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thomastapir — Theroshrimp Studies
Published: 2011-11-21 05:57:15 +0000 UTC; Views: 2317; Favourites: 58; Downloads: 19
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Chatting with during his Livestream session tonight got me thinking about this old idea for bipedal crustacean theropod analogs. The original idea has long since evolved into something more expansive, diverse, and inclusive, covering other arthropods like scorpions, but these guys are all crustaceans. Hopefully I'll do more of these soon, maybe even tonight!A - First attempt...Pretty straightforward shrimp. Not really digging that needly gar-like head...I need to figure out how I want to do the heads on these, whether to make them more vertebrate or more stereotypically crustacean. These all have rather dinosaurian heads, but I think the crustaean version is closer to what I had in mind. Also, I've never had so much trouble positioning the limbs on the opposite side of the body, given such a simple pose--I finally just omitted them altogether!
B - Mm. Crayfish-y. : / This is my least favorite of the bunch...Something about it feels dissonant in comparison with the rest; it just doesn't capture the vibe or aesthetic I was aiming for. I'm not happy with the head at all, and the chelipeds especially are soft, amorphous, and uninspired.
C - Idea here was a spiky desert denizen, something like an alligator lizard. I'd like to re-do this one and play up that little aborted ceratopsian frill behind the "head" proper, though it may end up more like a frilled lizard. Incidentally, I had a VERY vivid image flash at the Living Desert, in Palm Desert, earlier this spring, of a "thorny devil mantis shrimp" in this body style, with a more typically stomatopod head. But that may have been the heat.
D - Tiger shrimp! More like a cheetah shrimp, or even a serval or an ocelot shrimp, I think. So rough, but this one probably comes closest to what I originally had in mind (minus the toothy, piscavian beak). Also, with the spindly legs I realized that a more orthodox arthropodian version would probably approach what I envisioned for (some of) the Martian "sand fleas" ([link] ).
As ~fractal pointed out, the concept bears an uncanny resembleance to 's awesome ([link] ). I should clarify that this idea emerged years ago from a completely different source--it was inspired by something my nephew said at the time, which I will discuss when and if it's relevant.
Also, sincere apologies to ~fractal for flaking on the tail end of his Livestream!
I was distracted, for obvious reasons.
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Comments: 44
D rocks my socks. Super cool idea, on ice even, with thousand island sauce and fancy lettuce.
How do you envision locomotion?
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Man, that's a good question. I was thinking boring old cursorial, but with the way amphipods hop, maybe they would make better saltators...?
Thanks, Rachel! I'm glad you like D, I have a special fondness for that one.
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Certainly a last ditch tail flap would be interesting, or using it to leap out from cover at prey...
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That's certainly how I use my telson! Actually I guess it breaks down about 30/70 in terms of last-ditch escape versus attacking prey. But I tend to be fairly aggressive for my kind.
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I tend to just sit on mine or envenomate it.
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Your telson, or your prey?
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Depends on how I feel.
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Oh! While I was looking for interesting crustaceans (that you haven't already tapped) for my own versions, I found an amphipod genus called Phronima, supposedly the inspiration for the Xeno queen in "Aliens". When it's viewed head-on it appears to have a kind of frill, that might help with C's aborted frill. Maybe you should look into it.
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Huh, that's interesting. I've always heard a different story behind the Phronima/Alien connection--that it was Phronima's habit of hollowing out salps and using their bodies as hosts that was the inspiration behind the parasitic xeno life cycle. But I totally see what you mean about the frill! In a lot of ways that particular association makes more sense...I always thought of the original Alien as (conceptually) derived from something more like an ichneumon fly or tarantula wasp, anyway.
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The whole concept does seem more like a parasitic wasp, doesn't it, more than a hijacking amphipod? I think by that time they had already established that part of the alien life cycle, and this was more about a design for the Queen. Though I could be wrong about that.
By the way, how does tomorrow at 5pm sound for another stream? I'd be working on my versions of this concept, at least at the start.
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Well seeing as you came up with these, which are about a million times better than what I came up with, I can forgive you. I kinda descended into silliness (as I've theorized all artistic pursuits must do if continued long enough) shortly after you left, and you didn't really miss a whole lot. It was fun though.
In the face of these, I feel like my one attempt is woefully pathetic. I'll have to take another crack, or few, at it, and see if I can't come up with something better. Maybe this time I'll get some proper reference beforehand.
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Heeey, all the best attempts at True Art devolve into silliness eventually!
Thanks, man...I'd like to see what you come up with!
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It actually sounds like it might be fun to stream that, too. But then, I'm relatively new to streaming and I'll take any excuse to do it.
Still, it'll be interesting to do a stream and actually have a goal in mind. Might even record this one.
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You totally should man, I'd show up if I'm around!
But don't forget that this is the REAL art:
[link]
All our fake dinosaurs and crap can't compete with this.
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Well, I wouldn't feel right streaming it without you there! Could even schedule it for some time that works for both of us, though I'm usually free in the evenings.
Oh yes, nothing I'll ever do will compete with art of that... magnitude.
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Shrimps rule. A and C in particular. That's my two cents on this.
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Duly deposited!
Thanks.
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Oh, you think so? Cool, I think you're the only person who agrees with me on that so far!
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Yeah, both D and A have really nice silhouettes, but D is more crustacean-looking ( those whippy front legs! 
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Thanks, I'm pretty happy with that pose! It's the most dynamic (or at least, the least static) of the bunch, and I think that's why I like it. Hah, I'm glad you like the front legs...I was looking for a way to retain antennae or antennules, and ended up with slender little "arms."
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This is awesome! It makes me remind of your old Tetrays
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Hah, interesting comparison! I wouldn't have made that connection, but you're right, there are some definite similarities there.
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A has the best-looking body form, while B has the coolest face, in my opinion. These are some great concepts - they look like things that could have actually evolved, rather than the fantastic concept-melds that you usually invent. ( Those are also great, btw.
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Thank you, sir! You're the second person to comment that they come across as more "naturalistic" than my usual hybrids...I guess some animals just mix better than others. (I've found that penguins and leopard seals are always a disastrous combination)
That's interesting that you like B's face, I'm not too wild about that one...I was thinking that it does look kinda like an old-school medieval sea monster, though. Maybe something evolved from an armored fish!
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Aw man, I love how these have such a dinosaurian aesthetic about them! They seem really 'real,' you know? Like they'd be genuine creatures rather than something cobbled together.
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Thanks, man! Yeah, that seems to be the concensus...I guess certain animal pairings just lend themselves to a more seamless hybridization!
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You know, these would be really cool in a comic, if treated respectfully.
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Man, I never even thought of it that way...They would certainly make for "accessible" megafauna, wouldn't they? Almost an Age of Reptiles kinda thing. Maybe more along the lines of Hieroglyph ([link] ).
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Man, Tom, you're always dropping these bombs on me .. and I appreciate it so much you don't even know. I use run-ons to signify sincerity!
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No problem man, glad I could help!
Regarding Ricardo, what I REALLY want is this thing:
[link]
DREAM. BOOK.
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Oooh! These remind me of something I ordered from the internet yesterday!!
I got a Triops kit! 
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Ohh, Triops are great! We had some at the writing lab where I tutored when I was going to WSU. They're fun little creatures, very prehistoric-looking...Being, y'know, prehistoric and all. : |
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Yes! I'm super excited, but I don't have money to buy them all the Triop luxury items. I'll try to hatch only one so the tank they come with will be sufficient.
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Honestly, I don't think they need that much stimulation for their overall quality of life. Certainly not the whole "Sea Monkey Zoo" as advertised. I mean, they are primitive crustaceans for crying out loud, not actual primates!
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Well I know. But I was reading on a site and I'll have no problem feeding them since they eat veggies and stuff. But I don't have easy access to some sand and gravel here on campus. And I guess I can grab some dead leaves for the required detritus.
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Hee, thanks! I wanted to retain antenna or antennule -like elements but wasn't sure how to make them work...I finally settled on feathery, ambiguous "arms."
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