beasts do the term justice.

Hashtags: #scifi #sciencefiction #worldbuilding #speculativefiction #specevo #artist #art #fediart #mastoart #speculativeevolution #phtanum #creaturedesign

Phtanum B - Ramjet Dragons! Napalm-ejecting aerial predators, all of them. From the deocardid-downing mirrorback to the colossal firewall ramjet, these alien parodies of mythological earthen beasts do the term justice.

Hashtags: #scifi #sciencefiction #worldbuilding #speculativefiction #specevo #artist #art #fediart #mastoart #speculativeevolution #phtanum #creaturedesign

Phtanum B - Ramjet Dragons! Napalm-ejecting aerial predators, all of them. From the deocardid-downing mirrorback to the colossal firewall ramjet, these alien parodies of mythological earthen beasts do the term justice.

Hashtags: #scifi #sciencefiction #worldbuilding #speculativefiction #specevo #artist #art #fediart #mastoart #speculativeevolution #phtanum #creaturedesign

Phtanum B - Lactismids! An enormous deuvertebrate group with over 4000 species. Characterized by large size, high limb count and inhabiting megafaunal niches on most portions of the planet. Some like Polycnemis ayhani are terrestrial apex predators!

Hashtags: #scifi #sciencefiction #worldbuilding #speculativefiction #specevo #artist #art #fediart #mastoart #speculativeevolution #phtanum #creaturedesign

Phtanum B - Lactismids! An enormous deuvertebrate group with over 4000 species. Characterized by large size, high limb count and inhabiting megafaunal niches on most portions of the planet. Some like Polycnemis ayhani are terrestrial apex predators!

Hashtags: #scifi #sciencefiction #worldbuilding #speculativefiction #specevo #artist #art #fediart #mastoart #speculativeevolution #phtanum #creaturedesign

Phtanum B - Lactismids! An enormous deuvertebrate group with over 4000 species. Characterized by large size, high limb count and inhabiting megafaunal niches on most portions of the planet. Some like Polycnemis ayhani are terrestrial apex predators!

Hashtags: #scifi #sciencefiction #worldbuilding #speculativefiction #specevo #artist #art #fediart #mastoart #speculativeevolution #phtanum #creaturedesign

Phtanum B - Lactismids! An enormous deuvertebrate group with over 4000 species. Characterized by large size, high limb count and inhabiting megafaunal niches on most portions of the planet. Some like Polycnemis ayhani are terrestrial apex predators!

Hashtags: #scifi #sciencefiction #worldbuilding #speculativefiction #specevo #artist #art #fediart #mastoart #speculativeevolution #phtanum #creaturedesign

Phtanum B - Lactismids! An enormous deuvertebrate group with over 4000 species. Characterized by large size, high limb count and inhabiting megafaunal niches on most portions of the planet. Some like Polycnemis ayhani are terrestrial apex predators!

Hashtags: #scifi #sciencefiction #worldbuilding #speculativefiction #specevo #artist #art #fediart #mastoart #speculativeevolution #phtanum #creaturedesign

Phtanum B - Lactismids! An enormous deuvertebrate group with over 4000 species. Characterized by large size, high limb count and inhabiting megafaunal niches on most portions of the planet. Some like Polycnemis ayhani are terrestrial apex predators!

Hashtags: #scifi #sciencefiction #worldbuilding #speculativefiction #specevo #artist #art #fediart #mastoart #speculativeevolution #phtanum #creaturedesign

Phtanum B - Deocardid Sketches!

These six phtanumbian critters are some of the biggest on the planet. These are, to be honest, some of my favorite critters from the project. A detailed description follows!

Description:
Sketches of six deuvertebrates of the aneucnemida superclass. These six organisms are deocardids, or windwhales - an aneucnemid clade that includes some of the largest deuvertebrates of the planet by sheer scale. Deocardids are aerial filter-feeders that scoop up swarms of smaller aerial organisms with foldable, fan-like extensions of their underside. These animals are highly pneumatized, to a degree where the extend of their lungs and air chambers exceeds that of their actual tissue by a huge margin - making these organisms deceivingly light for their size. This does bring its drawbacks however: deocardids need to avoid storms or mountaneous regions to avoid being brought out of control by strong winds or rapidly changing weather. In times of need, these organisms jam their extendable pseudofeet into the ground akin to a stake and reel themselves in to protect themselves during a storm. Smaller deocardids use this method to „kitewalk“ too.

Like nearly all aneucnemid flyers, deocardids use airhearts-pumps to propel themselves within the skies. While those of the smaller ramjet dragons may sound like screaming diesel engines, the ones of deocardids are slow and rumbling, and loud enough to rupture someone‘s eardrum when up close. This sound is also what gave them the clade the name deocardids - a name that translates to god-heart. The airhearts of windwhales sound like eerie heartbeats when heard from a distance.

With deocardids making so much noise, they are bound to attract some opportunistic predators eventually. Bright colors in the form of aposematism are supposed to disencourage predators from attacking, but that does not always work. Larger deocardids like the red windwhale have multiple lines of defenses: The first to engage with the predator are hordes of symbiotic smaller flyers, the congregation, that follow the windwhale around akin to a living aircraft carrier to feed on its dead skin or parasites. Once this line of defense falls, the giant organism resorts to pore-turrets that eject both intoxicating blinding black mist as well as high-pressurized fecal pellets to snipe the attackers out of the sky.

Hashtags: #scifi #sciencefiction #aliens #worldbuilding #creature #fediart #mastoart #phtanum #speculativefiction #specevo #speculativeevolution

Phtanum B - Deocardid Sketches!

These six phtanumbian critters are some of the biggest on the planet. These are, to be honest, some of my favorite critters from the project. A detailed description follows!

Description:
Sketches of six deuvertebrates of the aneucnemida superclass. These six organisms are deocardids, or windwhales - an aneucnemid clade that includes some of the largest deuvertebrates of the planet by sheer scale. Deocardids are aerial filter-feeders that scoop up swarms of smaller aerial organisms with foldable, fan-like extensions of their underside. These animals are highly pneumatized, to a degree where the extend of their lungs and air chambers exceeds that of their actual tissue by a huge margin - making these organisms deceivingly light for their size. This does bring its drawbacks however: deocardids need to avoid storms or mountaneous regions to avoid being brought out of control by strong winds or rapidly changing weather. In times of need, these organisms jam their extendable pseudofeet into the ground akin to a stake and reel themselves in to protect themselves during a storm. Smaller deocardids use this method to „kitewalk“ too.

Like nearly all aneucnemid flyers, deocardids use airhearts-pumps to propel themselves within the skies. While those of the smaller ramjet dragons may sound like screaming diesel engines, the ones of deocardids are slow and rumbling, and loud enough to rupture someone‘s eardrum when up close. This sound is also what gave them the clade the name deocardids - a name that translates to god-heart. The airhearts of windwhales sound like eerie heartbeats when heard from a distance.

With deocardids making so much noise, they are bound to attract some opportunistic predators eventually. Bright colors in the form of aposematism are supposed to disencourage predators from attacking, but that does not always work. Larger deocardids like the red windwhale have multiple lines of defenses: The first to engage with the predator are hordes of symbiotic smaller flyers, the congregation, that follow the windwhale around akin to a living aircraft carrier to feed on its dead skin or parasites. Once this line of defense falls, the giant organism resorts to pore-turrets that eject both intoxicating blinding black mist as well as high-pressurized fecal pellets to snipe the attackers out of the sky.

Hashtags: #scifi #sciencefiction #aliens #worldbuilding #creature #fediart #mastoart #phtanum #speculativefiction #specevo #speculativeevolution

Phtanum B - Deocardid Sketches!

These six phtanumbian critters are some of the biggest on the planet. These are, to be honest, some of my favorite critters from the project. A detailed description follows!

Description:
Sketches of six deuvertebrates of the aneucnemida superclass. These six organisms are deocardids, or windwhales - an aneucnemid clade that includes some of the largest deuvertebrates of the planet by sheer scale. Deocardids are aerial filter-feeders that scoop up swarms of smaller aerial organisms with foldable, fan-like extensions of their underside. These animals are highly pneumatized, to a degree where the extend of their lungs and air chambers exceeds that of their actual tissue by a huge margin - making these organisms deceivingly light for their size. This does bring its drawbacks however: deocardids need to avoid storms or mountaneous regions to avoid being brought out of control by strong winds or rapidly changing weather. In times of need, these organisms jam their extendable pseudofeet into the ground akin to a stake and reel themselves in to protect themselves during a storm. Smaller deocardids use this method to „kitewalk“ too.

Like nearly all aneucnemid flyers, deocardids use airhearts-pumps to propel themselves within the skies. While those of the smaller ramjet dragons may sound like screaming diesel engines, the ones of deocardids are slow and rumbling, and loud enough to rupture someone‘s eardrum when up close. This sound is also what gave them the clade the name deocardids - a name that translates to god-heart. The airhearts of windwhales sound like eerie heartbeats when heard from a distance.

With deocardids making so much noise, they are bound to attract some opportunistic predators eventually. Bright colors in the form of aposematism are supposed to disencourage predators from attacking, but that does not always work. Larger deocardids like the red windwhale have multiple lines of defenses: The first to engage with the predator are hordes of symbiotic smaller flyers, the congregation, that follow the windwhale around akin to a living aircraft carrier to feed on its dead skin or parasites. Once this line of defense falls, the giant organism resorts to pore-turrets that eject both intoxicating blinding black mist as well as high-pressurized fecal pellets to snipe the attackers out of the sky.

Hashtags: #scifi #sciencefiction #aliens #worldbuilding #creature #fediart #mastoart #phtanum #speculativefiction #specevo #speculativeevolution

Phtanum B - Deocardid Sketches!

These six phtanumbian critters are some of the biggest on the planet. These are, to be honest, some of my favorite critters from the project. A detailed description follows!

Description:
Sketches of six deuvertebrates of the aneucnemida superclass. These six organisms are deocardids, or windwhales - an aneucnemid clade that includes some of the largest deuvertebrates of the planet by sheer scale. Deocardids are aerial filter-feeders that scoop up swarms of smaller aerial organisms with foldable, fan-like extensions of their underside. These animals are highly pneumatized, to a degree where the extend of their lungs and air chambers exceeds that of their actual tissue by a huge margin - making these organisms deceivingly light for their size. This does bring its drawbacks however: deocardids need to avoid storms or mountaneous regions to avoid being brought out of control by strong winds or rapidly changing weather. In times of need, these organisms jam their extendable pseudofeet into the ground akin to a stake and reel themselves in to protect themselves during a storm. Smaller deocardids use this method to „kitewalk“ too.

Like nearly all aneucnemid flyers, deocardids use airhearts-pumps to propel themselves within the skies. While those of the smaller ramjet dragons may sound like screaming diesel engines, the ones of deocardids are slow and rumbling, and loud enough to rupture someone‘s eardrum when up close. This sound is also what gave them the clade the name deocardids - a name that translates to god-heart. The airhearts of windwhales sound like eerie heartbeats when heard from a distance.

With deocardids making so much noise, they are bound to attract some opportunistic predators eventually. Bright colors in the form of aposematism are supposed to disencourage predators from attacking, but that does not always work. Larger deocardids like the red windwhale have multiple lines of defenses: The first to engage with the predator are hordes of symbiotic smaller flyers, the congregation, that follow the windwhale around akin to a living aircraft carrier to feed on its dead skin or parasites. Once this line of defense falls, the giant organism resorts to pore-turrets that eject both intoxicating blinding black mist as well as high-pressurized fecal pellets to snipe the attackers out of the sky.

Hashtags: #scifi #sciencefiction #aliens #worldbuilding #creature #fediart #mastoart #phtanum #speculativefiction #specevo #speculativeevolution

Another piece I finished relatively recently.. Light ’Em Up, Johnny! A flock of mirrorback ramjet dragons (Autostochus miradorsum) hunts a red windwhale (Deocardis majestica) and its congregation. These 14-meter long aerial superpredators are the undisputed lords in the heavens of Phtanum B.

Hashtags: #scifi #sciencefiction #aliens #worldbuilding #creature #fediart #phtanum #speculativefiction #speculativeevolution #specevo

Another piece I finished relatively recently.. Light ’Em Up, Johnny! A flock of mirrorback ramjet dragons (Autostochus miradorsum) hunts a red windwhale (Deocardis majestica) and its congregation. These 14-meter long aerial superpredators are the undisputed lords in the heavens of Phtanum B.

Hashtags: #scifi #sciencefiction #aliens #worldbuilding #creature #fediart #phtanum #speculativefiction #speculativeevolution #specevo

Another piece I finished relatively recently.. Light ’Em Up, Johnny! A flock of mirrorback ramjet dragons (Autostochus miradorsum) hunts a red windwhale (Deocardis majestica) and its congregation. These 14-meter long aerial superpredators are the undisputed lords in the heavens of Phtanum B.

Hashtags: #scifi #sciencefiction #aliens #worldbuilding #creature #fediart #phtanum #speculativefiction #speculativeevolution #specevo

Another piece I finished relatively recently.. Light ’Em Up, Johnny! A flock of mirrorback ramjet dragons (Autostochus miradorsum) hunts a red windwhale (Deocardis majestica) and its congregation. These 14-meter long aerial superpredators are the undisputed lords in the heavens of Phtanum B.

Hashtags: #scifi #sciencefiction #aliens #worldbuilding #creature #fediart #phtanum #speculativefiction #speculativeevolution #specevo

Hello! I am Paul, an aspiring sci-fi artist who likes to draw red landscapes and weird creatures. Working on a worldbuilding project that documents organisms on an hypothetical alien planet: Phtanum B! Human history lore included!

Hashtags: #scifi #sciencefiction #worldbuilding #speculativefiction #specevo #artist #art #fediart #mastoart #speculativeevolution #phtanum #creaturedesign

Hello! I am Paul, an aspiring sci-fi artist who likes to draw red landscapes and weird creatures. Working on a worldbuilding project that documents organisms on an hypothetical alien planet: Phtanum B! Human history lore included!

Hashtags: #scifi #sciencefiction #worldbuilding #speculativefiction #specevo #artist #art #fediart #mastoart #speculativeevolution #phtanum #creaturedesign

Hello! I am Paul, an aspiring sci-fi artist who likes to draw red landscapes and weird creatures. Working on a worldbuilding project that documents organisms on an hypothetical alien planet: Phtanum B! Human history lore included!

Hashtags: #scifi #sciencefiction #worldbuilding #speculativefiction #specevo #artist #art #fediart #mastoart #speculativeevolution #phtanum #creaturedesign

Hello! I am Paul, an aspiring sci-fi artist who likes to draw red landscapes and weird creatures. Working on a worldbuilding project that documents organisms on an hypothetical alien planet: Phtanum B! Human history lore included!

Hashtags: #scifi #sciencefiction #worldbuilding #speculativefiction #specevo #artist #art #fediart #mastoart #speculativeevolution #phtanum #creaturedesign

Hello! I am Paul, an aspiring sci-fi artist who likes to draw red landscapes and weird creatures. Working on a worldbuilding project that documents organisms on an hypothetical alien planet: Phtanum B! Human history lore included!

Hashtags: #scifi #sciencefiction #worldbuilding #speculativefiction #specevo #artist #art #fediart #mastoart #speculativeevolution #phtanum #creaturedesign