C.O.W. - #035: Creature that grows its own food source

[Fozzybar]

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/images/cow/cow.jpg


Round #035

Topic:
Creature That Grows Its Own Food Source

Deadline:
Monday, 23rd January 2006




- for any questions or help go here:
http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=37512

note: The deadline won't be EXACTLY after a week...it can last up to 24 hours more, i am human and have to work also, you know ;)

Post your creature for this week!

[Fozzybar]

thanx to Idiot_Apathy for the topic idea!

[shadoman]

There are going to be a lot of shit eaters here me thinks.

[Jonoy]

-Shadoman :: Snort!:: heh ha!
I've been waiting for the last 2hrs for the next topic to be posted, I have to say this is fun- the C.O.W weekly bit...
Time to get to it and improve over my last weeks effort.

[Carnifex]

tricky.

[Banned_User]

yea, I agree "tricky" yet will be a lot of fun figuring this one out :)

[Fozzybar]

hey, shadoman where were you man?

[silentkitty]

Hmm, this one will require some thought. ;)

[Fozzybar]

...and food...

[possessed]

I've been absent far too long, I wanna join in again. I take it, the animal, can either be a farmer type creature (like the ants that grow their own moulds) or a creature that has it's food growing out of it's body?

[noche]

LOL shadoman so true
however, i might have time for this

[redehlert]

sweet. this ought to be a funny!

[S.C. Watson]

There's actually a species of jellyfish that grows it's own food on it's back - a type of algea, if I recall corectly...

[Sapphire]

I think this is one I'm going to take a shot at, it's been too long!

[thejung]

im being completely honest and not silly, but the title says a creature that grows its own food source, im assuming you mean from its body, correct? or can it be like a gardening newt, etc?

[Jonoy]

Open to interpretation I'd say. Lets you use your imagination.
I'm going for a ficus aurea (strangler fig) type symbiosis, though with a faster moving metabolism so that the plant-like creature can move around the earth that its host lives in so as to cultivate/feed it...

[Banned_User]

im being completely honest and not silly, but the title says a creature that grows its own food source, im assuming you mean from its body, correct? or can it be like a gardening newt, etc?

Think of something that wouldn't be considered a character, a newt gardening would be a character, a newt that has plants growing off its back is a creature, a newt with pants and a pitch fork is a character...

[Bennett]

Here's my initial stab at this weeks concept

EDIT: couldn't finish.... have to pull out

[pr0ph3t]

wasn't there already a shiteater week? this is an interesting topic, im thinking maybe a swarm species that eats itself but multiplies so fast that it grows. oh ya and it functions as a collective... or does that not sound good?

[Ernie82]

It might be interesting for you what I have heard today in biology-lectures (sorry for my English):
There are crustaceans who feed by filtering the water for small algae. When they grow they become too big to eat the small algae. So then they produce some offspring that eats the algae. And when the offspring is fulled up they get eaten by their mother.:$
I think in some way this fits to the topic.
I would love to take part in this competition, but I had to give back my lend wacom-tablet.:sadcheerleader:

[redehlert]

nice beginnings there bennett!
good info ernie82 - there ya go givin' away secrets.... ;) .... kidding! sharing is caring!
cheers!
d

[Idiot Apathy]

Ah, hmm; didn't think you'd take the topic suggestion so literally. It was more of a suggestion for suggestions. It works though, too bad about the shit-eater though, hadn't thought about that.

When I suggested the topic I was thinking more about designing the creature around it's enviroment instead of simply the creature itself.

Maybe like how plants create food with sunlight. Where does this creature live, why can't it eat other plants or animals? Maybe it doesn't even have a mouth; teeth or stomach? So what then replaces this functional element? Is it's process for creating food all internal or does it have to process it's food and then ingest it again? Perhaps like cows?

So, does the creature create it's food via sunlight? Does it ingest certain minerals or chemicals in order to create nourishment? Is it a parasitical/symbotic creature?

I dunno, just thought a topic with a little more thought behind the why instead of the aesthetics alone would be nice, thanks for picking it.

[Simonl]

Fungus Sloth
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v429/SimonPrime/FungusSloth.jpg

Damn, didn't get time to finish this one.

[redehlert]

When God created the Ouroborosite to clean up the debris of time and space, He had no idea that the harmless creatures would rather eat everything in their paths. God's solution—the Ouroborosite would complete the circle and devour itself, for infinity (∞). The pain of hunger and ingestion is unbearable, but God, being cruel and just, gave the Ouroborosite arms to squeeze its tail good and tight, thereby robbing it of feeling while it force feeds in hopes of sating the undeniable hunger.

http://www.cognitionstudio.com/conceptart/redlrt_cow35r1.jpg

Happy trails,
d

[mybutterflyiris]

Edit:
New concept wip... I don't know if I can finish this in time. ...meh
Salorvian Walking Tree: A creature that uses photosythesis to create fruit which feeds it.
This is a close up... progress is slow...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/mightyevilbunny/cow352wip.jpg

[Fozzybar]

im being completely honest and not silly, but the title says a creature that grows its own food source, im assuming you mean from its body, correct? or can it be like a gardening newt, etc?

It doesn't need to be applied to the creatures body...i think some ideas and entries are well showing how the topic is meant...

[noche]

Awww, redlheret, i LOVE the way you draw eyes on creatures! they look so cute and innocent! those eyes is what got you my vote on that xmas freak lol

[redehlert]

why thank you, noche! just call me 'red'....it'll be easier on ya next time with the spellin'. my last name 'ehlert' is a funny one. :)
appreciate the comment!
d

[Fozzybar]

haha, yeah....running gag...:D

[redehlert]

you tickle me in my special place, foz. :)

[noche]

the return of the submarine mouse-serpent! lol just kiddng
nice colors on the body man

[Plate]

Edit: This is my finalized entry. But it's still open to crits and comments, of course.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c27/Plate11/contest%20entries/cactopusfinal.jpg

The Cactopus

Sometimes referred to as “the taxonomist’s nightmare,” the cactopus is remarkable in that it is the only sentient organism known to utilize photosynthesis. Its physiology is a seamless blend of plant and animal cell structures - it has a fully developed nervous system but no digestive tract; keen eyesight and an impressive capacity for learning, yet it reproduces through pollenation. As such, its evolutionary origins have baffled biologists for centuries. Cactopi thrive in even the harshest deserts of Astronia, where they spend much of their lives half-buried and anchored into the sand in a dormant state, living off the sun’s rays and what little moisture they can absorb from the desert air. In this state they are practically indistinguishable from the numerous barrel cacti that are common to the areas they inhabit. They typically move only when their immediate area becomes too cloudy or dry, but have also been known to deliver a surprisingly vicious attack when disturbed. At a glance, the cactopus may appear to be a direct descendent of the octopus, but despite the uncanny anatomical similarities to the ocean-dwelling cephalopod from which it draws its name, no ancestral connection has yet been found; it is possible that the resemblance is merely an astounding coincidence.

Some ancient legends tell of a creature known as the Kraktus, a gargantuan cactopus that, according to myth, could wipe out a whole caravan with the swipe of a tentacle. However, archeaologists have yet to find any reliable evidence that such a monster does or ever did exist.

[brokk]

Hehe, thats a cool idea Plate!

[Banned_User]

http://sketchforums.com/uploads/post-11-1137645895.jpg

Canooot ( Ka ' Newt )
The Canooot is an amphibian approximately 20 inches in length with the tail included. They live in small ponds and swamps usually where underwater vegetation is available such as seaweeds wet leaves and other similar food sources. The Canooot has air filled sacs that it uses in order to store food which can be used when it moves to a new location and food may be scarce. While the food builds up in the sacs it begins to break down and special nutrients are filtered out so that the less useful portions of the vegetation can be discarded so that more room may be made available to the necessary elements. These air sacs are connected to large tube-like pores that protrude from the back and when the Canooot feels that its stock is completely necessary it will produce small portions encased in bubbles which it then swallows.
Spending most of its time on the bottom of the ponds, the Canooot has adapted its body to blend with its surroundings by mimicking weed and vegetations and burying half of its body. They are extremely quick using their 6 webbed limbs and large flat tail to thrust its body through the water.

[redehlert]

hey mikec! you're changing your style - been more noticeable as of late and i for one love it!
and plate - very creative idear there! i dig that.
cheers,
d

[hwango]

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c291/hwango/COW35_wes_jones_600a.jpg

The Decay Flute subsists on insects, but with its awkward, slow moving body, it has developed a revolting way of obtaining them. The Decay Flute emits the scent of decaying meat from its six feeding orifices, which attracts various carrion-eating animals. When one of these scavengers gets too close, the Decay Flute aims one of its lower bulbs at the creature and launches a long spine coated in a quick-acting paralyzing toxin. The Flute then enters a semi-dormant stage while it regrows a new spine. Meanwhile, flies land on the carcass of the scavenger and begin to multiply. By the time the Flute reawakens, the new crop of flies is ready to be harvested, and the Flute snatches them from the carcass and the air with its eighteen whiplike extensile tongues.

I missed that the deadline was actually Monday, so I spent a couple of minutes neatening up some details on the corpse in the background. I'm done tweaking now, though.

[Jonoy]

Caelaenia ecelestia
The caelaenia is an asexual breeder capable of producing up to 80 offspring though their menstration cycle can take up to 70 earth years to complete due to its very slow metabolic rate.
The caelaenia tend to live in desolate and uninhabited places far from preditation where it can sit and contemplate its intrinsically solitary nature, both in mind and body. It cannot breed with another to increase its gene pool, it cannot eat that which it destroys and it cannot escape the fact that in the end it must feed and the only thing that feeds its body and soul is its own hate-made cancer.
This hateful thinking leads to an imbalance and build up of chemicals within the abdomen of the caelaenia which are highly mutatious and cause a cancerous growth to form within the abdomen that, once large enough, the caelaenia begins to feed on and prune into a sustainable growth. This pruning limits the metastasis, dysplasia and hyperplasia to the abdomen and several extended pseudopoian tentacles that act as gills for the cancerous growth which allows it to take in nutrients that feed the tumor and extend its growth.
The caelaenia then begins its main feeding pattern upon the excess cell growth that forms over time within the descented, bulging mass of it's abdomen. Not a happy life but then again if it were happy it would soon die of starvation.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a134/jonoy/Hatespidercopy.jpg

[Fozzybar]

hwango
hmmm, actually your concept isn't about a creature which grows food...it's more like the creature uses lures to attract its prey...

mybutterflyiris
what exactly is your creature feeding on? The saliva it produces?

Bennett
nice concept and WIP, but watch the back legs' thumbs they seem to be positioned on different places...

[mybutterflyiris]

mybutterflyiris
what exactly is your creature feeding on? The saliva it produces?

Well, umm... not exactly. The saliva is "planted" in the ground and grows into something completely different.
Anyways, I think I am going with something completely different so it's kind of a mute point anyways. ...i think.

[Bennett]

Bennett
nice concept and WIP, but watch the back legs' thumbs they seem to be positioned on different places...

FOz: Thanks, and I know, the "hands" are f*cked, anticipated fixing that digitally. And like mybutterflyiris, I'm probably going a completely different route anyways.

[Phaytfool]

hwango:

Although your creature isn't necessarily "growing" it's own food source, I still think that the concept of this creature is very original! If you are forced to oblige to the ruleset, maybe alter its harvesting to it's own skin... Maybe the flies deposit thier eggs into the creature it's self due to it's "decaying nature" Just a suggestion, hope it turns out they way you like it, regardless of the rules, sweet concept and visually well displayed.

mike

Awesome idea! I'm a sucker for amphibians! I agree with red that your style is developing smoothly. Although I may only pop in to comment periodically, I still observe/envy everyone's abilities here. Keep up the good work.

Bennett
Can't wait to see that thing digitally transform, killer idea!

[hwango]

hwango
hmmm, actually your concept isn't about a creature which grows food...it's more like the creature uses lures to attract its prey...

I guess I had envisioned it as a creature that didn't use a lure to attract prey, but instead used a lure to attract creatures to use as 'fertilizer,' perhaps. It doesn't eat the animals it attracts, it just uses them to grow the flies that it actually does eat. Still, you're the moderator and it's your call, so I won't make a big stink about your decision if you rule that it doesn't fit the theme.

I guess I'd like to know for sure before I finish the piece, though. I'll probably finish it either way, but at a lower priority if it won't be in the final voting even if it's done before Sunday. Thanks.

[brokk]

Cool topic

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c399/bksketchb/cow35finn.jpg
Slyavi Gardeners
Despite their feral appearance, these creatures are herbivores. Living on the grassy planes of the Slyavi world, they grow their own food source. They travel to the forest regions in search of the Dgan Seeds, and then plant their own little gardens back in their own grassy territories. Dgan Seeds are hard to find, and when not in season, there are very few of them. This leads to heavy competition between the Gardeners, as they will try to steal the seeds and plants from each other. The Slyavi Gardeners use their three, fully independantly mobile eyes to constantly keep custody of their crops from being stolen, or from the plants being eaten by other wild animals. Their claws are their natural weapon and when sighting another Gardener in their territory they are likely to attack each other and attempt to claw each other's eyes out.

EDIT: I updated the image, just some slight changes.

[JakkaS]

Broken....one of your BEST!

[Fozzybar]

hwango
no, it's ok, it will be taken to the poll...just wanted to point out...

[brokk]

...thanks! :bashful:

I'm still experimenting, I tried using different materials. I like the sketch (http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c399/bksketchb/cow35acsk.jpg) I of it in acrylic better.
The final version looks messy... I should try to clean it up more. And keep studying painting...

but thank you for your kind words :)

[redehlert]

woot! go broken!!! man i dig it (pun intended)....there's a part of me that wants to tell you to stop where it's at.
good job!
d

[JakkaS]

....there's a part of me that wants to tell you to stop where it's at.
good job!
d
Your not alone. I have same feeling. Maby stay where you are Broken.

[brokk]

red, thanks!

Are you guys sure I should leave it like it is? I'm not too convinced by it... I was thinking of cleaning up some of the more messy parts, on the background mostly, not much on the creature.

Crits are welcome also, but if you guys think this should be it, then I wont change it much, or wont change it all at.

[Fozzybar]

yes, br0ken...and maybe throw a green layer on it and set it to 20% color...

[brokk]

Ok, I cleaned up some really minor stuff, and added a green layer like Fozzy suggested, as a gradient because I didn't want to cover the brighter parts.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c399/bksketchb/cow35fin.jpg

EDIT: Hmm maybe I'll try to merge the two versions together... they don't look that much different I think.
EDIT2: Ok, I updated the original image. I know it may not look really different, but it sort of does to me. Maybe I'm crazy obssesive. Heh :P

Still open for crits.

[pr0ph3t]

The Caleocripix or as called by the natives of Gwanzora, the egg eater. Why? This species of insect are about 4 inches long at adulthood if they reach it. They are a very hostile species, towards eachother. All Caleocripix are hermaphroditic and are born ready to mate. Breeding occurs once in each insects lifetime and is in the first 10 hours after hatching. By 48 hours after hatching a Caleocripix will have anywhere from 100-800 fertilized eggs to lay. This is where it gets nasty. Once the eggs have increased enough in size the abdomen of the Caleocripix stretches and releases a scent which means dinner time for all other Caleocripix. Using the sharp saber like appendages they will attempt to kill eachother and eat the carcas and the eggs. However, usually 20% of the remaining Caleocripix manage to lay their eggs and so the species is always fluctuating in population size.

http://www.pr0ph3t.com/site/special/caleocripix.jpg

What do you think? this the WIP so far...

[Tully]

Navel Lint Gremlin
Hidden deep in the depths of every 6 year old's unkempt closet, there lives a creature known as the Navel Lint Gremlin. They are so called because their massive bellies, and equally massive belly-buttons, continually pick up stray fibres and hairs from all manner of crevice. These fibres are pushed deep inside the navel. They mix and grow, astonishingly, to provide the lint that is the food source for these odd little fellows.

Despite the occasional alarming run-in with the resident child or children, the Navel Lint Gremlin is harmless. They stand a mere 18-22 inches tall and prefer to remain hidden underneath the too-small sweaters and single socks from which they gather their unusual sustenance.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/tully/linteater.jpg

[redehlert]

hahahahahaha!!!
that's great tully!
d

[hwango]

hwango
no, it's ok, it will be taken to the poll...just wanted to point out...

Thanks. :^^: I'll try to reword my writeup to make it clearer that it's just attracting fodder for use raising its actual food.

[silentkitty]

This topic is harder than I thought, I've started and scrapped about five ideas so far, lol.

( I just realised this idea is pretty similar to Mike's, I apologise, it wasn't intentional. :sadcheerleader: )

Ok, this'll be final:

http://www.filelodge.com/files/hdd6/138318/Steps/foodsource5.jpg
Aiyani Newt - These strange little ocean dwellers spend most of their lives sitting on the ocean floor, nestled among coral reefs. Only eating once every six to seven months, they grow their only source of food within the stretchy layer of skin that lays over the animal's chest and belly. When it's time to feed, the animal opens the six little tubes on top of its back briefly, drawing in bacteria floating around in the water and storing them in the animal's belly skin flap. After absorbing a sufficient amount, the critter closes off the tubes and settles in to sleep. While in hibernation, chemicals are released into the area that the bacteria are being stored in, first multiplying them, then slowly breaking them down into a substance that it can eat. The result of this breaking-down process is an inflation of the creature's skin flap, which also begins to emit a white light when the chemical process is nearly complete. At this point, the creature awakens and harvests its new little crop by puncturing the skin (which heals quickly) and sucking out the food inside.

[hwango]

Okay, I think I've reached a final version, updated above. I sleep now.

[infinitemonkey]

Plate - Love it! I think the pricklies need some work though, they look more like hair.

[brokk]

red, great update, thats a really cool idea. Can't wait to see the finished version.

EDIT: Plate, the mountains in the background, try to give them harder edges instead of soft ones, the idea and design of your creature is great.

[Banned_User]

hey mikec! you're changing your style - been more noticeable as of late and i for one love it!


Thanks, I was actually goin back to a similar style I used to use, with traditional medium - Pen/ink and watercolor with colored pencils, I'm going to work out a batch of these little odd critters, maybe one each night when I get spare time and post them in the finished section.

Mike C -

[pr0ph3t]

The Caleocripix or as called by the natives of Gwanzora, the Kill Bug. Why? This species of insect are about 4 inches long at adulthood if they reach it. They are a very hostile species, towards eachother. All Caleocripix are hermaphroditic and are born ready to mate. Breeding occurs once in each insects lifetime and is in the first 10 hours after hatching. By 48 hours after hatching a Caleocripix will have anywhere from 100-800 fertilized eggs to lay. This is where it gets nasty. Once the eggs have increased enough in size the abdomen of the Caleocripix stretches and releases a scent which means dinner time for all other Caleocripix. Using the sharp saber like appendages they will attempt to kill eachother and eat the carcas and the eggs. However, usually 20% of the each generation of Caleocripix manage to lay their eggs and so even though the species is always fluctuating in population size, it has not yet gone extinct. In fact because of the large number of eggs that actually do survive, the population growth looked at on a large scale is steadily growing.

http://www.pr0ph3t.com/site/galleryart/gallery/color/caleocripix.jpg

Ok I am done... edited the description a bit.

[redehlert]

yo pr0ph3t - quick crit: i'd drop that background, bud....vibrating like mad and i'd rather have people enjoy your line work. it does however create an odd 3D effect... ;)
cheers!
d

[pr0ph3t]

ya, i didn't feel like putting an elaborate background with this one, and I sort of pulled this outta my ass, but after playing with the streaks a few times I realized they made it look like there was motion going on and the whole 3d thing. thenks for the crit though and i'll see whatelse I can come up with

[Plate]

Thanks to redehlert, broken spirit, and infinitemonkey for the crits and kind words. I'll certainly take them into consideration them when I'm finishing my entry, which I intend to do tomorrow.

Tully - great job, my favorite so far. I especially like the expression. It'd be great to see it with a background, though.

silentkitty - looks good so far, I really like the monochromatic values. Gives it a nice underwater mood.

redehlert - fun idea. I like how the position of the creature forms an infinite sign - intentional or not, it's quite clever and appropriate.

broken - nice! Again, I love the expression on this guy.

Great work all around, people.

[Chuck,mate.]

C.O.W. - #035: Animal that grows its own food source

i apologize for the poor quality of this one. i did it in about 40 minutes, and i`m too tired.
i didnt sleep for ages.
i`m up awake since wednesday, last week.
cant fall asleep, don`t know why. everything hurts like hell and i`m starting to imagine some shitty things..
i`m doing really bad at work.
who cares,
anyways, here goes:
http://img362.imageshack.us/img362/668/ownfood8cs.jpg

dancing bob.
the "dancing bob" will outlive us all.
heck, he poops his own little prey buddies,
what more could anyone need?.
most of the time he just sit and stare.
likes - spining around, blinking, and mayo.
hates - loud noises, water, and blue things.
motto for life -"never shit where you eat."
females never survive the winter.
males are fine with that.

[cognition.sb]

Trying to push myself. A few little things still bugging me so may still do some touchups before tomorrow. I've got a lot to say about this little guy but will try keep it brief.

Updated 23/1: Small things. defined the hooves a bit more... etc.
Edit 24/1: Changed hosting to photobucket.. Think my normal host is a bit slow.

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f107/cognitionsb/COW-eatsselfsb22jan06.jpg

Siamese Wilderbeast
Some say this creature has two faces, and with 4 eyes and 2 'mouths' you can see why. The lower portion of its face has a long chin snout, used mainly for feeding purposes, while a normally dormant mouth sits directly above it.
However, this isn't the only quirky feature of the animal, in fact it's far from it. The animal survives purely on a phosphorus based mucus excreted from its pores (mainly on the underbelly). In its natural habitat, phosphorus is rare, and so this beast needs to recycle its bodily fluids to stay alive. The actual feeding process occurs throughout the day, with the snout being used to collect this mucus and transfer it into the creature's mouth above.

Because of the local food source, the creature has no need to hunt, and is consequently situated quite low on the food chain. Conveniently, this animal is lightning fast, built like a rock, and armed with a concealed spine which can extend out from a skin flap mid-forehead. When combatting a predator, the creature attempts to ram it, forcing this spine deep into the opponent. While the spine can kill through impact, it also transfers a batch of the glowing mucus, which is extremely poisonous to most animals.

Unfortunately, the severe evolutionary downfall lies in this creature's defense mechanism. With each spinal assault a significant amount of mucus is lost, effectively shortening the amount available for survival. While this creature could physically live for hundreds of years, through general mucus wastage and use in defense, its average lifespan sits around the 70 year mark. As an adept combatant, the Siamese Wilderbeasts' most common cause of death is starvation.

[pvpham]

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d20/pvpham/2006/060123gardener.jpg

Gardener

They burrow shallow holes which allow them a safe refuge against predators. They use their long tongue to gather and crop leaves and other plants from its surrounding onto its back. This effectively provides them the ability to camouflage into the wilderness while also providing a midnight snack.

This lifestyle is perfect. They sleep, they eat. The only time they move from there burrows is when they decide it’s time for kids or at least practicing making kids. Even then for these lazy creatures that may occur once in months.

[JakkaS]

females never survive the winter.
males are fine with that.
I don’t know CHUCK… I think Fozzy can reject your creature. It sounds too HUMANOID or too human. Hehehe.

[Fozzybar]

Chuck,mate.
...love the canvas texture, simple but very effective...if you can't fall asleep, try watching tv while lying on the bed/couch, it's also simple but very effective ;)

[redehlert]

plate - thanks mate. yes, the ∞ sign is intentional. ;)
chuck,mate - dude...dive into my sb thread, go to the last page and see what i drew up friday night at the bar - looks as though you and i had a 'poof' fart thing on the brain. hahaha.
wonderful entries folks!!
d

[pr0ph3t]

hahaha chuck,mate! i love that ending, and that canvas texture with the oranges and stuff is really wonderful,

females never survive the winter
males are fine with that...

that should be published somewhere

[noche]

To all personnel of the station,

We've found an ancient specie of worm nesting on isolated asteroids that was thought to be extincted. After their environments ran out of food and every other living being died, the bigger worms took advantage of its gemmative reproduction habits, evolving into a self-fed creature by eating it's babies, that grow of their main head. They've been there for hundreds of years without being noticed.
Be warned that these creatures are still aware of outer lifeforms,
DO NOT attempt to remove one of them by yourself, or your crew.
Report it's location to Central Command.
This is not the chubby worms we met back on Planet 502. They've grown.

http://www.boomspeed.com/phander/pitworm.jpg

[redehlert]

minor wip change and tone update on page 2 for my entry. work and rework. ;)
cheers!
d

[madplanet]

Ok, here we go...

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a78/madplanet/cow35b.jpg

The Pod Popper Slugis a grotesque, flabby slug-like creature that is behemoth in size. Since this relatively serene monstrosity would destroy everything in its vicinity if it ate plants or animals, it relies on its own unique form of nourishment. Pods that grow internally eventually make their way to the surface and when mature ripe enough they "pop" out and fall down to the ground in the organic channels formed into the sides of the slug. Since this critter has no eyes, it relies on the antennae to locate the pods for feeding.

[cognition.sb]

Cool, red - nice rendering, very realistic.

Noche, I like the whole slimey thing you've got goin on.

[Azrael]

As finished as it's going to get. It's been a rough week.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a128/jmbcreative/cow35.jpg

The Gromlid commonly found deep in the jungles of South America sprouts it's young from the pours of it's belly which are also it's favorite food source.

[JakkaS]

minor wip change and tone update on page 2 for my entry. work and rework.

Definitely good update Red!. You are better in B&W then color, I think .This idea with ∞ sign……just great! Simple but very strong - “Never-ending source of food”? :D

[redehlert]

thanks jakkas!
hope my color version holds up to the grayscale. this is my final....text added. now on to ChOW 13....sheesh.
cheers!
d

[Chuck,mate.]

JAKASS - well....if it gets rejected it gets rejected. it`s all good. :)

FOZZ - wish i HAD a t.v. i have some movies and such on the computer, but everytime i try and let them run while i go to sleep - the computer crashes or get stuck and send all sorts of error msgs.

PR0PH3T - thanks man. it might just be published somewhere, since i write short stories and poems and i do
intend to publish some of my stuff one day.

REDEHLERT - i don`t really know what you were trying to say (brain fart and everything..) but your entry is the best in this round so far. great rendering and colors. kudos.
i would increase the contrast and details in the creature`s face so it becomes the center of focus.

thanks everyone.
:)

[Plate]

My entry is now finished and viewable on page one. I really put my best effort in this one, so I hope some people like it. Best of luck to everyone in the poll!

On an unrelated note: ooh, new smilies :spam: :lens: :xpld:

[redehlert]

thanks chuck,mate - will do!
cheers,
d

[noche]

redlehert, thats fantastic man, im not the kind that makes fast decisions but your worm is great.

on a side note i love cognition's palette, shading and contrast... theres knowledge in there..

[guggemmaneuver]

+++ Poo Noodler +++
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/guggenmaneuver/07-2006A22-03.jpg
The poo-noodler gains nutrients only from frequent sexual activity, defecates through two funnels on posterior, and cleans the funnels with its elephant-like nose; speculation has circulated among scholars that this abnormal appendage perhaps evolved specifically for cleaning it's unusual set of funnel-like anii.

great entries everyone!

[silentkitty]

Updated my entry with the final on the first page.

Meant to say, cognition, I really like the colors in your piece, and that thing creeps me out for some reason, lol. Which is a good thing.

Also, tee! -> :lens:

[artiphats]

http://www.houseofscion.com/artwork/fin-cow-001.jpg


An inhabitant of Kwetso's 5th moon Lodigo, this little creature whose proper name cannot be pronounced by humans, has been affectionately called the "Thorned-Cabbage". A completely self-sustaining creature, the thorns growing off the tentacles serve a dual purpose. First, it uses the thorns to pick out the small redish-orange "berries" that grow off those same tentacles and feed itself. Second, the thorns are used to ward off would be vulture-like predators, who don't go after the creature for it's rather sour berries, but who prey upon it for its much sweetier black diamond-pupiled eyes.

[mybutterflyiris]

Wow... some really strange and bizzare creatures on this thread. Congrats to those who came up with something for this and produced an image. It was a fractious topic. *sigh...I never got mine to shape up...

[JakkaS]

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/JakkaS/COW35_f.jpg

Researches for Great Animal Encyclopedia of Planet Gobb

F'low and S'peehs

F'lows are very interesting species derived from insects like bees or dragonflies. In a way of evolution become a "Shepherds". At the begining of their existence they were hunting on S'peehs, small creatures that produce sweet juice. But scientists have found that after a few generations they started to breed s'peehs instead of killing them. Breedings can number even 1000 individuals that are ussualy kept by the biggest males - and of course they have great amount of females and offspring...

[redehlert]

nice job, jakkas! dig the color scheme and textures. :)
d

[Stephan_R]

Fantastic Jakkas :) I love the colors you've chosen, and that turtle-like face is really innocent and primal looking. Pretty cool "concept" idea as well, i like how you played off nature and really expanded on the randomness that life develops over time.

[madplanet]

I agree with redehlert, JakkaS really did a great job on that one.

Guggen, Guggen, Guggen, what are we going to do with you? Not only did we get the name "poo-noodler," we also get two funnel-like anii, AND the arrows showing where the "poop' goes. It's just a complete package.

[JakkaS]

Thx for comments guys. :D

[JeffZNY]

wow...love that one to death, jakkas. nice work from tully too.

[Thefultron]

The Composterdon Dumdum Giah is a magnificent animal that nobody knows much about. It lives in the costal jungle of southern “Saskatchewan”. Generally this creature is content with life, except everybody thinks it’s a kind of mastaba. This animal grows food for itself in a “crock pot” style compost garden grown in the “natural” bowl located on its back. It eats that food. But not without the help of the ecosystem around it (like somebody else I know). All around the composterdon dumdum Giah, animal activity comes alive as it gently strides by. The most visible and busiest of the animals are the little orange 3-armed lizards seen in the illustration below. They work feverishly to help cultivate the soil on its’ back, and scavenge the jungle floor for bits of rotting vegetation to burry in its mucousy dark soil. They then hand feed this creature the grassy plants it grows. It is difficult to understand much of the orange lizards’ behaviour because they work so damn fast running in and out of the depths of foliage sprouting up quickly in this humid environment. One theory is that they work as a team just give’ner.…Why? Because they are trying to get that Composterdon to poop a lot. They mash about the stool with their bare hands! And then, they pick out all the big juicy parasitic worms!! Competition over the “grubs” among the orange lizards seem virtually non-existent. Rather it is fair, so we won’t talk about that boring stuff. The tiles at the bottom reveal the meaning of All
Love, the fultron

P.S. They lay their eggs in the darkness of the hollowed out uranium mines that someone filled back in with drums full of really old “depleted” uranium. The pink gland representing its 9th chakra guides the animal through the darkness of the poisonous mines, eliminating the ancient murals painted on the walls.

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e398/thefultron/Compost_FLAT.jpg

[hurricane]

madplanet, cool!

too many good entries, wow !!

[VegasMike]

This creature gives new meaning to the phrase "Born to die." This hermaphrodite has internal sex organs which produce a fetus that travels along the exterior umbilical cord. The fetus grows and continues down the chord till its reaches the massive jaws of its parent. When the fetus is ripe for harvest the creature will use its tongue to pull it off like a grape from a vine. The parent will usually let the strongest fetus's detach and roll off to become another self sustaining member of the species.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v52/Vegasmike/JABBA.jpg

[Plate]

Wow, nice one VegasMike. Very eerie and original, I dig it.

[Simonl]

Damn it, I didn't get time to finish mine this week. Redehlert, Vegas Mike, your entries are some kind of awesome. Big thumbs up.

[Fozzybar]

i am sick again :(

poll and new round will come in a few days...sorry...