Speculative Biology - Blog Posts
Have I strained my wrist? yes. Should I be resting and yet haven't for a week? Also yes. However - Storm Hawks. It was cool, I missed it, and I wanted to make fun things with the under-explored concept of Merbs and Terra Merbia.
Holy fuck a full break down hell yeah!
Love a good quirk breakdown and Tail Splitter is such an interesting one.
hello everyone. sometimes i make this mistake called "thinking too hard about bnha" and then setsunas quirk torments me for two months and next thing you know im knee deep in scientific papers about tunicates. many such cases. horikoshi really made me have to work to integrate the lizard portion in, because her regeneration is nothing like lizard tail regeneration at all, actually
please forgive me if my science is off, im a paralegal looking to go into art history, everything i know is just from my bio 102 class and my love of reading scientific journals i barely understand 🙏😭
A Closer Look: Vertebrates
The Vertebrata clade can be split into 3 main groups: neomammalia (new mammals) and brachipteryxus (wing-armed) - the tetrapods; as well as polypodus (many-footed) - their distant six-legged cousins.
Examples of chordates: Dolichocerca leo, the ocelot (neomammalia); Lepidoscelus igneamantis, the strider (brachipteryxus); and Neopolypodus flavitta, the bee (polypodus).
Neomammalia and brachipteryxus are both notable survivors of Primordial Death, the mass-extinction event that eliminated the majority of life in the realms prior to the players’ entry. Neomammalia in particular had many surviving members, and has since continued to diversify.
A chicken (Myriapinna polynativas) and a sheep (Lanatumorphus myriachroma), both survivors of Primordial Death.
Polypodus is considered a lazarus taxon - a group of organisms that was considered extinct, but reappeared later. Bees were discovered first - long after the players’ emergence - and defined the previously unknown polypodus taxon. It was believed they were the only extant polypod, until ancient sniffer eggs were discovered - and miraculously hatched.
A snifflet (juvenile Anchipolypodus aeternovis).
Return to full tree.
Neomammalia.
Brachipteryxus.
Polypodus.
tired: mermaids are all women
wired: much like elves, merfolk are mistaken by sailors for being all women because they have long hair and are very pretty
WOO I MADE ANOTHA HYBRID!! (takin suggestions for more!) >:D Axorg (axe-org) (axolotl + multiple frog species lolol)
The axorg is a very talented species, equipped with both lungs and gills. their eyelids have see-through-like abilities and whiskers to navigate the muddy waters that they thrive in. most species of the axorg come with a strange fin that they can lift up. researchers think that this may be either a way to impress others, for speed, or to communicate. there have been only 2 species recorded at this time that do not have said fin. a rare mutation can occur at times where the axorg is seen with more than one fin, but this doesn't seem to affect the creature in any way though.
they are most commonly found in swamps and marshes where they eat small fish and bugs as they can leap out of the water by using their tail to carry them into the air. most tend to dwell in the water for their lives, but those who also wander on land seem to develop protective-like lizard scales. we are still unsure of how they do this as sometimes the same species will have skin that is practically entirely different.
the axorg tend to hang out in groups of the same sex and have a tendency to wander and vary from each group. it is seen that if theres not enough members of the opposite sex, they will turn hostile and fight.
me resisting the urge to draw and make speculative worlds with literally any animal i see
iwuhidu7ngwhbnioodgakulvjhdsnm,vkwuyiavbkhj I HAVE SO MANY IDEAS BUT LIKE ATLEAST 30 MINUTES OF ENERGY
Rivulet fandesign quirk I just kinda find funny
its the nature of spec bio worldbuilding for this thing to eventually show up
“Captain's log, stardate 41153.7. What the fuck is that.”
space leviathan sketch ::3
I've been thinking a lot about Euclydian biology lately, specifically in regards to pigmentation thanks to this awesome ask I got on a side blog, and wanted to illustrate some of the ideas I had. Super quick lazy sketches but hey, maybe some of you will dig this! Nerdy stuff under the cut, will make a bit more sense if you read the aforementioned post
Euclydians have a genetic predisposition towards a "resting" color (in Bill's case, yellow). The opposite of this state (full "flexing" of chromatophore-controlling muscles) is also predispositioned, which is what's seen in the threat display. This rapidly stimulates the individual's metabolism and gets their blood really pumping in preparation for conflict, but is also somewhat costly in terms of energy, so is typically only flashed rather than maintained as Bill does it
"Teeth-peeking" is the cute zoology term I came up with for when a Euclydian displays a couple teeth overtop their eye without fully switching into mouth-function, usually as a threat but sometimes a sort of stim when they're hungry
Communicative flashing ("Chromatic") has a few languages. The most primitive is Simplified Emotive which is a quick display of mood, while the most modern is Traditional Chromatic, wherein patterns of color serve as words. Words in Traditional Chromatic are not ciphers like they are in TBoB and there aren't always direct translations into English
There are a couple accepted ways for a naturally colorful Euclydian to signal an emotion or "syllable" that matches their color, typically either by a subtler change in value along the edges or by changing everything BUT the edges
It's probably worth noting that Chromatic of any variant is considered a secondary, uncommon language in modern Euclydian society. It's simply more efficient and easier for most to speak, though I think Simplified Emotive probably stems from the natural threat display and so it's more intuitive. It's not unheard of for someone's edges to flash "angry/surprised" (◼) for a second if you bump into them on the sidewalk
A memetic blush is a learned behaviour in which individuals appear to fluster by a reddish shift in color along the face, edges and vertices. This might just be something Bill (or hypothetically other Euclydians who come into contact with humans) does I'm not sure yet but it's cute so
Given the body needs to conserve more energy when fighting illness, it's not uncommon for chromatophore muscles to weaken or spasm in order to lessen metabolic strain, giving the individual a patchy look that often reveals the naturally white skin below the chromatophore layer
When rigor mortis occurs in a dead Euclydian, all the minute muscles in control of chromatophore dilation contract all at once, rendering the entire body white. Because of this, white is considered a bit of a grim color in Euclydian culture; you know emos are wearing all-white instead of all-black
Conversely, a perfect, non-tinted grey is a regal shade because it's seen as a sign of fitness and strength. Maintaining a neutral grey requires very precise control over one's chromatophores to get the balance right and hold it there
Euclydians are capable of training the muscles that control their chromatophores like any other, and as a result can change their resting color with enough discipline! They can also use this technique to give themselves markings. Haven't decided the cultural implications of this entirely, but I think the idea of someone training themselves to match their threat display so nobody can tell when they're angry, for example, is a cool idea. Possibilities!
My Brain, for no goddamn reason: You know what would be funny? Me, up too early to drop my car off for maintainence: what? Brain: What if Wookiees and Kaminoans shared a recent common ancestor? Me: ... Me: *rapid mental theoretical xenobiology montage* Me: LOL. LMAO.
Credit to Jurassic Park as a fictional work, they at least added the DNA from an unrelated species to the existing DNA, regardless of how unrelated it was.
I mean, it's stupid to use frog DNA but at least they STARTED with the original creature.
I've thought since the late 2010s, start with what you have, see how it can be combined to create the most complete sample and extrapolate the rest to try and create a decent approximation of enough genetic data to grow the sex cells.
People who have a better grasp of biology could certainly improve on this rough idea, I don't know how to create the conditions to grow the egg and I'm not convinced doing so in a live surrogate as with cloning is entirely possible for a long-extinct mammal.
To anyone who follows me, I don't care about nor trust Colossal Biosciences anymore (The people behind the "Wooly Mice"). They have proven themselves to be headline-chasing grifters after this latest stunt. They are claiming to have de-extincted *Aenocyon dirus*, aka the Dire Wolf, by editing just 20 genes from the the DNA of a Grey Wolf (*Canis lupus*) to make this thing:
If it wasn't clear from their scientific names, Grey Wolves and Dire Wolves aren't remotely related to one another aside from being Canids, despite what pop culture like Game of Thrones would have you believe. If they did look like each other, it would have had to be via convergent evolution, as they only shared a common ancestor over 5 million years ago.
This distinction, however, isn't found in the publicized articles about this so-called resurrected Dire Wolf and makes their claim that they brought the Dire Wolf back by simply editing *20* genes from the genome of a Grey Wolf laughable. A Dire Wolf would have shared more in common genetically with a Maned Wolf (*Chrysocyon brachyurus*) or Bush Dog (*Speothos venaticus*) than it would with a Grey Wolf.
Bottom line, don't fall for whatever this company is trying to tell you. If the Dire Wolf were to be brought back, it wouldn't be via something like this, and certainly wouldn't *look* like this. If you want an idea as to how a real Dire Wolf would look like in life, here is some fantastic paleoart by artist Mauricio Antón:
Addendum: I seem to have partially miscalculated Dire Wolf genetics. They were not closer to Maned Wolves or Bush Dogs, but they were still not closely related to Grey Wolves. They were basal members of Canini, related to canids like Jackals (genus Lupulella) but distinct from them. I am sorry for this misinformation in my attempt to correct other misinformation. My main point, however, is still correct.
In the waters of a lowland swamp, a dramatic scene unfolds in miniature. The skeletal remains of a long-deceased creature have been colonized by a gelatinous, rather fluffy organism known as Rugosa. Covering any available real estate like a crumpled, spreading blanket, this filter feeder removes organic particulates from the surrounding water. Swamps with high levels of Rugosa growth maintain a more transparent water column, hosting more autotrophs and greater biodiversity. Firmly attached to this ensconced matrix is the decaying husk of a once mobile Flame Diversoma. Its last dying act was to serve as a shelter for its numerous offspring, which are now developed enough to disperse en masse. The coordinated timing of this exodus is critical, for a slow diffusion of these larvae would make them easy prey for the surrounding cadre of predators, who have gathered in anticipation of this event. The most successful hunter thus far is the Spotted Spearmouth, which relies on its harpoon-like proboscis to stab the passing swimmers and drag them into its maw. A vast swarm of semi-transparent Swamp Pearls paddles along slowly, unaware of the violence unfolding nearby. Having little in the way of visual sensors or situational awareness, their lives are consumed by chasing the flow of nutrients and favorable conditions in this tangled aquatic realm.
In the Shadow of Colossus
Veteris is a geologically dynamic world, with active plate tectonics that thrust huge mountains high into the sky. One of the highest ranges is Colossus, which contains peaks well over 50,000 feet tall. Here on its outskirts, deep valleys have formed, whose unfortunate position robs them of sunlight for most of the daytime.
These twilight conditions are not favorable for creatures with high photosynthetic needs, but provide opportunities for others. The ominous Valley Plate-globes are covered in dark panels that absorb as much sunlight as possible during the short daylight hours. Rising far above the ground are the Skycolumns, who extend their fleshy fronds when the sun is directly overhead. Their main body column is heavily buttressed to prevent being toppled by strong winds.
The particular species of tube carpet that covers the valley floor grows a large glowing bulb which carries a multitude of its microscopic embryos. Once the bulb reaches a certain size and luminosity, it attracts the attention of mobile creatures, who by eating it spread the tube carpet’s offspring far and wide. The primary patron at this bioluminescent buffet is the Ghost Celeriarma, a swift and well-defended denizen of the shadow lands. Like many inhabitants of Veteris, it utilizes a combination internal/external support structure that is both flexible and strong. A turret of eyes extends high above the rest of its body and gives it 360 degree surveillance capability. If eyesight should fail to detect a predator, its quick speed and sharp, moveable spines may keep it safe.
A far less athletic creature, the smaller Pluriped has instead developed camouflage to avoid predation. Lateral markings and a glowing bulbous growth of its own help it blend in to the shadowy sea of tube carpet.
Brand new website!
Check out Exobiotica.com for all your weird alien needs. Get prints, read new content, and go in-depth into the project. Enjoy!
Interwoven
Like a giant pink warship, the Rosy Frigate punctuates the endless sea of tendrils. It hosts a crew of disk-shaped ravenous eating-machines called orbics. It is the orbics’ duty to keep the creeping tendrils from strangling and overtaking their home. Fading daylight signals their departure from the safe cluster beneath their giant companion to begin the night’s work of clearing new growth in the near vicinity. Each orbic can consume half its body weight in tube-carpet flesh every night, ensuring they will always have a place to return to at dawn. A Dwarf Blue Cortina observes the melee in confusion. Anything larger than an orbic will send it leaping away for cover, as its curiosity is matched only by its caution. The stoic quartet of Reponos standing solemnly in the background is incapable of seeing or hearing the events taking place nearby. Their role in this ecosystem turns out to be rather bizarre…
Kings of the High Desert
A herd of strange creatures has congregated on this rocky outcrop. Known as Emperor Shinebacks, they often climb these rugged foothills to obtain access to cooling breezes and additional food sources. Their top-heavy tripodal stature prevents further ascension into the mountains, but it serves them well on more level ground. Reflective carapaces mitigate much of the sun’s harmful rays, and cooling flaps along their flanks dissipate excess heat. A shineback’s normal gait is rather clumsy, but when haste is needed they clamp all three legs together into a single monopod and bounce effortlessly across the desert at remarkably high speeds. This combined with their massive size (adults are over eight feet tall) and protective social behavior makes them almost impervious to attack. Almost…
The Garden of Unearthly Delights
Biodiversity in Glow Forest Communities
Down on the floor of the Glow Forest, a startling array of lifeforms has evolved in the cool dark mist. The creatures that comprise the main structure of this biome are known as Vela, and they stretch skyward, consuming all the available sunlight and allowing none to escape below. This species won an evolutionary arms race long ago, and as a result its photosynthetic competitors were pushed to extinction. However being a successful monoculture has its disadvantages. Autotrophs form the base of the food chain in most environments, and now the Vela is the only one. This means it is now the main food source for many other species who would otherwise have more choices. Its main nemesis is the Stragulum. This amorphous creeping wrinkled blanket infects a new Vela pseudopod nearly as soon as it touches the ground. It rapidly takes hold and covers every inch of the surface, slowly digesting it. This in turn attracts a cadre of new organisms which consume the flesh of the Stragulum. Predators are then drawn to the area, and as the number of species grows, a self-perpetuating cycle of increasing biodiversity takes place. Eventually, the Stragulum becomes too much of a burden to the Vela and it severs its pseudopod in order to rapidly grow another nearby. But the biomass of the parasite still lingers for quite some time, feeding a plethora of bizarre and unique organisms scrambling for their share of the resources in this oasis of light amidst the darkness.
Codependence
Natural selection breeds competition, but it can also lead to sophisticated cooperation. The Glass Colligatio is what is known as a composite organism—a creature comprised of members of multiple species that share critical biological processes between them. The larger swimmer provides mobility, while its multi-legged symbiont feeds more efficiently than it could alone. Through the interspecies junction—a specialized dual orifice connecting the creatures—they share nutrients and oxygen, each specializing in what it does best while providing for the needs of the whole.
Cosmic anglerfish swimming through the vastness of the deep universe. Females are large and have a bioluminescent glow, sharp teeth and huge jaws. Males are small and very muscular. They have a lot of darkness to swim through to find their Female.
“There are no female aliens in our game because we don’t know how to make a female version of this alien” You know that alien you just designed? That male alien? Give it a female voice actor and have characters refer to it as she. That’s it. That’s literally all you have to do
Make her shorter if you must
Make her BIGGER if you aren’t a coward
Spec Evo Challenge: Aquatic April - Day 3 (Star)
I dont know much about sea stars and didn´t know what other animal I could make with the word star (and the timeframe)
The Barnacles Star (Balaenaasteroidea Caeruleuma) Is an parasetic starfish that will attach themselfs to whales or other large marine animals with their spiked legs and then proceed to peel of and eat their skin.
--Source: Reddit--
Spec Evo Challenge: Aquatic April - Day 2 (Bug)
--The second entry for the Aquatic April challenge--
The Ever Youth Dragonfly Is unique among Its kind, when other Dragonfly species only spend their juvenile stage fully aquatic,
The Ever Youth Dragonfly never developes lungs and thus remains In water for Its entire life.
It posses sturdy hairs on Its legs making them work like flippers.
These hairs are also found on their back acting like a dorsal fin
and to top It of they posses an extention of their abdomen that works like a fluke.
--Source: Reddit--
Spec Evo Challenge: Aquatic April - Day 1 (Producer)
This month Im attending an Spec Evo challenge. :D
--Source: R/Speculativeevolution--
I cant ensure I´ll be posting every day, but I´ll try anyways.
For day 1 I came up with a species of Kelp called the Keelp (Anguillapiscisalgarum Sp.).
The Keelp has the coloration of eels to fend of herbivores that might try to eat It.
This unique coloration although also come at the cost of not being able to do very efficient photosynthese, thus the Keelp has an symbiotic relationship with many aquatic plants.
The plant provides the Keelp with nutrients and In return the Keelp keeps them safe from plant eaters.
Treasure The Rodent - Mausbies Of The Late Origocene
(20 Million Years P.E.)
The Middle Origocene saw the rise of the Mausbies, small rodent analogues, In the niche of seedeaters or small scale omnivores.
But now In the Late Origocene the Mausbies saw alot more diversity trying to cover still avaible niches or make a living In new Habitats.
The Beavalis are descendants of the Rattuffs which have adapted to an semi-aquatic lifestyle.
Similiar to the Shell-Fishers 10 Million years prior they have adapted an mechanism that allows them to seal their pouch when underwater, preventing their joeys from drowning.
The Greater Beavali (Flumenmus Nonaustralianus) Is one of the more basal species.
Their strong incisors are perfectly adapted for crushing the hard shells of mussels and crustaceans, but also for breaking wooden bark. Similiar to earthern Beavers, the Greater Beavali builds dams which can controll the river streams, giving them the perfect conditions to build their nests, find and store food as well as giving them an safe place to rest.
The Grey Bilbypus (Macrotisornithorhynchus Griseus) Is an fellow widespread Beavali species, It posses long sensitive whiskers which It uses to find arthropods and other goods hidden under the river bed.
Another clade of Rattuff are the Hampters, as their name suggest they have heavily converged with earthern hamsters.
They posses an small, round body with an short tail, but those are not all features they took from the earthern hamster, as they also have the hamsters signature trait, cheek pouches.
Their flexible cheeks help them to hord all of the goods they find, saving time foraging, which makes them visible to predators.
The Field Hampter (Pseudocricetus Ager) Is an plains dwelling small-scale herbivore feeding on seeds, roots, vegetables and various grasses. Field Hampters are one of the few unsocial Mausby species, not forming family colonies and only interacting with another when mating.
The Greater Dwarf Hampter (Nainuspseudocricetus Maxillutus) Is pretty similiar to Its larger cousin, although they are not herbivores but rather omnivores, eating seeds, roots and insects.
They also havent completly abondend their colonies, althought the family bonds are very loose and tend to fall apart quickly.
Talking about unsocial Mausbies, we have the Terrisquis, an clade of Squruffies, solitary Mausbies that by now have become incredibly territorial and even straight up aggressive animals.
Similiar to the Hampters the Terrisqui have found an way to take their food to go, but instead of developing cheek pouches, they used an feature they already possed and have just modified It a bit, as the Terrisquis use their marsupial-pouches to store their food.
This alsomeans that both the males and the females posses pouches to store food, we see something similiar In earthern Yapoks, marsupials In which both males and females posses pouches.
Also similiar to the Yapok they posses an mechanism that allows them to seal their pouch, the same Shell-Fishers and the Beavalis posses, this prevents their food from accidentally falling out of their pouch.
The Colorbark Terrisqui (Colossciurus Fuscusanrufus) Is an pretty basal member of the Terrisqui family.
The females sport an camouflaging brown color, while the males are alot more eye-stinging. As territorial as the Terrisquis are, the males have evolved an brighter fur color to make their presence clear to rivals. The males also posses the ability to make the fur on their back stand up, In turn making them appear larger to predators and rivals.
Back to the more peacefull and social creatures, we have the Wabillies. Plains dwelling descendants of the Jerbaroos.
Normally the desert Is the kingdom of the Jerbaroos, with the plains dwelling individualls standing In the shadow of their relatives, but the Wabillies managed to stay relevant amongst the competetion.
As of right now the Wabillies are the largest Mausbies to ever exist, turns out, living In the plains among swarms of Pterobats of prey, being big has Its benefits.
The Plains Wabilly (Subterranotamacropus Fodiens) Is the most common species of the rather small Wabilly family.
They live In huge family colonies and burrow equally huge, complex burrows. They are omnivores eating whatever they can find, vegetables, seeds, insects and even the occasional small marsupial.
Macroterra - The Middle Origocene
10 Million Years P.E.
Macroterra - The Early Origocene
0 Million Years P.E.
1 Million Years P.E.
Possum Cat - Whoapossums Of The Late Origocene
20 Million Years P.E. (The Late Origocene)
The Whoapossums, an lineage of Betabies that took to the trees and became quite the skilled climbers, with an semi-opposable thumb and an flexible tail, now In the Late Origocene they have become even more skilled, with an even more flexible tail and fully opposable thumbs.
The Bright-Eyed Nightpossum (Simiadidelphidae Oculislucidis) Is an skilled nocturnal insects hunter, using Its sensitive, big eyes and ears to detect insects amongst the darkness.
An Whoapossum that went Into the different direction tho Is the Capped Fruitpossum (Fructusdidelphidae Caputgerens), an frugivore that climbs amongst the treetops In search for brightly colored fruit, which they fortunately can spot with ease, as similiar to the Monarch Pterobats the frugivorous diet of the Fruitpossums favored the developement of color vision.
But the most unique of the Whoapossums of this time would be the Fossums, the Pocket-Paw Fossum (Ungulatus Marsupialiscattus) Is one of them, while Whoapossums started to get more comfortable In the treetops, the Fossums started to settle on the ground again, they are still amazing climbers, theres no doubt In that, but they will also spend alot of time on solid floor.
Fossums are excellent small game hunters, they especially shine In hunting Pterobats, Mausbies, Scoppels and even Shrish.
As you might have noticed, the Fossums favor the similiar prey as the earthern cats and this Is not where the convergence ends.
They posses carnassial teeth as molars and retractable claws.
Their retractable claws are a life safer as they rely on them alot to catch prey and climb.
Them moving on rough surfaces could risk the claws trimming to much to be usable for their tasks.
The Ivory Of Life - The Womboars
20 Million Years P.E. (The Late Origocene)
The Nomwats were the first large scale herbivores and thus faced great success, the success of one specific Nomwat species Is incredibly well reflected In their descendants.
The Womboars are descendants of the Koala-Nosed Nomwat, and species that has specialised In eating though vegetation, as more and more herbivores emerged the plants got only thougher trying to shake of the herbivores, but the Koala-Nosed Nomwats were already In the niche to graze the though grasses, thus It was an easy adaption to feed on these new world grasses.
The Womboars most recognizable trait are their tusks which have formed from their molars, their molars grow throughout their entire lifes, kinda like the Mausbies incisors, this helps them to chew trough the tough vegetation.
The tusks are used for self-defense, rooting up plants, display and fighting rivals.
The Plains Womboar (Ivoriumvombatidae Campi) Is one of the most dominant grazers of this time, males have harrems of females over large territories, If territories are overlapping the males will fight, whoevers tusks break first will loose.
Plains Womboars also posses long tuffed ears which they use as flag posts for communication.
These flag post structure usually evolve from tails, but Womboars have too short tail to be utilized, so the ears are the next best thing.
An smaller Womboar species Is the Peanut Butter Womboar (Silvavombatidaeaper Enuxarachidis), these forest dwellers are smaller but also more agile, this although does not mean that they wont use the tusks when backed In a corner.
The Peanut Womboar Is an herbivore which feast on the forest grasses, seeds and roots.
Flap Your Wings! - The Pterobats
20 Million Years P.E. (The Late Origocene)
The lack of flying vertabrates has greatly encouraged the developement of powered flight In the Protein Gliders of the Middle Origocene.
Now their descendants, the Pterobats have dominated the planet as the dominant flyers.
The more basal species are airborn insect-catchers like the Canopy-Catcher (Cortinacaptor Striatus), still very similiar to their ancestor.
But some Pterobats started to focus on larger prey, similiar as the Birds of prey on earth there are also Pterobats of prey, as of right now they are rather small and thus only hunt small prey like Mausbies or other smaller Pterobats.
One of those Pterobats of prey Is the Dusty Pterohawk (Anuroganthusaccipeter Pulverulentus), flying over open plains In search for prey.
But truly the most unique of the Pterobats In this time would be the Monarch Pterobat (Sucusvespertilo Danausplexippus), as It Isnt even In the slightest predatory.
The Monarch Pterobat Is rather interested In sweet foods like fruits and nectar. Another unique factor In these Pterobats Is their ability to see colors, colorvision appears quite rarely In mammals and usually only evolves In frugivores to find brightly clored fruits and since the Monarch Pterobats are fans of bright colored fruits and flowers, natural selection favored them color vision.
Their color vision eventually allowed them one more trait except to find food with ease, communication.
With their bright orange-yellow colors on their otherwise black fur, their colors quite pop and make themselfs visible to other members of their species.
You might think that these colors might attract predators as well, but the predators In question dont posses color vision themselfs and since Monarch Pterobats are mostly adorned with black and orange colors they can actually be pretty hard to spot, or well, atleast not easier then other Pterobat species.
Pterobats get their name from their unique flying build which resembles that of early Pterosaurs.
Since the Pterobats are marsupials, they heavily rely on their claws In order to get Into their mothers pouch.
Thus natural selection has favored an build for flight which retained most of the claws.
Unlike the placental Bats from Earth they only use a single finger to support their skin membrane.
Being an flying marsupial although has more issues then just the claws, the joeys In the mothers pouch can put on quite alot of weight and hinder their flight capabilites.
Although they have found an solution for this issue as well.
Pterobats will stay together as an mated pair until their joey are old enough, when the joeys are getting to heavy for the mothers pouch, she will leave the young with the father, who will then find an safe spot that will hide the joeys, the father will then also feed their offspring and keep them safe untill they are old enough to depart.
Pterobats have 2 ways of takeoff, either from the solid ground by using their front legs to push them into the air, or hang and swing from trees or cliffes.