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Birds of a feather...; ...we need some for Vabmojer
Topic Started: Dec 21 2009, 04:20 PM (810 Views)
Ddraig Goch
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At the moment, the skies of Vabmojer are relatively empty.

We have;

The Gyrophel
Pterodae (Or "Truckles", which feed on tree-sap)
Cissk (A gliding carnivore, of the Lacertidae sub-genus)
Coelorhinidae (Of which only a few species fly; nectar drinkers, restricted to the island of Wettham)
Pteroneurodae (Superficially bat-like found only on joined continents of Vaghis and Matulande. Insectivores, and with limited species)

And so, what I need, are bird-equivilants. Sadly, right now I am at a loss for ideas, so I wonder whether someone could help me? I need species which fulfil the same roles as birds, but preferably look almost nothing like them (vertebrates, preferably). Thanks. :)
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Ànraich
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Well membranes are always a good alternative to feathered flight, and depending on how you do it, can look pretty alien. You might also try some bio-balloons or bio-blimps, those are also always a good option. Try to think of what feathers are and what they do; they're light-weight body coverings (though not all that light, on average feathers weigh twice as much as the avian skeleton) that act both as insulation and as a way to mold the body into an aerodynamic shape. They need to be flexible, so they don't break, and they need to be able to be moved easily and precisely, even in small increments so as to allow for very precise control of airflow around the body in flight. Considering feathers are modified scales, you could probably simply use elongated scales in the shape of a spade or feather, though made of something a bit lighter or structured in an interesting way. You could probably even use something like fur, but more rigid and slightly flattened. Feathers aren't really all that necessary for flight, it's just the way they're shaped and arranged that is. Try looking up flight and feathers on Wikipedia to get some ideas of what the feather analog needs to be like and how wings need to be shaped in order to allow for flight.

But the biggest piece of advice I can give you is this; NO BEAKS. Seriously, everyone always makes some kind of flying alien but gives them beaks! Yes, beaks are relatively simple and useful, but they're so Earthly and bird-like that it just takes away the sense of realism for me (and others, I'm sure). Or if it must have a beak at least make it look alien, maybe have it twist like the snout of certain dolphins (I think they live in the Amazon, but I can't find a good picture).
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

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Are you plausible?

I'd say, if you don't want feathers, go for membranes. They're more likely for vertebrates than floating balloon types. I like the elongated scale idea too, though weight be an issue for consideration. Fur modified into those "scales" may be just the solution.

I agree with the idea to steer away from beaks. The variety of beaks on Earth is so wide that coming up with something truly original and bizarre is very difficult. In general, look at the planet's other flyers, how their wings work and how their body shapes help in the flight process. It will help you come up with something other than just bird replacements.
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food for thought
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Ddraig Goch
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Thanks for your ideas. The Pteoneurodae have membranous wings, are mostly scaly, and are quite awkward, clumsy flyers. I guess the bird equivilants could also have membranous wings, and possibly the modified-scales, but I was wondering about the beaks? Beaks have evolved on Vabmpjer (the Psitticocephalidae were named for them), but, if mouthparts were to perform a similar role to beaks, but without actually developing beaks, how might they adapt?
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Kamidio
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Some pre-historic fish had jaws that protruded from their skin. You could go with that.
Edited by Kamidio, Dec 21 2009, 05:44 PM.
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Are you plausible?

If you look at the paths of evolution and determine that beaks are inevitable, then go with beaks, but think about how to make them different so you don't just come up with 'alien birds'.
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Ddraig Goch
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Well, beaks aren't inevitable, but they have evolved before. I guess it depends on what species they are most closely related to. I think that the Occellidae genus would be a good start. They have four limbs, occelli, ear-flaps (which range in size, from bear-like ears, to something more similar to Jar Jar Binks), and are generally beakless (apart from the Tree Biter, but that is really specialized).
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Are you plausible?

Broad ears could also function as a supplemental flight surface, making it that much easier to fly/steer.
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Ddraig Goch
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Cool! I'd enjoy designing that... and they'd certainly look different.
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Well. a dog's jaw is suprisingly aerodynamic for a fully terrestrial mammal. You could make the snout come to a fine point for greater aerodymics.

Someting i've been tinkering with in my head (and you can use this, pretty much everyone here knows how much trouble I have staying with a project) is a horn like projection evolving to help in flight that may start out as a sexual display, or a tool to help in scavenging. So instead of a beak being the front of your aerodynamic design, a well shaped spike coming out of the top of the head or just below the jaw. However, when making this above the eyes, space the eyes out so it doesn't obstruct their vision.
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Ànraich
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Spaced out eyes for a flying animal is a very bad idea. Depth perception is pretty much a must in a situation where you are moving in three dimensions (especially when having none could mean falling several hundred feet to your death). What if the head was shaped like a hammerhead shark? That shape can be aerodynamic, and look pretty alien. Perhaps less hammer shaped and more crescent shaped?
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

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I didn't mean change the shape of the head I just meant move the eyes slightly. Instead of putting them towards the front perfectly like a human or a chimp stick them at an angle like a blue jay.
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Ddraig Goch
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Thanks for your ideas. Crescent heads and ear flaps will be among the designs that I shall use.
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Ànraich
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I want to see how this turns out. I've tried doing flying things with crescent heads, but it never works out the way I want it. Then again, that probably had to do with the three pairs of wings more than the head...
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

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I'd like to see a flying filter-feeder

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