05/29/2022
(To Be Named OPEN SPECIES)
Welcome a new open species. These little fellows currently have two different variants. We have the reef variant and the deep sea variant. I'll go into detail for each one.
Features shared among both variants:
🦈Fur only on head, neck, legs, and base of tail. Fur may be any color and have any markings.
🦈Fins inspired by ocean fish. Deep water variants have fins of deep water fish. You can also use marine mammals. The fish/mammals dorsal fin will be on top of the head, the tail will be modeled after the same fish. Don't mix species. Ie: dolphin fin with a shark tail. In the event that the animal does not have a dorsal fin, the pectoral fins should be placed on the cheeks. The fins and tail must match the natural colors of the animal it was based on. Melanism and albinism is allowed.
🦈Scales: Body always has scales, regardless of what animal it is based on. They may be any color and have any markings.
🦈Body Types:
Usually similar to domestic cats or bobcats in size and shape. Deep water variant has larger cat body types such as lions and Panthers.
🦈 Camouflage:
Reef Variant: Born with seaweed like appendages on all four paws. To Camouflage itself, it lays in the sea floor on its back and sticks its paws in the air.
Deep water variant: They are born completely black to blend in with the darkness. They gain thier true colors in adolescence since they usually bury beneath the sand and wait for prey to come to them.
🦈 Symbiotic relationships
Over time, sea creatures attach to their bodies, further improving thier Camouflage. Many sea creatures attach to them and cling to their fur. Eg. Barnacles, sea anemones, seahorses, crabs, and more.
🦈Oddities
Reef variant: the mammal bases reef variant can sometimes be seen walking on land for short amounts of time.
Deep water variant: Has a lure like anglerfish
(I currently only have a concept sketch for the deep water variant, but I wanted to share this idea and see if there's any interest in it. I'm still sort of refining everything, but these are the basics. Feel free to make your own.)
Art by me
