Amphilogia - The Glass Menagerie Planet
Amphilogia is a hot desert-like planet, with barren stretches of land hostile to familiar life, gravity is slightly lower than Earth and the sun is somewhat brighter. Vegetated areas do not look very inviting to earthling eyes, with stony columns, ridges and chains formed by plants that resemble coral and stromatolites. All water is highly acidic here, from the large shallow lakes, ponds and ephemeral pools, to even the rain itself (there are no proper seas or oceans). Bodies of water here are rich in dissolved silica and most of the rocks are rich in silicates, indeed determining the structural composition of all Amphilogian life, which is silicon based. Thus, most of the acid present in the water is harmless to them, and the harmful ones are sequestered by living things to aid in digestion. The atmosphere here is less rich in oxygen than earth.
The plants here are very inert, nutrient poor growths. They are branching silicon tubes that subsist by leaching nutrients from the rocks and soil. These plants deposit layers of glass to form rough, opaque columns, chains, ridges and coral-like branches to protect their rubbery, silicone innards.
“Animals” on Amphilogia are highly unusual; they are like nothing on Earth, or indeed any other planet. The main group of land animals are descended from a silicon-based shelled creature that was radially symmetrical, but with a distinct front and back end. From this early form, dwelling in the vast shallow acidic lakes of prehistory, they thrived and diversified into forms that resembled bilateral symmetry, at least outwardly. Modern forms have a 2 sided shell made of tough opaque glass; from the sides grow an array of muscular tube-legs of rubbery silicone. At the front end is a feeding tube emerging from the shell, terminating in an array of eyespots and a mouth full of rasping glassy teeth. Opposite end is a tube that resembles a balancing tail, but terminates in the anus (silicone-based animals produce a solid by-product from respiration as well as from eating and drinking). Along the sides of the shell are large pores which take in and expel air from their branching, labyrinthine lungs. Their blood consists of a solution of dissolved silica and water, with other nutrients being carried in the water, like blood plasma in earth animals. This dissolved silica partly comes from their food, and partly from consumption of water, relatively rich in this solute, as well as various acids. Digestion is achieved via a fairly weak solution of hydrofluoric acid, which easily breaks down the ground-up glass granules within their food, as with Earth animals, a thick coat of mucus-like substance protects the body from this acid. These glass animals produce glass-shelled eggs that have a matte finish, and are virtually impenetrable; the young are born when the mother dribbles a weak hydrofluoric acid solution onto the shells, allowing the young to break free (the babies have a covering of protective afterbirth). The senses of these glass creatures are relatively poor; the eyespots serve mainly to detect the glinting reflections that shine off the glassy shells of other animals and plants, as well as bodies of water. A scenting glass animal will gape wide and open the folds lining its mouth, which are studded with chemoreceptors.
The Amphilogian equivalent of invertebrates vary from small lozenge-shaped shelled creatures of the soil, that gather nutrients with fine tube-feet, to tentacled aquatic shellfish that resemble the ancestor of the larger, limbed animals. Small crawling worm-like creatures with glass-walled segments are a holdover from some of the earliest land animals, which came even before the limbed glass menagerie evolved. As with the larger kinds of animal, all invertebrates are silicon-based. The only non-carbon life on this whole planet is the slicks and mats of microbes and algae that inhabit most bodies of water.
Indeed, human explorers caused much argument and debate when bringing back specimens of these silicaceous creatures, thus the planet was formally named Amphilogia, after the spirits of argument and dispute.
Amphilogia is a hot desert-like planet, with barren stretches of land hostile to familiar life, gravity is slightly lower than Earth and the sun is somewhat brighter. Vegetated areas do not look very inviting to earthling eyes, with stony columns, ridges and chains formed by plants that resemble coral and stromatolites. All water is highly acidic here, from the large shallow lakes, ponds and ephemeral pools, to even the rain itself (there are no proper seas or oceans). Bodies of water here are rich in dissolved silica and most of the rocks are rich in silicates, indeed determining the structural composition of all Amphilogian life, which is silicon based. Thus, most of the acid present in the water is harmless to them, and the harmful ones are sequestered by living things to aid in digestion. The atmosphere here is less rich in oxygen than earth.
The plants here are very inert, nutrient poor growths. They are branching silicon tubes that subsist by leaching nutrients from the rocks and soil. These plants deposit layers of glass to form rough, opaque columns, chains, ridges and coral-like branches to protect their rubbery, silicone innards.
“Animals” on Amphilogia are highly unusual; they are like nothing on Earth, or indeed any other planet. The main group of land animals are descended from a silicon-based shelled creature that was radially symmetrical, but with a distinct front and back end. From this early form, dwelling in the vast shallow acidic lakes of prehistory, they thrived and diversified into forms that resembled bilateral symmetry, at least outwardly. Modern forms have a 2 sided shell made of tough opaque glass; from the sides grow an array of muscular tube-legs of rubbery silicone. At the front end is a feeding tube emerging from the shell, terminating in an array of eyespots and a mouth full of rasping glassy teeth. Opposite end is a tube that resembles a balancing tail, but terminates in the anus (silicone-based animals produce a solid by-product from respiration as well as from eating and drinking). Along the sides of the shell are large pores which take in and expel air from their branching, labyrinthine lungs. Their blood consists of a solution of dissolved silica and water, with other nutrients being carried in the water, like blood plasma in earth animals. This dissolved silica partly comes from their food, and partly from consumption of water, relatively rich in this solute, as well as various acids. Digestion is achieved via a fairly weak solution of hydrofluoric acid, which easily breaks down the ground-up glass granules within their food, as with Earth animals, a thick coat of mucus-like substance protects the body from this acid. These glass animals produce glass-shelled eggs that have a matte finish, and are virtually impenetrable; the young are born when the mother dribbles a weak hydrofluoric acid solution onto the shells, allowing the young to break free (the babies have a covering of protective afterbirth). The senses of these glass creatures are relatively poor; the eyespots serve mainly to detect the glinting reflections that shine off the glassy shells of other animals and plants, as well as bodies of water. A scenting glass animal will gape wide and open the folds lining its mouth, which are studded with chemoreceptors.
The Amphilogian equivalent of invertebrates vary from small lozenge-shaped shelled creatures of the soil, that gather nutrients with fine tube-feet, to tentacled aquatic shellfish that resemble the ancestor of the larger, limbed animals. Small crawling worm-like creatures with glass-walled segments are a holdover from some of the earliest land animals, which came even before the limbed glass menagerie evolved. As with the larger kinds of animal, all invertebrates are silicon-based. The only non-carbon life on this whole planet is the slicks and mats of microbes and algae that inhabit most bodies of water.
Indeed, human explorers caused much argument and debate when bringing back specimens of these silicaceous creatures, thus the planet was formally named Amphilogia, after the spirits of argument and dispute.
Faunal Examples -
Glass reaper (Vitroraptor macrodens)
The 3.5 meter long glass reaper is one of the more nightmarish predators of Amphilogia. It possesses a shell which has a matte-finish, thus rendering it less reflective and less visible to its prey. Limbs are long and powerful, reduced in number, its tail long for balance, though its running speed is lower than predators on Earth. The head is balanced on a long “neck”, and the mouth has huge glassy teeth to pierce the limbs or faces of herbivores, crippling or killing them. Waste products of glass reapers contain chemicals that mask the usually strong scent of predator dung.
The 3.5 meter long glass reaper is one of the more nightmarish predators of Amphilogia. It possesses a shell which has a matte-finish, thus rendering it less reflective and less visible to its prey. Limbs are long and powerful, reduced in number, its tail long for balance, though its running speed is lower than predators on Earth. The head is balanced on a long “neck”, and the mouth has huge glassy teeth to pierce the limbs or faces of herbivores, crippling or killing them. Waste products of glass reapers contain chemicals that mask the usually strong scent of predator dung.
Great Rasper (Vitroelephas horridus)
Great raspers are one of the largest Amphilogian herbivores, reaching 8 meters long and 3 meters tall. These beasts spend their days trudging through the low glassy growth of the lowlands, constantly rasping away at the outer casings of the native plant life, to greedily consume the silicone parts within. The lower shell has become imbued with silicone to allow for a large expandable gut, to process large amounts of food, as they feed constantly. Their dung is watery and noxious, smelling and tasting very bad to most predators, when faced with a predator or nuisance a great rasper will turn around and emptyt its bowels to repel attackers. They travel in loose herds of up to 20, and usually smear the ground liberally with pungent waste as they go.
Great raspers are one of the largest Amphilogian herbivores, reaching 8 meters long and 3 meters tall. These beasts spend their days trudging through the low glassy growth of the lowlands, constantly rasping away at the outer casings of the native plant life, to greedily consume the silicone parts within. The lower shell has become imbued with silicone to allow for a large expandable gut, to process large amounts of food, as they feed constantly. Their dung is watery and noxious, smelling and tasting very bad to most predators, when faced with a predator or nuisance a great rasper will turn around and emptyt its bowels to repel attackers. They travel in loose herds of up to 20, and usually smear the ground liberally with pungent waste as they go.
Glass-pacer (Gazellavitro subagilis)
Glass-pacers are the fastest animals on Amphilogia, but compare badly to the faster animals of Earth. A running human could keep pace with one. This is partly because glass animals have less reactive bodies than those of earth animals, and thus, lower metabolisms. Pacers feed selectively on young glass-plant growth, gouging holes in their casings instead of rasping. Pacers are about 1.7 meters long and 1 meter tall.
Glass-pacers are the fastest animals on Amphilogia, but compare badly to the faster animals of Earth. A running human could keep pace with one. This is partly because glass animals have less reactive bodies than those of earth animals, and thus, lower metabolisms. Pacers feed selectively on young glass-plant growth, gouging holes in their casings instead of rasping. Pacers are about 1.7 meters long and 1 meter tall.
Butterfly Acid Fish (Acidicthys papillion)
Amphilogian lakes are filled with acidic water, most of which does not bother the native animals. Indeed, animal life originated here, and some have chosen to return. Acid fish are goldfish sized swimmers that feed on the profuse algal mats that carpet the floors of these bodies of water; they also consume the silica rich substrate to augment the growth of their bodies. Algae may have originated later here than its Earth equivalent, as glass-based plants got a foothold on land first.
Amphilogian lakes are filled with acidic water, most of which does not bother the native animals. Indeed, animal life originated here, and some have chosen to return. Acid fish are goldfish sized swimmers that feed on the profuse algal mats that carpet the floors of these bodies of water; they also consume the silica rich substrate to augment the growth of their bodies. Algae may have originated later here than its Earth equivalent, as glass-based plants got a foothold on land first.
Nutbacked Shellbat (Vitrovolans brunnus)
Flight is relatively uncommon in the glass menagerie, but the shellbats are an exception. Ranging from seagull sized to vulture sized, their diets vary from carrion scavengers in the largest forms, to smaller kinds that feed on the fruiting bodies of glass plants. The nutbacked shellbat is a generalist, consuming fruit, carrion and small invertebrates. Its wingspan is 1 meter, and it flies with a graceful loping flap, and is also able to glide. Their tentacle-like hindlimbs are mainly used to help them perch and roost, mostly atop crags or the tough coralline branches of various kinds of glass-plant.
Flight is relatively uncommon in the glass menagerie, but the shellbats are an exception. Ranging from seagull sized to vulture sized, their diets vary from carrion scavengers in the largest forms, to smaller kinds that feed on the fruiting bodies of glass plants. The nutbacked shellbat is a generalist, consuming fruit, carrion and small invertebrates. Its wingspan is 1 meter, and it flies with a graceful loping flap, and is also able to glide. Their tentacle-like hindlimbs are mainly used to help them perch and roost, mostly atop crags or the tough coralline branches of various kinds of glass-plant.