whalewithlegs on DeviantArthttps://www.deviantart.com/whalewithlegs/art/Greater-Maned-Clam-302861938whalewithlegs

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Greater Maned Clam

By
whalewithlegs
Published:
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Description

I often feel at odds with my perception of mainstream creature design. Understanding anatomy and form is fundamental to creature design, of course, but I do feel like the potential of creating creatures that are truly alien can be lost because of our unwillingness to go beyond our modern understanding of the natural world. This creature was designed with no thought as to its behavior, internal anatomy, habitat, nor niche. I would hope it addresses these ideas through its design, not as a product of them. Nature is something that will smack you in the face with wonder every time you look, and the things one finds in the natural world are more alien than we can possibly appreciate through a constructivist approach to creature design.

This creature was designed through a process of procedural metamorphosis. I spent a lot of time thinking about the overall gesture.
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I think I finally figured out the Watercolor Tool in SAI!
Image size
2096x1350px 2.12 MB
© 2012 - 2024 whalewithlegs
Comments55
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OGYungLilBig's avatar
OGYungLilBig

Soupy atmosphere filter feeder who waves from side to side to feet on insects and microscopic life floating in the hot, damp air. But can snap its jaws shut to release a sonic boom similar to a bear trap's in order to communicate. The jagged spikes help make this possible for centuries without wearing down or breaking the jaws. The neon glow along the beak 'teeth' help add to the communication - the brighter the glow, the more attention got. The feet help anchor, centipede-run, and climb.

Sentient intelligent species the size of a 20 pound dog, they do not need hands or manipulation limbs to build tools. Like crows, they find simple tools to pick up more advanced tools, that pick up even more advanced tools, and so on. This is simple common sense to them, where humans find it redundant and difficult - and thus why we compared to them are like dogs compared to humans.

They live tribally, refuse to master space travel, and have science developed to the poibnt of being able to prove souls exist and can leave the body whenever they wish. But they cant comprehend WHY anyone would want to prove any of that.

And thus...life goes on as it did millions of years ago, because it's simple, beautiful, green, and works.


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Totally random brainfart splurt about the hows and whys of the form, function and evolution of the maned clam. I was flying by the seat of my pants and doing it for fun and scientific curiosity XP

LOVE the picture btw thumbs up