Hello, today we are going to focus on flying organisms of Eile, specifically the temperate plains biome in Tuaisceart. These flying organisms have habitats that change often because of micro-migration. Thus making these organisms "inter-biomal".
The larger flying organisms of Eile are mainly the articulisids and Apothemaites, specifically Katoikosaeras, a polyphyletic group of Appendixaforms which have evolved to fly. Unlike the term birds on earth,a katoik(Katoikosearan for short) may refer to any of classes of appendixaforms that evolved flight.
Flying organisms on Eile in general evolved from some kind of small plain dwelling or semi-plain(plains in TDTLF biome ) dwelling descendant, whether it'd be an articulusid or a Katoikosaeran. Using extended vein lobes or articulated wings as acceleration before eventually evolving to use air currents and wind direction in order to accelerate even further , thus achieving flight. Once achieved flight, the organisms evolved and repurposed their bodyplans for occupation of the many niches flight can offer.
Due to lower gravity and thinner atmosphere, flying organisms are smaller on average then earth organisms,yet are able to stay on air longer on average due to lower gravity, as it is easier to retain flight, but harder to launch into the air.
Katoikosaeras are appendixaforms, since appendixaforms are apothemaites(vertebrate-like on Eile), Katoikosaeras convergently utilize some aspects of earthen traits in their morphology, albeit rather loosely. Some Katoikosaeras have evolved an independent form of viviparity from the rest of the appendixaform group (many other appendixaforms are viviparous) .
We will explore some of these morphologies of flying organisms on Eile through 3 different organisms.
The Thickarmour lightfly is a microscopic, small flyer which are part of the articulusid phylum, they are part of a large clade of flying organisms called Sexartusmuscae , who are winged articulusids which evolved from hexapodal lineages.
They are bloodsuckers, and not greatly sexually dimorphic, with only ever so slight differences in physicality between males and females. They are armoured as they are predators who actually scavenge for them. Thus quicker reproduction becoming a necessity in the species.
| Illustration of Thickarmour Lightfly , The orifice at the front,as well as the green appendage have evolved different roles, the green appendages has evolved into a tube for sucking blood and other liquids, a liquivorous diet only feasible for much small organisms like itself,whilst the orifice has the role of helping with breathing. This illustration depicts a specimen clumsily walking along a tree branch, which is a mating behaviour that can be found in Thickarmour lightflies but is very random, tree branches or any solid area can be used as mating grounds.Like most articulusids in the temperate plains, these small organisms are much active in dawn and dusk. The scientific name for these organisms are Brunapinna ruberscutum EILE. In the top left, there is an illustration of the top side of the organism when it is flying. |
Next up we have the Katoikosaeras. Yellowcrest atsyel and Redlobe atsyel are species of the same family,called Quantulacibidae .They're relatively small species, no larger then a tit when standing on their two legs, even smaller when flying,the naming behind atsyel is a chunk taken from the transcripted Russian word lyetatsyel'. And then "Redlobe" and "Yellowcrest" have been taken from their appearances.
| Yellowcrest and Redlobe flying through tree branches. Leaves were not illustrated here in order to show organisms In reality, they would all be covered in leaves. |
The scientific name for Yellowcrest is Folirumpere fulvathorax EILE and the scientific name for the Redlobe is Foliumimpello cruentacaput EILE. Both apothemaites are part of clade of Katoikasaeras in which bone structure changed drastically, evolving from early more "bird-like"( four legs ,two wings) into an entire separate class, called Suprapenna , Whose wings are over the legs. This was an incredibly slow evolution , thus most of the class having still undeveloped clades as this is a recent morphology. The skin of such lying organisms in this clade is lined by many, many hairs, similar to those of bat and pterosaurs, however much lighter, and much more.
The Yellowcrest's an Redlobe's bright colours may be a form of false aposematism to try and detract predators, as larger apothemaites do hunt these organisms. While the Yellowcrest and Redlobe are similar organisms, with similar behaviours, such as thrusting through the leaves trees of the temperate plains and making nesting grounds of them.They have different enough niches which allows them to prevent competition. The yellowcrest is most times frugivorous, as it is difficult to be an obligated on the plains. The Redlobe is most time articuluvorous( eating articulusids,insect-analogues of Eile.), basically vice versa.
This is it for today's Eile post, thanks for reading!
