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Pandora; Filling in the ecosystems
Topic Started: Jan 4 2010, 02:52 PM (4,176 Views)
Ddraig Goch
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Ar hyd y nos

This topic is for filling in the unfortunately sparse ecosystems of Pandora, the planet from the movie Avatar. To assist, here is a list of current fauna;

FULL LIST OF KNOWN PANDORAN FAUNA


Flyers (Supposedly related)

Banshee- dragon-like carnivore, subspecies in mountains and rainforest
Leonopteryx (Leonopteryx rex) - like an oversized Banshee, but with bright blue vertical head crest
Stingbat (Scorpiobattus volansii) - miniature Banshee, with long, poisonous tail-barb
Tetrapteron - beaked animal with two tails, subspecies found in swamp and rainforest

Herbivores (Supposedly related)

Hammerhead Titanothere (Titanotheris hammercephalis) - huge browser, similar in behavior to Terran Rhinoceras. Herd animal
Sturmbeest (Bovindicum monocerii) - plains dwelling herd beast
Hexapede (Sexcruscervus caeruleus) - gazelle-like creature, with twin membranes on head, used for display

Carnivores (Supposedly related)

Thanator (Thanatora Rex) - mighty, lion-like apex predator. Subspecies in rainforest and sub-arctic biomes
Viperwolf (Caniferratus costatus) - pack hunting, highly intelligent carnivores. Subspecies in rainforest, savannah and sub-arctic habitats

Other


Direhorse (Equidirus hoplites) - nectar drinking, horse-like animal. Possibly forms herds
Fan Lizard (Fanisaurus pennatus) - lizard-like creature, with large, circular flap of brightly coloured skin, used to escape predation
Slinger (Acediacetus xenoterribili) - bizarre predator, whose body is the adult and whose head is the infant
Dinicthoid (Gargoylia macropisceae) - highly aggressive, bottom-dwelling fish. Hunts like Terran crocodiles, dragging prey underwater

Invertebrates


Hellfire Wasp (Magnivespa velox) - swarming, wasp-like insect. Two stingers, agonizing venom
Teylu - larval stage of centipede-like invertebrate. Highly nutritious
Arachnoid (Scorpiosista virosae) - scorpion-like animal, six-legs, two stingers
Glow Worms (Arachnolumera nitidae) - large, bioluminescent worms. Feed off decaying plant material
Medusa-Aerocoelenterates (Aerocnideria aerae) - massive floating jellyfish, uses tentacles to capture prey
Anemenoid (Cataracta anemonica) - lifeforms that float on the surface of the water, uses tentacles to grab prey

Simians

Prolemuris (Prolemuris noctis) - monkey/ lemur-like animal, highly sociable. Odd arm configuration
Na'vi (Homo pandorus) - sentient race



Go speculate! :)
Edited by Ddraig Goch, Jan 31 2010, 06:51 AM.
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TheCoon
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Happy merry Jesusmas inhabitants of the Spec Forums!
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Can you also post the plant species?
Greetings young life form! Procyon Lotor at your service.

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Ddraig Goch
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FULL LIST OF KNOWN PANDORAN PLANT SPECIES

Plants

Unidelta Tree - forms symbiotic relationship with smaller Delta Tree. Roots highly toxic
Warbonnet Fern - large fern. Uses bioluminescene to attract birds, which feed on insects and protect the plant
Baja Tickler - absorbs atmospheric toxins and condenses them into liquids. Periodically squirts out poison due to pressure build-up
Banshee of Paradise - senses IR given off by animals, and shoots poisonous barbs at them as a defense
Cycad - almost identical to Terran Cycad. Lives in symbiotic relationship with algal growth
Dandetiger - condenses atmopheric toxins into a resin, used to deter insects
Dapophet - grows ballon-like leaves filled with water
Episoth - fruit from this plant explodes, dispersing seeds
Octoshroom - massive mushroom-like plant, that can grow in heavily irradiated and polluted soil
Beanstalk Palm - grows up to one-hundred and fifty metres in height. Used as perch by Banshees
Popsicle - absorbs xenon. Mildly radioactive, with tendancy to explode
Puffball Tree - gorws large "balloons", that fill up with toxic gases from the atmosphere. Eventually, these detach and float away
Scorpion Thistle - shaped like a scorpions tail. Drops acid from flower, creating an area for its seeds to germinate
Razor Palm - incredibly sharp leaves, used as defense against herbivores

Carnivorous Plants

Anemenoid - absorbs unobtanium. Attracted to metal objects
Chalice Plant - giant pitcher plant, six metres tall. Has swalled RDA soldiers
Dakteron - vine-like pitcher plant that attaches itself to trees
Hookagourd - gourd with a long stem. Filled with sweet nectar to attract prey

Zooplantae ("Planimals")

Helicoradian - spiral shaped plant that collapses when it senses movement
Binary Sunshine - leaves glow when they sense tension
Panopyra - hanging flower. Carnivorous
Cat Ear - turn towards any passing animal, following it as it goes
Edited by Ddraig Goch, Jan 5 2010, 04:04 PM.
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Holben
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Rumbo a la Victoria

Maybe you could make a food chain, so we know what's missing?
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
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I'm afraid I don't know what the food-chains look like. As a start, Banshees and Leonopteryxes snatch ground dwelling prey, and Medusas feed of Banshees.
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Ddraig Goch
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One thing that Pandora seems to lack are birds. There is mention of a bird species that lives in a partnership with the Warbonnet Fern. Wonder what that would look like... it would also explain where the Na'vi got the feathers for their arrows.
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Holben
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Rumbo a la Victoria

Well, they would be eaten by banshees. Maybe they nest in the sides of the Hallelujah Mountains? They could swoop down to the forest floor, and at the lowest point, pick up prey. Then they would head back up to feed the younglings.
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
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Ar hyd y nos

Quote:
 
Maybe they nest in the sides of the Hallelujah Mountains? They could swoop down to the forest floor, and at the lowest point, pick up prey. Then they would head back up to feed the younglings.

What do, the birds or the Banshees?
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Holben
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Rumbo a la Victoria

Birds.
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
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Ar hyd y nos

Fair enough. So, what do they look like? Presumably four wings and two legs, with feathers. Beak? Lay eggs?
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Holben
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Rumbo a la Victoria

I don't think beak. I think saurian mouth, and glittery eyes. Feathers on the tail, but wings membranous.
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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T.Neo
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Translunar injection: TLI
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What about a body covering of feathers and membranous wings? Would make them very pterosaur-like.
A hard mathematical figure provides a sort of enlightenment to one's understanding of an idea that is never matched by mere guesswork.
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Empyreon
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Are you plausible?

And also match the rest of the flyers on Pandora.
Take a look at my exobiology subforum of the planet Nereus!

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food for thought
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Holben
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Rumbo a la Victoria

Exactly. But we'd have to have many species, some detrivores, some scavengers, some herbivores, perhaps? They could help with pollination- if that's how Pandoran plants reproduce.
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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Empyreon
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Are you plausible?

Considering that the direhorse is a pollinator, at least some of pandoran plant life use pollination.
Take a look at my exobiology subforum of the planet Nereus!

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food for thought
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