C.O.W. - #129: Cave Dweller - VOTING!

[yoitisi]

ROUND #129 VOTING

Topic: Cave Dweller


Deadline for the voting: Sunday, 25 January 2009

Posting thread (closed): C.O.W. - #129: Cave Dweller (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=146634)


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OK - before voting/posting read this!!!

1. Please give c&c or a reason why you voted for the image!

2. Feel free to comment on any or all entries, the artists will appreciate it!

3. No voting for your own entry!!! If a participants votes for his own entry, every member has the right to call him a stupid lame moron in this thread! And i will delete his/her vote anyway...

4. The poll is public. Your vote will be seen.

559561

[control01]

REJECTED - NOT IN THE POLL
Reason: Failed quality check (sloppy/rushed/unfinished artwork and/or insufficient artistic quality)

Artist: control01
Concept: Bratraccius rockiformis
Strange specie of frog... his skin copy the rock around him, lives in deep caves's jungles, eat insects and little mammals.

567871

[Bralt Hannicart]

http://www.bralt.be/cavedwellerfinal_web.jpg

Artist: Bralt Hannicart

Concept: Crystalglare
Crystalglares are thought to have been evolved from a subspecies of angler fish unknown to man. They were discovered in a unique sinkhole cavern linked with the pacific ocean by several flooded tunnels. They walk on all fours and are fast and excellent climbers. They often travel and climb an entire day in search of food. After feeding, they return back to the bottom of the caves where they sleep and rest.

Although vicious looking, these creatures are not carnivorous at all. In fact, the only food they eat is bat poop or guano. The anglers on its chin are equiped with taste buds and dragged on the rocky cave floors (this is also the reason why its arms are shorter than its hind legs) in search of guano. The crystalglare then uses its long raspy tongue to lick the poop up.

The characteristic glowing "crystals" on its back are actualy used for mating. An interesting chemical reaction caused by salty water dripping from the ceiling, a chemical produced by a special organ and the guano diet causes boney protrusions on its back to crystallize and grow thicker. This process emits large amounts of feromones that attracts the other sex. The blue glow of its crystals has no purpose as the crystalglares are a blind species. The glow is concidered to be merely a side effect of the crystallisation.

The teeth and claws grow larger during mating season for fighting and actualy hinder the crystalglare to eat properly. The teeth break off after the mating season.

It is assumed the crystalglare lays its eggs in the water inside cracks of the cavern walls though no proof has been found to back this up.

[zimfin]

CLOSE TO REJECTION
Reason: The creature is rather flat, especially the body itself. Also, the monochromatic green makes the background stand out more than the creature itself almost.

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee272/zimfin/cow129_zimfin.jpg

Artist: zimfin

Concept: Translucere Lacertus Bestia
The "Translucere Lacertus Bestia", (Translucent Lizard Beast) found in the Colony World Caves seems to have the ability to absorb light as an extra form of nourishment. It can not survive outside in full light though as this has a damaging effect on its cell structure leading eventually to death. It can mostly be found near enough to a cave entrance to absorb light whilst still been able to use its lure (glowing tongue tip) to attract prey. If the poison in its saliva does not suffice, it has a hardened, spiked tail which it can use to devastating effect.

These creatures will attack any animal, large or small, including humans. They are particularly aggressive during their mating season when the females are protecting their eggs in the small pools found in the depths of the caves. When fully grown, they can reach lengths of up to One and a half Meters whilst still being incredibly nimble and powerful enough to hang upside-down from the top of caves to hunt. Whilst the feet aid this hanging by use of suction cups on the digit ends, the weight is mostly held by the series of small gripping claws found along the length of its body.
They are mostly blind and so rely on their superb hearing and sensitivity to vibration particularly through the feelers around their mouths.

[IVIATT]

Artist: IVIATT

Concept: Nex Superne
Much like a geko, these creatures use powerful suction pads to stick to cave walls or ceilings. While inverted, the "Nex" produces a luminous strand of spittle which it dangles above the cave floor in attempt to lure prey. Such prey mostly includes large, bulbous worms or grubs. As soon as one of these grubs has taken the nex's bait, it is speared by one of it's 4 elongated limbs.

Whether or not the Nex Superne truely 'sees' is up to debate. One theory is that it has a sort of ultra-fine-tuned heat detection ability. In this way it is much akin to thermal vision. The heat of its prey contrasts against the cold surfaces of the cave in a way which makes hunting all the more effective for the Nex.

[lord_regenschirm]

Artist: lord_regenschirm

Concept: Sgrag

The Sgrag can't be put into any of our known categories for it unites characteristics of completely different species. While it's body looks mostly like the one of a caterpillar, his head resembles this of a rodent.
Sgrags gather in the immidiate range of cracks in their caves ceiling through witch they are able to take sunbaths for a short time period of the day. The low energy expenditure of these animals makes it possible for them to live and hunt with just a few sunrays collected. This advantage claims compensation in the Sgrag's slow locomotion, which makes him dependent on stationary food sources, such as plants (especially mosses) or cadavers.

[SOUTHERN]

http://www.southerngfx.co.uk/uploads2009/img003.jpg

Artist: SOUTHERN

Concept: Erignoscious Flamertera - Perminion Flightless Bat

The largest of the Erignotids (wrongly called the Flightless Bat), this creature is not related to the Chiroptera order at all. Evolving in isolated cave systems in Southern Brazil, these rare and dangerous animals were only discovered in the late 1950's by the late Prof. Steven Jameson and his world renowned team. The Flamertera has vestigal wings but spends its entire life on the floor of the large cave systems it inhabits. It uses the luminous fungi found in that region to lure small mammals and reptiles to within a few meters then strikes with lightning speed and agility. Although the creature is less than 1.2 meters in length it has a fearsome reputation and will guard it's Cave area against all intruders. It has no natural enemies and carries numerous diseases including rabies, a rare type of necrosis and saliva that has the ability to paralize most large mammals in seconds. It was a bite from a Flamertera that left Prof. James wheel chair bound for the last 10 years of his life.

[darkly]

http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/5992/cavedweller4flatvw7.jpg

Artist: natedogler

Concept: Malgopheroctus: mouth surprise

Dwelling deep in the caverns of South America the amphibious,Malgopheroctus goes about its normal day in search of food along the cave floors and waterways. It is not a picky eater and will feed on just about anything. The usual way the Malgopheractus finds sustenance is also how it got it's name "mouth surprise". It will float amongst the bio luminescent brine shrimp and use its anglers to lure pray close enough so that it can shoot out its inner mouth (which is both tongue and partial stomach). Once prey is caught it is then pulled into the mouth where it is held freely allowing the inner mouth to devour. The Malgopheractus has been known to pull this trick on land as well with insects and small mammals in search of yummy glow worms.

[CyberMonkeytron3000]

http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/7761/cavedwellerkm2.jpg

Artist: CyberMonkeytron3000

Concept: Strallatrites

With the male forever clinging to the ceiling and the female always on the cave floor- both blind and deaf- strallatrites seem destined to never met in the darkness of deep underground.
However with a strong sense of smell, the female is able to locate the male through a strong smelling liquid that he produces.

The female uses her claws and body suckers to move over the rocks. Moving at a only millimeters a day, the slow moving female positions herself under the stream. Then, by swelling the air sacks along the length of her body to increase her length, she expands up towards the male. By doing this she can grow up to 4 to 5 times her normal length. This act can take up to 50-100 years. Often the strallatrites themselves can get covered in florescent mosses and fungi which feed off of the males 'love goo'. Once connected the 'coupling' results in the two becoming interlocked forever.

[MichaelNoel]

REJECTED - NOT IN THE POLL
Reason: Failed quality check (sloppy/rushed/unfinished artwork and/or insufficient artistic quality)

Artist: Michael Noel

Concept: Gangrel

Evolution has slowed to a halt within the deepest parts of the world, and the bridge between the raptors of today and long ago is found in the Gangrel.
Now adapted to the life of hunting small insects and baby bats found within dark, damp places, they have been known to attack larger prey if food is in short supply. They have never grown functional wings, and are instead built for running quickly through the cavern floors. They are able swimmers if need-be, and attracted to light sources of any kind.

Although small- the size of a chicken- Gangrels are exceedingly vicious, and with a beak similar to a bird of prey, fairly dangerous to the unsuspecting traveler. Hunting in small flocks, they will attack anything that disturbs the silence of the cave, or threatens their eggs.

[CristinaMcAllister]

Hi folks, I’m fairly new around these parts and this is my first COW entry. I’m really enjoying seeing what everyone’s coming up with! Here’s mine:

Artist: CristinaMcAllister

Concept: Cave-Snapper
This subterranean predator has no eyes, relying on its extremely sensitive feelers and the pressure and vibration-receptive organs along its sides to navigate its way through the darkness. The name refers to the snapping sound created by the lighting-quick motion of the raptorial forelegs as it snatches its prey. Fleshy feelers around the mouth serve as both sensing and manipulating organs. It is protected by a hard, segmented carapace and if threatened, it will raise its spiky tail (non-venomous) to strike in defense.

[Hopsy]

CLOSE TO REJECTION
Reason: Borders on sloppy, even considering the cartoony approach. It lacks definition in some parts.

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s118/Hopsypeti/cave_dweller_hopsy_1024_final.jpg

Artist: Hopsy

Concept: 16 Eyed Cave Dweller
It is a cave-dweller with 16 eyes. Its eyes are used for orientating int the dark circumstances int he caves. It eates everything: worms, centipedas etc., which lures to itself with help of its luminous tonguoe.

It scrambels easy in the deep, hard, dark underwold channels with it special legs.
Generaly you can find it in caves.

[Mr--Jack]

Artist: Mr--Jack

Concept: Blind Cave-shark


While not at all related to sharks or fish (and being almost entirely land-dwelling), the frightening display of teeth and pointed snout give this little-known creature its common name.
About a meter long at full stretch, its main prey are bats; it creates very low sounds with specialised organs on its back, which it then uses to create sonar images, having a highly intricate bone structure to pick up the returning sounds. When it hears a bat close enough it launches itself upwards with its powerful front legs and hits the bat with the specialised 'club' of bone on its lower jaw. A combination of long teeth and a dislocatable jaw ensures it catches the stunned bat as it falls from the air. The protruding lower jaw also protects its somewhat delicate teeth from breaking against rocks, since they lie flat against it while the mouth is closed.
Little else is known about the creature, and it either exhibits no sexual dimorphism or the few specimens seen have all been of one sex.

[Piru]

http://www.piru.be/images/piru-cow129_cave-dweller.jpg

Artist: Piru

Concept: Schupsmoel


The Schupsmoel is a little, cowardly, green critter with strong back feet and large eyes. He likes to see: other little critters, mushrooms or fish in little subterranean lakes. He likes to eat, piercing his preys while hunting.

He dislikes big critters who hunt him. That's why he's quite fast, with those big feet of him.

[Tommoy]

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t19/Tommoy/CaveDwellerD.jpg

Artist: Tommoy

Concept: Moen
Little critter found in the Moencaves by Ekiaam, a famous biologist from the planet Lucas.

[scorge]

Artist: Scorge

Concept: BlackSonicus
Descendant of the Vampire Bat, this small colorless being inhabits the caves of Venezuela's rain forest feeding on the moths and other creatures that frequent the dark recesses of the earth. Captured here with a night vision camera by a lucky spelunker, we see this amazing and sometimes frightening creature( at only 35cm tall), lunging for its prey in the dark.

[eraserfoot]

http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/8899/cave08copyvx7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Artist: eraserfoot

Concept: Cave Dweller
Cave Dwellers live mainly in caves. Sometime known to frequent caverns.

http://eraserfoot.blogspot.com/

[Tessilago]

http://www.thereselarsson.se/cave_orchid.jpg

Artist: tessilago

Concept: Cave Orchid
The Cave Orchid is a mysterious creature. It is big as a large dog. Height at the wither is 60 cm to 65 cm and it weighs between 30 kg to 40 kg. It is fairly friendly creature, albeit rather unattractive. It is called Cave Orchid due to it's abnormally large ears which resemble the petals of an orchid, which is uses to listen carefully for prey in the dark, hollow caves. It is an omnivore, and feeds primarily on cave fish, bats and bat droppings but also licking fungi off the rocky walls.

Apart from its large ears, it also uses its sensitive, elongated fingers to probe small cavities for hiding prey. Its snout is also highly developed and used to sniff for droppings or fungi. The plates on its back and the thicker skin on the knees are developed from constant digging and crawling through cramped cave spaces. The long, prehensile tail also helps with climbing and balance. The sharp claws prove a good defense, but mostly they are used for latching onto walls and digging.

[Einen]

http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/1562/cavedwellercowiw5.jpg

Artist: Einen

Concept: Omphalaargh

These creatures inhabit the deepest corners of subterranean caverns. They generally have a relatively poor night vision ability, but cleverly adapted by forming a symbiosis with luminous types of fungus to guide them through the darkness. Omphalaargs typically prey on unexpecting blind creatures, but also on the occasional spelunker.
"Because it's always nice with a change in diet?" someone once asked an Omphalaargh. It responded by eating him, so I suppose we could take that as a yes.

[Capella]

REJECTED - NOT IN THE POLL
Reason: Failed quality check (sloppy/rushed/unfinished artwork and/or insufficient artistic quality)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v126/kalseth/art/cow129_capella.jpg

Artist: Capella

Concept: The Rose

This female arachnid, which gained the ironic knickname "the rose" from the first cave divers of the planet Poslannia IV, is anything but fragrant. In fact, expression like "vile stench" would be more appropriate to describe the smell that this creature emanates. The smell, however attracts the males, and the worse the stench - the more attractive and fertile this creature appears to the males.
The body of this arachnid is covered with tube-like cilia, that are always on the movie, searching the ground for small insects and reptiles that share the vast, continent-spanning underground system of caves. The Rose has a wide, brightly-colored satellite-shaped bony formation on it's head, which serves the creature as an ultra-sensitive hearing organ. It can hear, and identify the direction with an astonishing precision, apparently even despite the echos in the cave.
Despite the fearsome appearance, the creature is not aggressive, and mainly uses it's front scythe-like pincers to dig it's way through the rock or defend itself against predators. It feeds on smaller insects, which are scooped up off the floor by it's cilia and absorbed little-by-little directly into it's body.

[Anthis]

http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb12/Anthis_/finals/cavecreaturefinal.jpg
Artist: Anthis

Concept: Cave Dweller

Living in damp caves, this harmless this creature feeds on various fungi and bacteria. Sensitive antennae are used for underground movement and food location. Food is gnawed or licked off the rocky walls.

[abyssopus]

http://www.abyssopus.com/RSCS/COW129_abyssopus.jpg

Artist: abyssopus

Concept: Cylindraspis Atiumae

(The following COW is based in the world of Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson (http://www.brandonsanderson.com). The creature concept is entirely my own, but the environment is taken from his work.)

Commonly known as Pit Sloths, these rare, solitary creatures inhabit the Pits of Hathsin, an expansive chain of fissures leading down to unknown depths, found in the northern part of the Central Dominance. Though apt climbers, they move exceedingly slow. Due to this lethargy, they use their "tongues" (actually a modified section of intestinal tract which they invert upon regurgitation) to probe the endless cliff faces in search of sustenance. This is found primarily in the form of the extremely hard-armored variety of insects indigenous to the area, but these creatures are also known to enjoy the delicacy of the much rarer Atium crystals found within the pits. It is the same Allomantic properties, known to Mistborn, that the crystals propagate that is believed to supply the energy that fuels the sloths' bioluminescent "crown." Though both sexes have the "goggles" which are presumably used to improve short range vision (1 meter or less), the males possess more elaborate crowns that likely serve in luring mates. The growing scarcity of Atium crystals, as a result of the mining of the geodes they produce by skaa criminals sentenced to the pits, has lead to the increasing propensity of sloths to feed on the rotting corpses of said skaa who inevitably therein die. It is for this feeding habit that the skaa imprisoned at the pits have come to call them the Hathsin Undertakers.

[BlkCelebration]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v141/depecheboy/cavedweller_final.jpg
Artist: BlkCelebration
Concept: Itamar
The Itamar dwells in the caves of South America. It is a close relative to the gorilla. The growths on their heads serve as a method of sensing what lurks in the caves. They rely on this to search for bugs or dead bats on which they feed.

[Muz]

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e305/muzzoid/newcowfin.jpg

Artist: Muzzoid

Concept: Aquilus Bug

The Aquilus bug is a large scavenger hunter that lives in deep cave systems. It can grow to sizes 10 cm, and in rare cases it can be seen as big as 15 cm long.

It is believed that the Aquilus bug has evolved from an early crustacean creature. It still retains a tail and back legs suitable for swimming in cave waters, Though it can only remain underwater for short periods.
The bug is completely blind, and finds its way around using a form of primitive ultrasound, and it can locate its prey which usually consists of other smaller insects, with its sensitive antenna used to detect air vibrations.

[JakkaS]

Artist: JakkaS

Concept: Andaafa
The Andaafas dwells in the caves of Marufat. These territorial creatures hunt for fishes and small invertebrates. When they dive they fill their "neck-sacks" with air, which helps them stay in ambush much longer under the water surface. They lure their prey with blue, green or violet fluorescent light....

[Sturnus]

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa297/sturnus/COW-129.jpg

Artist: Sturnus

Concept: Northern blindfish

These strange species of fish where discovered in the late seventies, they live in lakes found in underground caves.These fish have no eyes because they spend their entire lifes in complete darkness. It's believed that the Northern blindfish has evolved from lizards who lived in these caves before they where floded.

[loztvampir3]

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii250/loztvampir3/cavedweller-2.jpg

Artist:Loztvampir3

Concept: Arachnid Mamaw

This scary cave dweller can be found in the deep rocky moutain of Samar.Truly believe it was the last of its carnivorous species.

[yoitisi]

I've set up the poll in the same manner as Fozzy does, so there should be no surprises here. Only a few who didn't make it to poll this time.

Rejected entries: Control01, MichaelNoel, Capella (reasons are found in your post).

Close to rejection: zimfin, Hopsy (same here, reasons are found in your post).

If there are any questions don't hesitate to PM me. Next round will be up soon :)

[HareTrinity]

My vote to Bralt Hannicart.

Original and looks fast, plus I'm a sucker for lots of teeth and no eyes.

I normally do a big summary, but too tired right now. Maybe tomorrow.

Quite a bit of nice stuff here, but not as many entries as I thought there would be for this title... Still, ChOW keeps having cool creature-based characters, so maybe that's why.

[Tyrus]

It was close between SOUTHERN and scorge, but I chose scorge.

[lord_regenschirm]

My Vote goes to Tessilago, this nude dog-orchid design somehow hooked me ... no real explanation for my decision, there were many favourites, but ... I kinda like orchids :D

Bralt Hannicart: To put this first, I think you've got a very solid technique and style! But this creature looks somehow unbalanced to me as if you mixed up some random ideas (which are nervertheless great in each case) into one design ... Just my opinion, let the people decide :)

Zimfin: This one really flashed me 8) Props to your transluscent-skin-effect this one works out pretty well! The lightsource could have been something else but green to higher the contrast between creature and periphery though it looks cool like it is :wink: The only real critique is to the creatue-design itself which seems to have some anatomical issues (this poor guy seems to hurt himself just to fit into the canvas :O)

IVIAT: Thats one creepy mofo >:D Don't wanna have this one above my head ... and this poor prey-worm is just hilarious :D Just sad to see no real background ...

Southern: Very cool design though you could have pushed it a bit more into the vampire-bat-direction which obviously depicts your main influence. No real critique, just my opinion ... Very well done, what else can I say ... :wink:

Natedogler: Damn dude your thumbs really kicked ass! Why didn't you finished it and did a coloration which would have done justice to this great spadework :[ I mean this just looks like you were fed up with it before you even started ...

CyberMonkeytron3000: Haha ... this looks veeery naughty :D Great idea and great design though a bit too freaky maybe ... or too ingenious :wink:

CristinaMcAllister: Nice design though the integration into the environment somehow failed a bit.

Hopsy: I guess Yoitsy said everything I would mention too in his justification. But I really like the gloomy feeling of the reddish tones you used. Somehow makes me feel good ... :teeth:

Mr--Jack: Obviously the bad guy among all the entries >:D Kickass technique as always ... I already said what I think about your work in your sketchbook :teeth:

Piru: This guy seems to be planless about whether he should act cute or be the badass his teeth somehow designate him to be :D ...

Tommoy: One of the most interesting entries in here. But maybe thats also the critique in itself; you seem to have no key to it's intention, there is no real character to be interpreted. Nevertheless pretty well rendered!

Scorge : Aaaha ... "Night-vision" you said ... Very smart alternative to a proper colorization ... :wink: No, seriously, great job on that one, very cool character (would fit into the story of "Pan's Labyrinth" imo), well rendered and nicely exposed.

Eraserfoot: "Cave Dwellers live mainly in caves. Sometime known to frequent caverns." ... Haha ... no way ... Do they?! :D That's a nice colorful blob you invented there ... :wink:

Einen: Muhaha ... Just great!

Anthis: Ma man Anthis! One of the last real mousepainters (which I once was too ... but these Wacoms kick ass :teeth:) props, props, props you really do and did a great job!

Abyssopus: The cave-sloth-orang-utan :D Cool idea though you could have done a bit more in terms of rendering ...

BlkCelebration: I regret your decision to let the head be the dominating part of the creatures body for it's undifferentiated appearance gives no real clue about the design as a whole.

Muzzoid: Hmm ... Hard to say something constructive about this one as well as to find a good point of critique ... Solid technique I guess though you could have pushed the rendering a bit more for this bug is not the most complex object of interest.

Jakkas : This is not fair :x ... It was a week of happieness and confidence in the own work until you arrived in the very last minutes of this competition ... So please take your awesome skills and go play somewehere else :D

Sturnus: Very nice effect, cool idea for a cave dweller! One of the most realistic entries :)

Loztvampir3: Haha ... What happened to this brave little cave explorer in front of your big bad walking root? I really assume the worst ... :D

... 1:20 am ... I'll better go to bed now ... Cheers!

[SirJohanna]

Voting Tessilago, there are plenty of other great entries but that particular critter really stood out to me. Tommoy's and Jakkas' entries are really great as well. :D

[Michael Jaecks]

I voted for Jakkas. In addition to the fact that the painting is just plain gorgeous, the thing I like about the design is that the feet resemble human hands, while the rest of the creature is so freakishly far from appearing human or ape-like... it really makes this critter all the creepier, I like the fact that its at once colorful and also pale and clammy looking... like its never seen the sun. It's almost Gollum-esque despite the fact it looks like it comes from another planet.

[aberrant85]

I was under the impression that the deadline was Sunday, but oh well, it was a last minute decision to compete in this round anyway. If anyone cares, this was what I was going to submit. I voted for Jakkas; it seemed to be the best combination of concept and execution.

http://nathanheigert.com/images/0_fullsize/eow_speluncodon.jpg

[Capella]

This was a hard choice.
CyberMonkeytron3000 was my favorite though, I really like the sharpness and clarity, and the colors. The concept was awesome!

JakkaS - as always - amazing, I really like the texturing.
I also liked lord_regenschirm's creature - really great work, love the smooth shapes.
IVIATT's creature was actually almost my vote - I though it was just a cool, creepy and really elegant design.

Awesome entries, That was a fun COW.

[Angel Intheuk]

Aw man! so many gorgeous pics...

My vote goes to CyberMonkeytron3000 - lovely sharp contrast and colours and the concept appealed to my inner romantic and made me go aaaaaw!

Close call for...
Jakkas: Are you Rembrandt reincarnated? Absolutely stunning lighting, rendering, composition...everything
Einan: my 3rd favourite, lovely
Bralt Hannicart[B]: Gorgeous detail and I really like the concept I could just imagine the little critter going about it's day.
[B]Iviatt: Really like the simple composition really draws you in and feels clostrophic, adds to the tension. p.s definitely reminds me of a facehugger from aliens.
Southern: I like your use of colour and lighting very much
Scorge: I like the sense of movement you have in yours and the monochromatic style
Lord Regenshirm: Gorgeous sense of depth and lovely shadow rendering

[IVIATT]

I went for CyberMonkeyTron because his concept was much more original and wasn't based on quadriped anatomy. I generally see alot of "that" and it's nice to get something totally refreshing like Monkeytron's. Plus the color scheme is dead on and makes the creature a convincing part of it's environment. In other words you couldn't go and say, "well there's no reason why that creature couldn't just live on rocks outside the cave." It correlates to a specific 'enclosed' setting. Nice, well thought out concept.

Anthis' turned out nice too for the same reasons. Cool, atypical anatomy, but it kind of falls off at the legs. They work, but aren't as strong as the upper half. I'd love to see your next concept in color.

[CristinaMcAllister]

Wow, tough choice! A few comments:

Scorge - love the "night vision" view idea.
Einen - love the luminous fungi encrustations. I think I liked this one best for pure visual appeal.
But my vote has to go to CyberMonkey3000 - such an original concept, its beautifully rendered and you used the phrase: "love goo" in the description.
How can I resist?
:)

[scorge]

Einen was the one for me.
Jakkas: You really know how to swoop in don't ya?:wink: Nice to see you doing some COW again. Looks finished to me. And awesome of course.
Cybermonkeytron: Great style and technique along with a compelling concept. Nicely done!

[OTTA]

I vote for BRAT Good Job! I like your design and render.

The Others which I like are;

Scorge - You nearly get my vote, I like your Character and your night vision
JAKKAS - I've been realy love your works and this one is very awesome, But I want you to be here again so I didn't vote for you. Get my Vote next time man (Ha Ha)
Cybermonketron - Good Design I like that.
Einen - Your character is similar to my imagination, But Yours is better, I love that.

[Ayem]

My favourite out of these entries was CyberMonkeytron3000's. It's a concept that's totally unique to caves, and makes nice use of stalactites and stalagmites.
Other concepts I liked:
Mr--Jack - It's something dark and scary that I'd totally expect (but hate) to bump into in a cave. Nice design, too!
JakkaS - It's got a really nice design with all those sacks. I kinda want to poke him. They're a really good idea. Lovely rendering skills too!

[AmandaMyers]

I voted for Sturnus. His, at least to me, was extremely well done and the most believable.

[BlkCelebration]

I voted for JakkaS. It's great seeing that your creatures continue to consistently shine with polish and creativity. Looks like it spotted who ever was looking at it.

Mr--Jack and Einen where a close second for me, great concepts.