Resident FaunaCerotitan: Huge quadrupedal herbivores, Cerotitans bear a strong resemblance to the extinct
Brontotheres of Earth. They have three horns on their head: a large, rhinoceros-like horn on their nose and two smaller ones on top of their head. The smaller horns are similar to those of a
Cape buffalo, sloping down to the sides before curving upwards again. Also like a buffalo’s horns, the bases of these two horns are fused together, forming a thick boss of solid bone over the top of the skull. Their short fur is black. They average around 75 meters at the shoulder and weigh 120,000 tons, though large males can easily approach 150,000 tons
Cerotitans travel in small- to medium-sized herds of 10 to 20 individuals of all ages, led by a dominant male. They inhabit the Savanna areas, but will occasionally venture into the Forest and Marsh habitats.
Cerotitans are extremely powerful and aggressive, and will not hesitate to stand their ground when threatened. When faced with a predator, it’s not uncommon for a herd to rally together and charge it as a unit. Even lone individuals are formidable, between their strength, horns, surprising speed and agility, and very tough, thick hide. It speaks volumes that, prior to the construction of the Natural Zone, the UCA had seriously considered bringing an individual of this species in as a full time fighter. Very few monsters can successfully take down an adult Cerotitan by themselves, unless the Cerotitan is alone and/or already weakened through injury or sickness.
War-hog*: Large mutant wild boar. Like normal-sized wild boar, they are primarily herbivorous but will happily scavenge carcasses when available. They’re 30-40 meters tall at the shoulder, 60-80 meters long, and weigh 35,000-45,000 tons. Males are slightly larger than females, tending toward the upper end of the size ranges while females are toward the lower end. The upper tusks of males are large and upturned, and those of females are smaller and point downward. Both sexes have lower tusks as well, which are razor-sharp and easily capable of lacerating flesh if given the chance. Owing to their feral origins, their fur color varies drastically, from brown to black to gray to red to assorted combinations thereof.
War-hogs are found equally throughout the Savanna, Forest, and Marsh habitats. They typically travel in loose groups of 20 or so individuals, though large males are sometimes solitary.
When attacked, their first response is to flee. They can run surprisingly fast considering their rather short legs, though they aren’t very agile. If cornered, War-hogs will fight back viciously, charging their attacker and lashing out with their sharp tusks. Males can be especially dangerous in this situation because, aside from their larger tusks, they are also have a thick layer of tough cartilage under the skin on their shoulders. These “shields” can sometimes stop bullets on normal pigs, so it should go without saying how effective they are on these monster-sized versions of the animals.
*War-hog was originally the name of a single, exceptionally large individual, with the smaller ones simply referred to as mutant boars, but when they were brought to the Natural Zone by the UCA they inherited the name as well.
Trog: Primate-like omnivores resembling
baboons. Their bodies are considerably more muscular than baboons, however, being almost gorilla-like in some respects. Their heads are baboon-like, complete with
massive canine teeth, and they have long tails. They have a single, short horn on their forehead which points forward and up at about a 45 degree angle. Females average about 20 meters tall and 25 meters long (not including tail) when on all fours and weigh 12,000-15,000 tons. Males are significantly larger, approaching 30 meters tall and weighing 25,000 tons. Both sexes have tan fur, and mature males have a “mane” of darker and slightly longer fur around their neck and shoulders. While primarily herbivorous, Trogs do have a taste for meat and will often scavenge and occasionally kill smaller creatures.
Trogs inhabit both the Forest and Savanna areas, and are especially fond of the “open forest” in the boundary areas between the two habitats. They live in large groups often numbering over 30 individuals, led by a dominant male.
What Trogs lack in size, power, and weaponry, they make up for in intelligence. They have numerous vocalizations, including different warning calls for different types of predators. Excellent climbers, when faced with most threats they try to retreat up trees when possible. Trogs will often hurl boulders and small trees (or branches of large trees) at predators to drive them away, and will even try to rescue an individual that has been captured.
Shovel-tusk: Large, amphibious herbivores, Shovel-tusks are similar to
hippopotamuses in general appearance, with stout legs and a stocky body. Their head is completely different, though, and doesn’t particularly resemble any Earth animal. The closest would be a
tapir, though they have smaller ears and lack a tapir’s short trunk. Their most striking feature, and the one that gives them their name, are their two tusks. About as long as their head, these tusks are blunt, horizontally flattened, and stick straight forward. They are used to uproot soft aquatic vegetation, which the animal then pulls into its mouth with its long tongue. Like hippos, Shovel-tusks have hardly any hair and their skin is gray. They are around 50 meters tall at the shoulder and weigh about 90,000 tons.
Shovel-tusks are exclusive to the Marshland regions. Males are solitary, while females and their offspring will stay together until the latter is nearly full-grown.
Shovel-tusks are calm and peaceful, and when threatened will quickly retreat into the nearest deep water. Their only real defenses against attack are their sheer bulk and incredibly thick hide, which is as much as 5 meters thick.
Skymp (“Skimp”): Flying scavengers resembling
shrimp with membranous wings, Skymp essentially act as the vultures of the Natural Zone. Despite their resemblance to the Earth crustaceans, they breathe air and are not aquatic at all. They have two pairs of small claws which they use for feeding, and six walking legs. They have two long antennae which can pick up the smell of a carcass from dozens of miles away and thousands of feet up. Their exoskeletons are primarily very light gray, with a brown stripe running along the entire length of their back from head to tail. Skymp are 10 meters long and weigh about 200 tons.
Given their role as airborne scavengers, it’s not surprising that Skymp are found throughout the Natural Zone. They don’t travel in groups, per se, but large numbers of them are invariably drawn to any carcass within an hour.
Due to their small size, Skymp are essentially defenseless against attack aside from flying away. If caught they can theoretically pinch with their claws, but realistically will be long dead before it would have any real effect. They are very alert, however, and have nearly 360 degree vision, so catching them is rather difficult.
Gontha: Bizarre creatures that completely defy any Earthly taxonomic description, Gonthas are massive, six-limbed herbivores. Their lower body is large and somewhat bulbous, with four stubby walking legs and a short, thick tail which drags on the ground. The legs lack true feet, instead simply ending with an enlarged, fleshy pad. The lower body pinches into a narrow “waist” section, which then expands again to form the chest area. About a third the size of the lower body, the chest is similarly round. Attached to the chest are two arms which are long enough to drag on the ground if not held up. In place of hands, each arm ends with a single, huge, slightly curved claw. This gives the arms a vaguely mantis-like appearance. The head, which is somewhat similar to a horse but lacking external ears, is attached to the upper part of the chest with a short, thick neck. They have two pairs of yellow, pupil-less eyes. Completely hairless, their skin is a dark teal color and covered in wart-like bumps, similar to an
Indian rhinoceros. Overall, they vaguely resemble the extinct
Megatherium in general profile, and have similar feeding habits. They use their long arms and hooked claws to pull down branches of trees, which they then consume the leaves off of. At 120 meters tall and 110,000 tons, they are among the largest resident terrestrial creatures in the Natural Zone, and the only ones to regularly rival Cerotitans in size.
Gonthas are found primarily in the Savanna, as well as the transitional areas between the Forest and Savanna habitats where the trees are large enough for them to forage on but not so closely packed that their movement is restricted. They are solitary.
Gonthas rely first and foremost on sheer size to avoid attack. When that fails, they face their attacker head on, spreading their arms and brandishing their massive claws. A blow from these claws can inflict serious wounds even on monsters, and can outright kill most smaller predators.
Sandworm: Predatory, armor-plated worms that burrow through sand at high speed. They have huge, powerful mandibles similar to an
antlion. Like an antlion, their mandibles are hollow and inject powerful venom which both kills the prey and begins the process of digestion, allowing them to suck out the liquefied innards through their mandibles. Their exoskeletons are ivory-colored, with a reddish-brown stripe running down their dorsal surface. They are 250 meters long and 40,000 tons.
Sandworms are among the only creatures that inhabit the Wasteland area of the Natural Zone. They are solitary, but it’s not uncommon for two or more to be drawn to a prey item.
Voracious and powerful predators, Sandworms are masters of their environment and rarely come under attack themselves. They sense prey (usually animals that have wandered into the Wasteland area and gotten lost) through vibrations in the sand and attack from below, paralyzing the victim with venom before pulling it beneath the surface to feed.
Amfishbian: Odd, primarily aquatic creatures, Amfishbians resemble
catfish with four stubby, webbed feet. They are mostly light green in color, with a grayish underside. They average about 20 meters long and weigh around 6,000 tons.
Amfishbians are found in most of the freshwater bodies of the Natural Zone, with the greatest numbers of course being in the Marshland areas. They are essentially solitary, but congregations in particularly favorable areas aren’t uncommon.
Bottom feeders, Amfishbians eat essentially anything that they can swallow. They have no real defense against predators, aside from hiding in aquatic vegetation and relying on their camouflage to avoid being seen in the first place.
Uberbok: Fleet-footed, gazelle-like herbivores, Uberbok are the second most common large land animals in the Natural Zone. Resembling
impala, Uberbok are rather lanky and have short, sandy brown fur. Males have medium-sized, spiral horns similar to
kudu. Females are hornless. They are 50-55 meters at the shoulder and 25,000-30,000 tons, with males being slightly larger than females.
Uberbok are highly gregarious, and will often form huge mixed herds with Gigabeest numbering over a hundred individuals in total. They are exclusive to the Savanna habitat.
When attacked, Uberbok flee. They are the fastest creatures in the Natural Zone, reaching top speeds well in excess of 700 mph. Not only can they maintain these speeds for several minutes, but they are extremely agile as well, being able to make sharp turns and leap great distances. Males can use their horns to defend themselves, but this is only done in an absolute last-ditch effort.
Gigabeest: Fairly large herbivores, Gigabeest are the most common large land animals in the Natural Zone. They’re built much like
eland, but they lack the dewlap on their neck. Instead, running along the underside of their jaw and down their neck to their chest is a “beard” of long, course hair. Males have huge, magnificent horns similar to
ibex. Females have horns as well, but theirs are only a fraction the size of males’ and not as strongly curved. Females are about 60 meters at the shoulder and weigh around 45,000 tons, while males are about 65 meters at the shoulder and often approach 55,000 tons. Their fur is mostly gray, with a few thin, white, vertical stripes on their sides.
Gigabeest are highly gregarious, and will often form huge mixed herds with Uberbok numbering over a hundred individuals in total. They are primarily found in the Savanna habitat, but will occasionally wander into the outskirts of Forest areas.
Like Uberbok, Gigabeest flee when attacked. They aren’t as fast or agile as Uberbok due to their greater bulk, but can still outrun many threats. If cornered, they will charge their attacker. Both sexes are dangerous in this situation, for different reasons. Males, who normally use their huge and sturdy horns in head-butting competitions with each other, can hit hard enough to bowl over nearly any enemy and potentially break bones. With their smaller horns, females can actually stab attackers.
Boarlion: Fierce mammalian predators, Boarlions are tied with Crokorras for the spot of largest resident terrestrial carnivores in the Natural Zone. As the name suggests, Boarlions resemble a cross between a pig and a lion. Their heads are very large and roughly triangular in profile, like a
pig’s. Both their upper and lower canine teeth are very long, and protrude from their mouth even when it’s closed. They lack a pig’s trademark nose, though, instead having a more regular mammalian nose like a dog or cat. Their body is essentially that of a
lion (or, more accurately, a
lioness since they lack manes). Both sexes have a strip of longer, stiffer hairs running from the back of their head down their back to the base of their tail. These bristles normally lay flat, but become raised when the Boarlions are angered. They are about 30 meters tall at the shoulder, 65 meters long (85 meters with the tail), and weigh around 25,000 tons. Their fur is light gray, and the strip of bristles along their neck and back is black.
Boarlions primarily inhabit the Savanna, but occasionally venture into the Forest areas. They travel in groups of 3 to 4.
Being pack hunters, Boarlions work together both to bring down prey and to fend off attacks. They use their powerful arms and sharp claws to wrestle prey and opponents to the ground, and usually kill prey with a bite to the neck. Their jaws are not exceptionally powerful, but the size of their canines means they can inflict deep wounds regardless. In the case of prey, a bite to the neck severs blood vessels and blocks the windpipe, cutting off both the blood supply to the brain and oxygen to the lungs.
Of special note is the relationship between Boarlions and Crokorras. Taken from two different worlds, these species occupy the same niche as apex predators. Now that they’ve been brought together, they compete fiercely with each other, sometimes to the point of going out of their way to harass or even outright attack each other.
Crokorra: Fierce reptilian predators, Crokorras are tied with Boarlions for the spot of largest resident terrestrial carnivores in the Natural Zone. Similar in appearance to Baurusuchus (about intermediate between
this species and
this species), Crokorras have bony scutes running along the top of their neck and back like a crocodile. Their jaws are
large and powerful, and filled with teeth that are simultaneously serrated for slicing flesh and robust for withstanding their bite strength, similar to a Tyrannosaurus’ teeth. They are about 30 meters tall at the shoulder, 95 meters long, and weigh around 25,000 tons. They are primarily brown, with black vertical stripes similar to a tiger.
Crokorras primarily inhabit the Savanna, but occasionally venture into the Marshland areas. They travel in groups of 3 to 4.
Being pack hunters, Crokorras work together both to bring down prey and to fend off attacks. Their primary weapons are their immensely powerful jaws. Prey is usually initially brought down with a crippling bite to a hind leg, ending the chase. How the prey is actually dispatched depends on its size. For smaller prey (<30,000 tons), Crokorras rarely bother with actually killing it once it’s subdued, instead opting to simply rip it apart. For mid-sized prey (30-50,000 tons), they will usually deliver a bite to the head or neck, crushing the skull or spine. Large prey is worn down over an extended period through repeated bites to the extremities, weakening it through blood loss.
Of special note is the relationship between Crokorras and Boarlions. Taken from two different worlds, these species occupy the same niche as apex predators. Now that they’ve been brought together, they compete fiercely with each other, sometimes to the point of going out of their way to harass or even outright attack each other.
Gulper: Mid-sized, predatory fish resembling
grouper. Gulpers have enormous,
telescoping mouths which completely lack teeth. They are 50 meters long and weigh 15,000 tons. They’re mostly olive green, with dark brown mottling.
Gulpers live in saltwater, and prefer the relatively shallow water near shore. They avoid the cold water in the Northwest of the Natural Zone’s sea. They are solitary.
Gulpers eat essentially anything that will fit in their mouth. They feed by lunging forward and quickly opening their mouth, creating a vacuum and essentially inhaling the prey, hence their name. They have little in the way of defense, but are very powerful creatures which can often thrash their way out of a predator’s grasp.
Mustelus: Squat-bodied carnivores resembling
badgers. Musteluses have huge, but rather blunt, claws on their front paws, which they use for burrowing. Their heads are relatively large and
hyena-like, though with very small ears. They have a fairly thick tail which is about half their body length. Their fur is mostly a grizzled brown, with a black strip running along the top of their head, down their back, and to their tail. Their feet and tail are black as well. They are around 55 meters long including their tail, and weigh about 15,000 tons.
Musteluses are solitary, and rarely tolerate the presence of others of their kind in their vicinity. They are found throughout the Savanna and Forest areas, and will occasionally venture into the outskirts of the Mountain area.
Theoretically, Musteluses are carnivores which primarily feed on prey they dig up from the ground. In the Natural Zone, Pockers, Big Fatters, and Xiphon Drones are particular favorites. However, they get just as much (if not more) of their food from scavenging. Unlike most other scavengers, Musteluses will often actively attempt to drive the owners of a carcass away. They have all the aggression of an animal three times their size, and don’t hesitate in harassing even packs of Boarlions and Crokorras to get at kills. They do so by nipping at the larger predators’ tails and backsides, constantly making all sorts of racket (snarling, hissing, chattering), and just generally being astoundingly obnoxious. This often works, getting the predators to leave more of the kill than they normally would.
Should a Mustelus come under attack itself, it is more than capable of putting up a ferocious defense. Their compact bodies are very powerful, as are their jaws. Their hide is absurdly tough, making it exceedingly difficult to pierce to any meaningful degree. On top of that, their skin is very loose, allowing them to twist around within it if they’re gripped by an attacker. Finally, they are capable of releasing a horribly foul odor from glands under the base of their tail. The smell is so potent that it burns the nose, throat, and lungs and can literally make breathing difficult. Musteluses never win in physical confrontations with significantly larger predators, but they almost never lose, either.
Ratraptor: Small, bipedal predators resembling
rats. Despite being mammals, Ratraptors are basically built like theropod dinosaurs, holding their bodies horizontally and with long, counterbalancing tails. Their snouts are longer and thinner than those of normal rats, and lack cheek pouches. At the front of their upper jaws they have two huge incisors which are pressed tightly together, essentially forming a single saber-like fang. Their arms are fairly long and muscular (by theropod standards), with 5 fingers on each hand tipped with sharp claws. Their legs are very much like those of a theropod, with 5 toes, the innermost of which is a vestigial dewclaw. Their fur is a uniform dark brown color and covers their entire body except their hands and feet, which are bald with pale pink skin. They are about 8 meters tall at the hip, 25 meters long, and weigh 5,000 tons.
Ratraptors are pack hunters, traveling in packs of 15-20. They usually inhabit the Forest areas, but are sometimes found in the Savanna.
Vicious hunters, Ratraptors regularly attack prey many times their size. They use their speed and agility to chase down and leap onto prey, holding on with their claws while repeatedly stabbing with their huge combined fang. They often target the hind legs and neck; the former hindering movement and the latter severing major blood vessels and causing rapid blood loss.
Valrhoss: Massive, semi-aquatic marine carnivores, Valrhoss most closely resemble
elephant seals. They lack an elephant seal’s enlarged proboscis, though, and their snouts are somewhat longer and have more formidable teeth. The rear half of their body is very different from any seal, however. Their rear limbs are small flippers, and they have a powerful tail with a
whale-like fluke on the end. They have no fur aside from whiskers, and their skin is brown. Valrhoss are extremely sexually dimorphic. Females are around 110 meters long and 40,000 tons, while males are 220 meters long and 160,000 tons.
Valrhoss inhabit the Arctic area, spending much of their time in the cold waters in the northwest of the Natural Zone’s sea. They hunt alone, but gather in large numbers on the shore.
In the water, Valrhoss rely mainly on their speed and maneuverability to escape attackers. On land, females and smaller males bolt for the water when threatened. Large, dominant males will not, however. Called “beachmasters,” these males are highly aggressive and will not tolerate any threat to their harem of females. Usually this consists of rival males, but extends to any creature that comes too close. Regardless of the intruder, a beachmaster will charge toward it at surprising speed, mouth wide and bellowing loudly. Should the intruder not be intimidated by this, the male will
rear up the front half of his body and then slam his immense body weight against his opponent while simultaneously biting with his powerful jaws and sharp teeth. He will then twist his body to the side, throwing them to the ground and/or ripping at their flesh (
video). Both sexes have very thick and tough hides, as well as a thick layer of blubber underneath, but both of these are disproportionately exaggerated in males, especially around their neck and chest.
Nekark: Stealthy marine predators, Nekarks look essentially like a cross between a
squid and an
octopus. They have eight large, muscular arms like an octopus, as well as two
extendable tentacles like a squid which are normally concealed from view. Their head is elongated and cylindrical and has a pair of fins near the tip (think a squid’s body in place of an octopus’ bulbous “head”). Unlike normal cephalopods, whose beaks are hidden at the center of their arms, Nekarks’ beaks are on their faces, below their eyes. Their default color is a dull gray-green, but they have the ability to alter their color and texture to blend into their environment. Their body, from the base of their arms to the tip of their head, is approximately 50 meters. Their arms are about 60 meters long, and the extendable tentacles can reach 120 meters. They weigh around 40,000 tons.
Nekarks prefer the deep waters of the Natural Zone’s sea, and have no preference between the tropical and Arctic temperature regions. They often move into shallower water at night to feed. They are solitary.
Being masters of camouflage, Nekarks are rarely even seen either by prey or potential predators. When catching prey, they first capture it by rapidly extending their two tentacles, then reel it in to be dispatched by their powerful arms. The tentacles have a widened and flattened tip which is covered with
multiple sharp hooks, while the arms are covered with suckers lined with a
saw-like row of serrations. When attacked, they can spit a cloud of black, noxious ink. Aside from directly obscuring vision by simply being a dark cloud, this ink is a severe irritant to the eyes, nose, and gills. Furthermore, it has a high mucus content, meaning it will cling to the attacker almost like a coating of oil. With the predator distracted by the ink, the Nekark will take the opportunity to jet away and hide.
Snackerel: By far the most abundant large creatures in the Natural Zone’s sea, both in terms of numbers and overall biomass, Snackerel are small (comparatively speaking) fish that live in huge schools. They resemble
anchovies, and have fairly long, slender bodies which are primarily silver in color. They have a blue stripe running the entire length of their back. They are 8 meters long and weigh 150 tons.
Snackerel travel in massive schools numbering in the tens of thousands. They are found throughout the Natural Zone’s sea.
Individually, Snackerel are completely defenseless against attack from larger predators. They rely on the huge size of their schools to lessen the chance of any particular individual being targeted and caught.
Whale-fish: Gigantic filter-feeders, Whale-fish resemble
paddlefish without the large rostrum. They have enormous, toothless mouths which can open very wide as well as expand out to the sides (similar to
basking sharks and
paddlefish), maximizing the amount of water they can filter for food. Their bodies are light gray on top and white underneath, and their fins are darker gray. At 300 meters long and 330,000 tons, Whale-fish are easily the largest resident creatures in the Natural Zone.
Whale-fish are found throughout the Natural Zone’s sea. They are sometimes solitary, but will often travel in groups of 3 to 4.
The overwhelming size of Whale-fish is almost always enough in and of itself to deter most would-be attackers. In the event one should come under attack, however, a blow from its immensely powerful tail will usually get the point across, and break a few bones in the process.
Pocker: Small, burrowing rodents resembling
gophers. Pockers have short, essentially cylindrical bodies with very short legs. Their front paws have long claws for digging. Their roundish heads have large, protruding incisors. They have short, stubby tails. Their fur is dark brown. They are around 10 meters long and weigh 300 tons
Pockers are found in the Forest and Savanna areas, as well as the “tundra” in the transitional area between the Savanna and Arctic habitats. They live in large colonies similar to prairie dog towns.
Pockers spend most of their lives in their networks of underground tunnels, feeding on roots and tubers. They do come to the surface to eat grass and other foliage, however. Due to their small size, Pockers have no real defense against most predators aside from hiding in their burrows. They can deliver a painful bite with their large incisors, but rarely get the chance to do so.
Drayko: Arboreal reptilian carnivores, Draykos bear little resemblance to any Earth creature. They have a large,
toucan-like beak with serrated edges (which face backwards, instead of forward like on toucans). They are quadrupedal, with their limbs held underneath their body like a mammal. All four feet are bird-like, with the front feet having especially large and sharp talons like a bird of prey. They have extendable “wings” made from ribs (similar to
Draco lizards) that allow them to glide. Their long tails have two extendable fins on the end for added control while gliding. Their skin is covered with small scales, and they have a “mane” of feathers running from the back of their head to about halfway down their tail. Color differs somewhat between the sexes. Both males and females are primarily green with yellow beaks, though males are somewhat brighter. The “wing” membranes of males are yellow, and their feathers are deep
royal blue. Females’ feathers are a dull gray. They are about 90 meters long and 15,000 tons.
Draykos inhabit the Forest areas, and will sometimes venture into the Mountain region. Adults form a pair bond and mate for life.
Draykos spend most of their time in the forest canopy, gliding from tree to tree. They swoop down on prey from above, killing it with their powerful talons. Their favored prey are Pockers and Ratraptors. Young War-Hogs and Lancasters are sometimes taken as well, and even adults of both species are killed on rare occasion. Once killed, small prey is taken back up into the trees, while larger prey is consumed on the ground. If threatened, Draykos retreat up trees. They cannot gain altitude when gliding, meaning the best they can manage from the ground is an extended leap to the nearest tree. They are exceptional climbers, however, and can practically run up vertical tree trunks.
Shagbeast: Large herbivores similar in appearance to
muskoxen. Shagbeasts are covered in long, thick fur and have huge, branching horns similar to
moose antlers. Their fur is dark gray. They are 50 meters tall at the shoulder and weigh around 50,000 tons.
Shagbeasts have the most restricted range of any creature in the Natural Zone, being exclusive to the transitional areas between the Arctic region the and Savanna and Forest regions (tundra and taiga, respectively). They are very common in these areas, however. They travel in large herds of around 30 individuals.
When threatened, Shagbeasts form a defensive circle with each individual facing outwards and brandishing its large horns. Should an individual be singled out, it will charge its attacker and attempt to gore them with its horns.
Ziller: Mutant
iguanas, Zillers are generally docile herbivores, though they will on rare occasion scavenge or grab a passing Xiphon Drone. In place of the fleshy spikes on normal iguanas, Zillers have a row of sharp, bony spikes down their back. Additionally, numerous large spikes jut out from their tails in random directions similar to
Showa Anguirus’ tail. Zillers are sexually dimorphic. Aside from being larger in general, males have proportionally larger spikes on their back, a small horn on their nose, and a larger dewlap (the flap of skin on the neck). They are bright green, with orange on their front legs and dewlap, and pale green heads. Females are smaller, have smaller back spikes and dewlap, and are a uniform drab green. They are 120-200 meters long, two-thirds of which is tail, and weigh 25-35,000 tons.
Zillers are semi-social, often congregating in areas with large amounts of preferred food and basking spots. Large males are somewhat territorial, however, and rarely tolerate other males nearby. They are found equally throughout the Savanna, Forest, and Marshland habitats.
When threatened, Zillers will usually try to escape. They are both excellent climbers and swimmers, and will often escape up a large tree or into the water, depending on which is available. Large males will sometimes hold their ground, however, puffing up their bodies and extending their dewlaps while hissing loudly to intimidate the attacker. Regardless, if forced to defend themselves, Zillers are more than capable of doing so. Their long, powerful, spike-covered tails are their main weapon, and can inflict serious wounds. Despite their herbivorous diet, Zillers have razor-sharp teeth and powerful jaws. Their claws are very sharp as well. Finally, if fighting back takes a turn for the worse, they can shed their tails in a last-ditch effort to escape. The shed tail will thrash around violently, hopefully distracting the predator long enough for the Ziller to get away.
Boom-Boo: Boom-Boos are a variety of genetically engineered
sea cucumbers found within the waters around Genesis Island and brought to the UCA’s Natural Zone. They can be a variety of different colors, but most commonly an olive green. They can also come with a variety of spikes and pricks, but they all have a large, red horn on the rear. They are generally 35-80 meters in length, and weigh between 10,000 and 30,000 tons.
Boom-Boos can exist in both salt and fresh water of any climate area, but are found in great numbers in tropical regions. They have no social structure to speak of, but will congregate where conditions are especially favorable.
Boom-Boos get their name from the unexpected noise they make when startled or threatened which sounds like a booming “BOOOOOOOOOOOOOM-BOOOOOOOOO”. This has been shown to be able to make even the most dominant predatory monsters flinch in surprise, giving the Boom-Boos enough time to escape or lash out with their horn if need be.
Lancaster: Lancasters are a genetically engineered form of life made to feed monsters. They appear to be giant-sized
white-tailed deer that average 65 meters tall at the shoulder and 45,000 tons. Lancasters have not two antlers, but instead four which can sometimes branch out and connect.
Lancasters live primarily in the Forest areas, but will sometimes venture into the Savanna. They travel in loose groups numbering 10-30.
When attacked, Lancasters attempt to flee. They are very fast and agile, allowing them to escape many predators. If cornered, they will charge their attacker, attempting to stab with their horns. They can also lash out with powerful kicks, and their sharp hooves can inflict nasty wounds.
Big Fatter: A species of gigantic
earthworm designed to feed monsters, Big Fatters can range in size from 75-250 meters in length and weigh 20-60,000 tons. They get their names from just how fat they are, appearing like enormous night crawlers.
Big Fatters live underground in the Forest and Savanna areas, as well as in the foothills of the Mountains. They can often be found underneath large boulders and trees. They are solitary.
Essentially defenseless against attack, Big Fatters rely on not being found in the first place. They never come to the surface.
Gnattra: Mutant gnats that usually follow the queen (which has not been brought to the UCA). The Gnattra are the size of elephants and usually annoy monsters. They appear very close to
this, but with only one stinger.
Gnattras are found throughout the Natural Zone, except over the sea. They usually travel in swarms of a few dozen.
Gnattras are equipped with an explosive sting which works in two ways: the males sting with one chemical and females with the other. The chemicals work their way through the body before dissipating, but if they come together, the chemicals will explode. These chemicals give the Gnattra a spicy flavor that many monsters absolutely love.
Masked Serpent: Not true snakes, but instead a mutated species of eel, Masked Serpents have thick, round bodies covered in rubbery skin the color of seaweed. A large dorsal fin travels just behind the head to the edge of a large spear-like stinger that tips their tail. They have black markings around their red eyes, earning their name. Masked Serpents emit a slippery mucus from their skin while on land to help them move across solid ground, though they are most at home in the water. While they can travel and breathe on land, they move slowly, and rarely move far from a large source of water. They are 80 meters long and 7,500 tons.
Masked Serpents are able to live in both salt and fresh water, but they are far more commonly found in the latter. They travel in huge schools, numbering from twenty to fifty individuals.
Masked Serpents will prey on anything they come across. They are notorious for their aggression, recklessly attacking monsters and other creatures far more powerful than themselves with their teeth and stingers. The stingers contain venom which is very painful, but rarely very dangerous to large creatures. Despite being slow on land, they are capable of leaping surprising distances to attack. For all their viciousness, however, Masked Serpents are very frail on their own and can often be killed with a single solid blow.
Xiphon Hive: A massive colony of insect-like creatures, the Xiphon hive is centered in the Mountain area, though several entrances are located in the surrounding Forest and Savanna. Like ants and termites, the colony is composed of various castes serving specialized functions, and the members of each varies significantly in appearance.
-Drone (far left): The primary workforce of the Xiphon hive. Four-legged insect-like creatures resembling ants, Drones carry out hive repairs and carry food and eggs. They are extremely numerous and are frequently sacrificed to the Queen as nourishment. 15 meters long.
-Warrior (middle left): The primary fighting force of the Xiphon hive. They attack with shearing mandibles and the spines on their legs, which inject a poison that causes a painful burning sensation. They move in droves, overwhelming their enemies and dragging them back to the hive to be eaten. 30 meters tall.
-Guard (middle right): Specialized Xiphon that guard the hive’s entrances, they can also be found throughout the hive, protecting various rooms. Guards have enormous, tusk like mandibles and a set of secondary pincers which can extend via a tongue-like appendage. They are large and heavily armored, with spear-like legs. 60 meters tall.
-Queen (far right): The bloated matriarch of the Xiphon hive. Found in the deepest chamber of her lair, the queen is an enormous, soft-bodied female who is almost constantly laying eggs. She is blind and practically immobile. She is essentially unreachable, between the depth of her chamber and the many thousands of Xiphon in the hive to protect her, but just to ensure her safety the UCA has a force field set up around her chamber which can be activated in the slim chance that an exceptionally determined monster should threaten her. 120 meters long.
-Borer: Large, slow moving members of the Xiphon hive. Their job is to dig new tunnels for expanding hives; they are equipped with giant claws for digging and a thick shell to protect against cave-ins. Borers can also seal passageways by chewing up rock, mixing it with their saliva, and spitting it out as a cement-like substance. 60 meters tall.
-Patroller: Vaguely centipede-like members of the Xiphon hive. These long-bodied insectoids stay outside the hive, actively guarding the outer perimeter. By flattening their bodies and laying on the ground they can camouflage themselves to look like bits of rocky terrain, allowing them to surprise intruders. They will alert the hive of any threat by releasing a cloud of pheromones; Patrollers are vicious combatants. 200 meters long.
-Hunter: Flying members of the Xiphon hive. One pair of their legs has evolved into a set of wings, while the other two limbs have become arm-like appendages with grasping hands. Also equipped with a large, venomous stinger, Hunters paralyze prey and then carry them back to their hive. 20 meters long.
Boom-Boos, Lancasters, Big Fatters, and Gnattras provided by The Great MM. Masked Serpents provided by Kaiju-King42. Xiphon Hive provided by Dinohunter.
