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Viergacht — Smart Pterosaur

Published: 2010-03-10 02:58:12 +0000 UTC; Views: 6550; Favourites: 92; Downloads: 38
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Description A possible descendant of pterosaurs with human-type intelligence. Evolved on an island chain, from seagoing penguin-like ancestors. Beak was adapted to stabbing fish, the fingers on the flippers were used to pry open shellfish. Already rather smart at this stage, they'd hunt co-operatively in the manner of orcas and dolphins. Glaciers occurred, locked away a lot of water, and in response to the wide shallows they depended more on shellfish-grubbing and walking than fishing and swimming. The young had always manipulated objects in play, now neotenic adults exploited this to open up new and exciting shellfish. Technology follows.

Their overall shape remain penguin-like (just as we still resemble tree-swinging proto-apes) but the legs are longer and give them a lolloping, powerful stride. The long, low head is a result of streamlining a big brain - it's swept back instead of rising directly up, like ours. The eyes are side set, with a small overlapping of visual fields. The arms are dextrous and move like a mantid's, in contrast to the sleek body. The membrane down the neck and along the inner arm (all that's left of the pterosaur wing) can flush with color and is utilized in communication. Most all traces of flipper shape have disappeared. The outer (4th) finger which once supported the wing membrane has been repurposed into a thumb. The inner toe has as well - like parrots, they are skilled at manipulating with their feet, giving them three effective "hands" if they're standing, four if they lay on their back and use all limbs.
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Comments: 10

Batterymaster [2017-12-12 18:55:48 +0000 UTC]

"I am the fucking smart."

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TheDubstepAddict [2016-06-19 19:43:08 +0000 UTC]

smarpterosautr

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AntFingers [2015-04-11 06:33:17 +0000 UTC]

These are awesome I like their parrot-like aspects! in the future if they have cyborg bird people that would be byotiful...(that was a jontron reference...)

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Traheripteryx [2013-07-28 14:38:03 +0000 UTC]

Awesome!

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indigomagpie [2010-09-17 12:09:33 +0000 UTC]

Cute, fascinating, and original and unusual while still being completely believable.

Are they oviparous or viviparous, or something else? Are there any major sexual dimorphisms?

Do they decorate the patagia and crest membrane? I'm picturing piercings - the membranes are probably sensitive enough that piercing them would hurt like the devil, but that hasn't put off a lot of cultures!

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Viergacht In reply to indigomagpie [2010-09-17 19:04:19 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!
I imagine they would still be oviparous, since there wouldn't be any pressure to evolve some other system. I imagine the dimorphisms would be similar to our birds and lizards, where the male invests in flamboyant crests and displays to attract females. This is probably a female; a male would have a longer crest with big spikes and some intense patterning on the head.
Piercings would almost certainly be part of their culture, as well as clipping and dying their fur.

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rosutu [2010-03-10 23:27:35 +0000 UTC]

This creature strikes me as awesome. I love his little pear-shaped body and spindly fingers.

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M0AI [2010-03-10 19:25:30 +0000 UTC]

Cool! The wing finger derived thumb is an excellent touch.

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nemo-ramjet [2010-03-10 09:50:42 +0000 UTC]

Really nice, and a completely novel approach. Sea otter + Pterosaur + Blumbomen + Watto = WIN!

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Chimpeetah [2010-03-10 03:55:09 +0000 UTC]

Fantastic approach to a sentient pterosaur ! I've never seen on like this

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