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| Amphibination; Part 3 now up | |
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| Topic Started: Aug 26 2009, 02:16 PM (6,325 Views) | |
| StinglessBee | Aug 26 2009, 02:16 PM Post #1 |
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Adolescent
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This is an alternate world where amniotes never evolved. Meanwhile, the Permian extinction was more gradual, allowing the reptiliamorphs (amniote-like amphibians such as Seymouria and Diadectes) to survive. All other extinctions happened as normal. The way I see this world, there are three main orders: lissamphibians (which are more diverse than real world amphibians, but do not produce megafauna), mammaloraniformes (descendants of Seymouria group reptiliamorphs), and throat breeders (descendants of Diadectes group reptiliamorphs, which produce most of the megafauna). The throat breeders are generally social creatures which nurse their young in modified vocal cords in a similar way to a Darwin’s frog. The mammaloraniformes, meanwhile, will have an internal ear drum together with ear bones seperate from the skull, and will be fully warm blooded. The lissamphibians won't be producing anything larger than a badger for two reasons: firstly, many of them breathe through their skin as well as through their lungs, resulting in them needing a large body surface to volume ratio and secondly because they lack the reinforced spine that amniotes and some reptiliamorphs have (come to think of it, badger size may be pushing the limit...) Anyway, may I have critique, advice, or suggestions please. If anyone can think of a better name than those I've come up with, then please tell me. Also, for those who wish for pictures, they will come... eventually (don't expect master pieces: I am, at best, a dreadful artist). Anyway, here is are a few orders and families to begin with: Class: Throat breeder (sorry: I'm not good with latin or greek names) Order: Scale rats These are the creatures from which all other throat breeders evolve (as these were some of the survivors of the K-10 Cretacious extinction). Whilst they are origionally descended from the herbivorous Diadectamorphs, these are omnivorous creatures that grow up to the size of a fox. Whilst they are scaly (reptiliamorphs were) these scales are more comparable to those of a carp than to reptile scales. They communicate by a mixture of scent, body language and (in some species) colour changes, as the vocal cords are used to carry their young. These creatures fill rodent niches, and a few derived scale rats fill primitive primate niches. Class: Mammaloraniformes Order: Seal mimics (not an actual name, just a stand in until someone thinks of something better) These are very basal members of the class, in which many members of the order haven't evolved vivipary. These are mostly marine, but several species swim upriver to lay their frog-like eggs. They and their larvae have pits in their head for sensing the electricity given of by muscles. Most species prey on fish and fill seal and sea lion niches. However, a family of whale like creatures exist (these have evolved vivipary). These fill the niche of humpback whales (eating small fish en mass) or grey whales (eating invertebrates from the sea bed en mass). Class: Lissamphibian Order: Anura Family: Leaping tadpoles/rabbit frogs These are frog-like creatures that maintain the coiled gut used in their tadpole stage to digest plant matter. These grow up to the size of a rabbit, and can be distinguished from other members of the frog/toad order by the more spherical body, which contains the larger digestive system. These (and several other families of frog) have abandoned the usual jumping ability in favour of a odd form of gallop, similar to that used by some crocodilians in real life. They have achieved most of their diversity in colder regions, as they can hibernate easily. Some even have a natural anti-freeze in their blood and muscles (some frogs do this in real life, so why not?) Anyway, there is plenty more things to come. So... what do you think? Edited by StinglessBee, Aug 26 2009, 04:33 PM.
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| StinglessBee | Sep 2 2009, 10:53 AM Post #61 |
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Adolescent
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Well, maybe there can be a black market for dangerous amphibians (there are plenty of people out there willing to keep tigers, pumas, lions, and crocodiles, so why should they stop there). And, come to think of it, it may actually be legal in some areas. Think about it this way, in several countries (and these are MEDCs with comparitively good laws and police forces, not ones ruled by gangsters or highly corrupt officials) the keeping of several forms of crocodile and alligator are legal. As these are clearly highly dangerous... you get the picture. Don't believe me? Check this web site out: Crocodilian Captive Care It's rather worrying what pets people are allowed to keep. Edited by StinglessBee, Sep 2 2009, 10:57 AM.
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| Venatosaurus | Sep 2 2009, 11:10 AM Post #62 |
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HAUS OF SPEC
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Cool !!! Though some forms will eat anything that can fit into their huge jaws , see one branch the Zatrachydidae, (which develop into the family Diablopidae in the project), had huge jaws and may have been able to secrete a sticky substance in their mouths so their prey would stick to their adhesive toungues and mouths, same with their descendants the Diablopsids(which are a little more badass, as they have amazing horn ornamentations). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zatracheidae There are more major predators, but I can't give away too much XD |
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| StinglessBee | Sep 2 2009, 01:08 PM Post #63 |
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Adolescent
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Sounds good. I can't wait to see the cladogram. I could almost certainly see these traded on a black market pet trade of very dangerous amphibians (people would buy them to be a status symbol... the amphibians themselves might even become minor characters in gangster movies, being the pet of the mob boss) That pretty much settles it: I am going to extend the essay I wrote earlier (I might even write part of a police manual detailling what counts as an illegal pet in which country and what one should do against an amphibian on a rampage) |
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| Venatosaurus | Sep 2 2009, 01:12 PM Post #64 |
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HAUS OF SPEC
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This story sounds pretty cool, sort of like a spin off, Speculative Dinosaur Project did a few similar things ! As for the throat breeders, what are they temnospondyl derived, cause they could possibly be derived from the Turtiform lineage I made, though that'd limit them to turtle like animals (though some could get huge look and the meiolanias of our time) |
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| StinglessBee | Sep 2 2009, 01:17 PM Post #65 |
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Adolescent
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I origionally had them being diatectomorph descendants (I didn't mention which species they came from though), but if you can think of something better than go ahead and use it! |
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| Venatosaurus | Sep 2 2009, 01:20 PM Post #66 |
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HAUS OF SPEC
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Really cool, I mean this is your project The Diatectes will actually be large herbivores of the Mesozoic.
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| StinglessBee | Sep 2 2009, 01:46 PM Post #67 |
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Adolescent
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Sounds good. |
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| Venatosaurus | Sep 2 2009, 02:13 PM Post #68 |
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HAUS OF SPEC
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Alright, then I'm good with the planning of these groups
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| StinglessBee | Sep 3 2009, 02:16 PM Post #69 |
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Adolescent
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This hasn't had a proper creature update in some time, so here's one: Class: Mammaliranaformes Order: Simiacetus (common name: Mers, Sea-maids, Sirens) These are highly derived neonatal mammaliranaformes. However, they still have a lung system, which, while most often functioning as a swim bladder, allows them to breath air in the same way as a lung fish. This allows them to use beaches in order to escape from predators or beach-comb for various easy meals. They have long bodies with drastically shortened rear limbs, although the front limbs still retain a surprising amount of dexterity. Their face is short, comparable to an otter with slightly ape-like features. Most of these are opportunistic shellfish eaters that live in waters too cold for Squirtles. Whilst they lack the beak of their rivals, they have surprising intelligence, and use rocks to crack open the shell of the food in question in a similar way to sea otters in Home Earth. However, many species, especially those which live in the same area as squirtles and so compete with them, scavenge or even hunt for additional food. Whilst none are sapient, several are as intelligent as great apes or even early homonids, though most are comparable to otters in intelligence. They frequently sing. They do this for a variety of reasons, from communication to mating rituals, sometimes even to attract prey. At other times, the reasons are mystifying. It has been suggested that it may be for the same reason several intelligent (but non-sapient) species on Earth create "art" (examples of these are elephants and great apes). There are also reports of mimicry, playing, and even a death ritual in one or two species. Captive species are undergoing tests for evidence of problem solving capabilities, and whether they are self aware or not (as in elephants, great apes, magpies and certain dolphins). Their mimicry skills and singing are also being studied in depth. However, known species have proven themselves not to be sapient. Edited by StinglessBee, Sep 5 2009, 11:02 AM.
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| StinglessBee | Sep 5 2009, 09:54 AM Post #70 |
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Adolescent
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Sorry about the double post, but here is an update, an idea by Venatosaurus: Class: Lissamphibian Order: Caudata Family: rugosus (Hankies, singular Hanky) These are a family of salamanders native to North America, mostly the colder parts, though several species live in Florida. Named after a certain South Park character, these have a sausage shaped body, with limbs atrophied and rather useless. These are highly aggressive creatures, with most filling the niche of burrowing mustelids and burrowing snakes. Unsurprisingly, they make poor pets for those who enjoy life without being bitten. A few basal members of these species lay their eggs in fresh water, but most of them lay their eggs on land. Unlike several families in this world, they have not developed hair like skin extensions. However, they are covered in wrinkles, which expands the surface area of their skin, allowing them to take in more oxygen. They are insulated against the cold by a layer of fat below the skin and by air trapped by specialised wrinkly skin. However, like several amphibians in real life, many species hibernate in winter. Edited by StinglessBee, Sep 5 2009, 11:01 AM.
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| Venatosaurus | Sep 5 2009, 10:59 AM Post #71 |
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HAUS OF SPEC
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Sweet , and thanks for using the name suggestion, seriously more people need to see this, maybe they need pictures But lately the only topics I really see moving on are the ones in the general discussion area, c'mon this site is called spec-evolution for a reason, so let's start making the site the way it used to be and start speculating and not asking if the 9/11 attacks were a conspiracy, it'll probably never be answered, so lets move on people ! Edit: Glad to see the previous posts were edited
Edited by Venatosaurus, Sep 5 2009, 11:04 AM.
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| ATEK Azul | Sep 5 2009, 03:00 PM Post #72 |
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Transhuman
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These are great new creatures. I agree with the general discussion board being way to popular it is killing the main focus of the site, there are tons of projects already made that could be revived or remade and/or focused on which would be great. Also I have never gotten why people join sites if they are either not going to post or not going to post in the parts that the site is built upon. |
| I am dyslexic, please ignore the typo's! | |
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| Venatosaurus | Sep 5 2009, 03:10 PM Post #73 |
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HAUS OF SPEC
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I agree full-heartedly ! We come here to discuss and speculate evolution, not talk about President Obama XD Oh and as for the creatures, you haven't seen what I've come up with yet !!! |
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| StinglessBee | Sep 5 2009, 03:26 PM Post #74 |
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Adolescent
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Thanks for the compliment ATEK (the Hankies are, however, all Venatosaurus's idea: he deserves the praise). |
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| Venatosaurus | Sep 5 2009, 04:01 PM Post #75 |
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HAUS OF SPEC
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Oh goodness thank you, though I don't know if praise is a good name for that monstrosity XD |
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The Diatectes will actually be large herbivores of the Mesozoic.
But lately the only topics I really see moving on are the ones in the general discussion area, c'mon this site is called spec-evolution for a reason, so let's start making the site the way it used to be and start speculating and not asking if the 9/11 attacks were a conspiracy, it'll probably never be answered, so lets move on people !
7:20 PM Jul 10