Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.gurps (More info?)
Ironically, given that Siccaria is incredibly dry for an Earth-like
(loosely defined) world, most of the large native animal life is
basically of the Class Amphibia. They are not necessarily much like
the amphibians familiar to Terrans, though some of them share some
characteristics with amphibians from the Paleozoic.
The Eldren largely ignored Siccaria after its initial terraformation
and the foundation of its biosphere. They did occasionally add new
species, but not nearly as often as they did for most of their other
worlds. In the vagaries of evolution, the amphibians did better than
Siccaria than they did on Earth, partly because a quirk of the local
chemical environment in those early times made most amniotic eggs
unviable. Many reptile species were present at first, but they had a
hard time reproducing in that native Siccarian environment.
This condition actually passed as the ages went on, but the advantage
the amphibians gained in those early days was never entirely reversed.
Reptiles remained niche players in the Siccarian biosphere throughout
its planetary history.
Another advantage for the amphibians in the early ages of Siccarian
history was that the seas, while shallow and modest in terms of total
water volume, covered large areas and had long coastlines. This
provided plentiful niches for the amphibious life-cycle in those days,
giving them plenty of time to adapt to the slow changes of the
planetary climate.
Convergent evolution did produce certain similarities between the later
amphibians of Siccaria and the reptiles of Earth. Lacking the cleidoic
egg, the amphibians of Siccaria compensated by producing tougher, more
land-adapted adult forms. Though almost all Siccarian amphibians
continued to begin life in the water, and to pass through the
equivalent of a 'tadpole' stage, their adult-stages were often quite
divorced from the water, and often very physically powerful and well
adapted to a variety of land environments.
Their reproductive tie to the water continued to restrict them, but
evolution produced a variety of partial solutions. One of the most
successful involved a behavioral adaptation in which creatures
developed the ability to store water and transfer it to 'nests' inland
where the immature stage could exist, and by shortening the immature
stage. Many of the later large animals of Siccaria derived from this
particular developmental line.
By the time Man came to Siccaria, a variety of carnivorous and
herbivorous forms had developed from that line. Some of the herbivores
were actually suitable for domestication, and were so used.
One such form was the _kroth_, the primary beast of burden for
Siccarian culture throughout most of history. A kroth is a 10-12 hex
creature, the size of a Terran elephant, but radically different in
life-cycle and behavior.
A TYPICAL KROTH (large quadrapedal amphibian):
IQ 4
DX 4
ST 200-350
HT 15/50
Kroth are large, but not terribly bright. They do, however, have very
stable, even-tempers as a rule. Their endothermic metabolisms enable
them to operate with far less food than a mammal of equivalent size,
and the warm climate of most of Siccaria means that they remain quite
active during the daytime hours. They tend to hiberate through the
night. A wild kroth, or one far from civilized shelter, tends to curl
up into a ball at night, to conserve warmth.
Kroth have thick tough hides that are excellent insulation, as well as
providing DR 5 over most of the body. This hide tends to toughen
throughout life, and a very old kroth might have as much as DR 7 in its
hide, reinforced by bony plates under the surface.
A line of skin-covered spines extends above the vertebral column, which
can be relaxed against the back or held vertically, which a kroth uses
to cool itself when necessary.
(Meaning that actually _riding_ a kroth is almost impossible, and any
sort of protective covering for such a beast requires openings along
the back.)
Domesticated kroth can live up to 50 Terran years, wild ones usually
die of predation (or other natural causes). They reach sexual maturity
at 8 Terran years, and like all amphibians require water for
reproduction. Being descended of the line that stores the water,
though, they are not tied to the seas (which is critical on Siccaria).
Wild kroth will did a 'nest' at breeding time, fill it with water, and
use it to deposit the eggs. Domestic kroth are provided with the
necessarily facilities for breeding. The 'tadpole' stage lasts about
six Terran months. Adult kroth provide food to the 'nest' for the
growing tadpoles.
Kroth are entirely herbivorous, but can eat almost any form of plant
matter common to Siccaria (except for some _very_ tough plants, and
some of the genetically engineered plants created by Man).
MORE LATER.
Shermanlee
Ironically, given that Siccaria is incredibly dry for an Earth-like
(loosely defined) world, most of the large native animal life is
basically of the Class Amphibia. They are not necessarily much like
the amphibians familiar to Terrans, though some of them share some
characteristics with amphibians from the Paleozoic.
The Eldren largely ignored Siccaria after its initial terraformation
and the foundation of its biosphere. They did occasionally add new
species, but not nearly as often as they did for most of their other
worlds. In the vagaries of evolution, the amphibians did better than
Siccaria than they did on Earth, partly because a quirk of the local
chemical environment in those early times made most amniotic eggs
unviable. Many reptile species were present at first, but they had a
hard time reproducing in that native Siccarian environment.
This condition actually passed as the ages went on, but the advantage
the amphibians gained in those early days was never entirely reversed.
Reptiles remained niche players in the Siccarian biosphere throughout
its planetary history.
Another advantage for the amphibians in the early ages of Siccarian
history was that the seas, while shallow and modest in terms of total
water volume, covered large areas and had long coastlines. This
provided plentiful niches for the amphibious life-cycle in those days,
giving them plenty of time to adapt to the slow changes of the
planetary climate.
Convergent evolution did produce certain similarities between the later
amphibians of Siccaria and the reptiles of Earth. Lacking the cleidoic
egg, the amphibians of Siccaria compensated by producing tougher, more
land-adapted adult forms. Though almost all Siccarian amphibians
continued to begin life in the water, and to pass through the
equivalent of a 'tadpole' stage, their adult-stages were often quite
divorced from the water, and often very physically powerful and well
adapted to a variety of land environments.
Their reproductive tie to the water continued to restrict them, but
evolution produced a variety of partial solutions. One of the most
successful involved a behavioral adaptation in which creatures
developed the ability to store water and transfer it to 'nests' inland
where the immature stage could exist, and by shortening the immature
stage. Many of the later large animals of Siccaria derived from this
particular developmental line.
By the time Man came to Siccaria, a variety of carnivorous and
herbivorous forms had developed from that line. Some of the herbivores
were actually suitable for domestication, and were so used.
One such form was the _kroth_, the primary beast of burden for
Siccarian culture throughout most of history. A kroth is a 10-12 hex
creature, the size of a Terran elephant, but radically different in
life-cycle and behavior.
A TYPICAL KROTH (large quadrapedal amphibian):
IQ 4
DX 4
ST 200-350
HT 15/50
Kroth are large, but not terribly bright. They do, however, have very
stable, even-tempers as a rule. Their endothermic metabolisms enable
them to operate with far less food than a mammal of equivalent size,
and the warm climate of most of Siccaria means that they remain quite
active during the daytime hours. They tend to hiberate through the
night. A wild kroth, or one far from civilized shelter, tends to curl
up into a ball at night, to conserve warmth.
Kroth have thick tough hides that are excellent insulation, as well as
providing DR 5 over most of the body. This hide tends to toughen
throughout life, and a very old kroth might have as much as DR 7 in its
hide, reinforced by bony plates under the surface.
A line of skin-covered spines extends above the vertebral column, which
can be relaxed against the back or held vertically, which a kroth uses
to cool itself when necessary.
(Meaning that actually _riding_ a kroth is almost impossible, and any
sort of protective covering for such a beast requires openings along
the back.)
Domesticated kroth can live up to 50 Terran years, wild ones usually
die of predation (or other natural causes). They reach sexual maturity
at 8 Terran years, and like all amphibians require water for
reproduction. Being descended of the line that stores the water,
though, they are not tied to the seas (which is critical on Siccaria).
Wild kroth will did a 'nest' at breeding time, fill it with water, and
use it to deposit the eggs. Domestic kroth are provided with the
necessarily facilities for breeding. The 'tadpole' stage lasts about
six Terran months. Adult kroth provide food to the 'nest' for the
growing tadpoles.
Kroth are entirely herbivorous, but can eat almost any form of plant
matter common to Siccaria (except for some _very_ tough plants, and
some of the genetically engineered plants created by Man).
MORE LATER.
Shermanlee
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