[Red]

This is based on The Exquisite Beast by Yuko Ota and Void vet Evan Dahm.
http://exquisitebeast.tumblr.com/archive

We start with a simple creature, then show how it evolves and progresses over millions of years of evolution. In The Exquisite Beast, the artists would take turns drawing a step in the evolution. But here, we can just all take a spot.

So, here's how it works:

I'll start with this silly guy:

Length: 12" average
Weight: 25 lb average
In it's early days, the creature is small and helpless. The species is classified as an amphibian, and hunts smaller bugs and animals. The creatures come out mostly at night, to avoid being eaten by larger predators.

Now it's your turn. Take the next step in the creature's evolution any way you'd like. Maybe he get's faster, maybe he gets stronger, maybe he focuses on camouflage and evasion?

If you want to participate, the order will go in first come first serve order. If you wanna do this just post here letting me know you want to participate, then we will follow the turn order! You can write a description for the creature if you'd like too!

RULES:
1. If you take a long time to respond when your turn comes up, you'll be skipped because I'm just going to assume you forgot

2. Take small steps in the evolution, this is a gradual process! Take a look at the blog I linked for a reference!


Stage 1


Stage 2

http://entervoid.com/index.php?topic=11885.msg209150#msg209150

Stage 3

http://entervoid.com/index.php?topic=11885.msg209412#msg209412

Stage 4

http://entervoid.com/index.php?topic=11885.msg209588#msg209588

Stage 5

http://entervoid.com/index.php?topic=11885.msg209643#msg209643

Stage 6

http://entervoid.com/index.php?topic=11885.msg209697#msg209697 

At this point, the creatures travel to two different areas. Each group starts evolving in different ways ...

Stage 7a

http://entervoid.com/index.php?topic=11885.msg209760#msg209760

Stage 8a

http://entervoid.com/index.php?topic=11885.msg209840#msg209840

Stage 9a
http://entervoid.com/index.php?topic=11885.msg209853#msg209853

Stage 10a
http://entervoid.com/index.php?topic=11885.msg209939#msg209939


----

Stage 7b

http://entervoid.com/index.php?topic=11885.msg209770#msg209770

Stage 8b
http://entervoid.com/index.php?topic=11885.msg209858#msg209858

Stage 9b
Reserved for Bear

[Disidi]

Would like to do step 2!

[Red]

Go for it!!

[Disidi]

Length: 10" average
Weight: 10 lb average
The creature has now taken to the trees, its body becoming more upright and lightweight, with thin, flexible bones. Its previously stumpy legs have begun to lengthen and refine in structure, and it walks along branches in either short shuffling sideways motions, or with a swinging, turning gait that enables it to look back and forth with each step.

Its eyes have evolved to focus forward, enabling stereo vision to aid with tracking flying and crawling insects in its arboreal home. It uses a long, segmented, prehensile tongue to snatch things up with surprising accuracy, swinging its flat, broad tail as a counter balance as it lunges.

Its colouration has grown brighter and more varied, mimicking toxic animals and plants around it to discourage predators-- though it currently has no toxins to speak of.

And for funsies:

[(Pi)]

this is evolving into an awesome art jam. i will post post-tournament deadline. no reservations, i'll hop in at whatever number it'll be on.

[Red]

Ahhh that is amazing Disidi!! <3

I know Puzzlething said he wanted to get in on this too, so we will see if he delivers or not. If there are gaps in participation I'll draw again as well. Disidi, you're welcomed to do another one down the line if you'd like as well

[Puzzlething]

   Sign me up for three you stranger!

[Field Marshal Lionel Forsythe W. Underwood XIII, GBE]

This looks fun... I might just do this...

[The Bent One]

Sign me up!

[(Pi)]

okay, i'll take a slot now.

[Puzzlething]

Length: 1' average
Weight: 23 lb average
   
    Growinging in size, the creature begins scavenging for most of it's diet. An elongated neck allows the creature a large range of movement, and houses a lengthened digestive tract to slow down the breakdown of food. Small delicate fingers allow the creature access to nuts and other hard to access food.

  It's nasal passage have migrated higher along it's profile, allowing the creature to more accurately smell the air for predators without leaving cover.

   Small keratinous growths on the ridges of it's skull are used to tear away at tree bark, both for marking territory and contests of dominance. It's markings have grown more complex and individualistic, a tool mainly to impress during mating season.

[ShouldaCouldaCola]

Puzzlething--nice! Those are some crazy cool feet claws.

Disidi, that's amazing! Love the colors you chose.

This is turning out to be an awesome jam.

[Field Marshal Lionel Forsythe W. Underwood XIII, GBE]

I'll take a slot please... this is getting too good and t'would be a shame to let this pass off.

[Red]

Hahahahha I love it!! His looks like he would stomp around and go 'derp derp derp' for a mating call.

I put you down for slot 6, Underwoodwriter

[(Pi)]

benty hasn't posted in a few days, so i'm gonna take the slot and keep this moving forward. i'll add colors later, gotta go do housework. also, looking at the weight, have you tried to imagine something that's only a foot long but weighs 20 pounds?? for comparison, the world's biggest frog is about a foot long without stretching, and weighs about 7 pounds:
http://frogsaregreen.com/3345/goliath-frog-the-worlds-biggest-frog/


length: 18" average
it's getting a little larger, a little longer in the neck and arms, a little more inquisitive, starting to use that reach to poke about its surroundings in search of food.

[Red]

You turned his frown upside-down!!!

Underwoodwriter, Go for it dude!!!!!

[Field Marshal Lionel Forsythe W. Underwood XIII, GBE]

Length: 2 feet approx.

Having adapted to it's environment, our little friend now has developed larger forearms. Most species are terrestrial, but arboreal and semiaquatic species still exist. It's long neck now developed several more bones to compensate for it's increase in size, and it's rugged limbs provide a powerful grip as it forages for food.

It's tail has significantly grown much more shorter, but more plump and has now developed markings which scientist at the VOID Institute of Higher Absurdity as dubbed as the Catbutt effect. It's ability to mimic the specie's head movements fools any unwanted predator from attacking in an instance.

Our little friend still retains his pigmentation albeit not as flashy as it was once before. Significantly females are more larger than males and have grown longer keratinous structures along it's head resembling feathers. Males however are devoid of such growth and have instead more brighter belly pigmentation.

It's eyes now are smaller but more complex seeing as many of the specie are nocturnal. 

[Red]

alskjdfsdff

Our little dude is growin' up so fast!! <33

Catbutt effect

Hahaha best description ever.


WHO WANTS NEXT?

[Bear]

I have no scanner atm, so this off my camera. obvious clipping issues, but this is about the best i could get in frame.
sry no color.


(male)
Average length 2'8", but exceptionally old, large individuals (mostly female) can be up to 4'.

Having little defense mechanisms, predation upon the easily spotted bright colored individuals has the species begin to develop darker pigmentation on their backs. Bright, underbody pigmentation is still present and is most likely used in display to attract a mate.

A bony ridge has developed on their head, used to scrape bark off of trees in search of grubs and larvae.

Males have an extended throat pouch which can be inflated to establish  status in the group and to scare of predators. Expelling the air from the pouch results in a low booming sound which is used to communicate between groups.

Competition for understory resources has inspired some individuals to attempt climbing to reach new food sources, but the large claws limit their climbing height to only mildly above the ground. This is enough, however to take advantage of the mosses and vine-like plants that often overlay the trunks of the local trees.

[Disidi]

I think I've lost track; does anyone have next spot?

[(Pi)]

nope! go for it, disidi!

[Red]

I'm claiming the spot after Disidi

[Wubble]

Then I'll take the one after you red

[Disidi]

I think we should start branching; people should choose any existing images thus far to work from, since evolution is never linear! It may be cool to build a whole tree of related creatures (for instance, if someone wanted to go off of Bear's and instead make it big and toad-y instead of lithe and raptory like i went). What do people think of the idea?


[Female pictured]

Length: 3 feet

The creature is  now a master of the trees, its metabolism increasing, its body growing more lithe and sinewy. It swings and climbs among the boughs with large, hooked claws.

To support its active lifestyle, it now actively hunts for prey, digging into bark with sickle claws, breaking open stumps by using its face like an axe blade, and grating away at tree trunks with its serrated faceplate to open nests of insects, birds, and small mammals.

Its tongue has become more complex, the base of the tongue a muscular launching tube, the tip of its tongue made up of numerous sticky polyps that stick to and wrap around its prey. Its tongue is incredibly long, suitable for ambush situations and capable of snatching up such agile prey as birds from their perches. Due to its complex tongue, it does not have notable teeth, and instead it must swallow its prey whole. After a period of time if what it has eaten isn't dissolved in its highly caustic stomach acid, it regurgitates pellets of the dessicated leftovers much like an owl.

Though it is a predator, it is also preyed upon by larger animals, usually birds of prey. Because of this, natural selection has encouraged a dull coat of keratinous growths, ranging from flat plates to feathery scales, to fine hair-like structures, which allow it to blend in with the muted shadows of the lower forest. To aid with its awareness of carnivorous birds, it has evolved a third "eye" on the top of its head, a simple lens that senses light and dark, so it can tell when a bird passes overhead and drop quickly to the underbrush out of danger. Females are slightly larger and more decorated than the males.

[Field Marshal Lionel Forsythe W. Underwood XIII, GBE]

Very nice... very nice indeed... I love it.

I'm with you on the branching out... We should give a "scientific name" to this baby to track it's evolution... or something like that.