| Speculative biology is simultaneously a science and form of art in which one speculates on the possibilities of life and evolution. What could the world look like if dinosaurs had never gone extinct? What could alien lifeforms look like? What kinds of plants and animals might exist in the far future? These questions and more are tackled by speculative biologists, and the Speculative Evolution welcomes all relevant ideas, inquiries, and world-building projects alike. With a member base comprising users from across the world, our community is the largest and longest-running place of gathering for speculative biologists on the web. While unregistered users are able to browse the forum on a basic level, registering an account provides additional forum access not visible to guests as well as the ability to join in discussions and contribute yourself! Registration is free and instantaneous. Join our community today! |
| Sentient Aliens; anyone interested? | |
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| Topic Started: Nov 4 2009, 01:38 PM (2,169 Views) | |
| Canis Lupis | Nov 4 2009, 01:38 PM Post #1 |
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Dinosaurs eat man, woman inherits the Earth.
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As some may know, I've gota series of stories I'm working on, set in the "Black Void" universe. I'm pretty well set on the human aspect of the universe, but may alien aspects aren't too alien. It could just be my lack of artistic skills, but all my aliens look human. So: anyone interested in creating aliens for "Black Void"? If you are, here's some things you need to know:
I'm just telling you things you can do and things I may do so as to avoid confusion. Anyway, have fun! |
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| Canis Lupis | Nov 5 2009, 07:13 AM Post #16 |
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Dinosaurs eat man, woman inherits the Earth.
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I like this creature. Sort of an alien parrot. Oh, and if you don't provide a description of the civilazation (such as whether it's space-faring or not), I can work around that. In fact, with the creator's permission, I'd just make a civilization that would fit the story line.
Well, I wish I could use these! ![]() Anyway, I think Empyreon is just saying that, while non-humanoid structure would work, we know for a fact that being humanoid works for sentients. |
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| CarrionTrooper | Nov 6 2009, 12:29 AM Post #17 |
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I require more vespene gas?!?
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How about a creature that has a small head-body, but a lot of tentacles? Maybe as many as 52, 26 is used for locomotion, and the rest to manipulate things. They evolved as ambush predators but have recently acquired taste of vegetable-like tubers (or is that tuber-like vegetables?) that lives on their planet. The new fondness of this tuber had drove them to the first seed of civilization as they discover that the tuber can be farmed (and thus, sedentary life follows)... Now they mostly work in intergalactic space as mechanics, operators, or generally jobs that require multiple limbs. |
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| The Dodo | Nov 6 2009, 02:18 AM Post #18 |
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Prime Specimen
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Nice alien, do they work with other species or do they only serve themselves? By the way feel free to design technology for the Trionids, I'm not to good with designing technology. I don't know if it matters but these are not humanoid, they have a more theropod like posture. Also I forgot to add some of the behaviour. The females are larger than the males so in this society is slightly female biaist although recently males have been given more rights. The females only look after the babies so they are a lot more compassionate than the males who have been known to attack children to be able to mate with them. Due to this when a female is looking after offspring they are separated from the males for the children's safety until the child is old enough to be more idependent usually when they leave the pouch. The males are usually the main workers while the females take over leader jobs. Both sexes have a fast metabolism and spend most of their life working, they are a curious species and started using science earlier on in their history than humans. They are quite eaisly able to imagine. |
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| Ddraig Goch | Nov 6 2009, 12:04 PM Post #19 |
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Ar hyd y nos
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Dodo; I'm sorry, I did this in a rush, but I was wondering, is this how you imagined your' trionids? |
| Save the Blibbering Humdinger from extinction! | |
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| Empyreon | Nov 6 2009, 04:26 PM Post #20 |
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Are you plausible?
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But you see, there were posts a page ago that I realized I had missed in previous viewings because there are over a dozen posts about being random. Yes, random romps are fun (and sometimes even clever), but that there is a time and a place for it, and Canis Lupis has said this isn't that time or place? Are you guys going to respect his wishes (even after he provided you with an acceptable alternative) or is Parasky going to have to get involved?
That's very true, but there is only one body shape that we know has achieved sapience. If you doubt this fact, look in the mirror! ![]() * Standard disclaimer for those who still have doubts after that. * Here's a question I have: what makes a species sentient? It's something that's even debated among earthly animals, but where do you guys think the line should be drawn between a highly intelligent animals and a fully sapient species? Is it using a certain level of tool? If so, how advanced of a tool? Is it mastery of fire? Is it language? If so, what constitutes sufficient language skills? |
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Take a look at my exobiology subforum of the planet Nereus! COM Contributions food for thought
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| Ddraig Goch | Nov 6 2009, 05:28 PM Post #21 |
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Ar hyd y nos
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Look, Empyreon, we have respected Canis's wishes - we've stopped being random, now! And there's no need to threaten us with Parasky! And so, staying on topic, here is my entry - The Click-Runners. Click-Runners (Trirhynchus sapiens) Native to the vast jungles of the tropical Bavundus 4, Click-Runners are a species of predatory omnivores. Both the names of the species and the planet were created by human imperialists, as the creatures actual names for themselves and their planet are unpronouncable with human tongue. The Click-Runners have two legs and two arms, and bear a passing resemblance to an ostrich. However, they are featherless, hold thier heads underneath their bodies, and have three eyes on stalks, positioned at the base of the neck. Their mouths are made up of three, beak-like stuctures, triangular in shape, which fit together to form a sort of pyramid. The inside of this beak is lined with razor sharp teeth, their main weapon. They stand roughly two metres tall at the hip, and are a mottled green in colour. The Click-Runners communicate with, as their name suggests, clicks, and head-bobbing gestures, and they are very fast moving. They are a warrior race, and yet have a curious affinity with nature. When the first human colonists arrived, they had no idea that there was another intelligent species on the planet - although technologically advanced, they allow their cities to become overgrown, so that they are virtually indistinguishable from the surrounding rainforest. Because of this human intrusion, the Click-Runners are now pretty much at war with humanity, although it is a war which only involves conflict if humans land on Bavundus 4. The Click-Runners have no space-travel available to them, but managed to oust the first human colony very quickly. Due to this conflict, very little is known about Click-Runner behavior and society. (Just to make sure, you will credit us for these creations, won't you, Canis?) |
| Save the Blibbering Humdinger from extinction! | |
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| Ànraich | Nov 6 2009, 05:38 PM Post #22 |
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L'évolution Spéculative est moi
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This nonsense is out of control. I have cleaned up this topic, the next time something like that happens I start issuing bans; one day per post. The off-topic tangents on this forum are out of hand and quite a few members are sick of it. And it's not just you two, it's many people. Keep this thread on topic. I apologize for the harshness of this post, but NO MODERATOR DID ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. Almost two pages of utter nonsense! And while people were trying to keep discussion on topic! I also apologize for the parts of former posts that now make little sense due to missing posts, but they're all concerning the nonsense anyways. |
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We should all aspire to die surrounded by our dearest friends. Just like Julius Caesar. "The Lord Universe said: 'The same fate I have given to all things from stones to stars, that one day they shall become naught but memories aloft upon the winds of time. From dust all was born, and to dust all shall return.' He then looked upon His greatest creation, life, and pitied them, for unlike stars and stones they would soon learn of this fate and despair in the futility of their own existence. And so the Lord Universe decided to give life two gifts to save them from this despair. The first of these gifts was the soul, that life might more readily accept their fate, and the second was fear, that they might in time learn to avoid it altogether." - Excerpt from a Chanagwan creation myth, Legends and Folklore of the Planet Ghar, collected and published by Yieju Bai'an, explorer from the Celestial Commonwealth of Qonming Tree That Owns Itself
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| Holben | Nov 7 2009, 04:06 AM Post #23 |
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Rumbo a la Victoria
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Ok. Well, on topic, with difficulty, the Click-runners look like they really could have adapted to this place. |
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Time flows like a river. Which is to say, downhill. We can tell this because everything is going downhill rapidly. It would seem prudent to be somewhere else when we reach the sea. "It is the old wound my king. It has never healed." | |
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| The Dodo | Nov 7 2009, 06:07 AM Post #24 |
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Prime Specimen
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Basically yes, better job in drawing then I could of done. Except the eyes are large covering a lot of the head and are insect like. |
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| Holben | Nov 7 2009, 09:30 AM Post #25 |
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Rumbo a la Victoria
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I've just invented the Flurgle, which is an amphibian-like creature with four legs and two graspers attached to its mouth. |
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Time flows like a river. Which is to say, downhill. We can tell this because everything is going downhill rapidly. It would seem prudent to be somewhere else when we reach the sea. "It is the old wound my king. It has never healed." | |
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| CarrionTrooper | Nov 7 2009, 10:17 PM Post #26 |
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I require more vespene gas?!?
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Methinks they work for anyone, they're that adaptable. As long as they can grasp the concept of the machine/equipment/utility that they're about to use (and the jobs' concept too), they'll be glad to work on it. And they reproduce asexually by getting split in half. But, they need two individuals, so two comes in, four comes out. There's no concept of parenting, because the most basic knowledge is split between the four offspring-splits (their language of purrs and rarrls are one of them), and they have to learn about everything else by observing their environment and society. Some who are considered geniuses will inherit more information than usual when they split this way. By the way, have I mentioned that they're good card players? |
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| Holben | Nov 8 2009, 07:07 AM Post #27 |
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Rumbo a la Victoria
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Does one line of splitting 'age', or do they achieve genetic immortality? |
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Time flows like a river. Which is to say, downhill. We can tell this because everything is going downhill rapidly. It would seem prudent to be somewhere else when we reach the sea. "It is the old wound my king. It has never healed." | |
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| Ddraig Goch | Nov 8 2009, 12:33 PM Post #28 |
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Ar hyd y nos
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Dodo - yet another quick sketch, and I think I've drawn the torso a bit too long, but is this more like you imagined? |
| Save the Blibbering Humdinger from extinction! | |
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| Holben | Nov 8 2009, 12:36 PM Post #29 |
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Rumbo a la Victoria
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You've got really neat handwriting. Anywind, the things we have here look good. |
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Time flows like a river. Which is to say, downhill. We can tell this because everything is going downhill rapidly. It would seem prudent to be somewhere else when we reach the sea. "It is the old wound my king. It has never healed." | |
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| Ddraig Goch | Nov 8 2009, 03:30 PM Post #30 |
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Ar hyd y nos
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(Really? Neat handriting? I consider mine to be really poor..) So we have the Trionids (Dodo), the many tentacled space-engineers (Carrion Trooper), and the Click Runners (me). That seems like quite a good start. |
| Save the Blibbering Humdinger from extinction! | |
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9:32 AM Jul 11