Creature Creation Challenge v2.0 [#3]

[Malkuthe Highwind]

Welcome to the 3rd Creature Creation Challenge v2.0!

This challenge explores one facet of worldbuilding: the creation of fantastical flora and fauna, as the title more or less indicates. Now, whether or not you're a worldbuilder, at one point or another, you're bound to create all manner of beasties, big and small, for your world. This challenge aims to tickle your creativity into bringing to life some of these creatures, and to that end, it brings two things to the table: first, all the submissions for this challenge will be put into a "bestiary" of sorts in the Worldbuilder's Guild which will be a resource for yourself and anyone who needs creatures for their worlds; and second, every week, there will be a different difficulty level set for the challenge. Can't have you budding and veteran worldbuilders alike growing complacent, after all. ;)​

[FIELDBOX=Crash Course in Difficulties, #7bd181]

#7bd181 Difficulty 1:

- This one's easy. Just create a creature that fits a certain theme.

Difficulty 2:

- This one's a bit more difficult. There's a theme to follow but you also have to use a specific body part.

Difficulty 3:

- Here's where things get challenging. You will still have to make your creature match a theme. You're still going to have to use a certain body part. However, now it has to fit a certain ecological niche. Predator or prey, to give you two examples.

Difficulty 4:

- Ooh boy. This one's tough. Your creature has to match a theme, has to have a specific body part, and has to fit a certain ecological niche, but that's not all! This time, you have to base that creature on a specific animal that lives or has lived on earth.

Difficulty 5:

- This is the ultimate challenge for someone wanting to create a species without having to consider sentience/culture. You not only have a theme, specific body part, ecological niche, and real-life animal basis to worry about, but now you have to make sure that that creature also survives in a specific environment as well. Say a volcanic spring, for example, or maybe even the icy-cold, soul-sucking darkness of space.

[/FIELDBOX][FIELDBOX=This Week's Difficulty, #7bd181]

- Here's where things get challenging. You will still have to make your creature match a theme. You're still going to have to use a certain body part. However, now it has to fit a certain ecological niche. Predator or prey, to give you two examples.​

[/FIELDBOX][FIELDBOX=Criteria, #7bd181][WARNING=#7bd181]Theme: Storms
Body Part: Wings
Ecological Niche/Role: Herbivore
[/WARNING][/FIELDBOX][FIELDBOX=Creature Template, #7bd181]Feel free to use this following template for your creatures. You can add on to it or remove things from it as you wish or not use it at all.

Name:
Appearance:
Role: Predator/prey/producer
Habitat:
Life-span:
Sentient: Yes/No
Sapient: Yes/No
Means of Sustenance:
Favourite Food Source:
Major Competition:
Mating Rituals: Courtship rituals, mating grounds, mating season, et cetera
Reproduction: you can include period of gestation
Organization: does this creature travel in packs or herds, or is it a solitary creature that only meets with members of its species for the mating season?
Other:[/FIELDBOX]

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[BTN=#7bd181|bcenter]The Bestiary[/BTN]​

 

[Malkuthe Highwind]

Apologies that this is a week late. I had two university final exams last Friday. However, we're back on track for this. Enjoy.

 

[Immortal_Chaos]

Name: Skyte
Appearance: Skytes are medium sized birds with relatively large wings, their wings, unlike other birds, are split up into three parts for extra navigation through the stormy skies. They also have a tail flayed sideways, which can be flattened and extended, using it to turn like a rudder. They have impeccable eyesight, to find plants in the storm. Skytes have a eelongated, but aerodynamic bill, with small 'teeth' at the end and sides, for grabbing vegetation. They have frail, small legs that is hidden under feathers while flying. When walking, they walk on their legs and wings. They have dull colours, black wings and tail, with a grey body and lighter grey beak. Their feathers are waterproof to stop the rain too.
Role: Herbivore
Habitat: Varies. Usually from heavily stormy areas outwards
Life-span: 12 - 14
Sentient: No
Sapient: No
Means of Sustenance: Skytes are herbivores. They have strong stomach, able to eat lots of different types of vegetation. While travelling with the storm, they swoop down with the force of the wind and with their 'teeth' on their bills, they grab the vegetation. They turn their head and continue flying forwards, ripping it from the plant. Also, when the storm dies down and they venture back to the source of the storms, the plant life is rich.
Favourite Food Source: They like the fruit of a certain tree. It is rich in nutrition, but after a while it grows a hard outer layer. While in its weaker, younger form, it is vulnerable to animals eating it. So it has evolved to hang its fruits high in the branches. Unfortunately for the tree, this is the perfect place for skytes to reach.
Major Competition: By drifting through the storm, most birds of prey cant reach the agile skytes. However, often land animals eat vegetation that they eat. Usually the skytes retreat before battles begin over the food.
Mating Rituals: The skytes have a complex courtship ritual. When they are interested in each other, they will swerve in circles around each other. Rarely do they fight over mates. They will try to catch the same storm, and over months give each other food, touch wings, ecetera
Reproduction: Once the courtship process is finally finished, the mating is quite quick. The gestation period is two months. Nearing the end of this, they will then find a hidden area, and they dig a hole. Two eggs are laid. The parents will take turns caring for the egg, and the other collecting food. They quickly hatch, and after two, the chicks are ready to embark. They climb onto the mothers back, and the parents will continue life, while the chicks learn. Once becoming a year old, they begin to glide along too. After 3 years with their parents, they leave. At the age of 4 they reach maturity, but most don't have children until 5.
Organization: They don't necessarily travel togther purposely except with children, but they dont mind being around others of their species
Other: The people who live near the skytes praise them, thinking them noble

 

[Timpani]

Name: Eiklo
Appearance: A lengthy blue-grey feathered bird. Larger than modern counterparts, it is born the size of a fully-grown, human arm, but without feathers, is born the size of a fully-grown, human forearm. When adults, their body is approximately 7 feet in size, then feathers adding to an impressive 14 feet in length. If it loses its tail feathers, it will refuse to take to the skies. The male features sharp claws for creating caves, and both male and females have a gently curved, round-ended, yellow beak, prime for reaching into smaller crevices for plant life. Their underbelly is purely grey, allowing them to blend in when storm clouds are near. The feathers on their body prevent excessive moisture, giving them capability of flying even in storms. They have no legs, and therefore, walk on their wings, which are strong even at birth.
Role: This species is in charge of controlling rainflow. As they fly towards stormclouds, these birds can redirect the water flow to a particular area. No one knows the particular reason they do this, but is speculated to be that they are attempting to promote the balance of plant life.
Habitat: They live in usually urban areas, often in cliff faces dug out to be a cave, but most notibly live in tropical areas in trees.
Life-span: 8.5- 9.7 years
Sentient: Believed to be
Sapient: Unknown
Means of Sustenance: Clawing at the ground, but mostly using its beak for plants on the ground or in trees. Dislikes berries.
Favourite Food Source: Fruit trees in urban yards or tropical fruits.
Major Competition: Eagles. Despite the obvious size difference, these birds have no means to protect themselves against the smaller species.
Mating Rituals: A female usually initiates courtship, flying in a ringed pattern around its chosen mate. If the male agrees, it will reciprocate the action. Once mated, they are mated for life, and only reproduce in Winter.
Reproduction: By eggs. Takes approximately 3 months to hatch, and afterwards, the father cares for it.
Organization: To avoid mass extinction, they are separated, and only come together for mating season. When mating season arrives, it's a meeting that only lasts approximately 2 hours.
Other: N/A

 

[Absyinthe_Artica]

Name:
Equestryne

Appearance:
This creature is a tall and elegant being. With an elongated snout and rows of teeth suitable for flora, the Equestryne is a sight to behold. Upon it's head are two sets of bone that curve gracefully around the creature's furry ears and up towards the sky. Moving down, you will notice the long muscular legs that end in hooves. Along this creature's back you will notice furry bat-like wings that stretch out towards the clouds. The color of the Equestryne is one of a deep burgundy, it's orbs are a brilliant ice blue. It is covered in long fur that flows out of it's end in a long tail.

Role:
Prey

Habitat:
They usually live in plains and feilds.

Life-span:
200-300 Years

Sentient:
Yes

Means of Sustenance:
The tough grass of the plains.

Favourite Food Source:
Wild Flowers

Major Competition:
Rodent-like creatures called Eserilth

Organization:
Herds

Other:
This creature is able to telepathically communicate with other species.