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Recent unnamed alien design of mine
Topic Started: Jan 29 2009, 08:34 PM (589 Views)
StrandedAlien
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Here is a new sophont I designed. It evolved (at least partly,) on an arid world with somewhat higher gravity. They may or may not have originated there. Its distant ancestors were four-way radially symmetrical somewhat starfish-like creatures that became bilateral. An idea I have for this lineage is that they were the product of a much earlier interstellar expansion, leaving similar species all over different worlds, some sapient, others not. (As if we spread throughout the Galaxy,and then disappeared, leaving rats and goats and birds and insects, and possibly now-isolated populations of humans, to evolve over time)
I am not sure how it breathes, though for now I've settled on derived gills, now lungs, on its side legs. Three of the arms became legs, while one became the head. The end of the head has become a trunk. The eyes have a turret-type structure like chameleon eyes. Modified scales have become tusk-like spikes, uses for fighting and digging. Between the main limbs are smaller limbs (I had originally thought of a cross between pedicellariae and tentacles and tube feet). The two front limbs have become manipulators, while the two rear limbs have grown membranous skin, which blood is passed through to keep the being cool. I am not sure as to how they reproduce and such yet.

First drawing:
Unnamed Alien Design
Second drawing:
Aww BFF
With a human friend.
Edited by StrandedAlien, Jan 29 2009, 08:38 PM.
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Giant Blue Anteater
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That is a great concept!

I am willing to offer the name "Ooat", which was a name given to a species of mine, but decided that the species was impractical, as I couldn't find a reason how they became sapient, so I am willing to 'donate' the name to you for use.

However, you reserve the right to name your creature whatever you want. ;)
Ichthyostega

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cdk007
 
Intelligence is awareness of ignorance. Stupidity is ignorance of ignorance. Think about it.
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StrandedAlien
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Thanks! I'm not too sure about what they'll actually sound like, but I might use a variation of "Ooat". I'm looking for a short name to use for them, and Ooat has that sort of slow, ponderous sound in my head. :D
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Giant Blue Anteater
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Haha! I got the idea from a childish alien name such as "Oogie", and decided to make it a little more appealing. I made a Spore creature which carries the same name a while ago, and then I later wanted to "realify" it, but couldn't find a way how it became sapient, so I held off and offered it to you.
Edited by Giant Blue Anteater, Jan 29 2009, 09:08 PM.
Ichthyostega

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cdk007
 
Intelligence is awareness of ignorance. Stupidity is ignorance of ignorance. Think about it.
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StrandedAlien
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I have named them! They will be the oaaht/oaht from the arid world of Hrimbh! Deepish voices, maybe even into infrasound, rumbly, humm-y. Thought of it on my way to work today. :D Thank you, Enormous Azure Myrmecophage! ::monocle::
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Giant Blue Anteater
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With gratitude! :)

I wish you well with the Oaaht! ;)
Ichthyostega

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cdk007
 
Intelligence is awareness of ignorance. Stupidity is ignorance of ignorance. Think about it.
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Canis Lupis
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Dinosaurs eat man, woman inherits the Earth.

Are those wing-like structures on the hindquarters wings?
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StrandedAlien
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In some other relatives, they perhaps *could* be wings, but for the oaaht, while they look like wings, they aren't. They are thermoregulating sails. They unfurl their sails and pass blood through them to cool them when necessary. I'm sure they'd figure in body language somehow, too. Semaphore, perhaps? In the first picture, they are extended to show that they're there. They, along with the arms, are normally retracted/folded up, like in the second picture, where an oaaht is relaxing with its human friend.

(I'm still not sure about reproduction, or even whether there are males, females, hermaphrodites, or something)
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