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| Gas giant life; definantly non-Terran | |
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| Topic Started: Jan 11 2009, 12:18 AM (660 Views) | |
| Canis Lupis | Jan 11 2009, 12:18 AM Post #1 |
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Dinosaurs eat man, woman inherits the Earth.
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I've had this planet idea in my head for a long time now. So I've decided to put it on this forum. ATMOS The name is appropriate, considering that the planet is mostly atmosphere. It's smaller than Jupiter, but larger than Earth. It is actually about twenty times the size of Earth. Not a gas giant, but a gas dwarf. Winds of up to 200mph are common on this world. Temperatures regularly reach 100 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit during both the day and night (these are just characterized by a decrease in sunlight). Water does not exist on this planet, except for the occasional water droplet. Ammonia is more common. There are three main biomes: the top layer: more radiation, higher temperatures, higher winds, and more water vapor. the middle layer: kind of normal. Large diversity of life. the lower layer: little radiation, colder temperatures, lower winds, and non-existant water vapor. Some evolutionary history: Life on Atmos started as an ammonia eating bacteria. As you could expect on a gas giant, it did well. In fact, it did more than well: it flourished! This bacteria (I'll call it Ammoniabacterium consumaciens) eventually became multicellular in a way similar to the siphonophores (different cells or sections that have a different task to perform). These different cells eventually joined into one organism. Here's how those organisms work: They've got two layers of "skin" (a thin, transparent membrane), between which they store gases that they don't need. They have a hole with microscopic tentacles fringing it (this is their mouth. The tentacles are used to scoop gases into their body). They have a circular body. They reproduce asexually. This group of organisms branched out and diversified, going all over Atmos eating the gases. This group eventually evolved into Paraflora. The Paraflores have melded their many microscopic mouth tentacles into one big root-like structure (they filter ammonia in this way). Their "head" is a large gas chamber so they can float. They also have little orifices that look like eyes (they're not) so they can eject gases and move themselves through the planet's atmosphere. They have a "cardiovascular" system to pump gases throughout the body (really it's just a pumping sack with microscopic root-like structures branching all over the body (on the inside)). They have a large mass of nerve cells in the center of their body to coordinate their movements. They also have smaller masses of nerve cells scattered throughout the body to coordinate specific movements (these small masses are linked to the main mass by microscopic tubes). These Paraflores diversified to include many organisms, some filter-feeders, some "herbivores" (more like parasites, seeing as they suck the gases out of their prey), and carnivores that eat the "herbivores". More details as the project progresses. |
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| Venatosaurus | Jan 11 2009, 12:43 AM Post #2 |
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HAUS OF SPEC
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That's a pretty cool idea to ponder, wonder how it'll do good look. I actually have a suggestion. A titantic plant-like organism, resembling a large lily pad, that lives in the top layer. It absords radiation and sunlight allowing it to go through a process much like photosynthesis, while it's roots dangle down to the middle layer absorbing water and providing resting places for some animals. |
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| Canis Lupis | Jan 11 2009, 12:49 AM Post #3 |
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Dinosaurs eat man, woman inherits the Earth.
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Seems like a good idea. A note on senses: eyes don't evolve on this world. "Ears" are the main source of knowledge of the surrounding world. These "ears" are actually siphons that have evolved in a way that allows them to catch chemicals. In effect: advanced chemical communication. Also, some creatures have hair-like projections on their heads, allowing them to detect and measure wind currents, which would be a constant worry for these creatures. |
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| CarrionTrooper | Jan 12 2009, 09:04 AM Post #4 |
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I require more vespene gas?!?
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Interesting! Do come up with the faster, predatory kind, I would love to see how they develop. |
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| Canis Lupis | Jan 12 2009, 04:50 PM Post #5 |
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Dinosaurs eat man, woman inherits the Earth.
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You got it! Here's a link to the Baloophant, one of the main "plants" (Paraflora): ![]() P.S. Carriontrooper & Black_Panther: just because I've started on this project doesn't mean that I've abandoned Rilln or TFIB. |
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| CarrionTrooper | Jan 13 2009, 02:04 AM Post #6 |
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I require more vespene gas?!?
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No prob, we'll wait on them too. |
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9:42 AM Jul 11