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Faces of a lost world; The extinct ecology of a now gone world
Topic Started: Jul 15 2008, 08:42 PM (853 Views)
ItHasTeeth
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I've been turning back to my 'Trio-verse more & more lately... but more for understanding it's mechanics rather then simply playing with it's characters (which I'm also doing, like always.)
For those who don't know what I'm talking about, see my DA oage:
Trio-Verse history prt.1: http://zippo4k.deviantart.com/journal/18039027/#comments
prt. 2: http://zippo4k.deviantart.com/journal/18210289/#comments
prt. 2.1: http://zippo4k.deviantart.com/journal/19376453/#comments
Trio: http://zippo4k.deviantart.com/art/Trios-for-Sir-Pumpkinhead-87309060
Craniacs (their data page is currently in need of being retooled & is not on DA at the moment): http://zippo4k.deviantart.com/art/Detailed-Craniac-84906630
Mendelites: http://zippo4k.deviantart.com/art/A-Mendelite-for-whalewithlegs-83815408
P'kypse: http://zippo4k.deviantart.com/art/A-P-kipsi-for-Fire-Runner-85380098
Armoden: http://zippo4k.deviantart.com/art/A-P-kipsi-for-Fire-Runner-85380098

Obviously my story line is still relatively flimsy & needs work, but that's not what I'm here for...

There's one race that I've been looking at lately that I wanted to bring up: The Psyne.
The Psyne originated from a world that was swallowed by their sun's expansion & as a result virtually all their wild life is gone (sans for the 'plants' and animals they brought with them, but that only barely scratches the surface of their planet's original biodiversity.)

Now the planet still lacks a name (I'll come up with that sooner or later...), but the environment is one I find quite amusing as far evolution is concerned: It's got next to no shielding from the sun's light & ultraviolet rays and the gravity of the planet is rather weak (possibly related to the condition of the planet's core). The most complex life forms above ground are encrusting black 'plants' . the black color is the result of melanin which can absorb solar radiation for use by the organism (some fungi on Earth can do this with gamma radiation.) All the real spectacular organisms are under ground in the catacombs that rittle the planet's thick crust. water & volcanic activity would have etched out the cave networks ages ago & the activity of the fauna & flora would break down stone to create new passage ways.

Obviously it's still very new as far as ideas goes & I need help fleshing it out. Any suggestions?

I have an illustration of the psyne done but it needs text...
Here it is so far. Sorry the text is so illegibly small, I had to shrink the file down so it was small enough to upload. -_-
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Attachments: Psyne__proto_type_page_.jpg (165.62 KB)
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Livyatan


Although the planet concept is a bit iffy, the species concept is quite marvelous.
The grand Livyatan on deviantArt: link

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ItHasTeeth
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Paleognath
Jul 15 2008, 09:28 PM
Although the planet concept is a bit iffy, the species concept is quite marvelous.
Meh, that's why I'm here. I need help with it. XD
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Livyatan


Well the main reason I find it iffy is the lack of a protective layer in the atmosphere: perhaps it would be more plausible if the planet started out with a small protective layer at first, allowing life to evolve but eventually it dissipated and that is why life had to retreat to the underground caves in order to survive.
The grand Livyatan on deviantArt: link

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ItHasTeeth
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Paleognath
Jul 16 2008, 09:37 AM
Well the main reason I find it iffy is the lack of a protective layer in the atmosphere: perhaps it would be more plausible if the planet started out with a small protective layer at first, allowing life to evolve but eventually it dissipated and that is why life had to retreat to the underground caves in order to survive.
Makes sense. I like it. :)
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Livyatan


The plants themselves, the black ones that is, may have been minor flora before the extinction as well. Since black coloration may not have been so advantageous before the extinction, the black plants were really like molds in the ecosystem, simple and unimportant. But once the major flora of the planet were wiped out with the intense solar radiation, the black flora suddenly became dominant.
The grand Livyatan on deviantArt: link

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Sliver Slave
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I'm going back to basics.

Thats a nice illustration, but the text is illegibly small.
Something is upsetting the ostriches.

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Livyatan


Oh, I just realized that this should be with the other exobiology topics. Hope you don't mind if I move this, Jonas.
The grand Livyatan on deviantArt: link

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Iowanic
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I find the idea of plants forming or extending caves a very interesting idea.
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