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Description
There is one aspect of Varian III that tends to be rather unusual among the many life bearing planet in the known universe, and that aspect is the number and variety of animals that have taken to flight. Many different animal families have taken to the apparent advantage of flight with the interesting reality that most of them are not even related.

First it's important to mention that of the vertebrates of Varian III there are two kinds, the Tetrapods and the Hexapods. The tetrapods are the primary dominant terrestrial vertebrates, though this was not always the case. An interesting point of fact is that it was the hexapods that first made the leap from water to land, and they didn't even walk to do it, rather they flew. The hexapod ancestor was a type of six fined true bony fish that had taken to leaping out of the water in pursuit of another type of fish (Avioicthes) that developed gliding out of the water to evade predators. Avioicthes were extremely common in their day so it shows that the ability to fly out of the water to escape danger was to their advantage. So it is not surprising that a predator developed to counter this advantage. Because this history of the development of first flight is touched on in another place we wont continue down this path, rather we will move on to the amazing fliers known as Scaleopterixidea, Scale Wings, or better known as Darts!

The little flying wonders are like nothing on earth, a four limbed creature that flies with out using a single arm or leg to do it. These creatures have wings composed of modified scales that were inherited from their ancestors. Point in fact these animals are derived from Reptilid stock but far removed from them. The only thing that points to that connection are their wings, which even they are not like the scales that they came from, being much more analogous to the wings of insects which they resemble in form and function. So to start let us begin with the anatomy of a Darts and from there move on to what it means to be a Varian Dart.

Anatomy of a Dart

Darts are very small flying animals, the largest growing to a wingspan of just over two feet while the smallest a wingspan of only two and a half inches. Basic physical anatomy is all the same from the neck down in Dart species, the only real difference lies in the head and wing shape. Many aspects of their physiology are very similar to that of a bird such as very light, hollow bones that are reduced and sculpted to keep weight down and strength up. Many of the bones in the skeleton are fused to provided greater stability in flight such as in the case of the ribs and sternum as well as all the thoracic vertebrae which act as attachment points for the very powerful and complicated muscles needed to operate the unique wings.

The wings as stated before are modified sales, that in their ancestors were used to glide from tree to tree, but in the modern versions give flight maneuverability the likes of which is not seen in any of the other vertebrate fliers. There are two pairs of wings just as there are in Earth insects, with the fore most pair being larger and longer than the back pair. The wings are not linked together as they are in Earth wasps, rather they are free of each other allowing each individual wing to move independently of the others if needed just as in Earth Dragonflies. This independent movement is what makes it possible for Darts to make on the dime turns in mid flight, and hover in place in even modest breezes. The wings are stiffened along the leading edge of the wing by a calcified rod with branching “vanes” stiffening the Keratin membrane for flight. The base of the wing ”bone” is a ball and socket joint that connects to a modified and expanded scapula or shoulder blade. This unique joint gives the wing expanded movement and with the complicated musculature connected to the wing base they have more control of their aerial acrobatics than any of the other Varian fliers. Darts have the ability to land upside down on the underside of surfaces like branches and rock faces. The hovering ability is a very nice skill to have for the nectar feeding Honey and Jewel Darts who often don't have a readily available place to land in order to feed. Honey and Jewel Darts are the Varian equivalent of Humming Birds, and like Humming Birds they have elongate, slender beaks with very long tongues which are covered with tiny hair like extensions that aid in the procurement of their nectar feasts.

As Noted before, Darts are similar to Birds in many ways, But unlike Birds they do not have a lung/air sack breathing system. Instead, Darts have lungs more consistent with other animals; that of a dead end bag. But when you are as active as Darts are, you require large amounts of oxygen to help fuel the flight muscles. The way Darts handle this need is by having blood with almost three times the oxygen absorption rate of Mammals, Reptiles or the Varian equivalents. This is accomplished by having twice the blood cells of other animals, and also having a unique Hemoglobin known only to exists in Varian Darts.

The feet of Darts are also far different from those of other Fliers on Varian III. In fact the feet of almost all Dart species have adhesive pads along with sharp claws which gives these unique beauties the ability to walk on vertical or even upside down surfaces just like the gecko lizard of Earth, it is this ability that helps Darts to lay their eggs in a way unique only to Varian Darts. Most Darts have weak limbs, so walking is not a common theme of the Family, instead Darts rely rather on their wings to do just about all their travel. The only Darts with moderately strong limbs are the Falcon Darts which are the largest of the group. They use their feet which have strong claws to hold and secure pray, for Falcon Darts are the only full time predators of the family.

Description
There is one aspect of Varian III that tends to be rather unusual among the many life bearing planet in the known universe, and that aspect is the number and variety of animals that have taken to flight. Many different animal families have taken to the apparent advantage of flight with the interesting reality that most of them are not even related.

First it's important to mention that of the vertebrates of Varian III there are two kinds, the Tetrapods and the Hexapods. The tetrapods are the primary dominant terrestrial vertebrates, though this was not always the case. An interesting point of fact is that it was the hexapods that first made the leap from water to land, and they didn't even walk to do it, rather they flew. The hexapod ancestor was a type of six fined true bony fish that had taken to leaping out of the water in pursuit of another type of fish (Avioicthes) that developed gliding out of the water to evade predators. Avioicthes were extremely common in their day so it shows that the ability to fly out of the water to escape danger was to their advantage. So it is not surprising that a predator developed to counter this advantage. Because this history of the development of first flight is touched on in another place we wont continue down this path, rather we will move on to the amazing fliers known as Scaleopterixidea, Scale Wings, or better known as Darts!

The little flying wonders are like nothing on earth, a four limbed creature that flies with out using a single arm or leg to do it. These creatures have wings composed of modified scales that were inherited from their ancestors. Point in fact these animals are derived from Reptilid stock but far removed from them. The only thing that points to that connection are their wings, which even they are not like the scales that they came from, being much more analogous to the wings of insects which they resemble in form and function. So to start let us begin with the anatomy of a Darts and from there move on to what it means to be a Varian Dart.

Anatomy of a Dart

Darts are very small flying animals, the largest growing to a wingspan of just over two feet while the smallest a wingspan of only two and a half inches. Basic physical anatomy is all the same from the neck down in Dart species, the only real difference lies in the head and wing shape. Many aspects of their physiology are very similar to that of a bird such as very light, hollow bones that are reduced and sculpted to keep weight down and strength up. Many of the bones in the skeleton are fused to provided greater stability in flight such as in the case of the ribs and sternum as well as all the thoracic vertebrae which act as attachment points for the very powerful and complicated muscles needed to operate the unique wings.

The wings as stated before are modified sales, that in their ancestors were used to glide from tree to tree, but in the modern versions give flight maneuverability the likes of which is not seen in any of the other vertebrate fliers. There are two pairs of wings just as there are in Earth insects, with the fore most pair being larger and longer than the back pair. The wings are not linked together as they are in Earth wasps, rather they are free of each other allowing each individual wing to move independently of the others if needed just as in Earth Dragonflies. This independent movement is what makes it possible for Darts to make on the dime turns in mid flight, and hover in place in even modest breezes. The wings are stiffened along the leading edge of the wing by a calcified rod with branching “vanes” stiffening the Keratin membrane for flight. The base of the wing ”bone” is a ball and socket joint that connects to a modified and expanded scapula or shoulder blade. This unique joint gives the wing expanded movement and with the complicated musculature connected to the wing base they have more control of their aerial acrobatics than any of the other Varian fliers. Darts have the ability to land upside down on the underside of surfaces like branches and rock faces. The hovering ability is a very nice skill to have for the nectar feeding Honey and Jewel Darts who often don't have a readily available place to land in order to feed. Honey and Jewel Darts are the Varian equivalent of Humming Birds, and like Humming Birds they have elongate, slender beaks with very long tongues which are covered with tiny hair like extensions that aid in the procurement of their nectar feasts.

As Noted before, Darts are similar to Birds in many ways, But unlike Birds they do not have a lung/air sack breathing system. Instead, Darts have lungs more consistent with other animals; that of a dead end bag. But when you are as active as Darts are, you require large amounts of oxygen to help fuel the flight muscles. The way Darts handle this need is by having blood with almost three times the oxygen absorption rate of Mammals, Reptiles or the Varian equivalents. This is accomplished by having twice the blood cells of other animals, and also having a unique Hemoglobin known only to exists in Varian Darts.

The feet of Darts are also far different from those of other Fliers on Varian III. In fact the feet of almost all Dart species have adhesive pads along with sharp claws which gives these unique beauties the ability to walk on vertical or even upside down surfaces just like the gecko lizard of Earth, it is this ability that helps Darts to lay their eggs in a way unique only to Varian Darts. Most Darts have weak limbs, so walking is not a common theme of the Family, instead Darts rely rather on their wings to do just about all their travel. The only Darts with moderately strong limbs are the Falcon Darts which are the largest of the group. They use their feet which have strong claws to hold and secure pray, for Falcon Darts are the only full time predators of the family.