Specbio - Blog Posts

The climate in this region is usually hot and dry, punctuated by sporadic torrential downpours. After such events, the ground flourishes with a dense interconnected web of growth taking advantage of the temporary hydration. Once all the water dissipates, the soil is left to crack in the heat of the day. During these times Ponderosus are on the move, searching for the last remaining vernal pools. They used the times of plenty to fill up on nutrients, but now during a drought they switch primarily to photosynthesis to meet their energy needs. The smaller, dish-faced Lanx are not so lucky. Embedded in the ground unable to move, they must simply go dormant if the rains do not arrive soon enough. For now they point their open frills at the sun and gather energy while they still can. A Stealthspring prowls the scene looking for unfortunate small creatures who may not be faring well in the heat. Their predominant walking style requires a different gait for front and back sets of legs, but if needed their whole body becomes a giant spring, allowing them to burst forward for great distances. In an environment where major features like the ponderosus can move, it can be difficult to navigate from day to day, so the stealthspring must be ready to take flight at any time, should danger come calling.

Desert creature

As Above, So Below

Throughout most of the year, the nighttime skies of planet Veteris are illuminated by a vast, brilliant nebula. Tiny photosynthetic organisms multiply during the daylight hours, and after sunset the surface waters become a thick soup of predators ascending from the deep to feed on them. Any creature seen from below will be silhouetted against the glow of the sky above. To prevent becoming easy targets for predation, many blend in by producing their own light. In their swarming multitudes, these billions of incandescent swimmers create biological nebulae beneath the waves. Massive filter feeders like the ghostly white Niveus have no need for such camouflage. Their immense size and surprising speed are enough to keep them safe as they cruise these starry seas.

First Light

Dawn breaks in the desert, revealing a scurrying frenzy of creatures returning to shelter after the night’s mischief. Tallest among them, the Cycloptic Night-Seeker surveys the scene looking for any last morsel of food before the day’s solar onslaught forces its retreat into shadow. The Testapallidus at its feet may prove an ideal treat, unless the sand-swimming Armored Loricatus captures it first. Though the Testapallidus’ hard dorsal shell protects it from most threats, the Night-Seeker possesses a keen intellect, curious disposition, and two formidable front appendages that are as dextrous as they are sharp. Usually too quick for the large hunter, a trio of gregarious Desert Sentinels are more concerned with ambush predators such as the Loricatus, and one inflates its signaling air sacs in alarm. Already, members of the desert’s daytime cast are making an appearance. Luteos have positioned themselves at the top of the ridge to greet the first slanted rays. Relying on photosynthesis for a large portion of their metabolism, they tilt their bodies to follow the sun throughout the day. In a short time, more heat-tolerant daylight denizens will take the stage and play out their part in the everyday drama of the high desert.

Flap Your Wings! - The Pterobats

20 Million Years P.E. (The Late Origocene)

The lack of flying vertabrates has greatly encouraged the developement of powered flight In the Protein Gliders of the Middle Origocene.

Now their descendants, the Pterobats have dominated the planet as the dominant flyers.

The more basal species are airborn insect-catchers like the Canopy-Catcher (Cortinacaptor Striatus), still very similiar to their ancestor.

But some Pterobats started to focus on larger prey, similiar as the Birds of prey on earth there are also Pterobats of prey, as of right now they are rather small and thus only hunt small prey like Mausbies or other smaller Pterobats.

One of those Pterobats of prey Is the Dusty Pterohawk (Anuroganthusaccipeter Pulverulentus), flying over open plains In search for prey.

But truly the most unique of the Pterobats In this time would be the Monarch Pterobat (Sucusvespertilo Danausplexippus), as It Isnt even In the slightest predatory.

The Monarch Pterobat Is rather interested In sweet foods like fruits and nectar. Another unique factor In these Pterobats Is their ability to see colors, colorvision appears quite rarely In mammals and usually only evolves In frugivores to find brightly clored fruits and since the Monarch Pterobats are fans of bright colored fruits and flowers, natural selection favored them color vision.

Their color vision eventually allowed them one more trait except to find food with ease, communication.

With their bright orange-yellow colors on their otherwise black fur, their colors quite pop and make themselfs visible to other members of their species.

You might think that these colors might attract predators as well, but the predators In question dont posses color vision themselfs and since Monarch Pterobats are mostly adorned with black and orange colors they can actually be pretty hard to spot, or well, atleast not easier then other Pterobat species.

Pterobats get their name from their unique flying build which resembles that of early Pterosaurs.

Since the Pterobats are marsupials, they heavily rely on their claws In order to get Into their mothers pouch.

Thus natural selection has favored an build for flight which retained most of the claws.

Unlike the placental Bats from Earth they only use a single finger to support their skin membrane.

Being an flying marsupial although has more issues then just the claws, the joeys In the mothers pouch can put on quite alot of weight and hinder their flight capabilites.

Although they have found an solution for this issue as well.

Pterobats will stay together as an mated pair until their joey are old enough, when the joeys are getting to heavy for the mothers pouch, she will leave the young with the father, who will then find an safe spot that will hide the joeys, the father will then also feed their offspring and keep them safe untill they are old enough to depart.

Pterobats have 2 ways of takeoff, either from the solid ground by using their front legs to push them into the air, or hang and swing from trees or cliffes.

@tribbetherium what Dusk Mice species Is that?