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| Deriving a Central Arm | |
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| Topic Started: Jan 31 2009, 07:31 AM (1,270 Views) | |
| StrandedAlien | Jan 31 2009, 07:31 AM Post #1 |
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Fetus
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I have a question: How do you design a creature with a central arm? Like Nemo Ramjet's example here, a "Monkey" of Pazattan. Monkey of Pazattan I am working on a redesign of one of my creatures, which has such a central arm, which has now become necessary, no longer just interesting. (It has a long neck with a beak, and uses its beak and its central arm as its two manipulators. We have a right hand and a left hand, they would have an upper beak and a lower hand/talon.) Any feedback, much appreciated! |
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| PousazPower | Feb 4 2009, 05:21 PM Post #16 |
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Cladistic Kid
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If you were thinking of something similar to a coelocanth as an ancestor for the non-tripod, the central arm wouldn't be in a place that would be useful for grasping. A coelocanth has at least five appendages that have the potential to become limbs. First are the paired pelvic and pectoral fins, which gave rise to our limbs (our ancestors weren't exactly coelocanths, but who cares?). Second is the second dorsal fin (the leading dorsal fin is actinous and spiny), and third is the anal fin. The anal fin would be the closest thing to something that could give rise to a central arm, but it's an anal fin; it's in between the anus and the tail. That's not a place you'd want to have an arm. I know someone will suggest that it could migrate towards a more convenient position, but then the anus would migrate with it and who wants to have an anus on their chest? The second dorsal fin is also kind of problematic, not for sanitation regions, but because what use would a hand be if it were behind you? ![]() All that, however, is based on coelocanth anatomy, which would be radically different from GBA's hypothetical fishy ancestor anyway. Besides, a central arm would be very hard to derive from a fish like a coelocanth on earth anyway. Nevertheless, a ventral fin in front, with the proper internal supports, could give rise to a ventral arm, as GBA has suggested. |
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Was your nose discovered or invented? PousazPower on DeviantART | |
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| StrandedAlien | Feb 4 2009, 08:50 PM Post #17 |
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Fetus
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Here's a quick little MS Paint diagram that might show it. I think in the drawing I posted before, the eyestalk was in the way of the "neck". Hliaen head diagram Edited by StrandedAlien, Feb 4 2009, 08:51 PM.
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| ATEK Azul | Feb 6 2009, 09:48 PM Post #18 |
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Transhuman
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you could make a back fin work as a middle arm by evolving an up side down creature where the spine is in the front of the body and they have evolved a different body plan. |
| I am dyslexic, please ignore the typo's! | |
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| Viergacht | Feb 7 2009, 12:18 AM Post #19 |
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faceless fiend
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Something like an elephant's trunk might develop as a central limb. |
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| ATEK Azul | Feb 7 2009, 12:44 PM Post #20 |
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Transhuman
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never mind wrong topic sorry.
Edited by ATEK Azul, Feb 7 2009, 02:59 PM.
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| I am dyslexic, please ignore the typo's! | |
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| Rodge the Linkbot | Feb 7 2009, 02:07 PM Post #21 |
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Infant
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I imagine a change in locomotion would do it. Our Reproductive systems changed completely when we became completely bipedal. Why not a limb? |
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| ATEK Azul | Feb 7 2009, 03:03 PM Post #22 |
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Transhuman
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as for a central arm i think that maybe the reproductive organs of a mammalian creature might be able too turn into a tentacul and then an arm through cartilage structure and eventually bone structures. |
| I am dyslexic, please ignore the typo's! | |
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| Rodge the Linkbot | Feb 7 2009, 04:10 PM Post #23 |
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Infant
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I was just thinking it may have moved around the body like the vagina did when we became bipedal. I was imagining this limb was always a limb, but where would it have been before and what was it used for to make it move to the front of the creature? |
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| ATEK Azul | Feb 7 2009, 08:33 PM Post #24 |
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Transhuman
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another way for a arm might come from the head of an animal evolving into 2 one with hearing and sight on top and below has the breathing and digestive parts of the body. |
| I am dyslexic, please ignore the typo's! | |
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| Venatosaurus | Feb 7 2009, 08:59 PM Post #25 |
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HAUS OF SPEC
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Did someone suggest a reproductive organ (most likely a penis) as a manipulatory organ LOL , Imagine shaking hands XD
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| ATEK Azul | Feb 7 2009, 09:21 PM Post #26 |
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Transhuman
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yeah i basicly did but come on is it really that hard too think of espesialy for some thing alien, many invertebrates have it any way so its not that big of a deal. |
| I am dyslexic, please ignore the typo's! | |
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| Giant Blue Anteater | Feb 14 2009, 07:50 PM Post #27 |
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Prime Specimen
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Some food for thought:![]()
While this creature roughly fills the niche of a rabbit or a small deer, imagine a primate-like relative (not realy primate-like per se, but you know what I mean). While you cannot really do much with one arm, how about the muscular proboscis serves as one arm, the middle, boned limb would serve as another. |
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LOL , Imagine shaking hands XD



9:41 AM Jul 11