[Brynn_Metheney]

Welcome to the Creature Planets, the CG HUB challenge of exploring worlds beyond our own, and the different species living within them.

Topic #41 :: May 25th 2011
Organism: The Durosni
Planet:Hull

Deadline: Thursday, June. 2nd 2011 - 11:59p.m. [PST]

This week's topic was suggested by our very own SCWatson!

--> IWCA Requirements – The IWCA wants you to depict a Durosni in it's natural habitat.
This image will be used to promote awareness about the planet Hull.

Here are the organism's details. Follow them to the best of your ability!

The Durosni is a small aerial scavenger that resides in the Arctic Tropospheric zone of the planet Hull. This small planet has recently come into the IWCA's knowledge as one that can support life. This small, cold planet is known for it's methane atmosphere and low gravity. It is a profound reminder that life in the universe can turn up in the most surprising of places.

Bioform Notes
Type: Aerial Carnivorous Scavenger
Stuns prey by ramming
Habitat: Arctic tropospheric zone
Locomotion: flying
Social: Hive
Temperment: Playful
Activity Cycle: Nocturnal
Metabolism: active
Resperation: anarobic
Reproductive: Oviparous. Number of Eggs: 5

Physiological Notes:
Size: Small (Mouse to cat sized)
Morphology: Asymetrical upright , with clusters of diamond shaped growths on it's body
Skeletal: Endoskeletal (skeleton is internal)
Epidermal: Dull Yellow rough hair like growths
Limbs: 3 Extremely long Dark Purple jointed limbs
Location of Senses: centralized on the body (in one location)
Primary sense: Visual: 14 monochromatic sensitive Superposition eyes.
Secondary sense: Taste

Other Notes:
No two look exactly alike, but similarities are noticeable among members of the species.

Good Luck! And remember to have fun!

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“Please don't keep everything secret, working on your image in private only to post it at the very last hour as a surprise. The point of sharing sketches and work in progress material is so everyone can learn from each other, receive crits, compliments and improve their skills in a classroom/workshop like environment. There are no teachers and no students per say, but try to offer help to others when possible. Please be open to receiving crits, and paint-overs or mock ups of your work, as we are all here to participate, have fun, learn, grow and enjoy what each week has to offer.” --Mike Corriero

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If you have questions concerning Creature Planets Rules and Information please refer to this thread.

Also, check out the rules on Plagiarism - HERE -

[SARDEANIE]

Wow, wanted to get in on the next challenge but the description of this creature is like a riddle. Been pondering for an hour. Here's an open question.... if a creature has 3 limbs and flies are 2 of those limbs wings? Or does it have 3 limbs and two wings?

And here's one I had to look up..... superposition eyes. Yikes, tough subject this one. Yet I feel challenged.

[SCWatson]

Originally Posted by SARDEANIE

if a creature has 3 limbs and flies are 2 of those limbs wings? Or does it have 3 limbs and two wings?

Might have a sail, or some other structure to facilitate flying. This part is up to you.

"Wings" imply a limb modified for flying -- birds, bats -- insects are a slightly different story, using a part of the carapace that has evolved for flying. I'd take a stroll through flying creatures to get some ideas.

However, wings are perfectly acceptable, so long as the number of limbs doesn't increase.

Perhaps in the case of the Durosni it uses a specialized set of diamond shaped growths for areal locomotion?

~S

[natzuurjk]

Yeah this one sounds like a challenge! i'm wondering if the superpositioned eyes are 14 receptors creating one compound or 14 compound consisting of hundreds or thousands of receptors as it is usually is in nature.

[SCWatson]

Originally Posted by natzuurjk

Yeah this one sounds like a challenge! i'm wondering if the superpositioned eyes are 14 receptors creating one compound or 14 compound consisting of hundreds or thousands of receptors as it is usually is in nature.

You can probably go either way with this and be safe. However, I'd lean more towards "nature" than "fantasy" when designing critters like this

~S

[natzuurjk]

Here is a sketch, i may go a completely different route. Trying to think this through referring to what exists in our world. After reading a bit, a lot of creatures (crustacions and insects) evolved wings from gills rather than limbs, thus they don't count these growths as limbs. Also been reading all kinds of stuff about compound eyes/super positioned eyes etc, O the joys of the interweb and our world.

Couple examples attached below of the gill thingies.

[SARDEANIE]

Originally Posted by SCWatson

Might have a sail, or some other structure to facilitate flying. This part is up to you.

"Wings" imply a limb modified for flying -- birds, bats -- insects are a slightly different story, using a part of the carapace that has evolved for flying. I'd take a stroll through flying creatures to get some ideas.

However, wings are perfectly acceptable, so long as the number of limbs doesn't increase.

Perhaps in the case of the Durosni it uses a specialized set of diamond shaped growths for areal locomotion?

~S

It's funny, I went ahead and started sketching on my iPad and went with 3 limbs and 2 asymmetrical sails/winglets. I figured with the low gravity flight might actually take less effort. His hard diamond shapes adorn his proboscis and facilitate the sudden strikes. Hidden underneath is the mouth. In the rear I want to flush out the "lung" or energy extractor. I look forward to exploring colors in this frigid methane world.

[BrookeD]

Ah this one sounds cool!
Not sure if I like wings on mine or not yet... still playing around...

[SCWatson]

Hey guys,

Looking really good. A couple of comments below:

natzuurjk Good sketch, but what you have looks like your typical house fly with just three legs. So, you may want to rethink your approach there.

SARDEANIE Looking great -- don't forget, "anaerobic" means "no air" -- these guys don't breathe. They probably absorb through the skin, or some other process, but it's not going to have a lung or gills.

Also, keep in mind:
Morphology: Asymetrical upright, with clusters of diamond shaped growths on it's body

The "upright" indicates the body structure is going to vertical, not horizontal, as it's depicted in both pieces. For lack of a better description, think of a flying plant -- Because these guys are asymmetrical they're not really aerodynamic, and probably look awkward as all hell. My impression is that they're a species that has recently (within the past million years or so) taken to the air.

Also, they're scavengers, but they hunt occasionally, and to do this, they ram their prey. We need to figure out how they do this. Do they drop on their target like a rock, or hit them mid-air like a battering ram? Or something else? Either way, they'll need a hardened area for impact.

Best,
~S

[edit] Kitterfly -- good start, but check what you're doing against the creature description. Right now, you have more of an avian animal, which this species isn't at all.

[SCWatson]

Ok, spent a few moments and kicked out a *very* rough sketch of what I think the durosni would look like based on the description, with some artistic licence (but not much). The idea is to use the brief as a starting point, and try to stay within the parameters and use what's given to you in creative ways.



Feel free to interpet the description in an entirely different way than I did!

~S

[EDIT]
I just realized I blew it on one part on mine -- the Durosni has an endoskeleton -- an internal skeleton. I gave it an exoskeleton, so that would have to be revised on mine! D:

[SARDEANIE]

This is the hardest subject yet.... I'm not giving up! LOL

SCWatson- yes, I didn't literally mean lung but a passive energy exchanger. Your brief has forced me to do some real research.

I love the asymmetrical aspect although challenging. And the endo skeleton thing is keeping me from it being too bug-like.

Good stuff!

[Keenir2]

thank you.

Originally Posted by Brynn_Metheney

Stuns prey by ramming
Habitat: Arctic tropospheric zone

hm. missed that detail before - may have to remove the hanggliding-looking structure from my sketches of its body design.

though then I need to find elsewhere for the eyes.

Activity Cycle: Nocturnal
Metabolism: active
Resperation: anarobic

I'd like to request clarification -- does it not breathe at all, or does it not breathe oxygen?

Morphology: Asymetrical upright , with clusters of diamond shaped growths on it's body

What comes to mind is a boat's prow, particularly from the days when the front of a ship was used to slam into other boats.

note to self: get access to scanner again.

[SCWatson]

Originally Posted by Keenir2

I'd like to request clarification -- does it not breathe at all, or does it not breathe oxygen?

Technically, it would be it doesn't breathe oxygen. HOWEVER, what was intended is that it doesn't breathe at all.

Hope that helps!

~S

[Gyork]

Alright its been ages since I participate in a Creature planets,
before I continue working on this I would like some feedback in case I am missing or misunderstanding some of the characteristics.



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[Ogi-G]

...well...its something weird...