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Species Rules and Guidelines (still a WiP)
8 years ago
General
***This is a WIP, and a temporary loose set of guidelines for the species***
Species name: Leathersaur
SPECIES STATUS: SEMI-OPEN
Lifespan: Unknown
Average Height: Approximately 7 ft
Habitat: Waterholes, lagoons, swamps, rivers, creeks, and ponds. They are rarely found at beaches as the species hasn't fully branched out and adapted to saltwater.
Shelter: Leathersaurs build very simple houses made from dead or fallen trees, hides of animals they have captured and eaten, straw, and mud.
Some saurs are more advanced, and have learned how to construct complex structures from stone, bricks, and refined wood. These Leathersaurs are tame, and have learned to live in close proximity in peaceful relation to humans.
Diet: Mostly carnivorous, feeding on fish and other creatures smaller than themselves. Leathersaurs have been seen with vegetation in their body cavity maw, but it is not a common occurrence.
They hunt in their “rug” form, resting in the bottom of the water with their stomach maw completely open so they lay as flat as possible; some choose to stalk in open water, but those in smaller habitats tend to lurk near the shoreline. The saur will wait for prey to get close enough to them before they rear up in a flash and snap the victim up; enveloping their prey in tendrils that pull them within their body's full maw cavity, locking it inside where it is digested slowly.
Vocalization: They are silent hunters, but when communicating to others they hiss, grunt and roar; majority of the time its low frequency sounds comparable to alligators and elephants. There are a few other amusing sounds they make while mating/courting that cause the water to vibrate visibly (like a "boom"); scientists call it "water dancing" as each saur makes their own patterns.
Behavior: Leathersaurs love to collect junk, especially bright and metallic items. They gather a multitude of items and construct new things. They seem to favor gems, jewelry, googles, bones, rocks and collars.
They are very social, and live in tight knit clans of about 20-30 members, though there are bigger and smaller ones. If an invasive clan moves into their territory, both will try to find level ground to live in peace with each other; if no agreement is reached they will fight vocally at first, resorting to physical fighting if neither backs down for the territory, and drive out the losing clan.
Reproduction: Once they are close to 18 years old, a Leathersaur will become either gender of their choosing; though they may not become sexually active and take a mate for many years until they find "the one".
Males perform "water dancing" rituals for females, bursting loud booms of sound and rumbles in the water so the surface creates unique ripple patterns; they will also display their fins, and slap their tails for added affect. If a female is interested, she will join them in a synchronized dance under the water, but this does not guarantee she will be impressed and choose to partner and mate with him. Leathersaurs are monogamous, and do not choose another mate if their partner dies.
Females give birth to 1-4 eggs as big as an ostrich, carrying them in their stomach for warmth and protection. Once hatched, the parents continue to carry the pups in their bellies until they are bigger, strong enough to walk outside on their own, and swim. After these are achieved, mom and dad will teach their young how to hunt for small prey on their own. The young will have protection from the clan, who keep a close, watchful eye on all the waddling grey pups until their pelts change (5 years old). You will usually find a designated "Nanny", which changes sometimes, with a gaggle of babies following them around like a hen with chicks.
Offspring: Born all grey without a gender, horns, or claws, the baby Leathersaurs are helpless; completely dependent on their parents until they have grown enough to venture outside their parents belly-mouth. They begin walking on all fours, but quickly master their bipedal stance. They communicate with their parents in a series of chirps and clicks. At 5 years old, their pelt begins to change to their definitive color after they observe other creatures and elements in their habitat and books they store (mainly with pictures) to decide what color and details they want to have, this process of changes lasts 1 year.
Physical traits
Pelt: Their skin is extremely soft and moist to the touch. They have long fur around their neck to help keep their gills moist while out of water, and it can grow all the way down its back, sometimes even down to the tail tip.
Colors consist of a wide variety from natural colors for camouflage assisting with hunting, to visible, bright colors that will attract attention and make potential meals come directly to them. They have sometimes been seen with colors imitating other animals in nature.
Mouth and stomach maw: The biggest organ of their bodies is the stomach, which is almost the same size of the Leathersaur itself. This stomach maw is full of teeth; especially around the edge, and loaded with multiple tendrils that entangle victims. They open themselves like a venus flytrap to catch their prey, with the top mouth opening into 4 segments.
Eyes: They have solid, bright colored eyes. On occasion they have been found to have pupils and irises all of a uniform color scheme; even less seen are those with white sclera, or different colored irises and pupils.
Ears: All Leathersaurs have the same ears that stand erect; it is rare to find a saur with drooping lop-ears.
Horns: On average they have two horns of any kind of shape or color, though they have been seen with more. Very rare sightings have shown them to have none.
Paws: Their hands and feet are like cat paws with 4 fingers and toes, some of which have paw pads; others do not. They have very tiny claws to help them climb banks and pick up objects.
Spine: Leathersaurs have a fin that runs along the ridge of their spine, with a skin membrane running between the spikes. They can flatten it against their back, or flair it up at their leisure. I is used for a display of dominance between quarreling saurs.
Gills: In the fluffy neck fur are hidden gills. The long fur helps to keep the gills moist longer while venturing out of water.
Origin: To be added later
Clans: To be added later
"Legendary" figures of the new land: To be added later
Rules/TLDR:
Leathersaurs are a SEMI-OPEN species - Yes, you can make Leathersaur characters, many as you want, but be sure to follow the guidelines. If you have any questions or are unsure of features, you can ask if your design is ok or not.
- Leathersaurs CAN NOT have wings or feathers
-Leathersaus CAN NOT have huge fangs or tusks
-They all have the same ears that stand erect; it is rare to find a saur with drooping lop-ears.
-They have gills along their neck to help breathe in the water, and close them tight to venture out on the land for a sort time hidden under their fur.
-They have two horns; 4+ or none are rare
-Their hands and feet are like paws, with very tiny claws to help them climb banks and pick up objects. They CAN NOT HAVE HOOVES OR SUPER LONG CLAWS; they would make it too difficult to hunt and move around in their environments.
-They have a frilly fin on their back. Shark fins are not allowed outside of an auction piece by either Lisa Bober/TakShadoWing or Clown-grin
-They have solid, bright colored eyes, sometimes they have pupils and irises but they are of a uniform color scheme. Those with white sclera, or different colored irises and pupils are very rare.
***Hybrids, mutations, region specific traits, and "Legends" are CLOSED. These will only be available when Lisa Bober/TakShadoWing posts auctions for them***
-If you make adoptables, please be sure to follow the guidelines.
**IMPORTANT!**
Any Leathersaur image posted before 6/4/2017 has been grandfathered into the group (descriptions only do not count, it needs to be a completed design); they will not need to change anything. Leathersaurs created after 6/4/2017 need to follow follow new rules and guidelines.
Species name: Leathersaur
SPECIES STATUS: SEMI-OPEN
Lifespan: Unknown
Average Height: Approximately 7 ft
Habitat: Waterholes, lagoons, swamps, rivers, creeks, and ponds. They are rarely found at beaches as the species hasn't fully branched out and adapted to saltwater.
Shelter: Leathersaurs build very simple houses made from dead or fallen trees, hides of animals they have captured and eaten, straw, and mud.
Some saurs are more advanced, and have learned how to construct complex structures from stone, bricks, and refined wood. These Leathersaurs are tame, and have learned to live in close proximity in peaceful relation to humans.
Diet: Mostly carnivorous, feeding on fish and other creatures smaller than themselves. Leathersaurs have been seen with vegetation in their body cavity maw, but it is not a common occurrence.
They hunt in their “rug” form, resting in the bottom of the water with their stomach maw completely open so they lay as flat as possible; some choose to stalk in open water, but those in smaller habitats tend to lurk near the shoreline. The saur will wait for prey to get close enough to them before they rear up in a flash and snap the victim up; enveloping their prey in tendrils that pull them within their body's full maw cavity, locking it inside where it is digested slowly.
Vocalization: They are silent hunters, but when communicating to others they hiss, grunt and roar; majority of the time its low frequency sounds comparable to alligators and elephants. There are a few other amusing sounds they make while mating/courting that cause the water to vibrate visibly (like a "boom"); scientists call it "water dancing" as each saur makes their own patterns.
Behavior: Leathersaurs love to collect junk, especially bright and metallic items. They gather a multitude of items and construct new things. They seem to favor gems, jewelry, googles, bones, rocks and collars.
They are very social, and live in tight knit clans of about 20-30 members, though there are bigger and smaller ones. If an invasive clan moves into their territory, both will try to find level ground to live in peace with each other; if no agreement is reached they will fight vocally at first, resorting to physical fighting if neither backs down for the territory, and drive out the losing clan.
Reproduction: Once they are close to 18 years old, a Leathersaur will become either gender of their choosing; though they may not become sexually active and take a mate for many years until they find "the one".
Males perform "water dancing" rituals for females, bursting loud booms of sound and rumbles in the water so the surface creates unique ripple patterns; they will also display their fins, and slap their tails for added affect. If a female is interested, she will join them in a synchronized dance under the water, but this does not guarantee she will be impressed and choose to partner and mate with him. Leathersaurs are monogamous, and do not choose another mate if their partner dies.
Females give birth to 1-4 eggs as big as an ostrich, carrying them in their stomach for warmth and protection. Once hatched, the parents continue to carry the pups in their bellies until they are bigger, strong enough to walk outside on their own, and swim. After these are achieved, mom and dad will teach their young how to hunt for small prey on their own. The young will have protection from the clan, who keep a close, watchful eye on all the waddling grey pups until their pelts change (5 years old). You will usually find a designated "Nanny", which changes sometimes, with a gaggle of babies following them around like a hen with chicks.
Offspring: Born all grey without a gender, horns, or claws, the baby Leathersaurs are helpless; completely dependent on their parents until they have grown enough to venture outside their parents belly-mouth. They begin walking on all fours, but quickly master their bipedal stance. They communicate with their parents in a series of chirps and clicks. At 5 years old, their pelt begins to change to their definitive color after they observe other creatures and elements in their habitat and books they store (mainly with pictures) to decide what color and details they want to have, this process of changes lasts 1 year.
Physical traits
Pelt: Their skin is extremely soft and moist to the touch. They have long fur around their neck to help keep their gills moist while out of water, and it can grow all the way down its back, sometimes even down to the tail tip.
Colors consist of a wide variety from natural colors for camouflage assisting with hunting, to visible, bright colors that will attract attention and make potential meals come directly to them. They have sometimes been seen with colors imitating other animals in nature.
Mouth and stomach maw: The biggest organ of their bodies is the stomach, which is almost the same size of the Leathersaur itself. This stomach maw is full of teeth; especially around the edge, and loaded with multiple tendrils that entangle victims. They open themselves like a venus flytrap to catch their prey, with the top mouth opening into 4 segments.
Eyes: They have solid, bright colored eyes. On occasion they have been found to have pupils and irises all of a uniform color scheme; even less seen are those with white sclera, or different colored irises and pupils.
Ears: All Leathersaurs have the same ears that stand erect; it is rare to find a saur with drooping lop-ears.
Horns: On average they have two horns of any kind of shape or color, though they have been seen with more. Very rare sightings have shown them to have none.
Paws: Their hands and feet are like cat paws with 4 fingers and toes, some of which have paw pads; others do not. They have very tiny claws to help them climb banks and pick up objects.
Spine: Leathersaurs have a fin that runs along the ridge of their spine, with a skin membrane running between the spikes. They can flatten it against their back, or flair it up at their leisure. I is used for a display of dominance between quarreling saurs.
Gills: In the fluffy neck fur are hidden gills. The long fur helps to keep the gills moist longer while venturing out of water.
Origin: To be added later
Clans: To be added later
"Legendary" figures of the new land: To be added later
Rules/TLDR:
Leathersaurs are a SEMI-OPEN species - Yes, you can make Leathersaur characters, many as you want, but be sure to follow the guidelines. If you have any questions or are unsure of features, you can ask if your design is ok or not.
- Leathersaurs CAN NOT have wings or feathers
-Leathersaus CAN NOT have huge fangs or tusks
-They all have the same ears that stand erect; it is rare to find a saur with drooping lop-ears.
-They have gills along their neck to help breathe in the water, and close them tight to venture out on the land for a sort time hidden under their fur.
-They have two horns; 4+ or none are rare
-Their hands and feet are like paws, with very tiny claws to help them climb banks and pick up objects. They CAN NOT HAVE HOOVES OR SUPER LONG CLAWS; they would make it too difficult to hunt and move around in their environments.
-They have a frilly fin on their back. Shark fins are not allowed outside of an auction piece by either Lisa Bober/TakShadoWing or Clown-grin
-They have solid, bright colored eyes, sometimes they have pupils and irises but they are of a uniform color scheme. Those with white sclera, or different colored irises and pupils are very rare.
***Hybrids, mutations, region specific traits, and "Legends" are CLOSED. These will only be available when Lisa Bober/TakShadoWing posts auctions for them***
-If you make adoptables, please be sure to follow the guidelines.
**IMPORTANT!**
Any Leathersaur image posted before 6/4/2017 has been grandfathered into the group (descriptions only do not count, it needs to be a completed design); they will not need to change anything. Leathersaurs created after 6/4/2017 need to follow follow new rules and guidelines.
