| 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 (4,178 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! | |
![]() |
|
| Replies: | |
|---|---|
| T.Neo | Jan 15 2010, 03:51 PM Post #61 |
![]()
Translunar injection: TLI
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
The Pandoran arthropoids seem fine to me. I'm just talking about arthropoids in general. |
| A hard mathematical figure provides a sort of enlightenment to one's understanding of an idea that is never matched by mere guesswork. | |
![]() |
|
| Ddraig Goch | Jan 16 2010, 09:08 AM Post #62 |
|
Ar hyd y nos
![]()
|
I've been pondering the cladistics of Pandoran life, and I have come up with a basic cladogram for the animals. I've taken what the book says about the Banshees' jaw structure, and I suggest that the ancestors of the Banshee went through an aquatic stage. I've classed the Direhorse, the Thanator (and its' relative, the Viperwolf), the Titanothere (and the related Sturmbeest) into "Mammals". The Fanlizard sits under "Reptiles", but I'm not sure as to how to class the Slinger. This is only my take on it, and bear in mind that taxonomy is not my strong point. This is just a starting point. |
| Save the Blibbering Humdinger from extinction! | |
![]() |
|
| Holben | Jan 16 2010, 09:35 AM Post #63 |
![]()
Rumbo a la Victoria
![]()
|
I can't see your cladogram- i just have to download a zipped file. :confused But what traits unify the mammalians, reptilians, etc.? What derived characteristic brings them together? |
|
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." | |
![]() |
|
| Carlos | Jan 16 2010, 09:54 AM Post #64 |
|
Adveho in me Lucifero
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Just for you to know, it is stated that the Tetrapteron is a "bird", according to the official encyclopedia. In fact, I prefer to think that all the vertebrate fliers we see on film are "birds" (need a picture of the Stingbat). As a whole, I imagine them as having evolved from flying fish like animals, but the similarities between other hexapods and them could very well mean that they are just terrestrial vertebrates that became winged. Lots of speculation on them on my part. As for the anthropods, I do have some ideas on their anatomy to set them apart from out anthropods. |
|
Lemuria: http://s1.zetaboards.com/Conceptual_Evolution/topic/5724950/ Terra Alternativa: http://s1.zetaboards.com/Conceptual_Evolution/forum/460637/ My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Carliro ![]() | |
![]() |
|
| Venatosaurus | Jan 16 2010, 10:06 AM Post #65 |
|
HAUS OF SPEC
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
The fish also seem to vary, the Survival guide shows a picture of the Na'vi enjoying what seems to be a large bass with eight fins and a finless tail, while there is another species of piranha-like fish, the Dinicthoid, that is armored and only has two fins, making it seem somewhat like an arthropod-fish or an alien placoderm. |
|
| |
![]() |
|
| Carlos | Jan 16 2010, 10:10 AM Post #66 |
|
Adveho in me Lucifero
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
And by the way, regarding the birds, some species like the banshee and the leonopteryx have those feather like rods in the tip of the wings; do you think na'vis actually rip off said rods of small banshee like birds? And regarding pandoran anatomy: http://forums.furaffinity.net/showthread.php?t=60353 |
|
Lemuria: http://s1.zetaboards.com/Conceptual_Evolution/topic/5724950/ Terra Alternativa: http://s1.zetaboards.com/Conceptual_Evolution/forum/460637/ My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Carliro ![]() | |
![]() |
|
| Venatosaurus | Jan 16 2010, 10:21 AM Post #67 |
|
HAUS OF SPEC
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
LOL That was the funniest video ever ! But the actual sex scene will be featured on the DVD itself As for the 'birds' the Na'vi have pets known as Stingbats, which are like hawk sized Banshees, with venomous tails, though they do not have such feather-like extensions.
|
|
| |
![]() |
|
| ATEK Azul | Jan 16 2010, 01:24 PM Post #68 |
|
Transhuman
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Maybe the flyers are descendent from gliding Ceolocanths which might explain both their fish traits and simularities with vertebrates? |
| I am dyslexic, please ignore the typo's! | |
![]() |
|
| Holben | Jan 16 2010, 02:12 PM Post #69 |
![]()
Rumbo a la Victoria
![]()
|
Glidng coelocanths lol. Maybe they're descended from a tetrapod-like fish, more developed than coelocanth, yet less so than, say, Acanthostega? |
|
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." | |
![]() |
|
| ATEK Azul | Jan 16 2010, 02:47 PM Post #70 |
|
Transhuman
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
That could work to I was just giving a suggestion that fit. |
| I am dyslexic, please ignore the typo's! | |
![]() |
|
| Ddraig Goch | Jan 16 2010, 04:04 PM Post #71 |
|
Ar hyd y nos
![]()
|
The book only refers to the Tetrateron as birds. They have "beaks", and two tails, which could be a defining feature of Pandoran avians. The book suggests that the Banshee, Leonopteryx and Stingbat are related, but in a different genus to the Tetrateron. |
| Save the Blibbering Humdinger from extinction! | |
![]() |
|
| Carlos | Jan 16 2010, 04:23 PM Post #72 |
|
Adveho in me Lucifero
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
I think those a birds too however, because they share features with Tetrapteron that shouldn't be coincidence, namely having bird like legs and same number of wings/legs, instead of, for instance, two wings and four legs |
|
Lemuria: http://s1.zetaboards.com/Conceptual_Evolution/topic/5724950/ Terra Alternativa: http://s1.zetaboards.com/Conceptual_Evolution/forum/460637/ My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Carliro ![]() | |
![]() |
|
| Holben | Jan 16 2010, 04:24 PM Post #73 |
![]()
Rumbo a la Victoria
![]()
|
Maybe it's because those are good traits? |
|
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." | |
![]() |
|
| Carlos | Jan 16 2010, 04:38 PM Post #74 |
|
Adveho in me Lucifero
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Doubt it; a creature like the banshee would benefit more from six wings than from a pair of hindlimbs that, assuming that they are birdlike in structure, would only be unnecessary weight on the air. Thus, the banshees lost them, for they became specialised to flight
Edited by Carlos, Jan 16 2010, 04:39 PM.
|
|
Lemuria: http://s1.zetaboards.com/Conceptual_Evolution/topic/5724950/ Terra Alternativa: http://s1.zetaboards.com/Conceptual_Evolution/forum/460637/ My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Carliro ![]() | |
![]() |
|
| Ddraig Goch | Jan 16 2010, 05:23 PM Post #75 |
|
Ar hyd y nos
![]()
|
I still think that the Tetrateron is in a different genus to the Banshee... but they could still be closely related, though. Possibly similar to the relationship between dinosaurs and birds. |
| Save the Blibbering Humdinger from extinction! | |
![]() |
|
| 1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous) | |
| Go to Next Page | |
| « Previous Topic · The Habitable Zone · Next Topic » |








Pandoran_Cladogram.docx (11.17 KB)


As for the 'birds' the Na'vi have pets known as Stingbats, which are like hawk sized Banshees, with venomous tails, though they do not have such feather-like extensions.
9:33 AM Jul 11