NESLife attempt #3

S = Struggling due to lack of food sources/ too much competition
I = struggling due to Inefficiency/ requiring more energy than can be gained
E = struggling due to being Eaten too much/ poor defences
T = Thriving
W = very Widespread around the world
C = Confined to a few regions
L = species noted for its Longevity, having lasted many eras
U = unchallenged, at or near the top of its food chain/ no serious predators
*Red* = species did not survive to the end of this era
(nothing) = no major problems / average / nothing notable

Land Animals census: (38 species)
Leafworm (S/C/L), LungScraper (E/W), Hiboryte (C), Jubblera Sensica (T/W), Merlyte (T/W),
Diggadid (T/W), Pre Legger (C), Flevryte (C), Ol Scraper (C), Black Aurora (S),
Dwarf Bulgorb (W), Rivervalion (W), Saaranix (C), Subterradid (S/W), Cephrivervalion (T),
Jubblera Swminta (S), Long Nosed Aurora (T/W), Valios Polyteiras, Land Mollusk (S/E), Blood Aurora (T/W),
Gregarix (T/W), Double Stomach Legger (E/W), Flakkerbulgorb (W), Uglyworm (W), Kunatra (W),
Montezunea (W), Super Legger (S/E), Glutyte (W), Scutobulgorb (W), Jubblera Numerida (W),
Terraryte (W), White Aurora (T/W), Rootworm (W), Tuughwurm (T/C), Oltic Scraper (W),
Glaciavalion (T/W/U), Surf Aurora (T/W), Kuaryte (T),

Land Plants census: (19 species)
Lichen (W/L), Proto-Moss (W/L), Proto-Tranel (T/W), Chungus, Tougher Zeeboo (T/W),
Weak Fern (W), Novo Tranel (T/W), Woody Fanel (T/W), Super Lichen (W), Fire Moss (T/W),
Hearty Moss (W), Buggy Moss, Rock Zeeboo (W), Ground Fuzz (W), Parasitic Driftseed (W),
Winter Fern (T/W), Ice Zeeboo (W), Mountain Zeeboo (T/W), Tarbanel (T/W),

Sea Animals census: (40 species)
Sandworm (W/L), Ponduryte (W/L), Dibbler-Ice 2.0 (W/L), Simplavalion (W/L), Cloudfish (S/W/L),
Nitros Intrepidus (W/L), Infil-cult (W), Resistousis Helifish (W), Shy Hunter (S), Double Finner (S),
Azure Serpenteel (W), Mibbler (C), Giant Quintupler (S), Sea Slug (C), Driftworm (C),
Crimson Slasheel (W), Flatfish (S), Muto-Cult (S), Milipod (W), Yucky Sea Monster,
Voidus Garbageos (W), Radarex (W), Shellster Gigantus (W), Squinops (W), Suxorfish (W),
Amacilndasa Musculares (W), Blizzardfish (T/W), Slimey Slug (C), Travalion (S), Swimtudian (S),
Seavalion (C), Blue Eferscone (W), Bold Hunter (T/W), Panzerfish (W), Arrow Finner (T/W),
Travtudian (W/U), Violet Eferscone (T/W), Kingvalion (T/W/U), Squiroo (W), Amorphous Amphibeel (W)

Sea Plants census: (12 species)
Cryoalgae (W/L), Sea Urchin (W/L), Algaceae Dendrocovitis (T/W/L), Bathyscaper (W/L), Bathystower (W),
Sea Tick (W), Spongita Terranova, Aguaminaret (W), Sea Fuzz (W), Spongita Wangosia (W),
Cryo Bubbleo (T/W), Cryoalgarp (W),

Falciria:

This continent remained isolated, with much less bio-diversity. For whatever reason, evolution was slow to happen here. With one exception, the only newcomers were those that could fly, or swim. It was a last refuge for Saaranixes, Pre-Finners, Flevrytes and Ol Scrapers, all of which carried on their peaceful lives, with only the flying and swimming predators to trouble them.

The Tuughwurm was the one new native species to appear. It was probably able to dig further and deeper down than any other animal in the world at this time. But it also carried spines and armour plating to protect it on the surface against anything that tried to nibble on it. Tuughwurms were very successful and the ancient Leafworms were soon in danger of extinction.

Notable Plants:
Weak Fern, Tougher Zeeboos, Chungus, Super Lichen, Fire Moss, Buggy Moss, Parasitic Driftseed, Winter Fern

Notable Animals:
Saaranixes, Merlytes, Tuughwurms, Cephrivervalions, Rivervalions, Diggadids, Pre-Leggers, Ol Scrapers, Flevrytes, Blood Auroras, Jubbleras Sensicas, White Auroras

Asmara:

Orania collided with Heftonia to form this new supercontinent. It had plenty of almost every kind of terrain, from mountains and glaciers to plains, forests and deserts. The only thing that was missing was the rainforest of previous eras. But the large Ferns and Fanel trees were long extinct, and the climate was a little too dry for similar plants to evolve.

From Orania came the Gregarix which was able to spread across Asmara, and was one of the most successful land species at this time. Giving birth to live young helped the herds of Gregarixes stay on the move, and removed the need to sit on nest sites. This was becoming more and more of an advantage in the cold plains, where blooms of Winter Ferns were very erratic, and the weather could turn very nasty at a moments notice.

The hardy, feathery Montezuneas were also doing very well. The grazing area of the Montezunea extended further north than most other herbivores could go. Though, unlike the Gregarixes, they would have to retreat to warmer regions in order to lay and incubate their eggs.

Super Leggers, still the largest land animals, were nonetheless in serious decline, probably due to the fact that predators were getting more dangerous, their temperate habitat was increasingly crowded, and they could not survive the colder plains. It was a similar story for the Double Stomach Legger, though they were greatly helped by their versatile diet. Pre Leggers were only to be found in Falciria by the end of this era.

After the legendary Lung Scrapers, the Oltic Scrapers were probably the most successful of the Scraper/Legger family at this time. Their good rate of speed, defensive spikes, burrowing ability and efficient digestion was a good combination. But like their cousins, they were limited by their dislike of the cold.

Subterradids and Diggadids had evolved with identical lifestyles on separate continents, but had been going head-to-head since the previous era. The Diggadids were slowly winning, thanks to their improved nervous system and sense of hearing, though there wasn't much in it, and both species lived side by side quite happily. In fact some areas were virtually infested with both of them, as there were no predators able to dig them out and deal with their claws at the same time.

Meanwhile, Orania's Leafworms, Flevrytes and Hiborytes were all wiped out by newcomers from Heftonia...

Uglyworms replaced the Leafworms, with help from the newer Rootworm species. The Rootworms were however in competition with the Diggadids and Subterradids when it came to eating plant roots.

Glutytes continued to prosper in the cold climate, and from them came the Terrarytes which were more sophisticated creatures. Though their social skills were not the greatest ever, it seems the Terrarytes already had dedicated 'soldiers' and 'gatherers', if not more different classes. The soldiers were especially unusual in being able to leap on to larger animals and attack with poison-tipped claws. These tactics seem to have been successful enough, though the simpler Glutytes were still more numerous, especially where there was less danger from other animals and food gathering was the main concern.

Flevrytes were replaced on the continent by noisy Kuarytes which would have been especially common in the temperate forests nearer the equator. Blood Auroras would probably have been their main predators.

Meanwhile White Auroras would have been the most widespread of the flying creatures, able to venture far out to sea as well as deep inland. They had the largest wingspan of any flying creature up to this point, and would have been a graceful sight as they sailed on the wind along the shore or across mountain valleys.



Long-Nosed Auroras would still have been a common sight, especially on tidal flood plains where their beaks could pick out small creatures from the sediments.

The Jubblera Numerida was a successful new species of acid-spraying fliers. They were highly social, perhaps the most social animals yet seen, and their swarms would have been dangerous to any animal that tried to mess with them. They could probably have reduced a fresh corpse to a skeleton in a matter of minutes. Fortunately for live animals, the Numeridas were not seeking live flesh, though they were able to munch on the most nutritious parts of plants, and would have been a serious problem for plant life in the temperate forests. Despite all this, the humbler and simpler Jubblera Sensica was still more numerous overall.

Competition between the Valios Polyteiras and Travalions continued. This versatile family of hunters continued to well in the temperate regions, as did their relatives the Rivervalions and Cephrivervalions. The Polyteiras had a more varied diet and were still most common in the forests. But it was the Glaciavalion, the descendent of the Travalion, which became the top predator of this era. It had the speed, senses, intelligence and strength to tackle just about any target it set its sights on. And it is also notable for being the first animal to develop 'fur' covering its body, in the same way that the related Kakoos had first developed feathers many millions of years ago. Unlike the feathers, the fur was probably more waterproof and wear-proof, and slightly easier to re-grow, though it may not have held quite as much heat. In any case, Glaciavalions were still not particularly suited to the cold, and were still unable to roam as far north as animals like the Montezuneas or Terrarytes.



Meanwhile Flakkerbulgorbs were still quite common, and from them appeared the Scutobulgorb. This new species was mainly to be found on the forest floor, rooting around for insects and small animals. Their senses remained very poor, and without any real lungs, they could not grow so large, and had a slow metabolism, but all this suited them fine. Though not exactly at the top of the food chain, their jaws were truly fearsome, and even if they could be evaded, a bite to the rear of the animal would still result in a face full of spines, something young Glaciavalions and Polyteiras would quickly learn to avoid.

Finally, the last of the Land Mollusks went extinct, partly due to competition, partly due to the cold.

As for plant life, the Tarbanel was the first new large plant to appear in a long time, though it was only a slight improvement on the older Novo Tranel, which still had large populations of its own. Meanwhile the Ice Zeeboo and the new Mountain Zeeboo became the most numerous of all the Zeeboos. The Mountain variety in particular was able to spread all throughout the north of Asmara, with gusting mountain winds to carry its airborne seeds for many miles, and was often the only complex lifeform to exist in remote frozen valleys. It could cling to life almost wherever any exposed rock was to be found. Though in such conditions, it could take many centuries before it could produce seeds of its own, especially with long spells in deep hibernation. Their life spans may have stretched over thousands of years. Some suggest they may in fact have been the first Zeeboos to be truly 'immortal', only dying if their surroundings were completely depleted of nutrients.

Notable Animals:
Diggadids, Kunatras, Montezuneas, Terrarytes, Gregarixes, Rootworms, Flakkerbulgorbs, Scutobulgorbs, Cephrivervalions, Double Stomach Leggers, Oltic Scrapers, Jubblerus Sensicas, Jubblerus Numeridas, Black Auroras, Kuarytes, White Auroras, Valios Polyteiras, Glaciavalions

Notable Plants:
Tarbanels, Novo Tranels, Mountain Zeeboos, Tougher Zeeboos, Ice Zeeboo, Chungus, Woody Fanels, Weak Ferns, Winter Ferns, Parasitic Driftseeds, Proto-Moss, Super Lichen, Ground Fuzz

Again, the oceans saw fewer new species appearing than the land. It does not seem to have been a great time for sea life in general.

Nonetheless, this era did see the return of some truly giant creatures, the Kingvalions, which when fully grown were not far off the size of the extinct Globefinns, which still hold the record for the largest animals ever. Anyway, the Kingvalions proved more successful and much more numerous than the Seavalion, despite being larger and hungrier. The larger lungs allowed them to dive for several minutes at least, and they now gave birth to the most well-developed young of any species. Its possible that the young could swim as soon as they were born, removing the need to come ashore at all.

Kingvalions were undoubtedly the top of the food chain, and could have hunted almost anything when working together. Though the smaller Travtudians would have been a very tough opponent. Travtudians were also fierce predators, and their claws could be just as deadly as the giant jaws of the Kingvalions. It seems they were rapidly evolving large gills, a sign of a increasing metabolism. They were better hunters all round. Though their claws were better suited to dealing with shelled creatures on the sea floor, and they could still eat plants occasionally, so their lifestyle didn't clash too much with the Kingvalions.

Arrow Finners were noticeably different in shape from the Double Finners. The Arrows had good all-round vision, and an improved nervous system. They seem to have been surprisingly intelligent for such solitary herbivores. The Probably used their brains to learn how to exploit the behaviours of other creatures in the neighbourhood.

As for their improving vision, that may have been due to the increasing attacks they faced from the air. As mentioned, White Auroras would often hunt far out to sea, but the Surf Aurora was much more deadly to sea creatures. These Auroras would spend most of their lives away from land, just like their ancient ancestors the Flying Amphs. The Surfs were fairly good swimmers and had a specially reinforced head and beak for diving into the water at high speed. Both these Aurora species had good eyesight for spotting creatures near the surface.



The Squiroo and Violet Eferscone were both to be found along the temperate coastlines. Squrioos clumsily leaped about on rocks to find plants to eat, with spikes to defend their soft squishy bodies. The hard-bodied Violet Eferscones were much more common, building on the success of the Blue Eferscone. The two species were beginning to branch apart, with the Violet variety spending more time out of water trapping insects, instead of filtering plankton.

Amorphous Amphibeels were the first of their family to spend serious amounts of time out of water, though the various muscular Eels had long been able to pull their weight above the surface in need be. The Amphibeels were still very slow on land, but that was still fast enough to catch prey like Leafworms. Their muscular bodies would have been able to worm their way into burrows and tunnels made by other creatures.

Meanwhile the Bold Hunters which had evolved in the previous era were still doing quite well as night-time hunters, able to detect smells and vibrations better than any other predators.

Some notable animal survivors were the ancient Cloudfish, Shy Hunters and Simplavalions, all of which had now survived for a very long time, thanks to a good deal of luck and also that there was nothing exactly able to replace them.

In the meantime the Bathyscaper, Nitros Intrepidus and even older Pondurytes were still existing quite happily in the depths, having changed little since they first appeared several hundred million years ago.

The Aguaminaret, Cryoalgarp, Algaceae Dendrocovitis and Cyro Bubleo were the most successful sea plants at this time, as the cold waters killed off less hardy plants and sponges.

Notable Animals:
Pondurytes, Cloudfish, Blizzardfish, Panzerfish, Violet Eferscone, Yucky Sea Monsters, Arrow Finners, Amacilndasa Musculares, Slimey Slugs, Mibblers, Driftworms, Bold Hunters, Trevtudians, Kingvalions, Shellster Gigantus, Crimson Slasheels, Azure Serpenteels, Voidus Garbageos, Nitros Intrepidus, Surf Auroras.

Notable Plants:
Aguaminarets, Bathyscapers, Cryoalgarp, Cyroalgae, Cryo Bubbleos, Spongita Terranovae, Spongita Wangosias, Algaceae Dendrocovitis, Sea Fuzz.