you know how IRL scientists are always ready to throw hands over certain topics? what I want to know is what kind of stupid arguments Pokemon scientists get into fights over. a heated battle starts in the middle of a conference because someone asked if Slowking’s Shellder could be considered its own separate species or not
*scientist steps onto the stage*
*a photo of a Flygon appears on the projector screen*
*she hits the screen with a pointer stick*
“Bug.”
*entire auditorium erupts into furious shouting*
DEFINITELY BUG
I should clarify I agree that this would be a debate in canon because it is in the fandom, however, flygon is a reptile c:
what dose that make trapinch
Trapinch is inspired by an antlion, but instead of insect anatomy with huge mandibles, Trapinch is a turtle-like reptilian beast.
Flygon is modeled after an adult antlion, NOT a “dragonfly” by the way, which isn’t even an insect name that exists in Japanese.
Vibrava is clearly insectoid, true, but when we look at flygon:
Flygon is literally modeled like a “dinosaur,” it has no segmentation but has stripes on its tail evocative of such. It has false “bug eye” goggles and it’s “antennae” are just horns.
While pokemon exhibit a wild degree of stylization, ALL bug pokemon based on actual arthropods have at least some degree of unmistakably chitinous physiology:
The trapinch line are to “bugs” as dolphins are to sharks. They are bug-like only by evolutionary convergence. It is not an oversight that they aren’t bug type, but deliberately integrated into their designs that they “mimic” bug type.
Trapinch, Vibrava, and Flygon all definitely share a different darwinian evolutionary relationship. Trapinch and Flygon are, as bogleech says, members of a reptilian and dragon clade. This is supported by morphology, since Flygon is closest to Dragonite in body-shape and Trapinch could be either a lizard, turtle, or some other sort of reptile pokemon. Vibrava is, however, most closely resembles bug-types with its two pairs of wings, segmented body, and twig-like bent legs.
Taking into account the theory linked above, the differences between the three make sense. They are all separate species that developed a (pokemon) evolutionary relationship and have slowly (darwinianly) evolved to be closer to one another. Rather than evolving perfectly to suite the ancestral bug-like condition of Vibrava or the purely dragon-like condition of Flygon, they meet in the middle. Flygon evolves head structures mimicking Vibrava’s antennae and similarly diamond-shaped wings, Vibrava secondarily loses its Bug-typing and slowly starts “unsegmenting”. And then Trapinch does its own thing, like in real antlions.
Perhaps Vibrava was a prey animal of some sort to the ancestral Trapinch whose genetics were integrated into its predator via HGT?
The Wild Catoblepas: one of the smallest species of behemoth on Midgaheim, this omnivorous giant is nigh invulnerable to most conventional and magic forms of attack.
The Domesticated Catoblepas: After centuries of inbreeding by human wizards, domesticated catoblepases barely resemble their wild relatives. Their enlarged heads and weakened necks make them utterly reliant on humans for survival, and humans in turn harvest the valuable alicorn that makes up their horns, as well as their armored skin and magic-resistant wool.
The Crowned Catoblepas:the smallest species of behemoth on Midgaheim, this elephant-sized mammal is still more than capable of trampling a human to death without breaking a sweat, though it’s more likely to gore them with its enormous alicorn horn.
The Armored Unicorn: a rare variety of unicorn, this heavily armored mammal is larger than a mundane oxen and even more cantankerous.
The Yale: aka the centicore or false unicorn, this beast’s two alicorn horns are somewhat articulate, able to twist around in their sockets.
The (Un)Common Unicorn: despite common descriptions, this beast more resembles a deer than a horse, though neither are really its close kin. Intensely magical despite their small size, these creatures are much sought after for their miraculous powers and incredible beauty. Whether they are truly scarce in number or simply extremely good at avoiding humans is a matter of some debate.
The Dwarf Unicorn: not much larger than a domesticated goat, this unicorn’s small size is deceiving, as it is no less magical than its larger brethren. Intensely intelligent and curious by nature, this unicorn’s front hooves have special digits to allow them to work as grasping appendages, which these unicorns have often used to pick the pockets of unaware humans. They are sometimes erroneously called “fairy unicorns” despite not hailing from Fairyland.
The Pegasus: a chimera made of horse and bird components (generally eagle), these creatures have often been bred for use as flying mounts, despite their intensely aggressive natures.
The Pegacorn: even though pegasi are already extremely ill-tempered and prone to throwing riders to their deaths when incensed, some humans decided they weren’t special enough and decided to make the same chimera with a unicorn in place of the horse. The resulting mix is an extremely dangerous creature, as the high magic power and inherent shyness of the unicorn is combined with the aggressive territoriality of the bird, resulting in a horribly powerful beast that really doesn’t care for humans trying to ride on it.
Extrapolating from what I posted yesterday, I drew a bunch of unicorns and yales, because unicorns are a big fantasy creature and deserve at least a fraction of the attention I lavish on dragons and basilisks and whatnot.
Going off of what I posted yesterday, here’s some big ol’ behemoths for your enjoyment.
Job’s Behemoth: The oldest known species of Behemoth, which traveled to Midgaheim from a continent to the South East by a land bridge that no longer exists. The largest of its clade, this titanic mammal is often mistaken for a mountain range during its century-long naps. When awake, a Job’s Behemoth immediately goes on an eating binge, which can be likened to a natural disaster for any living thing in its path.
Midgaheim Behemoth: Second only to Job’s Behemoth in size, this titanic brute’s omnivorous appetite is slightly less catastrophic than its ancestor’s thanks to its shorter hibernation cycle and more picky eating habits. Though all behemoths produce dung that works as a powerful fertilizer, the Midgaheim Behemoth’s is by far the most effective. As a result, just as many ecosystems owe their existence to these beasts as those that were ravaged by them.
Anvilhead Behemoth: Given that behemoths are often preyed upon by dragons, ogres, and other large predators in Midgaheim, it’s only natural some developed defenses against them. The Anvilhead Behemoth’s alicorn nasal horn is large and wide enough to shield its head and neck from dragonfire, protecting it from the many dragons that would gladly make a meal of it.
Longhorn Behemoth: Though on the small side of the behemoth family, this behemoth is one of the most deadly, as its goring horn, strong neck, powerful legs, and hair-trigger temper make it a terrifying adversary.
Ridgeback Behemoth: One of the most peaceful behemoth species, the Ridgeback’s diet is primarily vegetarian, with only rare indulgences in eating meat.
Shoveljaw Behemoth: A truly gluttonous creature, the Shoveljaw Behemoth is completely careless in what it consumes, uprooting vast quantities of earth with every bite as it hastily tries to get the maximum amount of matter in its maw.
Wartusk Behemoth: Though useful in fending off enemies and slaying large prey, the enormous tusks of the Wartusk Behemoth are more often than not used in mating competitions.
Naithair: A species of Behemoth adapted for cold environments like the taigas and tundras of Germanor and Ruslovak, the Naithair’s body is covered in thick wool and bristles, which not only insulated its body, but stab and sting into anything that may try to prey on them.
Odontotyrannus: One of the smallest Behemoths is also one of the most dangerous. The Odontotyrannus is almost purely carnivorous, and most disturbingly, seems to prefer human-sized prey most of all. With a mouth fills with long, needle-like teeth and a prehensile tongue designed to root into caves, burrows, and more recently, man-made buildings, these monstrous beasts can wipe out entire village populations while leaving the structures in tact, creating eerie ghost towns in their wake.
Sharp-Humped Behemoth: The most lithe and graceful its kind, the Sharp-Humped Behemoth is considered by many to be an elegant and awe-inspiring sight, and stories of the beast often focus on its majesty and grandeur while down-playing the fact that it’s just as likely to flatten any creature in its path as the rest of its kin.
A few more chimeras for you! And a cautionary tale:
Mermecoleon: an infamous failed chimera - in this case, the result of a wizard trying to combine two animals that are vastly different and not having the skill to properly meld them. Mermecoleons are spoken of often by those who make chimeras, a hard lesson in knowing your limits. Though the original mermecoleon was incapable of eating, subsequent attempts have occasionally produced ones that are cohesive enough to at least live long enough to reproduce, and they lay enough eggs to actually last a long while as an obnoxious pest before falling apart thanks to their own ill-made bodies.
Formicaleon: of course, the idea that something is impossible has never been a deterrent to wizards, and eventually one did figure out a way to hybridize ants and lions into a functional chimera. Formicaleons are formidable monsters, combining the tenacity and family dynamics of both species to create powerful and territorial hunters that are more than capable of defending a wizard’s tower with extreme ferocity.
Botched Chimeras:any chimera can become a hideous, misshapen abomination if the wizard making it is careless and/or unskilled enough. Most botched chimeras fall apart shortly after their creation, though some manage to cling to life until someone or something finally ends their freakish misery.
The most common chimera on Midgaheim by a wide margin, griffins have been made so often that feral populations are enormous and, by this point, just as critical to the environment as the many “natural” arcane creatures. Combining a lion (the king of beasts) and an eagle (the king of birds) gives griffins an affinity for both earth and wind magic - and, like other beasts who are attuned to two opposing elements of magic, this makes griffins incredibly powerful. Add to this the fact that they are not particularly hard to make, griffins are in many respects an ideal chimera - one needn’t be a master to create one, and yet they produce marvelous results.
This, of course, has led SEVERAL wizards to make griffins over the years, and in time those griffins reproduced naturally, to the point that many environments in Midgaheim now have large griffin flocks as a vital part of their ecosystem. After a few generations of interbreeding, the lion and eagle features in griffins become less distinct, with “feral” griffins often looking a bit more monstrous/wild than their sleek forebears.
Of course, some wizards still get it wrong, with the most common mistake being the use of too little eagle in the mix, resulting in chimeras like the Opinicus(lion with an eagle’s head) or the Keythong(i.e. a wingless griffin).
Likewise, wizards who are more skilled with chimera-crafting have sometimes felt the need to mess with the griffin recipe. Substituting different felines and/or raptors is common, as is adding just a dash of horse to make griffins that are more inclined to serve as mounts. Some take it a step farther and add a LOT of horse, creating Hippogriffs, which trade some ferocity for a more amiable beast. Of course, not all these twists are successful, as the scarcity of Mergriffins can attest to.
Mediterran Sphinx - one of the first chimeras ever created, the original sphinx was crafted by the monster progenitors Typhon and Echidna, themselves two of the most supremely powerful chimeras ever crafted. A lion with the head of a human woman, the wings of an eagle, and the tail of a serpent, this chimera combined the vicious killing power with flight, venom, and a devious human intellect. Though tricky to create, its power as both a guardian beast and a dauntless assassin/hunter made it much desired, and sure enough, wizards set out to replicate it, creating sphinxes of their own.
Wingless Sphinx - getting the combination of elements right in the original sphinx recipe is difficult, so it was inevitable that some wizards would try to simplify the hybrid a bit to make its creation more manageable. The most pared down sphinx reduces it to a lion with a human’s head, which is easy enough to create and still results in a highly intelligent animal minion with the raw killing power of a lion, though it lacks a bit in flair.
Winged Sphinx - slightly more complicated but still easier than the original recipe, the winged sphinx is a bit harder to create than a standard griffin, providing a moderate challenge in creation but with results that are more than worth it. Though it lacks the venom of the Mediterran sphinx, the winged sphinx is still a force to be reckoned with both on the land and in the sky.
Manticore - the most popular variation on the sphinx formula by far. Substituting a tiger for the lion bits and a scorpion for the serpent, while axing the eagle entirely, the manticore has a vicious cunning that even the clever Mediterran sphinx lacks, creating a brutal hunter of men that is as devious as any human killer and as durable as the striped terrors of Ruslovak.
Mantydrac - the one thing holding manticores back from being as commonly created as griffins is the fact that scorpions are not incredibly common in Midgaehim, which resulted in some wizards trying to substitute something in their place. Of course, wizards being wizards, many went straight to using dragons as an ingredient, despite dragon chimeras often proving to be uncontrollable monsters. Sting-tailed wyverns are most commonly used, since the venomous stingers on their tails are roughly analogous to those of a scorpion, and the wings they provide to the resulting chimera are also desirable. Peludas, a special breed of lesser drake covered in spikey armor, are also often used, with their mace-like spike-clubbed tails also proving to be an adequate substitute for a scorpion’s sting. While the resulting chimera is definitely strong, Mantydracs almost always turn their keen predatory intelligence against their masters before anything else, then strike out on their own to terrorize a world that was not prepared for them.
Mantygre - more prudent wizards will replace the scorpion in their manticore with other mundane animals that just happen to be more easy to track down. With a mix of scorpion, goat, and, oddly enough, sharks, the recipe can be stabilized into a beast whose tail is bristling with sharp spines (and the added bonus of multiple rows of teeth) without losing the cunning that makes manticores so useful as monstrous servants.
Feral Manticore - of course, the sheer number of sphinxes and manticores produced over time eventually led to feral populations, and the variations on the recipe eventually blended as these feral populations grew. Feral manticores can exhibit a whole slew of different elements: scorpion stingers on wyvern tails, dragon or eagle wings, venomous quills, fire breath, the sky is the limit for these dreadful man-eaters, making them a dangerous predator to encounter in the wild.
VERY close to the end of my list of heraldic beasts. Let’s go over this batch of misfits:
Crapard: a very large toad. Able to eat a horse whole large.
Emmet:an ant the size of a pony.
Bonnacon: a magical bovine. Some species breathe fire from their nostrils. Others expel it from, well, their other end.
Nebek: a strange trunked beast the size of a large hound. Omnivorous and voracious.
Lubolf: a magical hippo, and one of the most dangerous herbivores on Midgaheim.
Phoenix: arcane birds who are masters of fire, wind, and oddly enough, water magic. When a phoenix dies, its body combusts into magic flames that reforge its remains into an egg, which soon hatches into a new phoenix.
Phenex: aka the false phoenix, these birds sport the exact same magic powers as phoenixes, despite being distant relatives at best. It’s very confusing to the average human citizen of Midgaheim, who is likely only to read about these birds in bestiaries rather than seeing them in person - and made all the more confusing by a THIRD family of fire magic using birds, the aptly named Firebirds of Ruslovak, who also sport some similar powers as the phoenix and phenex. It is said Phenexes can be found on the continent to Midgaheim’s East, where they are known by a different name.
Cameleopard: a strange creature that, to the untrained eye, looks vaguely like a camel with a leopard’s coloration. Many have tried to make mounts of these strange, long-necked hooved animals, only to be bucked off to their doom thanks to the immense height of the beasts. They may have inspired the creation of the Questing Beast, a chimera that has many similarities to a cameleopard when they are poorly described by a person who has only heard of them from bestiaries.
Rukh: aka the kreutzet, the cornu, the hraesvelg, the bariuchne, or simply the very large eagle. There are several species of immense eagle around Midgaheim, with many names as well, but it seems bestiary writers have settled on rukh as the catch-all name, which is itself a loan word taken from the continent to Midgaheim’s South East.
Tytron: a goat with an extra pair of ram-like horns.
Monstrous fish that swim the wide open oceans surrounding Midgaheim, sea boars are so named for their large tusks and distinctive upturned nostrils. Despite being purely aquatic creatures, most sea boars possess rudimentary lungs, with many even vocalizing with loud roars and bellows. Sea Boars are typically omnivorous, though there are some exceptions.
The most massive fish to roam the oceans surrounding Midgaheim, leviathans account for some of the most terrifying sea monsters known to man, matched and surpassed only by the largest of sea dragons. They are a sister clade to the sea boars, many of whom also make up the bulk of the leviathans’ diet (and are included in our fun little scale chart).
Isaiah’s Leviathan - largest of the leviathans, and perhaps the only sea monster that can give a full grown Midgar Guivre a fair fight.
Job’s Leviathan - second largest of the leviathans and the most vicious, this enormous fish has a voracious appetite and a territorial streak that drives it to be a remorseless killer.
Jonah’s Leviathan - though still a maneater by nature, this leviathan is docile enough to be trained to an extent, though they have never been fully domesticated.
Jasconius - more docile than its kin, this massive fish has been fully domesticated in the past, with some even being trained to escort human vessels. Jasconiuses can hibernate for decades at a time, to the point where their inert and curled up bodies can be mistaken for islands. Though they don’t actively prey on humans like other leviathans, the Jasconius is viciously territorial when presented with similarly sized sea monsters, which, combined with its otherwise ambivalent temperament, makes it an excellent protector for sailing ships.
Murex - the second smallest of the leviathans, this sharp-fanged fish is just as vicious as most of its kin, and has proven adept at tearing boars apart board by board to get at the tasty humans within.
Dwarf Leviathan - bred by wizards to be amiable, survive in freshwater, and grow to a more manageable size, this beast is to other leviathans what the catoblepas is to behemoths: the stunted, domesticated version of a monster that was originally a nigh-unstoppable force of nature. They do make excellent guardians, though, patrolling moats and lakes for their human masters and keeping them free of the many, MANY lake and river monsters that might otherwise roost there.
Been meaning to ask this: How exactly did somebody manage to tame a Leviathan, much less domesticate them?
