| 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! |
| Pandora; Filling in the ecosystems | |
|---|---|
| Topic Started: Jan 4 2010, 02:52 PM (4,176 Views) | |
| Ddraig Goch | Jan 4 2010, 02:52 PM Post #1 |
|
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.
|
| Save the Blibbering Humdinger from extinction! | |
![]() |
|
| TheCoon | Jan 4 2010, 02:54 PM Post #2 |
![]()
Happy merry Jesusmas inhabitants of the Spec Forums!
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Can you also post the plant species? |
Greetings young life form! Procyon Lotor at your service.
| |
![]() |
|
| Ddraig Goch | Jan 4 2010, 03:24 PM Post #3 |
|
Ar hyd y nos
![]()
|
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.
|
| Save the Blibbering Humdinger from extinction! | |
![]() |
|
| Holben | Jan 4 2010, 03:42 PM Post #4 |
![]()
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." | |
![]() |
|
| Ddraig Goch | Jan 5 2010, 04:05 PM Post #5 |
|
Ar hyd y nos
![]()
|
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. |
| Save the Blibbering Humdinger from extinction! | |
![]() |
|
| Ddraig Goch | Jan 6 2010, 02:55 PM Post #6 |
|
Ar hyd y nos
![]()
|
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. |
| Save the Blibbering Humdinger from extinction! | |
![]() |
|
| Holben | Jan 6 2010, 02:58 PM Post #7 |
![]()
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." | |
![]() |
|
| Ddraig Goch | Jan 6 2010, 03:00 PM Post #8 |
|
Ar hyd y nos
![]()
|
What do, the birds or the Banshees? |
| Save the Blibbering Humdinger from extinction! | |
![]() |
|
| Holben | Jan 6 2010, 03:01 PM Post #9 |
![]()
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." | |
![]() |
|
| Ddraig Goch | Jan 6 2010, 03:05 PM Post #10 |
|
Ar hyd y nos
![]()
|
Fair enough. So, what do they look like? Presumably four wings and two legs, with feathers. Beak? Lay eggs? |
| Save the Blibbering Humdinger from extinction! | |
![]() |
|
| Holben | Jan 6 2010, 03:07 PM Post #11 |
![]()
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." | |
![]() |
|
| T.Neo | Jan 6 2010, 03:16 PM Post #12 |
![]()
Translunar injection: TLI
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
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. | |
![]() |
|
| Empyreon | Jan 6 2010, 06:22 PM Post #13 |
|
Are you plausible?
![]()
|
And also match the rest of the flyers on Pandora. |
|
Take a look at my exobiology subforum of the planet Nereus! COM Contributions food for thought
| |
![]() |
|
| Holben | Jan 7 2010, 12:02 PM Post #14 |
![]()
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." | |
![]() |
|
| Empyreon | Jan 7 2010, 06:00 PM Post #15 |
|
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! COM Contributions food for thought
| |
![]() |
|
| 1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous) | |
| Go to Next Page | |
| « Previous Topic · The Habitable Zone · Next Topic » |















9:31 AM Jul 11