Horse Headed Squidn't

First discovered on a native fish market in the region of Lotharcan Miesjeta known as Vermilijë, a strange looking fish with a face only a mother could love and teeth that reminded of ancient 20th century caricatures instantly caught the attention of the researchers that saw it. They wished to buy the fish to further study it and, as was and still is pretty common, the salesman scammed the hell out of them. While the researchers that bought the fish have never confirmed the price they paid, it is rumored that they paid with a silver wristwatch or some other precious metal jewelry. What ever they might have traded the fish for, the salesman they bought it from had soon after bought out nearly every fisherman in the town, meaning that the price the researchers paid for the fish equated to several million in local currency.

The fish they bought would later be identified as a horse headed squidn't (Thlipsiodon bucephalus), a fish which is actually quite common in the tropical, subtropical and temperate waters of the Tinjis Ocean.

The peculiar teeth that caught the attention of those researchers are quite unique among nienktvissen due to the fact that they are large, blunt and globular, which is pretty much the opposite of the teeth that most nienktvissen have. These teeth, combined with the stomach content the researchers examined in their overpriced specimen led to the conclusion that horse headed squidn'ts are durophages, specializing in feeding on tough and armored prey.

As later live observations would confirm, the bulk of their diet consists of planktonic and nektonic pectinauts, which in many ways seem to fill ecological roles that the extinct ammonites did back on Earth in the Mesozoic period. Like these prehistoric cephalopods, pectinauts are extremely abundant in the oceans of Eryobis. It is therefore no wonder that creatures such as the Thlipsiodon would specialize in such an common and reliable food source.

Since the horse headed squidn't tends to stay near the surface and does not seem to dive more than a hundred meters below the waves, it has been able to become among the best studied nienktvissen to date.

These fish usually grow between 1 and 1.7 meters in length with a wingspan of roughly 80% that length. They only have two, long whiskers that sprout from the lower jaw. Autopsies have revealed that these barbels essentially serve to detect pressure changes and sound waves in the water. 

The seven gillslits of this fish are peculiar in that the exhausts seem to be angled to various degrees per individual slit. This is very likely evidence that nienktvissen use their gills as a way to steer and change direction. 

While not much is known about the mating habits of this species as yet, what observations have shown is that they exclusively happen at night at around 30 meters or below.

Despite being called the horse headed "squidn't", Thlipsiodon is not a member of the Teuthomorphichthyidae, better known as the "true squidn'ts". Its colloquial name is the result of early explorers giving animals that looked superficially similar the same name for the sake of simplicity.

Thlipsiodon is in fact not even that closely related to the true squidn'ts and rather came from a different lineage that convergently evolved a similar body shape. Unfortunate as it may be for classification, the name seems to have stuck.

Umbral Losqula

For those who have thalassophobia, Eryobis is a very pleasant place to be. While there may not be any true sharks present in the seas of this world, some would argue that the realm beneath the waves of Eryobis harbors creatures that are even more terrifying.

While squidn'ts tend to get a bad reputation because of one tragic incident that very early after the first explorers set to sea, they are typically quite harmless. The same can not be said for another type of nienktvis. 

The Pleuropristidae, commonly known as losqulas by the explorers, are a family of carnivorous nienktvissen that are ranked as being the most predatory among their kind. Most nienktvissen and squid'ts are known to feed on prey smaller than themselves that can be easily swallowed. Losqulas on the other hand, seem to have a preference for prey equally to- or larger than themselves. They often seem to specialize in shredding their prey to bits while its still alive. Their teeth are long, sharp and serrated and with the various tooth elements being able to independently from each other, losqulas excel at mincing their prey and inflicting great blood loss. 

That said, they do not shy away from scavenging and it is not uncommon to see them congregating around the carcass of a large deceased animal.

The umbral losqula (Teutharpax umbrosus) that occurs in the Voûlic Ocean south of Miesjeta is a large member of this family that can grow over 2.5 meters long. One might look at these creatures and presume they are awkward swimmers, but these fish are deceptively fast. With two very large frontal fins and four auxiliary posterior fins, umbral losqulas can reach over 30 km/h in short bursts of speed. This, combined with their inquisitive nature makes them quite a nuisance for divers, who nowadays always need to be armed whenever they go on a dive in the Voûlic Ocean.

Umbral losqulas have been observed often following boats to feed on scraps and to steal the harvest of fishermen and are known to hang around native port cities in the south of Miesjeta, occasionally taking their toll in the form of people, most often children, going for a swim.

What makes these fish so dangerous is the fact that they most often hunt around dusk and dawn when they are the least visible to the eye. While one could be forgiven for thinking losqulas do not come close to shore due to their morphology, these carnivores are very much capable of swimming on their sides to enter water as little as 50 centimeters deep.

Not much is known about the lifestyle of these losqulas. As of yet it is uncertain if they are sedentary, territorial or migrate between feeding grounds. What is known however is that they always seem to stick to the continental shelf and will not be encountered in the deep open ocean.

Lesser Sideray

All along the northern shorelines of tropical Miesjeta, you can find a most peculiar looking creature swimming through the sand. From a glance it resembles a Batomorph from Earth, better known as a ray, but the resemblance is only superficial.

Upon closer inspection the differences become more apparent. One anatomical trait that instantly determines this animal to not be a Batomorph is the fact it has gills on its "upper side". To those less knowledgeable on the anatomy of Batomorphs, there is another trait this Eryobian animal possesses that should make it clear that this no true ray.

The creature has but a singular eye on its entire body, adorned with a pupil possessing three prongs to form a "Y" shape. No vertebrate animal from Earth is known to naturally have such a trait. For this reason, many researchers refer to these ray like creatures as cyclopses. Unfortunately for them, the scientific name of Cylopoida is already taken by a group of copepod crustaceans from Earth. Instead, a name that is often used in addition to cyclops is sideray. There are also many researchers who prefer to refer to these creatures by their scientific name solely, as Monobatopsids.

Further research revealed Monobatopsids to actually not only be related to nienktvissen, but that they are actually very derived members of this group. In hindisight, it should have been quite obvious that siderays are nienktvissen. They share some key characteristics such as the lack of jaws, but presence of well developed plate like tooth elements. The six individual gillslits should also have been a dead giveaway since no other non-conodont animal on Eryobis possesses this trait. The presence of a number of barbels sprouting from the lips is also a strong indicator of their identity as nienktvissen.

So it became clear that cylopses are merely nienktvissen that opted for a demersal lifestyle by laying on their sides, but they are not born this way.

When siderays hatch from their eggs, they are extremely small and are virtually indistinguishable from other, related nienktvis larvae. For their first weeks of life, they develop much like other nienktvissen, gaining their characteristic large fins to propel themselves with and this stage, they possess two eyes, one on each side of the body.

But as they mature, they start changing. They start living closer to the seafloor and begin favoring one side over the other. Whether this is left or right usually differs per species or subfamily. They start living near the substrate and will instinctively hide in the sand. It is at this stage that the eye on the side that faces the seafloor starts atrophying until it is completely resorbed into the body.

Why this happens instead of the migration of the eye like is seen in Pleuronectiformes and Planosolincolans is unclear. One would be forgiven for thinking that the entirely cartilage "skulls" of nienktvissen would make such a migration easier than if the skull was bone.

One of the first aquatic animals to ever be encountered on Eryobis by explorers was the lesser sideray (Rajacyclops minor). This creature can commonly seen inhabiting the shallow coastal waters all along the northern coast of Bloëcan Miesjeta, which is ofcourse where the first landing site and colony were made.

It is a small critter, barely two hands wide and only a few centimeters thick. This makes it perfectly adapted for a life in the sand in waters where few predators can reach it.

Yet this little cyclops is often the largest predator in its sandy environment. It feeds on a plethora of invertebrates such as gastropods, sedentary bivalves, pectinauts, brachiopods and small llamplelgans. 

As with many sideray species, the lesser sideray possesses a three pronged pupil in its singular eye. It is thought that this peculiar shape helps siderays see from multiple angles. An imperative ability for an animal that spends most of its time hidden in the sand.

Common Vlagop

The common vlagop (Veleovoltus communis) is one of several species in the genus Veleovoltus that can be found in the Vyaris Ocean, but as its name suggests it is the most common. 

This small nienktvis often occurs in huge shoals of several thousand strong and undertakes long seasonal migrations between the continents of Miesjeta, Guralta and southern Tlèëa. Curiously, the seasonal behavior of this species is largely restricted to the populations that live north of the equator, while the populations south of the equator tend to be more sedentary. As of yet, no solid explanation for this phenomenon has been offered.

As small and abundant planktivores, these conodonts are near the base of many food-chains where they permanently occur and often become seasonal feasts along their migration route.

Being small than a human hand on average, there is a great many predators that will happily make a meal out of a vlagop.

This includes the native peoples of Eryobis, who often harvest these small fish by the dozens by casting nets. Human explorers and researchers are also no strangers to eating vlagops. These creatures are so common in the Vyaris Ocean that even our colonists are allowed to occasionally catch them.

One characteristic of vlagop that immediately catches one's eye is the "dorsal fin" that goes from the mouth to the second gillslit. This "fin" is actually a membrane that stretches from a single large cartilage reinforced barbel on the upper lip that permanently stands upright.

It is thought that this fin serves to stabilize the vlagop as it swims, although it does appear that there are surprisingly many small muscles attached to this fin, which could indicate that it might also serve as a rudder that works in tandem with the terminal posterior fin.

 

Northern Stonesprite

When explorers go wade or swim near rocky beaches in Tlèëa, they often come back with fresh bite wounds. Four small punctures, usually on the feet or ankles, that can bleed for a surprisingly long time.

The perpetrator?

The northern stonesprite (Talusictus borealis), a small species of llamplelgan that lives in shallow rocky habitats all along the coast of Tlèëa. It is grey in coloration and blends in perfectly with the rocks and for a good reason. It is an ambush predator that lies in wait for some unsuspecting prey to swim by.

It mainly feeds on pectinauts, but crustaceans, small fish, conodonts and other llamplelgans are also on the menu. 

Once prey is in range, it rapidly extends its esophagus and turns it inside out to reveal four large copper coated teeth. If prey is impaled by these teeth, it is game over and the stonesprite quickly draws its esophagus back in.

Additionally, these teeth seem to be coated with an anticoagulant venom that prevents blood from clotting. So when one of our researchers gets bitten by a stonesprite, either out of self defense or mistaken for prey, the researcher has actually been envenomed by a substance that could prove deadly if it was injected in a larger dose.
 

Red Paddlepalp

If you ever find yourself exploring the vast underwater meadows off the east coast of Hatèmica, keep your eyes peeled for a most curious little critter.

They are small and lightning fast if they need to be and to top it off, incredibly well camouflaged for their environment.

Red paddlepalps (Remmanula rubeus) are small llamplelgans that, while seemingly elusive, are actually very common in the shallow coastal waters of Hatèmica. These critters often seem to walk along the seaweed, but what they are actually doing is "tasting" them for traces of food.

Red paddlepalps are carnivores that feed mainly on gastropods and small pectinauts that they share the meadows with. Once they have located their prey, they will grab onto it with the hooked pads on the ends of their tentacles before inverting their esophagus to swallow their prey whole.

Despite being called "red" paddlepalps, further examination has revealed that they aren't universally red in coloration. They can come in various shades of grey, brown and even blue, although this is most likely because they contain chromatophores within their skin which allows them to change color based on their environment.

 

Ægiric Smooth Llamplelgan

While Eryobis might lack Cephalopods of any kind, it has become clear that llamplelgans like this species fill the niche of Coleoids for a large part. Being able to swim almost omnidirectional and with all those tentacles, the resemblance is actually uncanny.

A common sight for our exploratory vessels and a common catch for fishermen, the Ægiric smooth llamplelgan (Leiodrilos aegiricus) measures between 30 and 50 centimeters long in body on average, with the tentacles adding another 20 or so centimeters.

This species feeds mostly on small crustaceans, fish, pectinauts and other llamplelgans that live in the upper water column. It travels in large shoals up to several hundred individuals strong, although this is mainly for protection, as this species is preyed on by numerous larger predators.

It can often be found in native fish markets that border the Ægiric Ocean. Curiously, some explorers have stated that the flesh of llamplelgans resembles that of squid in both taste and texture.

Clade overview: Coeaaien and Bunnyfish

Some of the earliest reports from explorers mentioned the presence of sharks in Eryobian waters. 

Knowing that Eryobis is world where all its life has a terran origin, this mention of sharks was initially overlooked and shrugged off as a quite likely plausibility, given the incredible age of Elasmobranchs.

However, when footage of these supposed Eryobian sharks was properly examined, something about them immediately seemed off.

They did not have the 5 to 7 gill slits typically associated with sharks, instead possessing an operculum and thus only one gill opening.

They appeared to have no pelvic fins at all, their first dorsal fin looked as if it was laterally split in two and the caudal fin, while heterocercal like a shark's, appeared to have three distinct lobes.

Those among the explorers with knowledge of terran paleontology suggested that these creatures could be Holocephalians, related to the chimaera's of Earth. For quite some time, this was considered to be the most likely origin of these "sharks", since it technically fitted within the suggested Eryobian evolutionary timeline.

As specimens were examined up close and subjected to testing however, the idea that these were even Chondrichthyians at all was quickly discarded.

In pretty much all genetic tests, they came out as being closest related to the coelacanths and more specifically, with their closest relatives being the Anisospondyls. 

When more fossils of prehistoric Eryobian fish were unearthed, the pieces fell into their place.

These were no sharks, they were Lagotoichthyiiformes or rather, bunnyfish.

Their close relation to the Anisospondyls now made sense, for these now land dwelling creatures are Planosolincolans and thus technically bunnyfish themselves.

The "dorsal fin split in two" are actually the pectoral fins which had shifted far up the body to act as dorsal fins and what seemed to be the pectoral fins are actually the pelvic fins that moved far to the front of the body, as is seen in all bunnyfish.

Reconstruction of Lagoselache durus, the likely ancestor all coeaaien and kin

It seems that bunnyfish were hit extremely hard in the mass extinction known as the World Scarring, with most genetic evidence suggesting all modern forms can be traced to a single ancestor that lived around 120 million Eryobian years ago.

In fact, a likely candidate for this supposed ancestor has actually been found in rocks dating to the early Thyellian: a small fish named Lagoselache durus. 

This fish shows the characteristic "double dorsal fins" and three lobed heterocercal caudal fin, demonstrating that this condition was ancestral to all modern forms.

 

Some examples of living coeaaien and kin

At some point, the term "coeaai" (pronounced "koo-aye") became widely used among explorers to refer to the more shark like bunnyfish, likely a contraption of coelacanth and the ancient dutch word for shark "haai". 

All the modern bunnyfish have been classified as supergroup named Lagoselachia, after the oldest known member. Despite this name, not nearly all of them look shark-like. And apparently some of the most shark-like members of this group evolved largely independently. A good example of this are the toothed coeaaien and the plated coeaaien. Both of these look very much like sharks and resemble each other quite a bit in overall anatomy, yet genetic testing suggests these split over 80 million years ago and both have many relatives that do not look particularly shark-like.

Then ofcourse there are also Lagoselachians that surrendered their ancestral body shape for that of a more typical bony fish or even turned it into something else entirely.

The modern bunnyfish and coeaaien are very diverse in body shape, yet they are not very numerous in species compared some other Eryobian fish orders. Still, they are not an uncommon sight in any Eryobian waters and often fill critical parts of the ecosystem they find themselves in.

Rubiëran Sandsprite

The shallow waters of Rubiëra and the Caddis Sea are a hotspot for marine life because of the warm tropical climate and nutrient rich currents that feed its inhabitants.

In in the shallowest parts, where the sand is barely below the surface, it is not uncommon to see a llamplelgan fluttering and darting around below the gentle waves, more specifically a Rubiëran sandsprite (Ammoxoticus orientalis). 

This species can grow to around 25 centimeters long and is primarily a scavenger that feeds on what ever the waves carry to the beach. 

Living in the shallows where they are very much visible to predators from above, Rubiëran sand sprites are able to dart away in very quick bursts of speed and will hide in the sand if they feel the need to. Additionally, iridescent, almost mirror like skin and translucent fins to help them blend into the environment.

Rightfully so, because a great number of predators from flying Stauropterygians and Chalacheiropterans to fish and other llampelgans will try to make a meal of a sandsprite whenever they see one. Even the native Eryobians are known to catch sandsprites on occasion.

 

Ægiric Whiskerlure

Five thousand meters below sea-level is hardly a place one would expect to find light.

Yet, when an ROV was sent down into the abyss of the Ægiric Ocean, it countered light.

Not just any light, but reddish orange light. A color that should have no place this deep underwater because most animals that live this deep cannot even perceive this color.

But that was the exact purpose of the creature the light was attached to.

The Ægiric whiskerlure (Xegeloichthys fotophoneus) is a species of nienktvis that is among the few Eryobian deep sea creatures capable of seeing red and orange light, a fact which it exploits to the fullest. By utilizing this "invisible" light, it is able to see its surroundings and prey quite clear, while its prey has no idea it is even there.

Art by BobsicleG

Although this is not actually completely true. The whiskerlure has another tool in its arsenal, one which it uses to lure its prey closer.

As the name might suggest, this abyssal nienktvis has a lure on the end of one of its whiskers. This lure however is far more complex than what is commonly seen in deep sea creatures. 

The lure itself is shaped like a small nienktvis.

This form of predatory mimicry is very rare and was only ever documented in certain squid and snake species from old Earth.

The lure of this species even has small bio photophores to create the illusion of eyes.

This lure, together with its use of "invisible light" make the Ægiric whiskerlure an excellent predator that uses its built-in headlights to spot its prey and then deploys its specialized barbel to lure its prey toward its mouth, where rows upon rows of sharp needle like teeth are waiting.

The Ægiric whiskerlure grows to around 13 centimeters long, making quite a sizable creature this deep below the waves.

 

Night-sky Fish

 Deep down, in the cold dark abyss of the Ægiric Ocean, lives a creature that looks like it should have no place in this mortal universe. 

Skin black as coal, sunken eyes through which no light shines. 
Massive translucent teeth and a face full of barbels that wriggle in every direction.

Yet at the tips of these fleshy whiskers are small bulbs of light.

The skin of this hideous creature soaks up all the light so all that can be seen are ten tiny lights, flickering like stars in the dark of night.

The identity of this monstrosity? 

It is actually just a night-sky fish (Vardichthys devorator), an abyssopelagic nienktvis barely 7 centimeters in length. 

Art by BobsicleG

This animal behaves much like an anglerfish from Earth. It hangs in the water column, waiting for prey to swim by and get attracted by its bioluminescent lures.

Its terrifying teeth serve not to impale or slash, but rather just to trap and make sure prey does not escape from its maw.

As with many other deep sea fish, it has a very flexible stomach that can expand to a great size to encompass a meal.

Not much else is known, for this creature was not observed in its natural habitat. Rather it was pulled to the surface when it became ensnared on a deep line.

Good for us so we can study it, less for it because it died from decompression sickness.

Clade overview: Nienktvissen

The oceans of Eryobis are teeming with life, from worms that look like straight up aliens to scallops that decided they wanted to be fish.

Obviously there are also still vertebrates in the oceans in the form of fish and secondarily aquatic land vertebrates, but there is also another kind of "vertebrate" that lives in these oceans. Conodonts, while completely extinct on Earth for hundreds of millions of years, are still alive and thriving in the Eryobian seas.

Genetic testing suggests there were at least seven different conodont lineages to survive the mass extinction known as the World Scarring. 

As they always were, many of the still living conodonts are small, eel-like inconspicuous creatures. But there is one order that stands out, being among the most recognizable animals on Eryobis: the Teuthomorphichthyes. 

Better known as the nienktvissen, squidn'ts or "murder-molas", after one terrible incident, these conodonts are some of the most objectively easily identifiable creatures in the oceans. 

Nearly all of them swim not by undulating as most condonts would, but by flapping their very large dorsal and ventral fins, which were modified from the ancestral caudal fin. This gives them a style of swimming akin to the Molidae of Earth, which is ofcourse where the nickname "murder-mola" comes from. The majority of nienktvissen also possess from five to seven gill-slits and numerous long whiskers and tendrils near the mouth, which serve all kinds of purposes from feeding to steering.

Another common characteristic is their tooth elements which are often plate like and tend to stick out.

The hypothetical ancestor of the Nienktvissen

Nienktvissen are incredibly diverse and can be found in every ocean, sea and even in some freshwater habitats. They range in size from just a few centimeters long to gigantic oceanic cruisers like the lantern leviathan with its ten meter wingspan. There are even some forms which have evolved to live close to- and in the sediment, adapting to live on their sides like flounders and Planosolincolans. Unlike these true fish however, such nienktvissen have instead lost the eye that would permanently face down, essentially becoming cylcopean. 

Some examples of living nienktvissen

Despite their incredible diversity and richness in species, nienktvissen are notoriously difficult to classify among themselves. The terms "nienktvis" and "squidn't" were often interchangeable for early explorers, but recently it was established that squidn'ts are a type of nienktvis, specifically those within the Teuthomorphichthyidae, which are the true squidn'ts. But because of the interchangeability of the names in the early days of exploration, there is a lot of animals called "nienktvis" that should be classified as a "true squidn't" and vice verse a lot of "squidn'ts" that are outside Teutomorphichthyidae and are thus nienktvissen or "false squidn'ts". 

The fact that genetic testing has also yielded little result so far does not help with classifying them either. So while species and genera can be placed within families, those families can often not really be placed within a larger group.

Cladistics: Rubieroptera

Stauropterygians are a very old group. Possibly diverging as early the late Thyellian and being even older than the Monotoalosia, they are the most basal living Eusymmetrodactyls.

But they are by no means primitive. In fact, Stauropterygians are the single most diverse species rich and diverse order of Anisospondyls to have ever existed.

But because they are so old, they have a decent number of ancient "leftovers" among their ranks.

While there a good amount of those leftovers are true relics and often the last remaining members of their respective prehistoric families, there is one group of basal Stauropterygians that does actually appear to be a (mostly) monophyletic grouping: the Rubieroptera.

This group of mostly, but not exclusively flightless Stauropterygians are hypothesized to have evolved from some of the very first Stauropterygians to reach the paleo-continent Magna-Rubiëra, which ofcourse was completely isolated from the paleo-continent Kwispuul where Stauropterygians evolved. Even to this day, the majority of morphological diversity among Rubieroptera can be found in the Rubiëran archipelago, from which the group draws its name.

The most basal living members of the group look exactly like what one would expect a secondarily flightless basal Stauropterygian to look like.

They are usually small bodied creatures no bigger than a turkey, with a long tail, a short beakless but toothed skull and small arms with clawed fingers and often a small remnant of what used to be the wings.

It is likely all other Rubieropterans evolved from animals like this.

One noticeable family of Rubieropterans that still live in Rubiëra are the Thanatrigidae, a family of large bodies predators that are the undisputed terrestrial apex predators of the Rubiëran isles. Some species like Thanatrix imperator can weigh up to 400 kilograms. These fierce predators often hunt by lying in ambush or lunging from trees and will try to impale their prey with their large and strong claws before delivering the killing bite. 

A family of Rubieropterans that are relatively closely related to the Thanatrigidae are the Inermavidae. The bulk of this family lives in Augadrian Tlèëa, with some species also occuring in Wyndraë and Lehseppi. These flightless and in fact completely armless Rubieropterans did not reach Tlèëa by island hopping, but were brought there by plate tectonics as Magna-Rubiëra broke apart and the Inermavids were marooned on the northern part that drifted towards Tlèëa.

The largest group within Rubieroptera is the Exypnophonea. The most basal members of this group are small to medium sized arboreal carnivores that live all over the Rubiëran archipelago. Uniquely among Stauropterygians, Exypnophoneans have wrists that can be pronated and possess opposable "thumbs", allowing for incredible maneuverability in the canopy.

This, combined with their high intelligence, makes such Exypnophoneans a threat for everything that lived in the trees in the Rubiëran isles.

But a strange thing happened when some Exypnophoneans got stranded on Lotharca when it broke apart from Magna-Rubiëra. As the landmass started becoming more arid and the forests the Exypnophoneans called home started disappearing, they were forced to adapt or go extinct. And adapt they did.

From these Exypnophoneans that were forced out of the trees evolved the Keshtaridae, a family of large to very large hypercarnivores. With their long legs, straight backs, long tails and large arms and claws, they bear some resemblance to the Megaraptorids of Cretaceous Earth. Like them, the Keshtarids mainly hunt by using their sharp claws to inflict deep slashing wounds and cuts on their prey to induce massive blood-loss. 

Curiously, they evolved their caecal pair of front limbs to be permanently held below the mouth and act in tandem with the jaws, an adaptation akin to the Brachiostome condition. 

These claws have been observed to be used to help manipulate food, serve a function in communication and to be used to dig deep into (often still living) prey. Additionally, the skin between these arms has grown together and has created a pouch which they often use to transport their young, food and trophies.

Which is perhaps the most terrifying aspect of the Keshtarids. They are extremely intelligent.

They are social creatures that typically live in family groups, communicate through a great number of vocalizations and body language and have been observed to use tools and elaborate schemes to hunt their prey. 

Just exactly how intelligent they are has not yet been determined, but it seems that all of them are at least on par with Hominids and Corvids, although some legends among the natives suggests that they are able to understand and even speak the languages of the native tribes they share territory with.

Slender tailed Gingûr + Brown Flailear

On one of our first expeditions to the continent known as Guralta, we arrived at a coastal marshland. A vast salt- and brackish water delta stretched for many miles along the coastline and extended deep inland, following much of the length of the main river that fed it. 

This region of eastern Guralta is known as Kwispuulië. It is a variable land with a largely tropical, but also somewhat seasonal climate that depends on monsoons for much of its water. This vast delta however, seemed less dependent on the monsoons and appeared to be lively and moisturized for most of the year.

Disembarking from the main research vessel, a team took a couple of smaller boats to enter the delta. 

It was teeming with wildlife. Six winged insect like animals were buzzing around their ears and all over the forest they could hear the screams, cries and songs of numerous untold creatures.

At some point, they spotted a large, eight legged, vaguely mammal like creature with two long tendrils sprouting from its what appeared to be its ears. It was an Arachnothere for sure, but not one they had seen before. It appeared to be foraging along the river bank for washed up vegetation and plants growing on the waters edge.

Before long however, the peace was disturbed. 

A massive animal lunged from the water in a way reminiscent of crocodiles of Earth. As it prepared to strike, its "lower jaw" split open. Large spikes lined the jaws, perfectly adapted to impale prey.

It was over in a second...but the predator missed. It had lunged too early and came in short, allowing the Arachnothere to flee.

 

The crocodile like predator was later determined to be a Slender tailed Gingûr (Gingurius leptouros). This species is native to eastern Guralta and grows to about 7 meters long. 

Gingûrs (Ginguridae) are Parasymmetrodactyl Cryptognath Anisospondyls and are a common sight in many tropical and subtropical regions around the world.

In general, these creatures are near perfect analogues to Earth's crocodillians, being largely semi-aquatic, cold blooded ambush predators covered in osteoderms and tough scales. 

They are Anisospondyls, but there's one thing about that their appearance that does not exactly fit the stereotype: their jaws. Gingûrs possess a long "upper jaw" that, while toothless, is lined with sharp keratinized bony spikes. 

But this is no true jaw.

Rather it is an extended bone that sprouts from below the eyes. A gingûrs true jaws are below it. These jaws, like those of all Anisospondyls, open sideways to reveal a large number of teeth inside. But they, like the "upper jaw", are also lined with keratinzed bony spiked on the visendal side. 

Curiously, gingûrs possess a unique jaw mechanism that allows their true jaws to open both sideways and be moved up and down. This reveals the purpose of their strange heads. These jaws work together to impale prey and slam it against the "upper jaw". This mechanism bears some similarities to the jaws of the Haidomyrmecinae ants of Cretaceous Earth.

The eight legged creature that was initially spotted was a Brown Flailear (Kopanotus spadix), a large herbivorous Hesparachnine native exclusively to the forested regions of Kwispuulië. 

These animals possess sharp rounded beaks, perfectly adapted to cut plants with. They are toothless, but to compensate they ingest stones to function as gastroliths. 

The males of this species, similar to most flailear species, grow long tendrils from the base of their ears. These ears, unlike those of mammals, are supported by many small bones. As such, they possess a large degree of control over the motions of these "flails". 

These tendrils have rhombus shaped tips that are lined with small iridescent scales, giving them a blue, green and yellow shine. Predictably, these are used for sexual display and serve little purpose otherwise.

Collared Ritsuara + Brown Ebusoir

One day, while out on a sailing trip, one of our research vessels conducting a regular assignment in the southern Riatis Ocean by the Baracenian coast in north Guralta picked up on a lot of commotion happening below the waves.

Their sonars detected a lot of vibrations that sounded like clicks and chirps, as well as growls, wails and even "roars". 

This was not the first time we would have found a baitball event due to the commotion underwater, but this was different.

There were no aerial predators and scavengers around as one would expect during a baitball. Instead, what they saw when they send submersibles underwater was far more horrifying.

They saw an adult Brown Ebusoir (Syntrivodon fuscus), a large durophagous marine Arachnothere, being assaulted by a gang of Collared Ritsuara's (Fermourodus collaris).

No one had ever seen Ritsuara's gang up on a much larger creature like this before. But they were not just harassing it, they were hunting. While we were aware that this particular species of Fermourodontid had more triangular and slightly more serrated teeth than most others in the genus Fermourodus, we did not know what they used these for.

But now it became clear.

While other Ritsuara's use their three jawed mouths and seven rows of teeth to chop smaller prey like a guillotine, something Collared Ritsuara's undoubtedly do as well, these Fermourodonts use their more triangular teeth to inflict lacerating wounds on larger prey items.

They do not hunt with just brute force, but rather they aim to weaken their prey and bleed them out to the point where they can no longer fight.

At up to six meters long however, a Brown Ebusoir is no easy pickings. These massive marine Arachnotheres possess eight strong flippers that can easily cause a concussion and have insanely strong jaws lined with rows of teeth designed for crushing the shells of huge sedentary bivalves and large Pectinauts. One well placed bite from an Ebusoir could crush a Ritsuara into a bloody pulp.

Malar-striped Ritsuara

It is no secret that the oceans of Eryobis are filled to the brim with life. You do not have to go far to encounter a marine creature in one way or another.

There are however some animals that prefer to avoid us. Fermourodonts are one such case. 

Their electric senses make have caused them to develop a resentment towards anything man-made with an even remotely detectable electronic signature. Their excellent sense of smell also allows them to distance themselves from us without us ever even knowing they were there.

Because of this, our understanding of how Fermourodonts live is quite limited, but occasionally we get treated with a surprise.

One such surprise was when one of our ROV's was observing a shoal of squidn't like nienktvissen of a yet undetermined species, when a Malar-striped Ritsuara (Fermourodus balatrius) came up from the depth with great speed.

It seems to have used the distraction our ROV caused to perform an ambush on the nienktvissen and provided us with the first time we could witness their hunting methods up close.

Quite brutally, the Ritsuara used its three jawed mouth and seven rows of sharp, blade like teeth to literally slice the nienktvissen in half. Upon closer inspection of the footage, it became clear that the visendal rows on the mandibles and the central row of teeth on the trapezium were larger than the other teeth. When Ritsuara's close their jaws, they essentially become guillotines.

Malar-striped Ritsuara's seem to average at around three meters long, not too large, but definitely big enough to cause some serious harm.

Cladistics: Oxysalpincoidea

Oxysalpincidia are the most widespread Diplaulote Trapezostomes on Eryobis and include a myriad of families and species.

But perhaps the most recognizable members belong to a subdivision of the group, the superfamily called Oxysalpincoidea.

Members of this subfamily are more bipedal than their relatives and the majority of their kind are completely bipedal with greatly reduced front limbs.

While Oxysalpincoids likely came from the continent of Tlèëa, these bidepal forms seem have had their origin in Guralta. These creatures are almost exclusively herbivorous and occasionally enrich their diet with arthropods and other invertebrates like fallen skysquirts. 

Some of the most commonly encountered Oxysalpincoids are the Tachyornithids. These highly cursorial herbivores can often be seen roaming the savannas and plains of Guralta and southern Tlèëa in huge flocks. They are known for their short faces and beaks, extremely short arms with clawless rudimentary digits. In the males, these arms are often brightly colored and only serve for sexual display. 

Additionally, Tachyornithids often have elaborate headgear and spiracular tubes and that are usually just as brightly colored as the arms in males. 

Compared to these slender athletes, their closest relatives are completely on the other side of the spectrum. The Behemopods, while equally bipedal as Tachyornithids, went in the other direction and instead of becoming long legged runners, became massive tanks. 

Behemopods dubbled down even more on reducing their arms to the point where they get fused into the skin. But since running no longer became a viable option as they grew in stature, they needed some kind of defense. So these titans derived what they still had to an extreme extent. In a very Kadrian way, they turned the claws from their arms into massive spikes for self defense. These fearsome claws, combined with their strong scaly and often armored tails and immense sizes make Behemopods a force to be reconed with.

The majority of their kind are at least 8 meters long from head to tail, with the very largest species having been recorded at over 21 meters in length. This makes Behemopods the biggest animals in Guralta, some of the largest terrestrial animals alive and by far the greatest land based Trapezostomes to have ever lived.

There's also the basal genus Xenulops, which is kind of an enigma. It lives in the dense forests of Lachoba, far more southern than other Oxysalpincoids. 

Any DNA tests on it have come back inconclusive, with some placing closer to Tachyornithids while others place it closer to Behemopods and then there are a few that suggests its more basal than either.

Unlike either other family, Xenulops retains its arms with all of its digits and claws intact. Its feet are similar to those of Behemopods while its overall leg anatomy is more akin to Tachyornithids. It is an odd genus that is likely to continue being enigmatic for the foreseeable future.

Mantleback Ritsuara

When you dive into the Voûlic Ocean in the south of Eryobis, there is a good chance you will encounter wildlife in one form or another. 

This south polar ocean has some of the most nutrient rich waters in all of Eryobis and thus is booming with sealife.

One of the most common large animals you can encounter here is the Mantleback Ritsuara (Tristinectes amictus). This medium sized Fermourodontid averages around 3.5 meters in length and is an avid piscivore. 

Its seven rows of small needle like teeth are perfectly suited for catching slippery prey like fish, smaller conodonts and llamplelgans. 

They can often be seen traveling in small pods of related individuals and tend to be found a couple kilometers from shore, although they do sometimes come closer to the coast to hunt or birth.

This species of Ritsuara is one of the friendlier ones we've encountered so far. Like all Fermourodonts, they have an electromagnetic field around their mouths, electric whiskers if you will. Because of this, they tend not to respond all too well to our mechanical equipment.

Mantlebacks, thankfully, will not go out of their way to attack and destroy said equipment...unlike some other species. 

Because of this, we do get a fair amount of opportunities to see them in the wild if we go in the water with just traditional equipment that doesn't really have an electrical signal.

Cladistics: Trapezostomata

Modern Anisospondyls can be placed into one of three major categories. There are the Brachiostomata, a group which was apparently very diverse in Eryobis' her past but is now only represented by a handful of species. There are the Cryptognatha, the Anisospondyls that evolved a second set of jaws derived from their palates and tongue bones and the group that by far the most modern Anispondyls fall into.

And then there the Trapezostomata. These creatures are most easily recognized by a feature seen in no other Anisospondyl living or dead: an elongated bony plate below the mouth called the trapezium. 

It is theorized that they evolved this feature to combat the ever existing issue caused by having horizontally opening mouths, food falling out. The trapezium prevents this. To accompany this, many Trapezesotomes also have fleshly, often muscular lips and cheeks.

Trapezostomes are likely just as old as, if not even older of a clade than the Cryptognaths. Genetic evidence suggests that the two lineages had already split around 160 million years ago in the Swifterbantian stage of the Bobossic period. The two main branches, as well as likely a few more, of Trapezostomata were already well established by the Jerounian and Kikilian stages, as is shown by a rather derived member of Liomedactylomorpha having been found in the Reinaut Formation dated to the end of the Bobossic.

In modern times, we can place Trapezostomes into one of two groups, the Liomedactylomorpha and the Strotopalates. The molecular clock suggests these groups differentiated between 145 and 130 million years ago and thus must have survived the cataclysm known as the World Scarring at the end of the Bobossic independently. 

Of these two groups, the Strotopalates are typically regarded as the more primitive of the two. 

Strotopalates are most easily distinguishable by their jaw anatomy. The seem to have lost their palatine teeth very early in their history and evolved to have a completely closed palate that bears a striking resemblance to those of placental mammals. Their dentary likewise has also been sealed off. This likely evolved to grant early Strotopalates a stronger bite.

Their land based representatives are relatively few in number and are reptilian in appearance, usually being scaly and ectothermic. The most basal members, the Tardosaurids, are medium sized slow moving herbivores that inhabit a number of small islands in the central and southern regions of Rubiëra. The Novalacertoids are bit more diverse and widespread, being found in virtually every corner of the Rubiëran archipelago. They are usually small with very elongated, almost serpentine bodies, consequently they mostly feed on burrowing arthropods and annelids. 

The Hastamentids are perhaps some of the most recognizable Trapezostomes alive. Some of their species can stand up to 1.5 meters at the shoulder and all can be quickly recognized by the long spear like trapezium sticking out far beyond their jaws. This peculiar trapezium is, quite obviously, used to spear prey. Most Hastamentids are semi-aquatic and often hunt by standing by the waters edge and impale aquatic prey that comes to close.

Their visendal arms are permanently held off the ground and are mainly used to manipulate food speared up on their trapezium.

But there is another superfamily that belongs to Strotopalates that strayed quite far from their other kin. These are the Fermourodonts, fully marine creatures that are neither scaly nor ectothermic like other Strotopalates. One of their most defining traits are their jaws and skulls. Anisospondyl skulls in general are odd looking and appear twisted and disfigured compared to Tetrapod and Arachnopod skulls, but Fermourodonts take this a step further. Their caecal spircales have migrated to the visendal side and as a result warped the entire skull. Fermourodonts thus possess the unique ability to open their jaws at wide and odd angles that, in combination with the trapezium, results in them having a three part jaw. This allows them to chop and slice their prey in ways that no other animal can.

It is unclear where Fermourdonts came from since they have no close terrestrial relatives anywhere. Because of this, there are some that suggest Fermourodonts might have evolved somewhere other than Rubiëra, where all other Strotopalates can be found, but until some fossils are discovered, we cannot know. In modern times, we see two distinct kinds of Fermourodonts, the Palaionychids that somewhat resemble the prehistoric Metriorhynchids of Earth and the Fermourodontoids, the infamous "zipper dolphins" or ritsuara's of Eryobis. 

Both of these groups are fully aquatic, although Palaionychids still do possess some functional digits and claws, these are mainly used to help them navigate through reefs, crevices and vegetation. Another unique trait that all Fermourodonts possess is what can best be described as "electrical whiskers". Their jaws are covered in rows small of electric organs that create a small electromagnetic field around the snout. This allows them to perceive living things without needing to see them. This adaptation is also a reason why Fermourodonts seem to despite humans. Our electrical equipment and ROVs seem to agitate them to the point where some will actively attack and destroy our devices whenever they encounter us. 

It is a shame really, because Fermourodonts have proven to be among the most intelligent creatures on Eryobis, yet we evidently cannot examine them up close in their natural habitat.

Liomedactylomorpha are regarded as more advanved compared to Strotopalates. One of the reasons for this is the fact that Liomedactylomorphs symmetrized the toes on their front limbs. While several other groups like Eusymmetrodactyl and Parasymmetrodactyl also symmetrized their toes by reducing a toe of their lacrimal limbs, Liomedactylomorphs instead fused the 3rd and 4th digits into one.

Another is the removal of the ancestral "fish nostrils" from the jaws and having those be replaced by new olfactory organs derived from glands near their eyes. These drape down from the eyes and end around the corner of the mouth between the mandibles and the trapezium.

Without the exception of the Trapezosauridae, all Liomedactylomorphs fall into Liomedactylae. Likewise, all except the former all endothermic creatures possess some kind of fur covering. Liomedactyls possess prominent spiracle structures made out of bony rings and cartilage. These resemble the spiracle structures of Eusymmetrodactyls in the fact that they are also covered in hard keratin, but unlike those, the spiracle structures of Liomedactyls split into two separate tubes akin to the fleshy spiracle structures of some Effingodactyls. 

Uniquely, Liomedactyls have evolved to use these largely hollow tubes to detect sound and as such, usually have several disc like shaped and pressure points spread over their headgear.

The most basal members, the Trochotheroids, are Mustelid like omnivores that typically have long bodies with relatively short legs. 

Triprotodontia

Other Liomedactyls seem to be largely divisible into three major lineages.

The first of these is the branch that leads up to the Triprotodontia. All members of this branch can be identified by the orientation of their toes on the hind legs, with the first, second and third digits being mainly used for walking while the fourth and fifth digits are reduced and often vestigial. Odd looking creatures like herbivorous Kormerpetontids and the rat/ shrew like Projunctinariids belong at the base of this branch. 

The latter represent a transitional form between more basal Liomedactyls and the advanced Triprotodonts. These have a number of unique features, like their spiracular structures that feature large auricule spheres at the back of the head and tube openings that always face out- or backwards. They also possess the ability to open their jaws at an odd angle, giving them an almost three part jaw, although it is nowhere near as developed as those seen in Fermourodonts. 

But perhaps the most unique feature of Triprotodonts is the fact that they have fused their caecal spiracle opening with their olfactory organs and moved this newly evolved "nose" to the very front of the trapezium. This makes them look as if they have an inverted mammal snout and is an adaptation seen in no other group of Anisospondyls.

Triprotodonts are the most successful and widespread clade of non-flighted terrestrial Anisospondyls ever. These rodent like creatues are present on every major landmass except the continent of Hatèmica and often dominate the niches of small sized herbi- and omnivores. They are divided into three groups mostly based on where they can be found.

On the continents of Tlèëa, Guralta and Lachoba, we can find the Boreoglires that were named because they took the northern route to spread across the continents.

The other two groups are generally considered to be more closely related to each other than either is to Boreoglires. The Rubioglires are the group of Triprotodonts that mostly restricted to the Rubiëran archipelago, while the Austroglires are almost exclusively found on the continent of Miesjeta.

Diplaulotes

Besides the Triprotodontia, there are two other, often more noticeable lineages of Liomedactyls.

Both of these have features that easily set them apart from any other Anisospondyl family dead or alive.

The clade known as the Diplaulotes possess some of the most charismatic headgear of any animal on Eryobis. At some point in their evolution, a mutation occurred that caused them to grow a spiracular structure not just on the visendal spiracle, but on the caecal side as well, giving them their iconic quadruple tubed look.

The most basal Diplaulotes are the Tetramyteiids, a family of civet like creatures that are quite similar to the Trochotheroids in appearance and lifestyle.

The other Diplaulote groups are united by a few characteristics in their foot anatomy such as the sideways orientation of their hands on their front feet and the loss of the fifth digit on the hind-limbs. 

While nearly all members of this group are devoted herbivores and occasional omnivores, they do contain one family of hypercarnivores, the Machairoplatids. These feline looking predators have evolved a large sharp spike on the edge of their trapezium which they use to kill, much like the saberteeth of various prehistoric carnivores from Earth. Machairoplatids always hold their caecal limbs, which are set further towards the middle than the visendal limbs, permanently off the ground. These free arms have opposable fingers that sport large claws for restraining prey before they can deploy their sabers as well as for carrying their offspring.

The other "higher" Diplaulotes are nearly all herbivores. Some of these, like the Grothiacheirids have evolved one pair of their front limbs into club like appendages. These are made out of their modified foot bones and are lined by their stud like hooves.

The Liotelares are typically more stocky in build that other Diplaulotes and have shorter tails. These creatures can best be recognized by their tubes that have fused together and meet in the middle of the head.

The Oxysalpincidia are the most widespread of the Diplaulotes and contain a myriad of species ranging from small and slender hexapods to titanic bipedal behemoths. Indeed, some of the largest terrestrial animals alive and consequently, the largest terrestrial Trapezostomes to ever exist are Oxysalpincidians.

Exolophodontia

The final of the three major branches of Liomedactylae are the Exolophodontia. These creatures are perhaps the most un-Trapezostome like Trapezostomes ever. In fact, for the first decade or so after explorations on Eryobis began, the Exolophodonts were not even considered to be Trapezostomes because they often have strongly reduced- or completely lack trapeziums. 

Exolophodonts gain their name from their teeth which are, peculiar to say the least.

Liomedactyls all started out with a full set of teeth on their maxilla, dentary and a row of palatine teeth. At some point in their evolution, the ancestors of Exolophodonts suffered a mutation that caused their maxillary teeth to turn outwards and would end up forming a "crest" of teeth that stuck out of the mouth.

For most Anisospondyls this would be disadvantageous in several ways, but since these Liomedactyls still had fully functional palatine teeth, they were able to compensate.

It is likely that individuals with these odd teeth were selected for because it likely showed their fitness and ability to live with a feature that would seem like a hindrance. Soon these teeth would be developed into all kinds of shapes and sizes. 

Some of the most basal Exolophodonts are the Ankylotalariidae, a family of arboreal omnivores with strangely shaped ankle bones and prehensile tails. Typical of many basal Exolophodonts, their toothy crests give their face an appearance akin to a leiomano or macuahuitl. Despite this seemingly fearsome look, the teeth are brittle and are exclusively meant for display.

The Choeromelidae are another quite basal family of Exolophodonts, although these creatures have more specialized maxillary teeth than other basal members. The tusks of Choeromelids are strong and are used for digging up food, scratching the bark of trees and for combat. Curisouly, these critters have some of the most well retained trapeziums of any Exolophodontian family.

The family that the order derives it name from, the Exolophodontidae, are a family of medium to very large sized herbivores native to the Rubiëran archipelago. These pachyderms have spade like crest teeth that are often larger on the visendal side than on the caecal side. They are the largest land animals in Rubiëra and they permanently hold their caecal limbs off the ground. These are used for digging, collecting food and fighting.

In a curious case of convergent evolution, a family of Exolophodonts evolved a very similar body shape and lifestyle to the Cryptognaths known as Kadrians. The aptly named Pseudokadridae are also a family of long, slender legged herbivores that, like their namesakes, walk quadrupedally while having reduced one pair of their front limbs. Unlike actual Kadrians whose non walking front limbs have turned into defensive weaponry, the Pseudokadrids use theirs to hold and transport food, other materials and offspring. The tooth crests of Pseuodkadrians can vary wildly between different genera and even species, but they are generally quite sturdy and are often used for both intraspecific combat and defense if necessary. Their spiracular tubes are also often quite elaborate and brightly colored, especially in the males and are mostly used for display.

Pseudokadrids are also one of the very few members of a group called the Choritrapezioidea that are found outside the continent of Miesjeta. Most other members of this group can be in Miesjeta, with the subcontinent called Lotharca being especially rich in their diversity.

One of the most charismatic families of this group are the carnivorous Hemerosmilids. These predators are best known for having reduced all their maxillary teeth except for one, which they turned into a large blade shaped tusk with serrated edges. With this, they are the second family of Liomedactyls to evolve into sabertoothed carnivores along side the Diplaulote Machairoplatids. They are not closely related at all however and evolved on opposite sides of the world. Hemerosmilids are also known for their peculiarly shaped headgear that often resemble caricatured wings. Because of this, some explorers call them "cats of Hermes". 

Perhaps the most widespread family of Choritrapeziods are the Polemotheriidae. These squat, pig to rhino sized herbivores can be found all over Miesjeta as well as some islands surrounding the continent. Like the Hemerosmilids, these creatures have also greatly reduced their number of maxillary teeth in favor of a few, but very large tusks. These are used for all kinds of daily activities like digging, stripping vegetation, combat and breaking through ice.

When one observes the locations of where terrestrial Trapezostomes can found in Eryobis, it becomes noticeable how the majority of their more basal taxa can be found in Rubiëra. 

Rubiëra ofcourse, is a massive archipelago that consists of the remnants of highlands of a sunken continent that was once much larger. Based on its unique flora and fauna, researchers think that Rubiëra has been more or less isolated from the rest of Eryobis since the World Scarring occurred. 

Because of this Trapezostomes were able to evolve and diversify unhindered by the Cryptognaths that dominated all other continents. 

Back in the early Afthonozoic, Rubiëra as well as Lotharca and Augadrië and possibly parts of Wyndraë were united in a much larger continent dubbed Magna-Rubiëra. It is likely that Liomedactyls used the breaking up of this paleocontinent to spread across the world. 

Exolophodonts and Austroglires hitched a ride on Lotharca to spread to the rest of Miesjeta and the Diplaulotes seem to have evolved in Augadrian Tlèëa after the breakup of Magna-Rubiëra. Boreoglires likewise used Augadrië and Wyndraë to spread to the rest of Tlèëa, Guralta and Lachoba.

Currently, the only continent without any terrestrial Trapezostomes is Hatèmica. This continent was likely already isolated from all others by the time Liomedactyls spread out from Rubiëra.

Hatèmica however seems to be on a collision course with Guralta, is moving exceptionally fast for a continent and is likely to make contact within the next 20 milion years. So its apparent lack of Trapezostomes is destined to come to an end.