Geb Phylums

A basic guide to all the phylums of Geb.

To learn more about the classes and orders, follow this link: tapejara.deviantart.com/art/Gu…

Cranidon
Currently the most populous and the most well known phylum on Geb. They are warm blooded with fur (typically) and are found across the planet except for the continent of Bruma. They are best known for the skull extensions in their mouths that look like teeth. But the main purpose of these is to grab and carry. Feeding is bone entirely using a radula, a long heavily muscular tongue covered with sharp teeth (similar to those found in snails). All cranidons, no exception, are oviparous. Their anatomy very similar to Earth's monotremes, having only a cloaca as a means to rid of the body of waste and with females oozing milk from their skin to feed their young.
Examples above:
Dazzlers are grazers found across the Great Savannah in great herds. They were named after an abolished tactic used in WWI where ships were painted with bizarre patterns to confuse enemy U-boats. The purpose of the pattern is to make themselves a) look different in size than they really are b) harder to distinguish between individuals. This was a crucial evolutionary tactic for a helpless herbivore that shares its environment with super predators such as the Tiger Drake. Dazzlers belong to the class Patescotergum and the order Porroguttervultus.

The Three-Spiked Homomimus is a solitary herbivore distantly related to the Afro Homomimus that lives in the Truncumque plateau. Like its relatives, its lips have evolved into a long trunk-like proboscis that allows it to feed on plant roots found deep in crevices. Its fur is red due to the red plants it eats. Its short spiked tail and dorsal spines give it limited protection against its main predator the Araneafaciem.

Why are there two examples of Cranidons? That's because the ape-like Goblivultus were once considered members of their own phylum. A study of their skulls proved that they were actually Cranidons too. So the sentient Lacertacredos is distantly related to the terrifying Tiger Drake.

Firmupennaes
Flying at high speed in the sky are Geb's equivalent of jet engines. They evolved so that their already unique respiratory system forces carbon dioxide out through their cloaca. Instead of flapping wings, Firmupennaes evolved a rigid structure with its shoulder blades that act like the wings of an airplane. They also have fins on their rear legs used to navigate. Firmupennaes have beaks of various shapes depending on the food they eat and the shape of their radula. The vast open spaces of Colossica have allowed the to grow to large sizes and fly without risking a collision with an obstacle. However, the forests are growing and evolving quickly and in a few million years the Firmupennae may go extinct and yield to the uprising Pteropods. Unlike Cranidons, Firmupennaes do not produce milk and parents must catch food and bring it to their nest of hatchlings.
Example above:
With a wingspan of only 50 cm, Pygmy Thunderbirds are one of the few Firmupennaes that can live in dense forests. In their case, they roost in the elevated forests in the Great Northeast Swamp. Like their larger cousins of the West, they hunt prey by throwing objects at their prey. Their weapons usually consist of rocks they carry in their beaks as they climb up into the tree or of dead branches that they simply break off the tree when unwary animals pass below. Their targets usually consists of small rodent-like creatures that are crushed by the impact but flocks have been seen assaulting larger animals.

Pararthropod
These are Geb's equivalent of insects. Although they have compound eyes, they don't have exoskeletons, but true skeletons. They are soft to the touch and in a way, similar to Earth's frogs. With the abundance of oxygen in Geb's atmosphere, they are generally larger than Earth's land dwelling arthropods but we have yet to discover anything larger than 40 cm. Some pararthropods have evolved wing casings that lack the actual wings. The casings act as a flat surface for flight while the animal forces air through an orifice found in the abdomen. This flying strategy is also found in Firmupennaes.
Example above:
Snow Pararthropods are small creatures that do not grow bigger than the average human thumbnail. They are instantly recognizable thanks to their white coloring. They live North of the continent of Colossica and feed on vegetation. In the winter, they bury themselves into the fur of larger animals for shelter. An animal with too many Snow Parathropods in its coat will soon find it dirty with excrement which could lead to disease if not cleaned.

Pteropods
They have common ancestors with the piscivultus. Instead of having the stiff shoulder wings of the Firmupennae, Pteropods have evolved their front limbs into large flat surfaces for flight. They do not flap their wings like birds but also keep them stiff like the Firmupennae. While this prevents them from manipulating objects with hands, it grants them greater flexibility in flight, allowing them to live in tighter environments, such as forests. Pteropods are renowned for migrating every summer to the meteor islands to breed also not all Pteropods are migratory (such as the flightless species). Unique to Geb's life forms, they give live birth to larvae that pupate into the adult form after being raised by the parents for long enough.
Example above:
These colorful flyers may look clumsy as they walk on the ground using their massive forelimbs and miniature hind limbs. But in the sky, they are extremely graceful and their pearl colored feathers glitter in the sunlight. Margapinnas (pearl feather) live in the Northern grasslands of Colossica where they feed on nectar, plant capsules and pararthropods. Like the more famous Magnaviator, Margapinnas migrate to the Meteor Islands but the distance they must cover is less impressive. Both of these species compete for space on the beaches and bloody battles are frequent. While Magnaviator may be able to slash with its tusks, the Margapinnas' arms are more muscular, strong enough to break bones. Opportunistic predators may use the commotion to steal maggots from the nests. Margapinnas is vital for seed dispersal for many plants, some of which will sprout from dung left behind on the islands.

Piscivultus
These aquatic creatures have a common ancestry with the Cranidons, similar to how mammals on Earth trace their roots to early fish millions of years ago. They come in all shapes and sizes and filled various niches. Like our fish, the piscivultus (pisce) breathe by taking in oxygen from the water using gills lining a long tube that runs through their torso. Water is then forced through the smaller cloaca to provide propulsion. Pisces also have four fleshy flippers for steering. Their swimming is very similar to those of Earth's seals and sealions. All piscivultus are oviparous and lay soft eggs in the thousands.
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Named after its infamous grin, the Clown Pisce is only known from one specimen washed up on the shores of the Eastern plateau. They are 2 meters long and have extremely long flippers compared to most other species. Nothing else is known about them.

Atroxoris
Some of Geb's strangest lifeforms are found in this phylum. These hairless creatures are rarely found at the top of any food chains but capable of surviving in more extreme conditions. While Atroxoris means terrible mouth, that title is mostly associated with the Arachnoris class which are recognizable for their spider-like fangs that inject enzymes into their prey. The Atroxoris do not have any true mouths, just an input orifice protected with folds of skin that hide a hollow siphoning tongue. Atroxoris are viviparous and parents stay together to raise the young in a nest or den. Sexual dimorphosis is common and males are often more colorful than females, to lure predators away from the young.
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Curvuscrus (Bent Leg) was an alien that was spotted in the initial stages of Geb's exploration but was not named formally until a decade later. Growing up to 7 meters in length, they are the second largest species of the class Brevisoris, second only to the Pilapes. Unlike their larger cousins, Atroxoris do not migrate and live their entire lives in the Idolon desert on a constant search for fresh water and fresh vegetation. The three massive crests in the back of their heads help cool down their bodies in the afternoon. Most of the foraging is done during the morning or evening. Curvuscrus live in small herds of 3 or 4 individuals. Their eyes are located on short stocks on the opposite sides of its head, allow each member to look out for predators such as Heremaltrix. They have primitive nostrils that are essentially tube shaped antennae. They can be used to detect food, water, females in heat or predators, but Curvuscrus relies primarily on sight to find everything it needs.

Seroinsolitus
These are animals too but with a very simple anatomy similar to Earth's sea sponges. Most of them are terrestrial and filter feed the air of the dying drifting zygotes of Geb's plants. They are asexual and fossil evidence shows they have been around for a long time in Geb's history.
Example above:
The Easter Egg is a typical Seroinsolitus with a body filled with cavities that catches prey drifting through it. They are preyed upon by the Advenamus that often hides within its crusty interior for shelter from predators and from the cold Tundra nights. They reproduce by releasing drifting spores from the tall appendage growing on top of it.

Other organisms
The Vapoflos and Fictomortuus are tentacled, mollusk-like passive predators but live completely different lifestyles. They may be related but currently belong to no phylum.
Various parasites are found throughout Geb, the most famous one living in red growths found on the faces of the Verracaput.
Some scientists believe the photosynthetic lifeforms on Geb are not plants at all but may be jellyfish-like organisms. The two supporting factors are the plants reproductive cycle and the numerous species of carnivorous plants. This remains to be verified.