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Description

Been struggling to draw much lately so decided to slap some color on a bunch of old sketches and make a little field guide. (Got the inspiration from Blasho's worldbuilding/creature collages; their work is super cool!)

As always, horrifically long lore dump below

--------------------------

Intro

Pseudoreptiles are the second-smallest class of vertebrates exclusive to the Spine, diverging from Earthen evolution around the time of the end-Triassic extinction event some 200 million years ago (the last time the two planets had a natural Rift between them). They developed to fill the same niche as large aquatic mammals on earth, namely that of whales/hippos and seals. Pseudoreptiles are characterized by their thick, scaleless skin, warm-blooded nature, (usually) internal protogills used for gas and heat exchange, extensive body webbing, and dexterous hands (though the last two can vary with species). Most pseudoreptiles are sequential hermaphrodites, but nagogin and multiple species of skati undergo asexual reproduction. Pseudoreptiles are opportunistic omnivores that predominately hunt through their keen eyesight and ampullary electroreceptors in their snouts and hands.

Nagogin (my favorite bois)

The nagogin are by far the most recognizable species of pseudoreptile on the Spine. Despite having numerous color morphs - and the fact that no two individuals have identical coloration (mark my words I'll make a genotype guide to these idiots some day but ohh boy it's taken long enough to work out in my head, let alone draw) - there is only one recognized "species" of nagogin. They are the most distantly related to all other families of pseudoreptile and their closest common ancestor is currently unknown, though is theorized to be shared with the Shovelheads. Their most recognizable features are their twin head-fins with extendable protogills, bilaterally symmetric hands, long quills, and semi-prehensile tail. Nagogin are to the rest of the pseudoreptiles as humans are to monkeys: they are intelligent problem-solvers, have fantastic memory and pattern-recognition, and appear capable of complex reasoning (though are NOT sentient!). Nagogin are also the only fully terrestrial species of pseudoreptile and can be found globally throughout the Spine, though favor hot environments. These creatures are incredibly well-documented by the Nexus EDI division, with nearly 800 individuals in active study. [The two drawn are S-108 "Nora" and S-109, for a change of pace.]

Skati
Skati are the smallest family of pseudoreptile, who have forgone the aquatic lives of their ancestors to become arboral gliders. They are most commonly found in jungles and coastal areas, where some colonies can reach thousands of individuals. A few species, such as the false-tail skati, life solitary lives, though this is less common. They are lightweight and fragile, relying on camouflage, dive speed, and/or bright colors to avoid or startle predators. While a few species have evolved to eat them, the insects skati eat have left many species foul-tasting - if not outright poisonous. As a result, these little pseudoreptiles are surprisingly docile, with minimal fear of unknown animals. There have been numerous reports of colonies roosting in research facilities, to the point where they can be a minor pest to work around.

Wavegliders
Wavegliders are the largest - both in size and biodiversity - family of pseudoreptile. They are found throughout the shallow oceans of the Spine, and colonies/pairs have been recorded globally save for the Polar Seas. Wavegliders are the strictest carnivores of any pseudoreptile family, and so rarely supplement their diets with plant matter that seeing one do so is treated as an omen of terrible storms to come. Wavegliders are seen as an intelligent species, and prior to human involvement in the Spine, there have been many cases of Sarnids attempting to domesticate coastal colonies. (Though the success of this is questionable.) Most wavegliders take on a dull blue, gray, or brown, but the smallest species, the Frilled Waveglider, is infamous for its striking color patterns. But be warned, these colors are not purely natural; rather, they result from the toxic crustaceans the Frilled Waveglider feeds upon, a toxin that is directly redistributed to their skin and quills. Similarly unusually, the largest species of Great Wavegliders are the only known species of pseudoreptile unable to retract their protogills. If injured, the Waveglider must wait for them to regrow until it is able to dive for as long, and risks issues with overheating in the meantime.

Bristletones

The sealion-like bristletone is a menace of the shorelines. Highly territorial and deafeningly loud, these beefy creatures are easily the most physically threatening of the pseudorepties, despite their comparatively smaller stature. Funnily enough, they are more closely related to Skati than Wavegliders, and their twim-thumbed, polydactal front hands are a unique mutation-turned-adaptation to help them climb through the Spine's rocky southeastern shorelines while retaining speed in water. Unlike the wavegliders, bristletones frequenty come ashore to hunt or sunbathe and are surprisingly dexterous on land. Similarly to nagogin, they have massive regional variation in appearance, but are currently considered all one species. Research is ongoing to determine if there is signficiant genetic distinction within their diverse colonies.

Shovelheads
Whereever there's a wetland, there's probably a shovelhead or two calling it home. These solitary gentle giants are most commonly found in the Southern Jungles, though have been reported throughout the full southern hemisphere of the Spine. Spending much of their time buried in mud and shallow swampland, Shovelheads can be effective ambush predators - though their physical strength and iron-infused talons are typically reserved for self-defence or nutritional desperation, as they mainly eat fish and bulbous plants. Simiarly to hippos, shovelheads are too large to actually swim, and will stride across the bottom of bodies of water, guided by their electroreceptors. While much of their range overlaps with that of nagogin, there are no reported cases of the two species fighting.

Description

Been struggling to draw much lately so decided to slap some color on a bunch of old sketches and make a little field guide. (Got the inspiration from Blasho's worldbuilding/creature collages; their work is super cool!)

As always, horrifically long lore dump below

--------------------------

Intro

Pseudoreptiles are the second-smallest class of vertebrates exclusive to the Spine, diverging from Earthen evolution around the time of the end-Triassic extinction event some 200 million years ago (the last time the two planets had a natural Rift between them). They developed to fill the same niche as large aquatic mammals on earth, namely that of whales/hippos and seals. Pseudoreptiles are characterized by their thick, scaleless skin, warm-blooded nature, (usually) internal protogills used for gas and heat exchange, extensive body webbing, and dexterous hands (though the last two can vary with species). Most pseudoreptiles are sequential hermaphrodites, but nagogin and multiple species of skati undergo asexual reproduction. Pseudoreptiles are opportunistic omnivores that predominately hunt through their keen eyesight and ampullary electroreceptors in their snouts and hands.

Nagogin (my favorite bois)

The nagogin are by far the most recognizable species of pseudoreptile on the Spine. Despite having numerous color morphs - and the fact that no two individuals have identical coloration (mark my words I'll make a genotype guide to these idiots some day but ohh boy it's taken long enough to work out in my head, let alone draw) - there is only one recognized "species" of nagogin. They are the most distantly related to all other families of pseudoreptile and their closest common ancestor is currently unknown, though is theorized to be shared with the Shovelheads. Their most recognizable features are their twin head-fins with extendable protogills, bilaterally symmetric hands, long quills, and semi-prehensile tail. Nagogin are to the rest of the pseudoreptiles as humans are to monkeys: they are intelligent problem-solvers, have fantastic memory and pattern-recognition, and appear capable of complex reasoning (though are NOT sentient!). Nagogin are also the only fully terrestrial species of pseudoreptile and can be found globally throughout the Spine, though favor hot environments. These creatures are incredibly well-documented by the Nexus EDI division, with nearly 800 individuals in active study. [The two drawn are S-108 "Nora" and S-109, for a change of pace.]

Skati
Skati are the smallest family of pseudoreptile, who have forgone the aquatic lives of their ancestors to become arboral gliders. They are most commonly found in jungles and coastal areas, where some colonies can reach thousands of individuals. A few species, such as the false-tail skati, life solitary lives, though this is less common. They are lightweight and fragile, relying on camouflage, dive speed, and/or bright colors to avoid or startle predators. While a few species have evolved to eat them, the insects skati eat have left many species foul-tasting - if not outright poisonous. As a result, these little pseudoreptiles are surprisingly docile, with minimal fear of unknown animals. There have been numerous reports of colonies roosting in research facilities, to the point where they can be a minor pest to work around.

Wavegliders
Wavegliders are the largest - both in size and biodiversity - family of pseudoreptile. They are found throughout the shallow oceans of the Spine, and colonies/pairs have been recorded globally save for the Polar Seas. Wavegliders are the strictest carnivores of any pseudoreptile family, and so rarely supplement their diets with plant matter that seeing one do so is treated as an omen of terrible storms to come. Wavegliders are seen as an intelligent species, and prior to human involvement in the Spine, there have been many cases of Sarnids attempting to domesticate coastal colonies. (Though the success of this is questionable.) Most wavegliders take on a dull blue, gray, or brown, but the smallest species, the Frilled Waveglider, is infamous for its striking color patterns. But be warned, these colors are not purely natural; rather, they result from the toxic crustaceans the Frilled Waveglider feeds upon, a toxin that is directly redistributed to their skin and quills. Similarly unusually, the largest species of Great Wavegliders are the only known species of pseudoreptile unable to retract their protogills. If injured, the Waveglider must wait for them to regrow until it is able to dive for as long, and risks issues with overheating in the meantime.

Bristletones

The sealion-like bristletone is a menace of the shorelines. Highly territorial and deafeningly loud, these beefy creatures are easily the most physically threatening of the pseudorepties, despite their comparatively smaller stature. Funnily enough, they are more closely related to Skati than Wavegliders, and their twim-thumbed, polydactal front hands are a unique mutation-turned-adaptation to help them climb through the Spine's rocky southeastern shorelines while retaining speed in water. Unlike the wavegliders, bristletones frequenty come ashore to hunt or sunbathe and are surprisingly dexterous on land. Similarly to nagogin, they have massive regional variation in appearance, but are currently considered all one species. Research is ongoing to determine if there is signficiant genetic distinction within their diverse colonies.

Shovelheads
Whereever there's a wetland, there's probably a shovelhead or two calling it home. These solitary gentle giants are most commonly found in the Southern Jungles, though have been reported throughout the full southern hemisphere of the Spine. Spending much of their time buried in mud and shallow swampland, Shovelheads can be effective ambush predators - though their physical strength and iron-infused talons are typically reserved for self-defence or nutritional desperation, as they mainly eat fish and bulbous plants. Simiarly to hippos, shovelheads are too large to actually swim, and will stride across the bottom of bodies of water, guided by their electroreceptors. While much of their range overlaps with that of nagogin, there are no reported cases of the two species fighting.