NESLife VI

[Daftpanzer]

I still want to evolve a giant tropical tree, but hopefully the plants aren't going extinct soon. Hence trying to expand the non-Zebedida swimmers.

@Cannae, you don't seem to have explained how this electrical mutation actually helps and to be honest it doesn't make sense to me. It seems to be what Iggy was talking about, people trying to come up with radical and interesting ideas that just aren't practical (speaking from my NESLife modding experience also). Remember Iggy is a biologist and he's not going soft on us, with about 2-3 evolutions that fail each turn. I can't speak for Iggy but I'd bet the Matjbin would join this group.

If you're stuck for ideas, I'd just take one of the successful species you like the look of, and try to upgrade it in some way (help it to do what it already does, but better - or break into a new niche). Nothing wrong with that!

 

[filli_noctus]

I concur with Daft, my first though on reading that (ok, second, my first thought was "aren't names supposed to be descriptive?") was "how does it attract others if they don't, y'know, move?"

 

[Lambda Ignaceae]

Organism: Zebpig
Ancestor: Zebpight
Selective Pressure: Restrictions of a semi-amphibious life.
Mutation: Leathery skin. Drying out had been a problem, by evolving a thick skin the Zebpig is no longer restricted in its movements. It can now seek out an existence on land, only having to return to the water if it chooses to.

 

[Terrance888]

Organism: Zipper
Description: A motile, olfactory predator with a digestive tract, nephridium, slimy skin, primitive tetrahedral skeleton, accordion-like lateral gills, a primitive circulatory system and a ribbon-like tail for swimming.
Niche: Olfactory swimming generalist.

Organism: Whiffer
Ancestor: Zipper
Selective Pressure: The increasingly dangerous oceans and proliferation of predators
Mutation: Olfactory and Visual Camouflage

The Whiffer have developed Olfactory and Visual Camouflage to help protect themselves from the increasingly large numbers of predators roaming the global ocean. Visually, they only have to fear from the Padiped. With bright stripped markings on the bottom of their coats, they dazzle and confuse the primitive eyes of these hunters, especially when the Whiffers congregate around a meal.

However, the great challenge- and the resultant mutations- from the olfactory predators of their fellow Zebidi-lineage. The Whiffer have further developed their slime glands to produce strong, almost pungent smells that overwhelm the scent glands of other predators. In addition, this smell changes constantly, rotating through a cycle of nose-oxidating (aka eye-watering) scents based both on genetic lineage as well as experiences of the Whiffer. Also, the Whiffer's poop are imbeded with slime containing the same horrid smell, further confusing their predators who often get nothing but a mouthful of feces once they track down what they thought were their most hated and annoying prey.

The Whiffers themselves develop to ignore precisely the smell that they are giving off, other than to acknowledge that said smell is still effective and viable. This also allow Whiffers to congregate and increase effectiveness of their coats or to stuff food into their mouths. However, true social activity hasn't developed yet (unless you allow it.)

 

[bonefang]

Organism: Skyborn
Description: A motile social predator with dense musculature and gliding fins for leaping and gliding, sharpened spines for penetrating prey, dorsal reproductive sacs with parasitic young, primitive eyes and a stinging tentacle.
Niche: Stinging swimming flying coastal visual predator and parasite of floating plants.

Organism: Terraborn
Ancestor: Skyborn
Selective Pressure: The increased competition for food among the predators in the coast
Mutation: Development of wing like appendages, along with proper musculature to enable short distance flights.

The terraborn feeds mostly out of the tall Horra and Horod plants. Nutrition requirements were being met by the consuming the edible parts of these plants. Their food habits have gone from being omnivores to omnivores. The extra amount of Nitrogen based Carbohydrate content in these plant parts have been aiding in developing the skeletal and muscular structure.

 

[filli_noctus]

Organism: Terraborn
Ancestor: Skyborn
Selective Pressure: The increased competition for food among the predators in the coast
Mutation: Development of wing like appendages, along with proper musculature to enable short distance flights.

The terraborn feeds mostly out of the tall Horra and Horod plants. Nutrition requirements were being met by the parts of these plants.

I had considered a similar mutation but realised the Maves lack sufficient dessication resistance to live on land at present.

 

[Daftpanzer]

Yeah, I imagine them like flying fish. It would take some work to get them lounging around on land comfortably?

 

[bonefang]

I was hoping more primitive: flies if you will

 

[Lambda Ignaceae]

I always saw them as slimy fish, to get flying insects you'd probably need to evolve from the group containing Ileum and Estabil.

 

[Daftpanzer]

Hmm... Iggy said there were tropical rainforest type areas on land, where the most plants are, I'd imagine. So dessication might not be too much of a problem there.

Edit: yes, seems the exoskeleton of the Ileum / Estabil has made it much easier for them to spread onto land.

 

[Lambda Ignaceae]

The Zebpight is mere steps away from being fully on land.

 

[Daftpanzer]

Indeed, good work you guys on that front I hope the Sniffer/Hobo lineage will eventually spawn monsters on land. But as far as I remember, the creepy crawlies just sorta crawled straight out of there in one evolution. Quite similar to real life history I believe. Ready-made legs and supportive/insulating exoskeleton...

 

[Lambda Ignaceae]

While I am unsure of the biology exactly, but I am sure the limitations of a exoskeleton will come in to play soon. We kinda need half a dozen more players to cause a bit of branching.

 

[bonefang]

I wanted to evolve gaint sea monsters ... but ran out of ideas. them stupid fishes doesnt have eyes !! what the FISH !!

 

[Daftpanzer]

Iggy says its rather gloomy in the ammonia seas. I think our sea monsters will need electrical senses, sonar or very long whiskers (or all three ).

Anyway the Jargo seems scary enough for now! Its eating all my poor critters

 

[Lambda Ignaceae]

Relevant:

 

[J.K. Stockholme]

Iggy, what creatures are currently on land?

 

[Lord_Iggy]

The ones that are listed as being on land in the update.

These ones are in the north:

And these ones in the south:

I make those breakdowns of the main evolutionary tree for a reason guys.

Also, to clear up misconceptions, extant versions of Maves can be described as follows:

At their core, Maves are a simple, muscular cylinder, with four limblike projections, the front two of which are dorsoventral (on the top and bottom- the front limbs are small, hardened penetrating spines containing hard, silicate lenses for their eyes) and the rear two of which are lateral (on the sides- the rear limbs are broad and membranous wings). Zephs and Skyborn are incapable of surviving in air for extended periods of time, as they desiccate quickly. Gliphs can last much longer, although they sometimes sink down to the waterline to regain moisture. Maves exchange gases through their skin, particularly the outer membranes of their wings. This system is somewhat inefficient, preventing Maves from achieving the energetic behaviour of several other lineages with more complex gills, lungs and tracheae.

Their digestive system is external- they wrap their wings around their prey and secrete a cocktail of acids and enzymes to break down their plant prey. This is a slow process which leaves the digester quite vulnerable- if they are digesting in a vulnerable place, and a predator appears, they have to drop their liquifying meal and flee. Their nervous systems are simple and net-like, though they have a few simple ganglia to enable them to perform the tasks of target recognition and flight.

Reproductively, Gliphs and Zephs release thousands of microscopic larvae into water (ideally in isolated pools with low predation), who much resemble tiny versions of their parents. These larvae live planktonically for some time, seeking out isolated and sheltered locations, until they become large enough to join a flock. Skyborn follow a different strategy, laying a smaller number of parasitic larvae in floating plants (typically Paripus, since the extinction of the Manipu).

Ecologically speaking, the Maves are a lineage in a state of general decline. The replacement of Manipus with Prikipus has rendered their chief prey item much more dangerous- Gliphs dare not risk puncturing their gas sacs, and others run the risk of damaging their delicate wing membranes on the spines. Thus, most rely either on Paripus, the odd coastal Anku or Tenku, and smaller Zebedida. The extinction of the remaining edible flying plants, particularly the increasingly rare Paripu, could spell the doom of this lineage. However, the power of flight still grants this small, unique phylum a unique advantage, which could potentially see their kind revitalized, in the right combination of circumstances.

I try to maintain my policy of not telling people what they should evolve, or whether or not an idea will succeed. However, I am happy to provide more detail when it is sought. Maves are neither flying fish, nor flies. Their closest metaphor would be a flying, limbed flatworm. They don't grow much bigger than 3 cm (1 inch) and most are even smaller.

 

[Lord_Iggy]

Also, Daft, the ammonia seas are gloomy, but not so gloomy as to render eyes useless.

LI, love that link! I remember seeing it at the start of Zeitgeist once, is that where you found it? Or is it from some place else?

 

[Lambda Ignaceae]

Who?

It was a top post on Reddit today