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Post by Ty'e'ca on Jan 3, 2010 13:59:39 GMT -5
• The Slinger (Na'vi name: Lenay'ga), or strange terrible sloth, (scientific name: Acediacutus xenoterribili) is one of the oddest and most dangerous creatures yet discovered on Pandora. Growing in size up to 2.4 meters in height, this land predator/carnivore prefers a dense rainforest habitat and it's main food source is the Hexapede. Method of HuntingWhen hunting, this creature moves slowly and silently through the forest ferns. when it senses prey, its muscular neck cocks back into striking position, then snaps forward. Its long, pointed, and winged head detaches and flies toward prey as a self-guiding venomous projectile. After the head embeds itself into its target, the dart then emits a series of high pitched squeals. these squeals act as signals to allow the body (now sightless)to find the detached head. While still separated,the partners consume the prey until sated. The neck bends down and a mesh of hairlike tendrils rejoin the head with the body. ReproductionBiologists were stunned to discover that their body and its dart like head are not a single creature with a singular method of hunting. Instead, the dart is actually the 'child' of the body and will stay in the symbiotic relationship with it's 'mother' until it is too large to perform its function as the dart. It then mates, detaches from the mother body and metamorphoses into a smaller, complete slinger with its own slinger dart head. At this time of youth, the slinger is a single color as different colorations are most likely created with subsequent growth. Left behind with out a dart offspring, the mother-body is unable to feed itself and inevitably dies. In this cycle of renewal, each generation of becomes the grain for the previous generation. Na'vi hunters have been known to retrieve a dart that has been orphaned from its mother-body to use later as an effective weapon. Additionally, sap from a specific plant is also rubbed on skin that replicates the smell of a slinger to ward off would be Viperwolf attackers.
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Post by Ty'e'ca on Jan 3, 2010 14:00:43 GMT -5
• Stingbat, (scientific name: Scorpiobattus volansii), or 'Flying Scorpion bat' are small aerial predators with a highly developed navigation system and four eyes.
The Stingbat's has translucent fangs and claws with predominant bioluminescence on the wing membrane and torso. One of the Stingbat's features is a Scorpion-like tail stinger and a small brain cavity. The Stingbat is an omnivore, feeding on both flora and fauna; prefering rodent sized creatures, lizards, and fruit. The Stingbat usually feeds alone but will swarm with other Stingbat's against larger prey such as small Hexapede.
Despite the highly developed visual navigational system their small brain cavity and cerebral cortex inhibits their innate survival mechanisms. Despite a constant slaughter, the creatures continue to fly into the range of automated sentry guns that defend the Hell's Gate compound. Their diminished cerebral capacity makes them common prey for larger predators such as the Forest Banshee. But their prodigious mating habit ensures a steady population.
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Post by Ty'e'ca on Jan 3, 2010 14:01:39 GMT -5
• The Sturmbeasts (Na'vi name: Talioang) are large animals native to Pandora. They are 5 meters tall, weigh ten tons, and look like an odd fusion of an Earth-borne piranha fish and a rhino. They usually move in groups, and when they are threatened, they are known to group together in massive charging stampedes. They are one of the Na'vi's food sources.
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Post by Ty'e'ca on Jan 3, 2010 14:02:34 GMT -5
• The Tapirus is an pig like creature that lives on Pandora. On a planet with perfect predators the Tapirus fills the unfortunate role of perfect prey. It is the butt of many jokes of Hell's Gate personnel and shows up on the cafeteria menu
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Post by Ty'e'ca on Jan 3, 2010 14:04:29 GMT -5
• The Tetrapteron is a class of flamingo-like bird that looks almost Earth like until one notices it has four wings, with two on either side. The birds also feature a unique twin tail used for balancing their body wieght as they hunt or land. There are two types of Tetrapteron, aquatic and arboreal. Although similar in appearance, the aquatic birds have longer necks and legs for life in wetlands. The Tetrapteron have excellent long distance vison, and can detect movements as little as 1.25 centimeters from a height of 45 meters. They usually hunt in flocks. Of all the creatures on Pandora, these seem the most cooperative, both on the hunt and when socializing. While many predators on Pandora nurture their young, none take more care of their offspring with as much attention and duration as the Tetrapteron.
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