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Description
Subject: Escavian falcolf (I. Mactabilislupus escavianus) Anzi Blackroot attempting to catch a Tiger Troo in a northern Escavian lake.

Notes: This was a successful experiment in underwater special effects, lighting and also displaying for the first time ever in colour, falcolf gills! I'm just going to sum those up.

- Yes, falcolfs have gills. Above water, their gills are sealed under a falcolf's thick featherfur pelt beneath protective membranes. Yes, I have all of this anatomy figured out and how it works, however I am not ready to share that information at this time. Needless to say, falcolfs have extremely complicated neck anatomy. (In fact, falcolfs are ridiculously complicated in general, anatomically.) Gills have been part of the design of falcolfs since their original conception, over fifteen years ago. (Good gravy that makes me sound old.)

- All falcolfs have four sets of gills, just like they have one heart, one brain, one firestone and two lungs. (Plus six limbs, a fairly long tail and a bunch of other stuff.)

- A falcolf's gills are involuntarily deployed as soon as their face is submerged and their trachea becomes sealed, protecting their lungs from submersion. (Falcolfs cannot use their lungs and cannot breathe atmospheric air while their gills are deployed. They can only breathe water through their gills.) Yes, this does mean that a falcolf can suffocate if their face is submerged but their first set of gills is not, however such a circumstance is highly unlikely; falcolfs can hold their breaths much longer than humans can, helping to eliminate this problem.

- Their nostrils and ears are also sealed to protect their sinuses as well as protect the individual from underwater pressure changes. A falcolf's nostrils are also sealed at some points during flight.

- Although a falcolf's nose is sealed underwater, they can still smell very adeptly with their tongues. (And in fact their tongues are more sensitive than their noses, so their olfactory ability is not compromised at all.)

- Clear, membranous secondary eyelids protect their eyes both underwater and in flight.

- Falcolf gills are red because they are flushed with blood. This doesn't draw predators though, because falcolfs have an ace hidden up their proverbial sleeves which I'm not ready to talk about yet, but which does have something to do with their venom.

- Because of their gills, (although those are protected by their thick plumage,) a falcolf's neck is quite vulnerable to attack. Falcolfs instinctively disallow anyone but those they trust the very most from touching their necks due to the threat to their gills; a defensive involuntary envenomation response (venomous bite) is very likely. If a falcolf's gills are attacked, they can suffer severe blood loss if not death depending upon the extremity of the injury, therefore, it's not surprising that most humans who are bitten fatally by falcolfs suffer so because they ignorantly attempted to touch the falcolf's neck. (Alternatively, they might just maim you instead; their serrated teeth make doing so disturbingly easy. Because humans do not generally scare falcolfs, most humans who are fatally bitten by falcolfs die from blood loss rather than envenomation as it is usually the wrist which is bitten. It should be noted that falcolf head reflexes are faster than most other species and when threatened, they are capable of biting with projectile-like speed.)

- Falcolfs can survive entirely underwater, even gleaning freshwater from their prey if in saltwater conditions, however they prefer to consume prey above water and will usually at least return to the surface to eat since falcolfs are incapable of chewing, swallowing their food in ripped up pieces if not whole. Saltwater is relatively inhospitable to falcolfs but they can survive there; just not thrive and the saltwater populations of larger and more capable saltwater predators are definitely inhibit oceanic life. Falcolfs prefer living in freshwater, where they are capable of living well; often, falcolfs who have injuries (such as badly broken limbs) which would mean their demise on land retire to the water where their injuries no longer inhibit them. Injured falcolfs will also seek water to simply rebuild their strength; thus, it shouldn't be surprising that falcolfs, being sentient, can survive without medical care, since they have a strategy for not requiring it - they are also highly social just like humans and obviously generally have clanmates to care for them.

- Yes, falcolfs can sleep underwater. Having stagnant air trapped in their lungs doesn't negatively effect them because they are receiving plenty of oxygen through their gills. (Although falcolfs tend to exhale quite forcibly when surfacing and reinstating their lungs to clear them of carbon dioxide. It's common to hear a distinct and loud "HFF!" when a falcolf reinstates its lungs.) Falcolfs do not have to be in motion in order to breathe with their gills, which are just as able as their lungs.

- I honestly can't tell you yet how being underwater effects a falcolf's firestone (which requires oxygen, among other things,) but suffice to say, the firestone isn't really impacted and still kicks ass at making falcolfs formidable predators worldwide! (Rimarian humans don't really understand how firestones work anyway.)

- Compared to fully aquatic animals, falcolfs are not particularly fast underwater, however, they are extremely capable ambush predators and they swim much faster than even the most well trained humans. (Of which there are almost none on Rimer, since humans only swim in survival situations when they absolutely must.) They can also dive much deeper than humans without suffering any ill side effects thanks to their biological composition, which is different from any Gaian species'. Their maximum depth is unknown and cannot be studied by humans on Rimer due to a lack of technology or ability to safely understand a falcolf's biology enough to counter any ill effects which may be suffered by a falcolf intentionally diving too deeply.

- Falcolfs are still capable of some vocalizations underwater, using the residual air trapped within their sealed off lungs and tracheas, however, they cannot speak. (Think croons, keens and shrills instead, sounds which are used for simple warnings, calls and acknowledgements.)

- Falcolfs are still venomous underwater and probably use their venom to greater effect beneath the waves than above them, since there are more dangerous predators which can harm them there.

- As-dragon drakoon are faster and more dangerous than falcolfs underwater. Yay! (However, as-dragon drakoon need to surface to breathe, which falcolfs obviously do not. Point for falcolfs.)

A couple of other things: I suspect the fish in this illustration probably gets away; depends on whether it's hurt or not. Also, even though Rimarian fish bear absolutely no genetic relationship to Gaian fish, they are still called fish, because the colonists thought it was just easiest to transfer the same name to them. In any case, they fill the same ecological niche and thus have similar anatomical structure, so the name works!

You can also clearly see at least one freshwater tigra (Rimarian pike) silhouetted in the background of this illustration. These shark-like carnivores are the most common aquatic predator on Rimer and a favourite prey species for falcolfs. (In the ocean, the tables get turned sometimes, depending on the tigra species involved.) Freshwater tigras are opportunistic and prey upon silly humans who go swimming; don't go swimming on Rimer, kids! (Real world sharks, in contrast, are far nicer, lovelier animals which are most likely entirely uninterested in eating you. www.thewildlifemuseum.org/exhi… )

(c)Rosanna P. Brost. All Rights Reserved.
Please do not copy, print without permission or share without due credit.

Description
Subject: Escavian falcolf (I. Mactabilislupus escavianus) Anzi Blackroot attempting to catch a Tiger Troo in a northern Escavian lake.

Notes: This was a successful experiment in underwater special effects, lighting and also displaying for the first time ever in colour, falcolf gills! I'm just going to sum those up.

- Yes, falcolfs have gills. Above water, their gills are sealed under a falcolf's thick featherfur pelt beneath protective membranes. Yes, I have all of this anatomy figured out and how it works, however I am not ready to share that information at this time. Needless to say, falcolfs have extremely complicated neck anatomy. (In fact, falcolfs are ridiculously complicated in general, anatomically.) Gills have been part of the design of falcolfs since their original conception, over fifteen years ago. (Good gravy that makes me sound old.)

- All falcolfs have four sets of gills, just like they have one heart, one brain, one firestone and two lungs. (Plus six limbs, a fairly long tail and a bunch of other stuff.)

- A falcolf's gills are involuntarily deployed as soon as their face is submerged and their trachea becomes sealed, protecting their lungs from submersion. (Falcolfs cannot use their lungs and cannot breathe atmospheric air while their gills are deployed. They can only breathe water through their gills.) Yes, this does mean that a falcolf can suffocate if their face is submerged but their first set of gills is not, however such a circumstance is highly unlikely; falcolfs can hold their breaths much longer than humans can, helping to eliminate this problem.

- Their nostrils and ears are also sealed to protect their sinuses as well as protect the individual from underwater pressure changes. A falcolf's nostrils are also sealed at some points during flight.

- Although a falcolf's nose is sealed underwater, they can still smell very adeptly with their tongues. (And in fact their tongues are more sensitive than their noses, so their olfactory ability is not compromised at all.)

- Clear, membranous secondary eyelids protect their eyes both underwater and in flight.

- Falcolf gills are red because they are flushed with blood. This doesn't draw predators though, because falcolfs have an ace hidden up their proverbial sleeves which I'm not ready to talk about yet, but which does have something to do with their venom.

- Because of their gills, (although those are protected by their thick plumage,) a falcolf's neck is quite vulnerable to attack. Falcolfs instinctively disallow anyone but those they trust the very most from touching their necks due to the threat to their gills; a defensive involuntary envenomation response (venomous bite) is very likely. If a falcolf's gills are attacked, they can suffer severe blood loss if not death depending upon the extremity of the injury, therefore, it's not surprising that most humans who are bitten fatally by falcolfs suffer so because they ignorantly attempted to touch the falcolf's neck. (Alternatively, they might just maim you instead; their serrated teeth make doing so disturbingly easy. Because humans do not generally scare falcolfs, most humans who are fatally bitten by falcolfs die from blood loss rather than envenomation as it is usually the wrist which is bitten. It should be noted that falcolf head reflexes are faster than most other species and when threatened, they are capable of biting with projectile-like speed.)

- Falcolfs can survive entirely underwater, even gleaning freshwater from their prey if in saltwater conditions, however they prefer to consume prey above water and will usually at least return to the surface to eat since falcolfs are incapable of chewing, swallowing their food in ripped up pieces if not whole. Saltwater is relatively inhospitable to falcolfs but they can survive there; just not thrive and the saltwater populations of larger and more capable saltwater predators are definitely inhibit oceanic life. Falcolfs prefer living in freshwater, where they are capable of living well; often, falcolfs who have injuries (such as badly broken limbs) which would mean their demise on land retire to the water where their injuries no longer inhibit them. Injured falcolfs will also seek water to simply rebuild their strength; thus, it shouldn't be surprising that falcolfs, being sentient, can survive without medical care, since they have a strategy for not requiring it - they are also highly social just like humans and obviously generally have clanmates to care for them.

- Yes, falcolfs can sleep underwater. Having stagnant air trapped in their lungs doesn't negatively effect them because they are receiving plenty of oxygen through their gills. (Although falcolfs tend to exhale quite forcibly when surfacing and reinstating their lungs to clear them of carbon dioxide. It's common to hear a distinct and loud "HFF!" when a falcolf reinstates its lungs.) Falcolfs do not have to be in motion in order to breathe with their gills, which are just as able as their lungs.

- I honestly can't tell you yet how being underwater effects a falcolf's firestone (which requires oxygen, among other things,) but suffice to say, the firestone isn't really impacted and still kicks ass at making falcolfs formidable predators worldwide! (Rimarian humans don't really understand how firestones work anyway.)

- Compared to fully aquatic animals, falcolfs are not particularly fast underwater, however, they are extremely capable ambush predators and they swim much faster than even the most well trained humans. (Of which there are almost none on Rimer, since humans only swim in survival situations when they absolutely must.) They can also dive much deeper than humans without suffering any ill side effects thanks to their biological composition, which is different from any Gaian species'. Their maximum depth is unknown and cannot be studied by humans on Rimer due to a lack of technology or ability to safely understand a falcolf's biology enough to counter any ill effects which may be suffered by a falcolf intentionally diving too deeply.

- Falcolfs are still capable of some vocalizations underwater, using the residual air trapped within their sealed off lungs and tracheas, however, they cannot speak. (Think croons, keens and shrills instead, sounds which are used for simple warnings, calls and acknowledgements.)

- Falcolfs are still venomous underwater and probably use their venom to greater effect beneath the waves than above them, since there are more dangerous predators which can harm them there.

- As-dragon drakoon are faster and more dangerous than falcolfs underwater. Yay! (However, as-dragon drakoon need to surface to breathe, which falcolfs obviously do not. Point for falcolfs.)

A couple of other things: I suspect the fish in this illustration probably gets away; depends on whether it's hurt or not. Also, even though Rimarian fish bear absolutely no genetic relationship to Gaian fish, they are still called fish, because the colonists thought it was just easiest to transfer the same name to them. In any case, they fill the same ecological niche and thus have similar anatomical structure, so the name works!

You can also clearly see at least one freshwater tigra (Rimarian pike) silhouetted in the background of this illustration. These shark-like carnivores are the most common aquatic predator on Rimer and a favourite prey species for falcolfs. (In the ocean, the tables get turned sometimes, depending on the tigra species involved.) Freshwater tigras are opportunistic and prey upon silly humans who go swimming; don't go swimming on Rimer, kids! (Real world sharks, in contrast, are far nicer, lovelier animals which are most likely entirely uninterested in eating you. www.thewildlifemuseum.org/exhi… )

(c)Rosanna P. Brost. All Rights Reserved.
Please do not copy, print without permission or share without due credit.