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Description

Fear Fowl: These aggressive terror bird descendants are expert pursuit predators of Skull Island’s more open spaces. With speed comparable to a cheetah’s, they will run down almost anything smaller than themselves, then use their reinforced skulls to batter and disembowel their chosen prey. Sometimes, they may even attack creatures as large as, or larger then they are, using their retractable talons to anchor themselves into tough hides as they begin to feast while the victim is still alive. Due to the abundance of predators on the island, Fear Fowls will consume as much as they can very quickly, storing up to a third of their own weight in their stomachs and gizzards to carry off and process at leisure, especially when they have chicks to feed. Height: 15 to 20 feet.

Mammoth: Few other giant herbivores are as influential as the giant Mammoths of Skull Island. They live, like their non-kaiju relatives, in tightly-knit herds lead by a wizened matriarch. The herds navigate the island in a cyclic rhythm that shapes the land around them; several river valleys, canyons, and caves owe their existence to the motions of these titans, and their waste provides nourishment for many sections of forest in and around their paths. Though their feeding may seem destructive at times, it is ultimately beneficial for the ecosystem’s overall long-term health. Able to live for millennia, their tusks eventually self-fossilize, forming an outer layer of porous stone that many plants take root in. These provide the Mammoths a portion of their energy while they in turn are able to spread their seeds all across the land. Their hides are also incredibly tough, and along with their massive tusks and muscular trunks, renders them invulnerable to most predators, many of which will avoid the Mammoth’s trails. Besides the herds, lone males also sporadically cross the paths, so that one is never far away. As these creatures are so effective at deterring predators, their trails are often used by native Iwi and FATHOM explorers alike in navigating the perilous island. Height: 100 to 130 feet.

Razor Wolf: These pack hunters are some of the island’s most efficient killers. Built for speed and agility, their large thumb claws and gecko-like foot pads enable them to track and chase down prey through all manner of rough terrains. Their targets are no safer among mountainous outcroppings or jungle canopies, for the wolves also possess retractable gliding membranes between their limbs that they use to great effect. Razor Wolves are so named for their large quills, concentrated across their backs and tails, which are both defensive and offensive weapons when used as projectiles. The microstructure of these quills, and of the rest of their fur, is analogous to chloroplasts in plant cells, enabling them to derive a significant portion of their energy from light to sustain them during prolonged chases. In addition to sunlight, they also seem able to process moonlight as well, and this extra boost can drive them into wild frenzies during particularly bright nights over Skull Island. There are several major packs of these creatures across the island, though there exists a particularly large specimen that does not seem to answer to any one pack. This individual, nicknamed “Ralph” by some of FATHOM’s more imaginative operatives, seems to be regarded with both fear and reverence by all other Razor Wolves, potentially marking him as the apex member of the species. Length: 15 to 18 feet (Ralph: 45 feet).

Stegolith: This giant stegosaur’s hide is more mineral than animal matter. Their intimidating plates and lethal thagomizers help to render them difficult targets. Their heads though, being smaller and less-armored, are vulnerable, and may become heavily damaged in battle. But unlike their fossil relatives, Stegoliths’ are decentralized across their spinal columns, and so their bodies remain dangerously reactive even if entirely decapitated. To heal, an injured Stegolith will seek a Raider Ant mound. The insects’ bites and stings are mute against their stony scales as they burrow partly into the nest. They enter a state of hibernation which may last years as the ants rebuild their nest around them. Their silicon plates gather solar energy to regenerate while their bodies absorb minerals from the ants’ nutrient-filled nest. To prevent the Raiders from covering their plates, they emit a distinct electromagnetic signal that repels the insects. This signal, when amplified, can also alarm the ants to potential enemies that the Stegolith senses via vibrations through the earth. Thus, while uninvited, they at least seem to make themselves useful houseguests. Length: 70 to 112 feet.

Cryptocledius: This large plesiosaur-like creature may be encountered within many lakes and rivers of the island, especially in the Flooded Forest region. Their forelimbs retain functional digits that they use to crawl across land and through tangled underwater roots. Secondary sets of flippers down their bodies provide extra propulsion and anchorage. Their gnarled teeth allow them to capture fish with ease, and larger prey is taken down via constriction, which their long tails come in handy for. Their skin absorbs oxygen directly from the water, allowing them to remain hidden in the shadows before slithering out to strike. Length: 65 to 150 feet.

Skeleturtle: The remains of Skull Island’s combatants in the war for survival dot the entire island. Some areas, such as where hypervorous predators make their dens, become accumulative mass graves over time. These foreboding Boneyards are haunted by many scavengers, including the specialized Skeleturtle. This creature, whether a true chelonian or not, blends in perfectly with this morbid environment. Its jointed carapace cages in its head at rest, while its limbs are locked into place. They activate when a fresh corpse is sensed, and will shamble relentlessly towards it. Being the among the last to arrive, the Skeleturtle will consume the toughest bits of cartilage, tendon, and gristle, and even parts of the skeleton itself to be converted into new layers of bony armor. This unique exoskeletal vertebrate rarely attacks living beings, but they are still to be treated with caution. Length: 15 to 30 feet.

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Creature Inspirations:
Fear Fowl: Phorusrhacos seen in Mysterious Island 1961.
Mammoth: Various depictions of mammoths in old literature, such as Pellucidar novels by Edgar Rice Burroughs.
Razor Wolf: Ralph of Rampage 2018, with elements of Zinogre of Monster Hunter franchise.
Stegolith: Retro stegosaur of King Kong 1933, with elements of stegosaur monster of Attack of the Super Monsters 1982 (forget mating or threat displays, clearly the stegosaur’s plates evolved to emit radio frequencies to control armies of demonic rats… I’m not making that up, that’s in the movie).
Cryptocledius: Plesiosaur monster from Godzilla: The Series 1998, “Elasmosaur” of King Kong 1933, and fanged plesiosaur of The Land Unknown 1957.
Skeleturtle: Skeletal creature seen in Mothra vs Godzilla 1964.
Other elements borrowed from suggestions by Lediblock2. Thank you as always.

Description

Fear Fowl: These aggressive terror bird descendants are expert pursuit predators of Skull Island’s more open spaces. With speed comparable to a cheetah’s, they will run down almost anything smaller than themselves, then use their reinforced skulls to batter and disembowel their chosen prey. Sometimes, they may even attack creatures as large as, or larger then they are, using their retractable talons to anchor themselves into tough hides as they begin to feast while the victim is still alive. Due to the abundance of predators on the island, Fear Fowls will consume as much as they can very quickly, storing up to a third of their own weight in their stomachs and gizzards to carry off and process at leisure, especially when they have chicks to feed. Height: 15 to 20 feet.

Mammoth: Few other giant herbivores are as influential as the giant Mammoths of Skull Island. They live, like their non-kaiju relatives, in tightly-knit herds lead by a wizened matriarch. The herds navigate the island in a cyclic rhythm that shapes the land around them; several river valleys, canyons, and caves owe their existence to the motions of these titans, and their waste provides nourishment for many sections of forest in and around their paths. Though their feeding may seem destructive at times, it is ultimately beneficial for the ecosystem’s overall long-term health. Able to live for millennia, their tusks eventually self-fossilize, forming an outer layer of porous stone that many plants take root in. These provide the Mammoths a portion of their energy while they in turn are able to spread their seeds all across the land. Their hides are also incredibly tough, and along with their massive tusks and muscular trunks, renders them invulnerable to most predators, many of which will avoid the Mammoth’s trails. Besides the herds, lone males also sporadically cross the paths, so that one is never far away. As these creatures are so effective at deterring predators, their trails are often used by native Iwi and FATHOM explorers alike in navigating the perilous island. Height: 100 to 130 feet.

Razor Wolf: These pack hunters are some of the island’s most efficient killers. Built for speed and agility, their large thumb claws and gecko-like foot pads enable them to track and chase down prey through all manner of rough terrains. Their targets are no safer among mountainous outcroppings or jungle canopies, for the wolves also possess retractable gliding membranes between their limbs that they use to great effect. Razor Wolves are so named for their large quills, concentrated across their backs and tails, which are both defensive and offensive weapons when used as projectiles. The microstructure of these quills, and of the rest of their fur, is analogous to chloroplasts in plant cells, enabling them to derive a significant portion of their energy from light to sustain them during prolonged chases. In addition to sunlight, they also seem able to process moonlight as well, and this extra boost can drive them into wild frenzies during particularly bright nights over Skull Island. There are several major packs of these creatures across the island, though there exists a particularly large specimen that does not seem to answer to any one pack. This individual, nicknamed “Ralph” by some of FATHOM’s more imaginative operatives, seems to be regarded with both fear and reverence by all other Razor Wolves, potentially marking him as the apex member of the species. Length: 15 to 18 feet (Ralph: 45 feet).

Stegolith: This giant stegosaur’s hide is more mineral than animal matter. Their intimidating plates and lethal thagomizers help to render them difficult targets. Their heads though, being smaller and less-armored, are vulnerable, and may become heavily damaged in battle. But unlike their fossil relatives, Stegoliths’ are decentralized across their spinal columns, and so their bodies remain dangerously reactive even if entirely decapitated. To heal, an injured Stegolith will seek a Raider Ant mound. The insects’ bites and stings are mute against their stony scales as they burrow partly into the nest. They enter a state of hibernation which may last years as the ants rebuild their nest around them. Their silicon plates gather solar energy to regenerate while their bodies absorb minerals from the ants’ nutrient-filled nest. To prevent the Raiders from covering their plates, they emit a distinct electromagnetic signal that repels the insects. This signal, when amplified, can also alarm the ants to potential enemies that the Stegolith senses via vibrations through the earth. Thus, while uninvited, they at least seem to make themselves useful houseguests. Length: 70 to 112 feet.

Cryptocledius: This large plesiosaur-like creature may be encountered within many lakes and rivers of the island, especially in the Flooded Forest region. Their forelimbs retain functional digits that they use to crawl across land and through tangled underwater roots. Secondary sets of flippers down their bodies provide extra propulsion and anchorage. Their gnarled teeth allow them to capture fish with ease, and larger prey is taken down via constriction, which their long tails come in handy for. Their skin absorbs oxygen directly from the water, allowing them to remain hidden in the shadows before slithering out to strike. Length: 65 to 150 feet.

Skeleturtle: The remains of Skull Island’s combatants in the war for survival dot the entire island. Some areas, such as where hypervorous predators make their dens, become accumulative mass graves over time. These foreboding Boneyards are haunted by many scavengers, including the specialized Skeleturtle. This creature, whether a true chelonian or not, blends in perfectly with this morbid environment. Its jointed carapace cages in its head at rest, while its limbs are locked into place. They activate when a fresh corpse is sensed, and will shamble relentlessly towards it. Being the among the last to arrive, the Skeleturtle will consume the toughest bits of cartilage, tendon, and gristle, and even parts of the skeleton itself to be converted into new layers of bony armor. This unique exoskeletal vertebrate rarely attacks living beings, but they are still to be treated with caution. Length: 15 to 30 feet.

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

Creature Inspirations:
Fear Fowl: Phorusrhacos seen in Mysterious Island 1961.
Mammoth: Various depictions of mammoths in old literature, such as Pellucidar novels by Edgar Rice Burroughs.
Razor Wolf: Ralph of Rampage 2018, with elements of Zinogre of Monster Hunter franchise.
Stegolith: Retro stegosaur of King Kong 1933, with elements of stegosaur monster of Attack of the Super Monsters 1982 (forget mating or threat displays, clearly the stegosaur’s plates evolved to emit radio frequencies to control armies of demonic rats… I’m not making that up, that’s in the movie).
Cryptocledius: Plesiosaur monster from Godzilla: The Series 1998, “Elasmosaur” of King Kong 1933, and fanged plesiosaur of The Land Unknown 1957.
Skeleturtle: Skeletal creature seen in Mothra vs Godzilla 1964.
Other elements borrowed from suggestions by Lediblock2. Thank you as always.