The Kwaai Koei is widespread throughout the plains, neighboring forests, and rocky terrain in Africa. They are squat, mottled brown mammals that can grow from three to four feet at the shoulders with their weight varying from 300 to 900 lbs. Their coats will usually display a spotted pattern over their face and back, fading as it travels down the ribs. The Koei’s feet are hoofed with hidden retractable claws. Inside the hoof is an open chamber that allows the phalanges to move freely through it. A unique feature of the Koei is their extremely long tails that they wield with surprising accuracy as a whip for protection. Dark, curled horns also aid in protection from predators and rivals. The Koei females travel in packs, while the males tend to be more solitary but are commonly within view of the group; they tolerate other males, but can become aggressive during the mating season. The Koei’s diet consists of a wide variety of vegetation; they are constant foragers.
Intelligent animals, the Koei will not seek confrontation with predatory mammals, choosing instead to move away from a threat. When they are attacked they put up a powerful fight using horns, tail, hooves, claws, and powerful fanged jaws that usually ends with the predator’s death or retreat. It is from this dual personality of gentle grazer and fierce combatant that it acquired its African name Kwaai Koei, “ferocious cow.”
Dwelling in the marshes during the Cretaceous period was a small Ornithischian; the Parvilophosauros paluster. This dinosaur could grow to a length of seven feet (including tail) and a height of about three feet. Being an herbivore, the P. paluster’s diet consisted of a wide variety of marsh plants. Camouflaged colors of green, blue, and yellow hues helped to hide the P. paluster from predators. Adorning the head was a large nasal crest; beside this crest was an accordion of hollow tubes held together by muscles and colorful membranes. The tubes were hollow and each one could produce a different pitch. Along the spine of the P. paluster was a group of spiny finlike structures that could be raised and lowered. The tail could open wide at the end to reveal a fin for ease in swimming; it also contained tubes that could squirt poison at predators. Scientists believe that these adornments were used for mating, communication, and to scare off predators. Besides the finned tail, the hands and feet were also webbed. The consensus is that this animal was not a runner and would amble and hop on the two back legs; however, it was a superior swimmer. Evidence shows that though the P. paluster had lungs, it also had skin patches that would close off the nasal cavity thereby leaving a reservoir of air trapped in the long nasal cavity from which to breathe enabling P. paluster to remain under the water for several minutes. This would be very useful in diving for underwater plant life and hiding from predators.
Aristotle Shuttle Log
10/31/2075
It’s our 47th day exploring the rainforest region of Alusia, and we’ve finally spotted the Equus venenatus, or as the natives call them, the Poison Screamer. When first spotted in the shadows, this small, fragile built animal reminded me of the miniature horses of home. However, as it entered the light, the resemblance was not as prominent. The Screamer is a beautiful animal colored in hues of greens, reds, and yellows. The mane is a streaming, tentacled, barbed mass of venomous stingers; these stingers are also found at the end of the tail. Poisonous bumps cover the skin of the back, rump, and upper tail.Their tails are prehensile and are commonly used to bring hard to reach vegetation within eating distance. Screamers have amphibian-like eyes with horizontal pupils and kidney shaped nostrils with closeable flaps that allow the creature to dip its nose below the water and graze on aquatic plants. The feet are more akin to bird feet, similar to an ostrich’s, that are well suited to the wet terrain of the forest. Screamers are quite skittish and easily startled, at which point they belt out an ear-splitting screech before darting off into the brush (hence their name). Due to the warning coloring, whipping tail, and poisonous attributes, the Screamers seem to have no known predators. Their diet consists of many types of vegetation. From what the natives have seen, the gestation range of these animals is quite long (two to three years Earth time) and they only have one to two offspring during their estimated lifetime of 10 years.
Living up to its name, the Barbed Racer can be found sprinting through the grassy open fields and border woodlands throughout most of the United States and Canada. The plumage of the Racer consists of hues of brown, red, and orange. The head has large eyes, two helmeted peaks surrounded by disheveled feathers, and several coarse nodules that travel down the beak. Multiple barbs line the backline, starting midway down the neck; the barbs extend outward when threatened by predators. Though with a speed of up to 35 mph, this avian can dart away from most threats.
The Racer’s diet consists of mainly insects, reptiles, and small rodents, but it will occasionally eat vegetation. Although the Racer can fly, it prefers to remain grounded. Nests are hidden in burrows that have been vacated by the previous tenants, usually groundhogs. The female will sit on the eggs until they are ready to hatch. Her food is brought to her by her dedicated mate. After the hatchlings are born, the mother will continue to nest for an additional two-to-three days as the offspring use their zygodactyl feet to make their way up the mother’s feathers and into a pouch located in front of the breast. Here they will remain for the next several weeks. The mother feeds the fledglings by dipping her beak into the pouch and regurgitating into their eager mouths. Only female Racers have this pouch that is held flat against the breast with strong tendons and muscles; upon laying eggs the pouch slowly descends and will stretch out as the young grow.
Just recently discovered in the forests of Central America, the Crested Cat is a diminutive feline with some unusual characteristics. Approximately the size of a squirrel, this solidly built feline has a striped coat with hints of black, browns, reds, yellows, and greens. Naturalists believe that due to the size and well camouflaged coloring, the cat has been able to go undetected for many years.
The Crested Cat sports a large casque on the top of the head that is used to not only scare off predators, but entice mates. A rather unique feature to this predator is the lengthy, sticky tongue that is used to snare its prey of smaller animals and insects. This tiny feline has a ravenous appetite and is quite aggressive in acquiring food, even if that means taking on larger prey that is up to twice its size. With such a well designed disguise, the Crested Cat is able to hide within tall grasses or shrubs and sneak up to feed on a larger predator’s kill without being detected.
Due to the destruction of their homelands, Tegos, ancestors of the Siamang, were forced to adapt to living close to man in the sparse forests beside villages. Tegos are masters of camouflage; they possess multi-colored coats of black, grey, and brown that are able to change to various tints depending on the environment. Tego heads are adorned with numerous featherlike hair clumps that shed water easily to keep vision at its optimum. Males have dark bluish patches over the thick hide of their biceps. One of the more unique features on the Tego is the elastic skin covering the throat that can inflate to the size of a soccer ball and change dramatically from grey to brilliant vermillion. This pouch is used for singing, courting, and as an oxygen reserve tank as Tegos are excellent swimmers. Their strong hands and feet are unusually large and webbed. To aid in jumping far distances, Tegos have large skin flaps connected from the wrists to the low back that enables them to glide. Their usual diet is leaves, fruits, seeds, and fish; however, they have been known to scavenge human garbage.
