Northern Forest

Location:

Northwest Novopangaea (Pangaea II)

Biome:

Temperate rainforest

(where it rains 24/7 due to it being so close to the coast and with no nearby mountain range to stop the exposure to torrential rainfall)

Climate:

Cool, wet, and shaded by towering lichen trees.

Hazards:

Predatory terasquids, ambush predators, bioluminescent traps, and toxic fungi.

Bestiary:

Molluscs

Squibbon (Arborocephalus tentaculatus)

Ancestor: Squid.

Size: 1 m (3.3 ft).

Appearance: Agile, tree-dwelling terasquid with long prehensile tentacles.

Niche: Intelligent omnivore swinging through the canopy, feeding on fruits and hunting Forest Flish.

Megasquid (Titanotentis colossus)

Ancestor: Squid.

Size: 5 m (16.4 ft).

Appearance: Massive, elephant-sized terasquid with eight thick pillar-like tentacles for walking and two grasping tentacles at the front used to feed, possesses a resonant chamber atop its mantle for communicating with other members of its kind throughout the forest.

Niche: Omnivorous titan feeding on lichen fruit and hunting squibbons.

Thornback Squid (Spinotentis herbivora)

Ancestor: Squid.

Size: 2 m (6.6 ft).

Appearance: Armored terasquid with spiked plates.

Niche: Herbivore stripping leaves and fungi while defending itself from predators.

Glidesquid (Volatentis aerodyna)

Ancestor: Squid.

Size: 1.5 m (4.9 ft).

Appearance: Wing-like tentacles for gliding.

Niche: Agile aerial predator ambushing insects and competing with Squibbons.

Stranglesquid (Constrictotentis obscura)

Ancestor: Squid.

Size: 2 m (6.6 ft).

Appearance: Muscular tentacles for constricting prey.

Niche: Ambush predator of insects, small squibbons, and branch-dwellers.

Spikemouth Squid (Scutotentis fossor)

Ancestor: Squid.

Size: 1 m (3.3 ft).

Appearance: Short tentacles and a serrated beak-like mouth.

Niche: Scavenger digging through soil for worms and fungi.

Squidbuck (Cervotentacula sylvestris)

Size: 1.2 meters tall at the shoulder

Appearance: Quadropedal with tentacle-antlers and facial feeding appendages.

Niche: Herbivore grazing in herds, protected by the larger Thornback Squid.

Squoth (Teraslothica arboris)

Ancestor: Squid

Size: 1.5 meters long

Appearance: Moss-covered body with eight flexible, suction-cupped limbs and stalked eyes.

Niche: Tree-dwelling herbivore and seed disperser in the Northern Forest canopy.

River Kraken (Terascephalopoda fluminis)

Ancestor: Squid

Size: 2 meters long

Appearance: Streamlined body with paddle-like fins, large eyes, and long, flexible tentacles for swimming and catching prey.

Niche: Apex predator of rivers in the Northern Forest, ambushing fish and Freshwater Silverswimmers.

Vineclimber (Helicoflora ascensa)

Ancestor: Tree Snail

Size: 15 cm (6 in).

Appearance: Spiral-shelled mollusc with a muscular foot for climbing trees.

Niche: Arboreal herbivore feeding on fungal growths, preyed upon by Slithersuckers.

Vinecrawler (Gliscoslug arboris)

Ancestor: Slug

Size: 10 cm (4 in).

Appearance: Soft-bodied scavenger with a slime-coated exterior.

Niche: Arboreal scavenger feeding on rotting fruit and fungi, hunted by Slithersuckers.

Fish

Forest Flish (Sylvopinnus volans)

Ancestor: Flying Fish.

Size: 15 cm (6 in).

Appearance: Small, colorful flier with hook-like pelvic fins for hanging upside down.

Niche: Insectivorous canopy-dweller, prey for Squibbons.

Hornbill Flish (Pachypinnus crassirostris)

Ancestor: Flying Fish.

Size: 30 cm (12 in).

Appearance: Heavy-bodied flier with a large, curved beak.

Niche: Seed and fruit feeder, aiding lichen tree dispersal.

Skyfang Flish (Aeropiscis raptor)

Ancestor: Flying fish.

Size: 40 cm (16 in).

Appearance: Sharp-toothed predator with extendable jaws.

Niche: Apex aerial hunter targeting tree-dwelling Terasquids.

Hawk Flish (Rapinapinnus ferox)

Ancestor: Flying fish.

Size: 25 cm (10 in).

Appearance: Hooked pelvic fins and beak for grasping prey.

Niche: Predator of smaller flying fish like Forest Flish.

Hummingbird Flish (Nectaripinnus scintilla)

Ancestor: Flying Fish.

Size: 10 cm (4 in).

Appearance: Small, iridescent scales and a long beak.

Niche: Nectar-feeder pollinating Lichen Trees.

Swallow Flish (Volapinnus gracilis)

Ancestor: Flying Fish.

Size: 12 cm (5 in).

Appearance: Forked tail and streamlined body.

Niche: Insect-catching aerial predator.

Parrot Flish (Psittacopinnus volatus)

Ancestor: Flying Fish.

Size: 1 meter

Appearance: Vibrant green, blue, and orange body with a strong beak for crushing tough fruit.

Niche: Tree-dwelling herbivore, feeding primarily on the fruits of the Lichen Tree.

Riverpiercer (Hydropiscis acutus)

Ancestor: Dogfish Shark.

Size: 1.2 m (4 ft).

Appearance: Sleek, pike-like predator with needle-like teeth.

Niche: Ambush predator of Freshwater Silverswimmers.

Forest Landskipper (Scutoperca sylvatica)

Ancestor: Mudskipper

Size: 30 cm (12 in)

Appearance: Dark green and brown mottled body for camouflage, with a brightly colored dorsal "flag" derived from the fins of its mudskipper ancestors. The flag displays vivid patterns of orange, blue, or red depending on the individual's sex and mood.

Niche: A terrestrial omnivore foraging on the forest floor, feeding on fungi, fallen fruits, and invertebrates.

Arthropods

Glowspider (Luminosa aranea)

Ancestor: Orb-weaving Spider

Size: 15 cm (6 in).

Appearance: Bioluminescent spider with delicate legs and silk-spinning glands.

Niche: Web-building predator luring Flish.

Leafsting (Caedocoris venator)

Ancestor: Assassin Bug

Size: 8 cm (3 in).

Appearance: Slender with a sharp, needle-like proboscis.

Niche: Ambush predator of insects and Flish.

Thornbeetle (Scuticollis lignarius)

Ancestor: Longhorn Beetle

Size: 10 cm (4 in).

Appearance: Armored beetle with spiny exoskeleton and sharp mandibles.

Niche: Herbivore burrowing into Lichen Trees.

Branchcrawler (Phasmobius lignivora)

Ancestor: Stick Insect

Size: 25 cm (10 in).

Appearance: Stick-like insect camouflaged as bark

Niche: Herbivore preyed upon by Squibbons.

Branchstrider (Ambulabranchis mimica)

Ancestor: Stick Insect

Size: 30 cm (12 in).

Appearance: Resembles branches with long, thin legs.

Niche: Herbivore evading predators like Glowspiders.

Sporemoth (Fungimoth pollinatus)

Ancestor: Moth

Size: 8 cm (3 in) wingspan.

Appearance: Winged moth with fuzzy body and bright colors.

Niche: Pollinator of Lichen Trees preyed upon by Leafstings and Glowspiders.

Bristleshrimp (Amphipoda robusta)

Ancestor: Amphipod Crustacean

Size: 6 cm (2.5 in).

Appearance: Hard-shelled, segmented body with bristle-like legs.

Niche: Aquatic detritivore feeding on decaying plant matter.

Freshwater Silverswimmer (Silvopoda minor)

Ancestor: Crustacean larva.

Size: 8 cm (3 in).

Appearance: Shrimp-like body with delicate swimming appendages.

Niche: Semi-aquatic omnivore inhabiting streams.

Worms

Stalkworm (Onychopodia predatoria)

Ancestor: Velvet Worm.

Size: 15 cm (6 in).

Appearance: Velvet-like skin, flexible body, and clawed appendages.

Niche: Ambush predator climbing tree trunks to prey on insects.

Plants and Fungi

Lichen Tree (Symbophyta arboriformis)

Ancestor: Lichen.

Size: Up to 30 m (98 ft) tall.

Appearance: Tall, tree-like with a central woody stalk covered in green-gray, algae-coated filaments. Produces small, colorful fruits resembling berries.

Niche: Keystone species providing food for Megasquids and Squibbons and shelter for smaller animals. Its fruits are dispersed by Hornbill Flish, promoting growth throughout the forest.

Bladeshroom (Fungifolia spinaforma)

Ancestor: Mushroom.

Size: Caps up to 1.5 m (5 ft) tall; stalks 2 m (6.5 ft).

Appearance: Towering fungi with serrated, blade-like caps and sticky stalks coated in fibers.

Niche: Acts as shelter for creatures like Vineclimbers, but releases toxic spores that deter herbivores. Decomposing stalks fertilize the soil, aiding forest growth.

Mosscreeper (Bryoflora carnivora)

Ancestor: Moss.

Size: Covers up to 2 m² (21 ft²).

Appearance: Dense mats with sticky, tendril-like growths tipped with dewdrop-like enzymes.

Niche: Carnivorous moss digesting insects and detritivores like Branchcrawlers. It recycles nutrients into the soil and supports the food chain.

Slime Molds

Slithersucker (Myxomorpha viscosa)

Ancestor: Slime mold.

Size: Tendrils up to 1 m (3.3 ft) long.

Appearance: Gelatinous, yellow-green mats with glowing, sticky tendrils hanging from branches.

Niche: Carnivorous slime mold trapping Forest Flish and insects in its tendrils. It slowly dissolves prey, recycling nutrients while providing food for Glowspiders and Squibbons.