Previous thread:
>>19038563

The rules are simple:
1) evolve a creature by modifying their picture and giving a plausible reason.
2) only a single modification/upgrade may be made per 'update'.
3) you can choose different species to upgrade.
4) I'll be plopping some events which you can adapt your creatures to, and decide if any updates are invalid.

Beware the deep roha's new pack tactics. Hunting in small groups of 3 or 4 these giant open water/deep water roha now can concentrate on larger prey like the newly armored whale kafkas

in response to the newly developing shell, whale kafkas continue to get more armored, and their fins become more extravagant. Their tail section starts to become thicker and heavier to keep it able to move with the additional weight

rolled 5 = 5

>>19062522
rolling for Remora phou

The Sand Slizer's carapace has grown thicker due to environmental changes, allowing the Slizer to attack prey without fear of injury. Its tail vent has been covered over, though, forcing the Slizer to slither along the sand for movement.

rolled 6 = 6

Remora Phou develop a toxic excretion that covers their body making them inedible by most creatures. They also develop razor barbs on the tail to help them defend themselves against the few predators they do have. Coloration changes to serve as a warning to predators and match the whale kafka's new coloration

Also, rolling for vivid kafka

rolled 10 = 10

Rolling for Jet Slizer

Posting what's already been rolled for.
>Western Reef Slizer
>Tail Nuro
>Central Spiny Nuro
>tropical phou
>whale kafka
>Deep Roha
>Sand Slizer
>Remora phou

Needs drawing:
>Toothed Kafka- Thermal Attack (working on it)
>Roo Coral- Big, Strong, Dumb (Kinda redundant for some)

Alongside the rear of the Toothed Kafka, it formed a series of glands which produce chemicals that react with eachother and produce scalding hot temperatures in the water. If they detect a predator coming up behind them, they release these chemicals in its path before dashing away.

>>19064248
toothed kafka got a fin upgrade that hasnt been incorporated here.
original pic here >>19055597

>>19064190
They've followed us everywhere

>>19064316
So they have. Something got posted out of order then, as I edited the one right before the black dawn post. Easy fix.

Vivid Kafka gains an electrical attack, less for offense and more for defense to keep predators away from it. It sends electrical impulses down its lateral line and through tiny pores in its skin.
Also, the tail fin has continued to develop to make it more useful for locomotion

Thermophilic roo corals develop around seabed vents.

New receptors on polyps feed on the base chemicals released from the vents, and their calcifications have thickened to insulate from extreme heat.

Kafka size comparison chart as far as I can see it

I think the western kafka needs a roll still. Im worn out for the moment so I will let someone else go ahead with that.

rolled 7 = 7

>>19064190

>dat escape pod.

That made me chuckle.
I love how people started using the stupid eyes and beak symbol for the bords.
I always thought that the bords are either incredeply self centered or unimaginative, as everything they make looks like themselves.

Anyways, rolling for the tank roha

rolled 4 = 4

Rolling for Parrot Kafka

>>19064443
But the big one's a Roha, not a Kafka.

The Jet Sliver's carapace has grown thicker in key places. Its upper jaws have fused and hardened into a sharp wedge, which the Sliver uses to ram in between the plates of the Whale Kafka's newly formed shell. Many of the Sliver's spikes have elongate, acting as rudimentary fins for maneuverability.

List of critters that have yet to be rolled for.
I havent been keeping up with the plants, so if someone could update that to the list, that'd be awesome too. Did I miss any?
Roha Leaf Lurkers
Tank Roha
Spotted Comb Roha/Stripped Comb Roha (two roha colors enter, one roha leaves?)
Luscanemats
Walker Roha
Razor Fin Phou
Flipper Roha
Ripper Kafka
Electric Roha

>>19064527
the big one is eating a roha, but it is definitely a Kafka (whale kafka to be precise)

rolled 9 = 9

I might as well roll for the walker rohas.
Although I will be only able to draw them when I get home.

>>19064527
After someone drew the homeworld and picture, it just kinda stuck.

>>19064527
Pic.

A regional distribution would likely help too. So we know what lives where.

From what Ive been working on: Whale Kafka, Deep Roha and Remora Phou exist in all 3 environments. Whale Kafka migrate across the planet and visit each of the three reefs to breed along the way. Remora phou are along for the ride. Deep Roha lurk on the outskirts of the reefs in deep water, and ambush the younger whale kafkas as they leave the safety of the reefs for open water.

rolled 14 = 14

rolling for the Electric Roha

>>19064558
Wow, read that wrong. Been thinking that since it was first posted in the last thread.

>>19064590

Pretty much all the roha species are currently living in all the reefs across the world. Their eggs and larvae are carried by the osean currents to everywhere.

rolled 8 = 8

>>19064543
Rolling for leaf lurkers.

>>19064594

>live in caves.
>develop photosynthesis.

Wat.

>>19064639
Maybe it's the ones that hide in Ojo.

>>19064590
West Reef Slizers are found in the west reef, obviously

Sand Slizers are found in the central reef

Jet Slizers would be found all over, but higher populations in areas with the larger variants of Kafka and Nuro

The normal Reef Slizer may have died out, but if not would be found everywhere

>>19064543
Plants:
Ojo
Filter Ojo
Roo Ojo

>>19064639
Memories of the first Evolution Game right there (Cave game). Photosynthesizing blob-creatures. It's not as bad as mobility for a species that generally doesn't move around.

>>19064630
If they weren't already present, the Leaflurker Roha gains jets. Water intake higher up on their bodies, outlets near their mouths. Not only does it allow them to move quicker, it also helps create suction to hold them in the Oja cup better.
If they already had jets, they now works like that.

>>19064673
Would it be a problem If I went to the archive to retrieve the plant BD table for the Ojo?

rolled 13 = 13

>>19064673
That would make the most sense.
I suggest that we switch the rolls between these two.
>>19064594
>>19064630

Because really, a cave dwelling species that lives far from the surface and generates powerful elctric fields woudln't gain really anything from photosynthesis.
The leaf lurkers on the other hand already live within plants near the surface. One could explain the photosynthesis as symbiosis between the ojo and the roha.

Anyways, rolling for the flipper rohas.

Reposting the list non gent made for convinience.

((Did somebody say....BLACK DAWN? Why....I think they did.))
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The sea floor splits open, in numerous small cracks. Water temperature rises by about 15F degrees at the surface, and 30F degrees at the sea floor. If anything, the waters have grown more tropical. Nutrients flood into the water from the innumerable thermal vents. The rest of the world is burning, screaming, and dieing. In the tropics things are fucking peachy, indeed, conditions for life are better then ever.
--------------------------------------------------------
DICE...GOOOOO!!!! in the email field type this: Dice 1d16

1 Grow larger
2 Adapt to temperature increase
3 Grow armor plates
4 Grow Spines
5 Gain Poison
6 Gain Electrical attack
7 Gain Thermal attack (increase heat via chemical reaction around yourself)
8 Gain increased mobility (choose how to reflect it)
9 Gain exoskeleton for armor
10 Gain Increased bone density for durability
11 Gain increased muscle mass
12 Develop pack tactics
13 Develop limited air breathing
14 Develop photosynthesis
15 Develop filter feeding (can be secondary to whatever it is you do now)
16 Grow bigger, stronger, slower, and dumber. RETARD SMASH.

>>19064751

Damn, another roll that hardly makes sense.
I'll have to figure this one out when I get home.

>>19064701
The current adaptation table doesn't make much sense for plants.

You know, even if conditions are nice here in the water, the Black Dawn should make it so that sunlight is blocked by clouds of smoke and volcanic ash in the air. Consider that, NG's original plant list would make sense even for here.

Just want a reply from IG on this. Link to table.
http://archive.foolz.us/tg/thread/18484092/#18499024

>>19064190
Uh, relative newfag to this particular quest personally, only joined halfway through the last thread. Is this supposed to be an in-joke or something?

>>19064796
Yes.

>>19064796
Yeah, kinda. There was a time when Non gent created a tundra evo thread and introduced the bords. Some time later, I realized that from the 3 starting creatures, the Bord couldn't possibly evolved from them. I started asking for ideas, when someone drew a crash-landed rocket.
And thus the Bord were actually from outer space.

>>19064814
>>19064796
bord bord bord

>>19064785
Well, this isn't Black Dawn. It's another event that happened afterwards, somewhat localized. So the coral and plant survived.

Central - Algae bloom
---------------
Sand Slizers
Central Spiked Nuro

West - Poisonous Plankton
-------------------
West Reef Slizers
Western Fast Kafka
Red Comb Rohas
Striped SnakePhou

East - Deep Sea Variant Plankton
----------------------
Eastern Vivid Kafka
Luskanemats
Bearded Phou
Ribbon Phou

Unless otherwise specified, the rest can be considered to be global. Feel free to update or put variants in different regions. Most species so far created would have a hard time being spread from reef to reef due to the distances between them, but some I could see being able to survive open water migrations.

>>19064814
And afterwards the joke developed further as people started drawing more silly pictures of the bords.
They appear to be fasists and their tanks and airplanes look like they were made to resemble the bords themselves.

>>19064814
>>19064836
>>19064886
Haha, oh man, I just found the thread where that was determined. Quality stuff. I overflow with mirth, etc.

I'll post something as soon as I figure out exactly how many species of each creature there actually are, since I was away for most of the past thread.

I dont know if Im allowed to do this, but lets do it!
After cataloging all the regions, I realized the central area was relatively sparse as far as unique variants go... so lets make some.

Earthquake!
-----------------------------
A massive seismic event happens off the coast, near the central reef. It tears open a large faultline and reveals a long buried undersea trench. This new area of vast resources now splits the reef practically in two. Slowly, the reef begins to claim this trench and add the unexplored depths to its geography.

>>19064886
Probably a good idea to post the two threads and just leave it at that.
>http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/18843536/
>http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/18960430/

This is only a behavior change, so no picture.
The basic Ojo start to become sensitive to when something brushes against their roots. The root actually contract when touched, pulling further into the sheath around them.

rolled 15 = 15

Oh god why did i sleep so long when so much have been happening. Aww my walking plants were too OP? Well IG:s word is the law.

Rolling for Luscanemat

>>19065070

Oh Great. Now that really does change things.

Some of the Curve Roha venture into the abyss, but the Roo Coral could not tolerate being without the sun. These new Curve Roha learn to survive in darkness, and their coloration changes.

>>19065079
Roll again man, that really doesnt do anything.

>>19065110
>>19065079
Or, alternatively, the tentacles start to become comb-like to filter things out of the water instead of grabbing stuff, now they're more like nets?

>>19065110

Why should i? I know it's not great but hey, that's life. My Luscanemats are just so awesome that they don't need to evolve in the middle of shitstorm. Or maybe this is punishment for me trying to make these things mobile. Evolutionary stagnation.

rolled 15 = 15

>>19065104
Crap, I forgot to roll for the previous event for them first.

Similar to their cousins the Comb Roha, the Deep Curve Roha develop combs on their small tentacles to help filter food from the abyssal snow to supplement their normal diet

>>19064518

The tank rohas develop specialized glands in their water jets, that allow the creature to quickly heat the water inside their jet chambers hot enough for it to boil. The resulting vapor bursts out with immense pressure, allowing the rohas to make quick bursts of speed.

They also use this heated water for defense, by squirting it towards attackers, or when in groups by forming walls of heated water and vapor around themselves, deterring and obstructing any would be predators.

rolled 7 = 7

Rolling for the Comb Roha

>>19065426
>>19065404
What is up with Rohas and Thermal attacks?

>>19064562

The walking rohas develop hard carapace over their legs that both increases their protection, as well as helps them to support their weight.

The flipper rohas have adopted a new strategy to evade the now more electrically resistant slizers.
They boost out of the water, and start skimming above the surface powered by their water jets and powerful flippers.
This usually confuses the slizer enough to allow the roha to quickly escape back to the corals, when they re enter the water.

>>19064751
These maneuvers in the air have also revealed that the rohas can absorb small amounts of oxygen from the air trough their skin.
Although not jet evolutionary very advantageous, this traits allows them to operate slightly longer above the surface, when they attempt to escape their pursuers, although they do need to return to the water for more water for their jets.

rolled 8 = 8

Since the short tentacled flipper roha seems to get skipped over, I'll roll for them as well.

>>19065796
Actually, I just assumed that the short tentacled creature was the current one, and used it here:
>>19065708

I just had to redraw the tentacles to be shorter and as the picture didn't have space for the closed up tentacles drawing, I left it out.

>>19065796

And besides, the increased mobility that your 8 granted fits pretty well to the other stuff I posted in this update. >>19065708

>>19065805
Ah, that explains it, I thought the tentacles looked longer, so that's why.

>>19065616
Since the walker roha are slow plodding creatures, they need to be able to see predators approaching from farther away. Thus, they develop improved sensing organs. They are able to extend out from the body on short stalks that are retractable. Allowing for a longer field of input. The shell piece still covers them while they are out, but also increases in size to protect the important organs.

There is no way I could draw that and not screw up the amazing picture you've got going, so Im gonna draw this quick idea and let you interpret it to the actual picture.

>>19065404
The Tank Roha need to be able to see better too, but due to their design, they only need to be able to see in one direction to acquire food. Thus, their organ develops similarly to the walker, but larger and focused forward.

Im visualizing one larger squid eye looking thing that is shielded by a flap of shell.

>>19065945
>>19065982

I'll get to it.

rolled 13 = 13

Oh, just realised that the snake phou hasn't been rolled for, probably due to confusion issues with the elongated Tropical Phou that appeared around the same time.

(Also, I should do that thermal weapon variant of Comb Roha, but I can't come up with anything that isn't just ripping off the Tank roha)

Alright, I cant draw very well, but here goes.

Some of the parasitic luscanemat makes its way to the central reef where it has trouble establishing itself at first, but manages to pull the dying breed of Spiny Nuro out of extinction by creating a symbiotic relationship. Allowing the two to thrive, as the new sluggish Nuro become ambush predators, luring in prospective meals with the polyps of Luscanemat.

If someone wants to run with this and draw it better... I would love them. cause my art is crap

>>19066134
Thermal Comb roha should develop Cavitation powers like pistol shrimp where they use their front Tentacles to generate a thermal boom to stun prey. So, they have two fatter armored tentacles that generate the thermal attack, and their back two become longer and more useful for swimming

>>19066168
The problem is that the Comb Roha isn't a predator as such anymore, but feed mainly on plankton and algae.

As much sense as that explanation makes I don't really think we need more predators for that matter, since there almost seems to be a trend of the main way of surviving is to start eating others before they eat you.

>>19065994

Done.

The Boost Roha/Tank Roha develops eyes that allow it to accurately track and pinpoint potential prey, which allow it to charge them more effectively, ensnare them and pull them to the crushing shield claws.

The Walking Roha on the other hand develops eyes that allow it to monitor it's surroundings much better, especially anything lurking above it.

>>19066192
>dat Pic
Ah yes, these "reapers"...

>>19066214
Between the Shell Roha and other Fus derivatives I think we may have stumbled upon the planet the Reapers hail from...

>>19066214

Yeah, I know.
They have been reaper lookalikes for a while now.
This time, it was completely unintentional.
Unlike with the Houyi, I didn't intend to make the Roha into a tribute/reference creatures. I only realized the resemblance after the other people the last thread pointed it out.

>>19066192
Frickin sweet man... Ok. One more request. Since the Boost Roha are charge attack predators now... I think their graspers need some work... they're all coiled up like that and it makes me think that perhaps they start getting some traction out of their former tentacles by making them able to lash out at incredible speed.

>>19066190
Humm... Good point. Ok then new idea. They use the thermal 'attack' to defend themselves from predators similar to japanese honey bees trying to defend themselves from Suzumebachi. They gather up tremendous amounts of heat in their bodies by vibrating inside their shell which makes them too hot to eat, as such larger predators like the Whale Kafka spit them out after a moment or two

>>19066271
And maybe because of this, their shells become more spiral shaped and grow hollows that help them store/gather heat better like the coil of an oven. And as an added benefit, the thermal roo find roosting on their shells easy since normal roo die off because of the heat

>>19066271

In water, vibration doesn't generate that much heat.
A better way would be that they expel chemicals that are inert within their bodies, but when they are mixed together, and then expelled to water, they quickly react, causing the water to boil around them.

>>19066303
Make it so. Perhaps they store the chemicals in special pockets of their shells and vent them out like a squid would with ink, but instead of mundane ink, these chemicals react (maybe ala Sodium) and ignite briefly for a mini-depthcharge effect?

>>19066271
they could also use the bombadier beetle strategem. Which is to produce compounds that react to generate a lot of excess heat and irriation. Hogweed also does this and that stuff will only react when you expose it to sunlight.

A group of Snakephou starts living in areas of underwater vents, where gases, including oxygen slowly trickle up to the surface. The adaptation to these waters lead to a change in the snakephou's gills, and while the snake phou doesn't know it and have no desire to try it out, their gills could work above sea level as long as they are kept moist.

>>19066238

Done.

Btw, I think that we need a theme song for these threads.

>>19066303
>>19066314

It seems like there are some decent ideas, but despite being the one who rolled for it, I feel far from up to take on the painting challenge...
Anyone up for it?

In the central reef, the unstable environment makes it harder for walker Roha to get around, so they start to adapt a variant in this region that is more horizontally oriented than vertical. All their grasper tentacles end up facing forward and are centered around their mouth, which has started to enlarge further for easier access to the ocean floor

>>19066371
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEc1OTFaWnI

>>19066375
Doesnt necessarily need a change in design. Just pick a type/place off attack and add the animation of the attack. Will it be a jet of heated chemical acidy stuff or perhaps a tiny slime encoated blob of chemical that it shoots and after a second the slime melts away in the water, exposing the chemical that ignites and blows up?

I always see these threads and they remind me of an underwater version of Spore

>>19066448

Oh you.
I meant for the whole world, not just the reaper lookalikes.

Anyways, the whale kafkas develop more powerful, almost pincer like sharp jaws that allow them to easily both crush and slice up their prey. They still use suction to get the prey to their jaws, upon when they will quickly kill it by slicing it into two neat pieces.

>>19066473

I figure that we are all reminded of that disappointment.
So much potential was wasted in that game.
Damn EA.

>>19066375
I could cook something up, but as this anon stated, actually altering the picture of the creature itself might be unneeded.
>>19066464

>>19066479
Fuck yeah... You read my mind there.

Input for themesong... Its kinda peaceful oceany. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgBPojJLjwU

>>19066479
As I cannot draw for shit, would someone be willing to help me with this art wise? I'd hate to butcher some of these beautiful illustrations.

Anyways, a branch of the Whale Kafka has stayed behind, using some of the bony struts that help support its bulk as a way to filter, creating the first basic steps towards gill rakers, filtering planktonic organisms out of the water more efficiently. These are a new branch of the Whale Kafka, the start of a new family of the species.

>>19066371
For the whole evolution game series:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxLacN2Dp6A

>>19066511
Like this? The new Megamouth Kafka

>>19066511

Have this. I hope it's suitable.

Although spore was shitty as a game, it had some neat almost ambient and quite relaxing themes.
This could fit here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezjqGMek9uI&feature=related

Damage to the Sand Slizer's carapace begins to repair rapidly. The Slizer begins to take advantage of this by using its covered water fact to break off and launch the large spike on the end of its tail as a projectile, allowing it to strike outside the range of detection of many of the reef inhabitants. It than uses its newly cleared water jet to close the gap between it and its meal. The spike regrows after a few days.

>>19066611
Im so jealous of you. You must have a tablet. Im stuck with paint and a mouse...

>>19066611
Aye that'll do rightly.

I fugure its a niche that hasn't been exploited to its fullest extent and the abundance of planktonics will most likely propel it to larger sizes than many other creatures not unlike Earths own cetaceans.

Slizers are getting out of control with how deadly they are. Im calling for a slizer themed Evolution event where creatures (that dont already have them) start to develop visual sensors to see Slizers in advance and help protect from their assaults. Creatures that already have eyes should develop some sort of new method of anti-slizer sensory organ/defense mechanism/way to eat them

>>19066621

I do have a tablet yes.
A basic bamboo one. I got it for under 100 euros, if I recall.
Though even with simply paint and mouse, the work you did on the megamouth kafka was more than suitable, assuming of course that you did it.

As long as the basic idea is conveyed, the picture is fine. Any added quality is just extra.

>>19066649
Think you could do an update of the central Walker Roha for me. They're already more horizontal, but now Im thinking their grasper tentacles are going to start getting larger so they can dig through the dirt better and their jaws more adept at cutting/tearing flesh and breaking shells.

>>19066642
The thing is, bio-energetically they shouldn't be able to live. I mean to an extent its plausible but at this point metabolically these things are border on collapse near constantly most likel.y

Like their shelled cousins, the flipper roha start developing light sensitive patches. This development was hindered by their already quite adequate electro sight, that allowed them to track prey and threats well enough. Their new tactic of jumping out of the water however was the needed trigger to start this development.
With the light sensitive patches, they could now accurately locate the surface, instead of relying on their electrosense, which was not as reliable at producing accurate information about anything other than the movements of other creatures.

Btw, is anyone going to do the update on the rolls made for the lurker rohas and the cave rohas/electric rohas?
I still think that the results between these two should be switched, in order for the adaptations to make sense.

>>19066689
Welp, I just did the same...

>>19066693

So you did.
Things like this happen.
No worries, either way, the creatures need to be able to actually see shit.
I just figured that their eyesight development would be quite slow, as they already have very accurate way of locating both threats and prey.

Alright, Im heading to bed. You guys all rock. I will see you sometime later hopefully this thread is still going strong when I return.

If people want requests, I suggest:
-Crusher Kafka develop eyes to better hunt prey
-toothy Kafka needs to have an evolution where those teeth become more like harpoons on the front and it uses them to impale itself onto its prey, then has a set of teeth on a proboscus that it uses to suck the juice out of what it attacks while impaled.
- Remora Phou start to become less eel-like and develop a flat ray-like body.

>>19066693
I love the pissed off red/pink eyes these guys have. So angry!

>>19066680
Yeah, I agree. Maybe, in addition to their shorter lifespan, they are more prone to disease.

...hmm. I might have to make a thread just to discuss or evolve diseases of this world, but bacterial/viral evolution is something that's either:
1) confusing, since there's a dearth of academic material on it (as well as fossil records)
2) kinda boring, since we're evolving things that are very very small.

>>19066663

Sure, I'll get to it.

>>19066719
And eventually, all the diseases would just kill all life on the planet as we know it. Perhaps Virus based evolution events could be interesting though... Force evolution to survive the disease or some creature that is spreading said disease.

>>19066719
most likely they live for a very short time, given they're covered in bony plate as it swimming will be nigh impossible for them if they get to any sort of substantial size.

Really, the best thing that could happen is for smaller individuals to rise out of the population or perhaps ones with no plating, they technically don't need it, most apex predators as the saying goes don't need armor they're the ones who give you a reason for it. Evolution is a fight between complexity and conservation of energy. A species will ditch anything that won't get it a chance to spread its genes or enable better survival.

>>19066732
Hmm yeah! Come to think of it, diseases are another event that would fit Civilization mode better.

>>19066740
They might need that armor once the Crusher Kafkas start to unseat them from their throne.
-giant sized
-heavily armored
-scythe teeth to crush shells
yeah they're gonna be fun :)

>>19066753
thing is they can develop other traits to get around that, evasions techniques, spines instead of shells, camouflage etc work very well to avoid predators. Also wouldn't the parrot Kafka prefer Reefs as they're rather easier to catch? Roo coral would provide an ample energy supply for a species like the kafka as well be far easier to catch than most. All it would have to do is ramp up Repro rates to deal with it and perhaps create stinging cells in some species.

Speaking of those Crusher Kafka... they've started to develop rudimentary eyes

You people are aware of the fact that the sand slizers don't actually swim? They are too heavy for that. I recall that one update stated that they slither along the bottom, and act more like ambush predators.

>>19064977
Oh man, as the creator of the Swaggerbord that depresses the hell out of me. But the Bords will always live on... in my heart ;_;

Ok, going by the Switcharoo between Leaf Lurker Roha and Electric Cave Dwelling Roha I did this for increased mobility.

While the Cave Roha seldom leaves its home cave it is sometimes forced to do so, usually from growing larger in size or when food has been scarce. Some Roha have their side fins webbed and they become stronger and help both in swimming between caves (giving the Roha the ability to change direction at a moment's notice and swim forwards) as well as pulling in when in the cave.

>>19066793
Honestly, I've barely been following the Slizer strain whatsoever.

I just realised, would not a Phou with an attached Ojo that has a Leaf Lurker Roha living in it be quite a combo?

>>19066740
Science, she is a harsh mistress. But two breeds rolling thicker carapace on the chart means only one can benefit right now

Faced with the facts that: A. Nothing was trying to eat it, and B. Food was proving harder to keep up with; the Western Reef Slizer begins to lose its carapace, reducing it down to a few key areas.

>>19066145
Not to be complaining and be late, but it feels like quite a leap to go from living among corral and being immune to its poison, living off by products and Ojo to becoming an ambush predator.

>>19066861
That thing really looks naked...

Central walker roha is done.

>>19066945
These things look like they're ready to invade the landlubbers any minute now...

>>19066832
wouldn't the Roha eat the Phou?

>>19066861
I'd also imagine it now has the ability to squeeze itself into tighter spaces, without the heavy armor holding it back It should in theory have afelxible body and fill a similar roll to morays and their ilk.

The flipper roha develop stronger and longer side fins, that allow them to stay airborne longer, in order to avoid predators.
Their ability to absorb oxygen from the air aids gives their muscles some extra boost, allowing them to "fly" over the water for over 100 meters.

(I made a compromise between the eye designs I and some other anon came up with almost simultaneously.)

>>19066808

non gent was quite harsh on these little ridicilous bastards.
Although admittedly, they were very, very silly.

>>19067067
You can say they were getting way too silly... and that meteor was actually an assassination.

Currently dredging up the archives for pictures, gonna start making a big timeline/lineage tree.

>>19067107

Yeah, while they were entertaining, they really started to clash with the whole feel of the setting.
The Bords and their ridiculousness should stay as a joke for now at least. Although the space origin might be cannon, it shouldn't affect the evolution of the world right now.

The civilization phase could be a whole different thing however.

>>19067128
Well, some Bords are ok. Just not that two-headed monstrosity.

Things have never been better for the Western Reef Slizer. Its more flexible body has allowed it to penetrate deeper into the reef and into the caves of the Cave Rohas. The Slizers body begins to secrete its insulated mucous all over, leading to a more electric-resistant body and a pigment change.

I also adjusted the filter sacs for aesthetic purposes. Silzers just gotta have those ripped pecs!

>>19067206
For better hunting and defense against the Slizers squeezing in into their caves electric roha develop stingers, teeth practically, out on the tip of their tentacles.

A strand of webbed phou that did not adapt into the remora phou grows larger and stronger, to still be able to swim still their webs grow into larger winglike fins.

The eyesight of the fly roha improves. In addition, like some of their cousins, they too develop rows of sharp hook like teeth on their tentacles to aid in hunting.

Luscanemats grow barbs on some their tendrils to be able to catch food better. These Barbs are also used to release Luscanemats toxic that is used for both defence and offence.

Btw IG, what about the aquatic hoppa species that exist in this world?
Do they interact with the reefs in any way?
I am of course talking about these two species.

The odd behaviors in the Common Ojos' continue to develop. Six root like structures extend from within the sheath from some sort of weird tuber. So far, the projections will start to flail about when the sheath is touched in order to scare off predators which may try to eat them.

I figured for editing this Ojo, it'd be simpler to just use the leaflurker image due to their symbiosis. Ojo provides shelter for Roha. Roha prevents things from eating the Ojo's leaf.

A species of the central spiny Nuro have come to thrive among the Luscanemat forests, living in symbiosis boldly growing colourful. They eat the remains of the Luscanemat's prey and keep them clean from smaller parasites. Their bright colours also attract some predators, who foolishly get caught in the strong arms of their hosts.

>>19067852
I had some ideas for expansion on the fly Roha (which may take them off the reef), but are there any seabirds or similar species yet? Given the extinction event that happened rather recently perhaps not, but is there anything for the Flying Roha to hunt above water? Or which hunts from above water, for that matter?

>>19066945
Starting to resemble the Hoppas there.

>>19068289

There aren't many flying critters around I am afraid.
I too have an idea how to expand on the fly roha.
My idea was that they would start hunting critters swimming near the surface, by flying over them and snatching them from the water.
They would still be waterborne creatures for the most of the time, but their flying capabilities would have improved somewhat.

>>19068289
Birds, no. Different flying squids are a different story. They probably have the Chuflouz to worry about now. Oh, and Air Slizers.

>>19068319

I know.
I have this silly idea that I could make these things uncannily similar to the Nad'lun, basically creating mer people for them.
Although it might be unnecessary, as there already exists a species of swimming hoppas, which resemble the tribal hoppas even more.

>>19068357

I doubt that flying slizers would really hunt this far from land, but the stray flouz might actually pose a threat.

The walking rohas living in the western reefs, near the archipelago have gone through numerous minor adaptations.
Their legs have grown longer, their shell has atrophied slightly from their backside, causing their balance to shift while also reducing their weight. Most importantly, their tentacles have gained grasping ends that allow them to grab prey easier.

Some roo corrall devolve to lose their complex arms and instead rely on being covered by tiny polyps.

The fly roha develop even bigger fin muscles, which allow them to fly quite long over the water. They eventually will have to return to the ocean though, as their ability to absorb oxygen from the air isn't efficient enough to fuel them completely.
The teeth in their tentacles have grow longer. They use these harpoon like fangs to impale and snatch prey that comes too near to the surface to feed on plankton and on creatures eating the plankton.

I must note that there are still normal, non flying flipper rohas left.

The Jet Slizer's fins have grown into small, hooked legs. These allow it to hold onto prey much better.

>>19066861
Didn't think much of it at the time, but the slizers are once again squishy worm creatures. The shell wasn't just for protection, it was an exoskeleton. The slizers are massive invertebrates (in most cases. The reef ones seem to be a bit smaller).

The fly rohas develop a chamber within their body cavity that is filled with a mixture of air and methane.
This gas bag allows the creature to both easily alter it's swimming depth by filling itself with water, and to fly easier in the air by expelling the extra water.

They still need to return to the water for proper breathing, but their ability to absorb oxygen from the air has improved over time.

>>19069022
Hmm, good point. Guess the West Reef is now a big, pissed off earthworm.

Just so nobody forgets about them. No changes, just a quick summary.
Tail Nuro. Lobster sized, swim forward slowly like a seahorse, backwards quickly like a lobster or crayfish for escape. Color changing streamers for mating displays.

>>19069230
Been considering doing something about them, especially their relationship with the parasitic roo.

Damn, I need some event to happen to get new ideas for these creatures.
My imagination is stagnating.

Anyways, this was the best thing I could come up with right now.

The boost roha's claws gain serrated edges, that allow it to rip apart meat easier.
They also develop a bioluminescent patch of skin that they use to communicate with each other.

The tail nuro has now come to live in symbiosis with their parasitic roo, accomodating the small roo on its armoured plating. This means they become slower from the potrusions, but the roo's venomous stinger arms deter most predators, leaving the Nuro alone.

>>19069548
Just saw that I had accidentally covered up one of the female Tail Nuro's trademarks, revised the picture.

The western walking rohas develop paw like endings on their legs that allow them to grab on to the coral more easily. This adaptation also allows them to move more easily trough rocky terrain.
Surprisingly, small populations of these creatures have started to live in the shallow and rocky waters of the archipelago, in where they feed on the local fauna. They aren't a different species from the main population yet, but the different environments are starting to differentiate the creatures.

Their shells also become even more compact, which reduces their weight and thus allows them to move faster and support their more active hunting style better.

>>19069548
I'm glad to see that someone for sure caught on to the awesome smiley on the female. I was really hoping I'd get called out for doing that.


While expressed or not, it seems everything related to the Evola have genes related to blurring the line between plant and animal. The Melova, Melovites, Frilla Trees, and Ragas are proof of this. Something in the water must be turning these genes on in the Ojo.
Two more stalks emerge from the Ojo tuber, these tipped with basic, yet surprisingly sensitive photoreceptors.

I'm getting the feeling it's too late to join this.

>>19069853

It's never too late during creature stage.

>>19069859
Even during tribal it isn't too late. I was a late arrival with the Burrahn, and I'm satisfied at where they left off.
What are you waiting for Solomon? Let your imagination loose!

The boost rohas begin to move in larger groups.
They hunt all kinds of things, while also consuming coral growths.
These swarms are ravenous, and will quickly attack anything they perceive as food.

>>19069904
Wow, this... this made a remarkable first step for something I was planning on doing with the Boost Roha...

>>19069904

Another thing.
I feel like that it's a good time again to inform people that the roo coral still grows on the shells of the roha, I just always forget to draw the coral there.

The fly roha are finally able to fully breathe air.
The water jets and the adjacent water chamber gain additional blood vessels under a thin coat of skin and mucus, through which the oxygen can easily pass to the bloodstream of the creature, when it forces air to move through it's jet system.
The creature can still use it to jet in water, and it actually makes extracting oxygen from the water even easier.

These creatures can live both in water, and above it. They must still lay their eggs in the water however.

Something odd happens in the Eastern Reef, a Boost Roha swims too far from her swarm and gets snatched by the hungry arm of a Lusconemat forest. Desperate she signalls for help which gets an amazing response. The huge swarm swoops down on the Lusconemat forest which is overwhelmed by the numbers of the swarm. The battle is bloody, but in the end the Boost Roha manages to cut off the Lusconemat's arms. Suddenly the big coral goes from being a mortal threat to a buffet of food.

Thanks to the immensity of this particular specimen of coral several parts of it survive and it manages to prolong its death by years. A period over which the Roha manages to breed and reproduce time and time again. Old mouths are now breeding chambers, constantly guarded by a small group of Rohas, while others hunt and bring back food.

>>19070126
*Roha not to scale.

The flailing stocks of the Ojo become strong enough to lift the tuber from the ground, ripping off the small, fast growing roots; and the photoreceptors improve as well, becoming simple, colorblind, compound eyes. Small herds of Ojo wander around their home reefs, living off their starchy reserves until finding a suitable place to plop back down and take root again. We now have walking potato Ojos.
The Roha just sort of sit there for the ride.

Forgot pic
Tried making a simple internal anatomy image.

The fly roha evolve into this.
Basically, it's all around improved version of the fly rohas, it's body is more suited for flying, it has increased muscle mass, the gas bag contains more lighter than air gases than it did before etc.
They are still capable of swimming, and they need to be near the water to both keep their skin moist, as well as to lay their eggs in the water.

>>19070517

I'd write more on these things, but now I must go to sleep.
Later gents!

>>19070517
When most people think of making something fly, they think birds or bugs. Here at the Primordial Evo game, squids are the answer.

>>19070126

I don't want to ruin your party but The Cystonemats (including Luscanemat which is just large Cystonemat) are poisonous. And the poison isn't some pansy poison that kills you. It makes you hallucinate so terrible horrors that you are paralyzed by fear. Some lucky individuals just start swimming away from the monsters of their imagination but those that are paralyzed are easy snack for Cystonemats.

Cystonemats may sound a bit OP but remember that most of them are quite passive and only eat some unlucky individuals that just happen to be there when it is hungry. You could make it so that they found old Luscanemat that was dead. The Exoskeleton/shell would stay after death. If it were alive living in it's mouth would be quite hazardous as it would digest them. If you get better idea use it. i'm just pointing couple things out.

>>19070596
1. This is not a "My Species vs Your Species" game, it's a collaborative effort to populate a planet.
2. Being poisonous isn't an end-all weapon, especially against an armoured species like the Boost Roha, they aren't unaffected, but they may not be extremely vulnerable either.
3. The Boost Roha is a swarm species of small armoured devourers. They overwhelm by numbers.
4. This does not mean that the Luscanemat or Cystonemats are threatened, it's a biological development.

Lastly, consider what will lead to the most interesting future developments. Personally, I don't feel the answer is an invincible mass of coral.

>>19070596
>>19070914
aye...aye...calm feelings. good rational points, but here. Look at the clown fish. it lives in deadly sea anenomies...fuck if i can spell it. im high on some derivitive of morphine right now, but cooperation and even predation is good. My origonal creatures the LemUy were killed off in an event, and i had to revert to some shitty cave dwellign pansies. but it all worked out. now we have the ENCLAVE...btw..need to expand olenk fishing operations.

>>19070914

i didn't say he/she/you couldn't do it. I just wanted to point out the problems with attacking Cystonemats. I mean that even swarming isn't easy against these because when you damage them the poison gets into the water and "breathing" it might not be a good thing. And eating it is another thing as why would they eat something that would scare the shit out of them? I just wanted to know how they managed to overcome these and not trying to cockblock your plot. Also living in the mouth of a guy who's trying to eat you doesn't sound too good.

haha, Im awake, although my paint skills still suck.

The Crusher Kafka is back again with a new evolution. As part of its old defense against the deep roha, it would lay along the bottom and rely on its shell to protect it. Now its fins have begun to adapt to make it more lobe finned to crawl along the bottom. In addition its tail has gotten longer and stronger

If anyone wants to give this a better sideways angle picture, I would love them, but they should also add an update too maybe.

>>19071388
Just got here, but I see this as more that the roha may be able to either burn off the poison quickly due to their thermal attack, or instead because the poison is designed to work on Nuro, Phou and Kafka it doesnt affect the Roha who up to this point had no interest in the coral.

Also, the coral wouldnt be actively eating the Boost Roha, they would act more like pitcher plants or venus fly traps where they catch something and eat it as it decomposes/digests inside it. So living in the 'mouths' of these coral would not be so far fetched.

Im rolling with it and making another update for the Boost Roha. Because of their new habit, the eastern Boost Roha begin to develop a means of 'holding their breath' to endure the poisonous bursts from the luscanemats. As such they begin to develop internal lungs that help them breathe and should they ever venture forth from the sea, could maybe survive for a time out of water. This evolution while originating in the Eastern area, eventually filters to all Boost Roha.

No picture really needed

>>19071388
Honestly, I just thought it was a fun idea and ran with it. It was easier to explain a nesting behaviour for a swarm like animal like the Roha from settling in the corpse of a dead being than suddenly making its own shelter and I needed something that brought the Roha to the Luscanemat.

But it seems I was wrong, since the small buggers obviously can't resist a hallucogenic poison. The relevant password should be in the email if you feel like removing the post and >>19070914

The Toothed Kafka become more predatory. Their teeth along their body start to shrink, while the ones on their proboscis elongate to become more spear-like. And to make better use of this, their tail strengthens and fins become more powerful
(sorry for my paint skills)

The deep roha have been struggling to keep up with their ever adapting prey the whale kafka.

As new whale kafka variants begin to emerge, the Deep Roha develop more powerful suckers that are barbed and sharp enough to latch onto the hard shell of the Kafka. The Roha also continue to increase in size as the quantity of less aggressive species of the whale kafka become easier to catch and eat. They're now becoming so large that they must rely almost exclusively on the large fish because they can not hope to feed n smaller prey when they reach this size

>>19071859

After sleeping and re-reading my earlier posts i realized that i may have not expressed myself correctly. I do have a problem with that and that often causes misunderstandings.

now let's see.
>>19070596
Here i tried to explain how the Cystonemat normally hunts and a bit info as it seemed like you didn't know everything about them as you didn't say anything about the poison.
They aren't really OP. I just said that someone might think so as IG already nerfed them a bit.
after that more info and one example how it could have gone.
>>19071388
And here i just noted some of the problems and asked if i could have explanation how they would have been overcome. I wanted to know because there is story in it, not because i would think it is impossible.
And no the poison isn't all high and mighty. It is nasty but all it does is scare you.

Now let's see how it might have gone. this is just info for you to use and edit as YOU like. Ok the poison does affect the Rohas but there is many of them and only some of them get poisoned because there is no way that the poison would be everywhere. Those that are paralyzed by fear are protected by their brethren so they don't get eaten. Soon they would learn to hit and run as then the leaked poison wouldn't harm them before it would blend into water and become harmless. I'm still between the dead and the near death Luscanemat for nest as if it were alive there would be always the risk of getting eaten. And i still don't see why they would actually start eating the Cystonemats as there are better things to eat than poisonous food.

Over time, the shells of the various dead Whale Kafka start to become a regular part of the scenery. The various species of plant and coral form over them and the large exoskeletons make for new additions that allow the reefs to expand quickly and create a whole lot more nooks and caves for the various cave species so they can begin to explore more of the reefs and interact with more species.

>>19072605
I would like to see this relationship become more symbiotic over time. But only in this Eastern region. At the other two reefs, the Luscanemats should stay predatory, but over time, the fact that they are being used as Hives for the Boost Roha actually becomes a boon and they begin to adapt into a variant here that instead feeds on the sick and dying Boost Roha, while acting as a shelter for the others. The Roha's lungs allow them to resist the poison, but dont actually eat anything but the slowly re-growing tentacles.

>>19072605
I didn't go into the details of the effect of the poison or the outcome and order of battle between the Roha Swarm and the Luscenomat since I simply didn't think it mattered in the big picture. I had no desire to run a simulation of Roha vs. Coral Beast nor describing 438 stages of adaptation in behaviour and poison resistance for something that could be done with one brushed over explanation leading to a possibility of a more developed Hive ecology. They would eat the Cystenomat since they eat coral and not all things are filled to the brim with poison, but keep i in the things that administer them.

And now I'm getting way too exited for this shit, especially since its 3 fucking am and I got an exam in 6 hours. I think my explanation in my original posts works fine as a rough outline, but if you don't think so, feel free to remove it.

>>19073083
Its cool, Im already running with it. The Eastern Luscanemats are evolving to become more of a colony hive for the Eastern Boost Roha (which have adapted to endure the poison until it diffuses in the sea water.) The roha eat the tentacles of the luscanemats to keep them passive, while the luscanemats get to eat the diseased and dead roha, and their shed shells. Also, the Roha act aggressively to protect their new homes which keeps away other predators that would eat them.

Instead of the luscanemats dying slowly over a period of years, they are cultivated and become more intricate hives to allow for more Roha to live there, thus increasing their food supply as well.

Keep in mind that even if they aren't drawn, there is coral growing on the Roha species with shells.

its the anenmone/clownfish dynamic really. The coral and Roha are now symbiotically tied to each other one being trimmed and having hte dead removed while being fed various things and the other getting a home and shelter.

As the megamouth kafka's diet has changed so to has its coloration, Internally Its rakers have become more refined, Externally the high amount of plant matter has slowly died the beasts greenish in color.

tropical phou continues changes in morphology. longer smell receptors, and an increase in frontal armor plating. Electrical discharge is now directed via mouth to electrocute prey it gulps into its massive mouth.

In a reef full of ever increasing flying and armored squids and other predators, the slow and heavy Sand Sliver does the evolutionary equivalent of saying "Fuck it." Having eaten Ojo for ages as a garnish to a Lurker Rohas, the Sand Slivers begin to use the plant as actual nourishment. The Sand Sliver is now omnivorous, subsisting on a diet of Ojo and the herbivores that try to eat it.

>>19074177
The change in coloration made it easier for the deep roha to prey on the megamouth Kafka, which has lead to another spurt of evolution. Now, they have adapted some camouflage to help them hide amongst beds of plant life on the ground.

Because of this evolution, the megamouth Kafka has extraordinary difficulty getting away from the reefs to continue its migration after breeding season, and as such to compensate produces a massive amount of offspring (most of which just become a new rich source of food for the reef) in hopes that enough make it through to continue the species (ala sea turtles)

Also, had to swtich to use the proper mouth parts

>>19073142
Over time this haven of safety for the Eastern Boost Roha has developed another new ritual for the species. Instead of freely breeding as a whole, a small group of old and powerful females gather together at the deepest point of their Luscanemat hive (a part that is actually dead) and fill the entire chamber with unfertilized eggs. Males compete for the privilege to enter the egg chamber and fertilize the eggs. These rights are given to the smartest and most loyal followers, ensuring the hive is well protected for the future.

>>19074968
Fuck yeah, omnivorous Slivers. Plant life is dooomed. This new diet of theirs should be so successful that they at first start to clear cut the Ojo in the reef. Which forces the ojo to produce faster and grow faster to compensate or go extinct. So Ojo in the central region become Kelp-like with massive tall Ojo becoming the norm.

Regional Description Update for those that need it.

Central Region: Kelp Ojo Forest with deep trench running the length of the reef. Luscanemats have moved into this region and established a symbiotic relationship with the Spiny Nuro in the area becoming the dominant coral in the area. Sand Slithers have become bottom dwelling omnivores.
Walker Roha have a unique variant here that is more heavy and aggressive.

Eastern Region: The boom of unusual deep sea plankton has finally become the norm in this region. Luscanemats have become massive hives for the Boost Roha who make this reef their home. The organized hives make it difficult for other species to be at the top of the food chain, but this does not seem to stop the Crusher Kafka who enjoys hunting them.

Western Reef: The poisonous Plankton have created a plethora of unique life in this region. Multicolored varieties of all sorts call this reef their home. Larger predators like the Crusher Kafka have abandoned this reef because they cannot handle the build up of toxins from creatures they ingest. The Western Walkers thrive in this environment and become more numerous without much predation.

>>19074876
some Tropical Phou in the central region begin to explore the trench and start to lose their wild coloration

>>19068047
oh yeah! Almost forgot about them. They're supposed to evolve to their current form sometime soon, and I think it is time. Aqua hoppa and whale hoppa are now available for evolving.

the competition from the extensive ojo forests and thick luscanemat coverage forces the more thermally adept roo corals to seek a new niche in the depths of the trench. they develop stronger calcifications, and begin to form large clusters around wellsprings of superheated water, where the deep planktons are most numerous.

just below the commotion of the reef the trench roo thrive in solitude, for now.

The Western Reef Slizer has begun to internalize its former exoskeleton through the development of cartilage, regaining some of its previous control over its fins. The fins themselves have split into a pair of blades, which have proven useful for grabbing hold of prey, as well as shearing off harmful spines and tentacles.

All this changing of habits for the Eastern Boost Roha has started to create sexual dimorphism within them. Females grow larger and become more dormant. Staying around the hives. While males remain largely unchanged and do most of the hunting and gathering

Females old tentacles become partially extendable again and they learn to use them in conjunction with their smaller grasper tentacles to improve their fine manipulation of objects. They continue to show more signs of intelligence.

(this picture is crap, but once Nad wakes up Im sure he can make something better.)

trench roo corals flourish in the deep and nearly empty waters they call home.

they now form much larger colonies, centered around superheated upwellings.

their feeding tendrils have developed fans capable of sifting the water for plankton much more efficiently than before, allowing the polyps to grow much faster and larger than before.

larval polyps are cast to the mercy of the currents in hopes of finding purchase on a far-flung seafloor vent. this helps diversify the gene pool, and also aids in colonizing yet untapped vents.

>>19075838

Here you go.

rolled 1 = 1

Central kafka never got a roll. Rolling

>>19075629

The swimming hoppas are small and amphibious hoppa creatures that live in coastal regions and prefer relatively shallow waters.
They hunt smaller creatures by piercing them to their harpoon like tongues.
They spawn floating larvae when they reproduce. The larvae remain airborne for a very short period however. Their gas sacks begin to atrophy very quickly and they start developing the protective thick skin and bone plates almost immediately, causing them to descend to the oceans within days of being born.
These young hoppas are fast swimmers, and they hunt, eat and grow until they become mature. At that point they return to the coasts and become more amphibious, spending time on land along the other swimming hoppas.
Like all hoppas, they communicate through bioluminescence (The purple patches at the sides of it's snout aren't eyes. They are the light emitting organs. Their actual eyes are the six purple orbs that are at the sides of the ridge going through their head.) and pheromones.(The greenish organs at their sides are the pheromone glands.)

Finally managed to collect all the various species we have going right now and their regions.

Western
-----------
Stilt Roha (aka Western Walker)
Red Comb Roha (Spotted and Striped)
West Reef Slizers
Needle Kafka (bright orange)
Snakephou


Eastern
-------------
Boost Roha (has mostly stopped migrating at this point, but a few packs can be found elsewhere)
Bearded Phou (still needs to be rolled for from last event)
Ribbon Phou (still needs to be rolled for from last event)
Colony Luscanemats
Vivid Kafka
Deep Roha
Crusher Kafka
Megamouth Kafka

Central
-------------
Tank Walker Roha
Central Spiny Nuro
Luscanemat Nuro
Sand Slizers
Kelp Ojo
Deep Roha
Crusher Kafka
Megamouth Kafka
Central Kafka

Trench
- Deep Curve Roha
- Trench Roo
- Abyssal Phou

All
--------
Phou - Winged, Remora, Tropical, Razor, Thickhead
Roo - Simple, Mass, Cluster, Thermal
Roha - Flying, Electric, Curve (few), Leaf Lurkers
Kafka - Toothed, Parrot
Cystonemats- Cluster and Great
Ojo - Filter, Common, Roo
Jet Slizers

(also, posting the Central Kafka to keep it going.)

>>19075629

The whale hoppas are larger and completely aquatic cousins of the current swimming hoppas. They are filter feeders, using their long hairy tongues to ensnare plankton and algae, and bring it to their mouths.
They are the biggest hoppa species around.
They reproduce in pretty much the same way as the swimming hoppas do, except that they never return to land.
Their pheromone glands have adapted to suit their aquatic environments more, thus their pheromones are extremely potent, so that they wouldn't dissipate as quickly to the water.
The long tube at their back side is a breathing organ, which they can extend to the surface of the water when they need to breathe.

>>19075985
Awesome, thanks man. Although I was thinking that they'd use the green tentacles in conjunction with the big thick ones as sort of tongs at the moment, but maybe eventually becoming more. Able to grasp things

>>19076092

Actually, I got something in that description wrong.
The filtering hairs are in the forward facing tentacles of the whale hoppa, it's tongues have small barbs that allow the creature to grab the food caught in the long hairs of it's tentacles, and bring it to it's mouth.

>>19076094
Oh, well, I didn't get that from your picture, sorry.

Some of the non colonial boost rohas have started preying on the large kafka creatures. They use their strong claws to break open the hard shell of the massive creature, and then they plunge their barbed tentacles and sharp fangs to the meat of the creature and feast on it's flesh.
They also eat the remora phous that follow the kafkas around.
The big creatures are hard pressed to fight against these numerous agile critters, and the best way for them to survive is t actually swim away.
This type of boost rohas are most often encountered in the central reefs, though they do appear everywhere where there are kafkas.

the tropical phou has gotten fat...very fat. it gorges itself all day and is rather stationary. This makes it a good meal for other predators.

a storm rolled in and look what tags along, THE AQUABORD! An avian aquatic creature, it lays eggs, breaths air, and has a strong platypus like beak for crushing the shells of small organisms and the bodies of little fish. Its greasy, dense feathers protect it from becoming waterlogged, they are a very communal species. EVOLVE!

A freakish mutation grants one flying roha two backwards facing tentacles. This trait quickly proves to be advantageous, as it allows the creature to better stabilize it's flight, and helps it to make more swift and agile maneuvers that help it escape any would be predators trying to snatch the roha from the air.
This trait quickly spreads to the rest of the flying roha population.

>>19076341

Derp.

Btw, how many people are still in this thread?
I know that non gent is, or at least was very recently, but what about the rest of you?
Also, could we get another event?
I can't really come up with any proper adaptations if the environments are stagnant.

The Giant Boost Roha and the Deep Roha begin to compete for prey, and as such begin to feed on one another. The massive Deep Roha hunt in small groups which are able to hold their own against the packs of Boost Roha, but soon are forced to rely on hit and run tactics because they cannot endure the numbers the Boost Roha hunt in.

As such, Deep Roha become less numerous and continue to increase in size becoming the largest creatures around the reef, although now quite rare. Mostly staying towards the Eastern Reef now exclusively

I am still in the thread, and would also enjoy an event. Although Im considering heading to bed since Ive been up too late recently.

If you wanted to work on something, the Crusher Kafka needs a new profile angle shot so we can continue to work on it. Also, probably a more badass tail since it has to be fast to avoid the schools of Boost Roha and maintain its place as an apex predator. Im imagining it now uses its size to bunch up the boost roha into a bait ball and then charges through them munching as many as it can before darting away

storms have moved into the regions. The winds are savage, lightning strikes are common. Tidal waves trip thru the areas with regularity. Cope with this! Oh also...also..turns out there has been illegal interplanetary dumping in these here parts. the storm has uncovered some of the garbage...seems to be some sort of chemical. hope it doesnt fucking warp your creatures into horrific monstrosities.

EVENT IS OPTIONAL-play at your own risk. type into the email feild of the post this exact thing "Dice 2d6" or "Dice 2d4" without the "" to play.
-----------------
roll a 2d6, you get those two mutations

1 extra eyes
2 tentacles
3 horrific mouth full of teeth
4 pincher claw
5 body spikes
6 mandibles (like an ant.)
--------
plant table- roll a 2d4, you get those two mutations.

1 grow bigger
2 "vines"
3 venus flytrap type adaptation
4 awareness and mobility (smart as anything else in the ocean)

rolled 5, 3 = 8

rolling for Central Kafka, it got nothing good from the last roll

ZOMFG...Indonesian Gentleman!!! INDO GENT!!! i just realized something. you and I have collaberated on many posts before. http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/17033508/#17034106 I made Dolf and bill, combat berserker drugs, and some of the other shit in that thread. Humanity, oh fuck. ! Stupid to be this excited i guess, but awesome to look back and see that.

The crusher kafka's tail becomes even stronger so that it might better avoid the boos roha hordes.

after the storm blows the horrible chemical in, a few barrels land in the favorite breeding spot of the unfortunate central Kafka which is no more.

The radical mutations it underwent have turned it into a new species. The Maw Kafka

rolled 5, 1 = 6

Rolling for Deep Curve Roha

rolled 1, 4 = 5

Deep Curve Roha unfortunately catch some of the settling chemicals and it spurns them into evolution. Mutating them into the Spiny Roha. The chemicals also force it back to the surface once more, reintroducing it to the reef.

(rolling for remora phou)

>>19076503
Ahahahaha, I remember that thread! Helldivers and time travelers, oh my.

Anyways, I've been compiling a lineage tree for the Slucks. Got as far as the 2nd land thread methinks. Gonna go trawl the island thread now.

The Poor Remora Phou (whose transition into a more ray-like form I had not yet drawn, so I incorporated here as well) had no appendages to grow pincers from, and so it grew a set of pincers on its jaws with ball joint hinges so they get full range of motion allowing them to reach and grab hold of just about anything, either to hang on to something, or to draw it in to its sucker mouth located on its underside. It also grew a third eye to better keep aware of its surroundings.

>>19076668
>>19076172
Through a strange twist of fate, the Spiny Roha is still biologically compatable with the Ripper Roha for some strange reason. Although the newly mutated genomes from the Spiny Roha seem to be dominant. A new hybrid species arrives on the scene.

(Nad Im looking at you for this one bud... Have fun :) )

rolled 3 = 3

>>19076349

Yup i'm still here ready to bring some nice things to nice people. And while making that nice thing i'm rolling for Luscanemats.

rolled 1, 1 = 2

Rolling for Deep Rhou.

>>19076824

>eyes fucking everywhere.

rolled 2, 2 = 4

>>19076431
Jet Slizer

rolled 1, 1 = 2

rollin for tropica phou

>>19076882
>>19076887
>>19076824
this is a bad place. with bad things. Enjoy your tentacle rape beast with extra tentacles.

Welp, it seems like Foolz archive is doing a server migration, and the island thread (and others) is down until they get back up.
In other news... Sluck lineage, until the end of the 2nd land thread.

Deep Roha eventually experience some of the chemicals and develop an alarming number of eyes. Amid this process, they develop dozens of small and large eyes that offer them 360 vision up and down, as well as a photoreceptor they can use to mimic the signals of the Ripper Roha and throw them off. They have yet to learn how to use it for communication themselves

Im not sure if I gave it enough eyes. I suck at them. If someone else feels like giving it a crack... Feel free to Eye up the Deep Roha for me.

>>19076794
And once again adaption that doesn't change things much. oh well.

You know what we need more? Megabeasts!
Being oldes Luscanemat in the world the Old Nameless is biggest and hungriest of them all. The old age doesn't come alone as its ability to control the poison goes down to the level where it constantly leaks some of it without its own consent. With the combination of small Horrorfield and great hunger the prey in the area soon take off and flee from the old nameless. The ever fleeing food forces the old nameless to change it's position constantly and you'll never know where it will be next time. The Old Nameless, Great hunger of the depths and harbringer of madness.

>>19076941
fffffffff......

>>19076899

Hell, I forgot that the wespar descended from the slucks.

Anyways.
Some of the swimming hoppas eventually reach the archipelago near the eastern reefs. The tiny islands are ideal environment for these amphibious hoppas, and they begin to thrive in these shallow waters.
The abundant stilt walker population that had also prospered in these islands becomes a ready food source for these island hoppas. Their front tentacles eventually change in shape, as simple sticky hairs were quite poor at getting a firm hold on the shells of the walkers. They have now almost paw like ends, which allows them to grasp things better.

horrible horrible tropical phou is now Optical Phou. it sees all, it is also in constant pain. an impressive feat for a fish. it wishes for it, but death will not come.

>>19076941
no sir...fuck no, this is an event where you roll not once but twice. you go and you make that second roll. this isint just mild mutuation...this is HORRIBLE mutuation. actually. since you clearly didnt read the rules all the way. you roll two more dice and go against the table. thats right. 2d for your creation. get to work. >:(

((and no, im not serious about being all mean and bent out of shape. i am serious about 2 more dice rolls. "dice 2d6" or "2d4" not sure what the hell your creature is, but its about to get fucking awesome. you clearly can draw the beginigns of nightmare fuel))

"Bord bordle bor bord bor bor bor?"

"Bordle BOR BOR BORD!!!"

rolled 1, 4 + 1 = 6

One more before bed. The ribbon Phou which up to this point have not endured any events, so Im rolling for all of them.

rolled 3, 5 + 1 = 9

twice...

>>19076793

The interbreeding between the spiny roha and the ripper roha results in many twisted hybrids.
Over time, the most viable ones begin to prosper. The extra eyes that the spiny rohas had never properly developed int the more armored and compact bodies of the ripper rohas, as their bodies simply didn't have room for them.
The spines on the other had became very dominant. They formed organized rows on their shells, that actually helped the creatures stabilize and direct their boosting better.
The spikes also made them harder to eat or swallow whole.

rolled 2, 2 = 4

>>19076995

Sir yes sir. Making the 2d4 for the Luscanemats to see what i will be able to cook up.

The tiny Ribbon Phou has long been forgotten in the sands of time, but due to the constant tidal waves, it unearthed a dormant pocket of eggs that had been stewing in the radioactive chemicals all this time. And gave rise to the Dire Spiked Phou

>>19077256

>double vines.

No, sir, I do not like where this is going.

>>19077256

ummmm. did anyone say tentacles?

>>19077127

>dat filename

I guess our world has a name now, or at least the bords have a name for it.

>>19077266
The Dire Spined Phou comes equipped with crushing claws that are good for breaking through coral to get at the cave roha as well as any unfortunate shelled creature it can get its claws on. The Spines fend off any large predators allowing the phou to grow to massive size. They also grow a third eye on their tail so they can watch for attacks from behind as well as a maw that can shoot out at lightning speeds to catch curious fish, allowing it to be both an ambush predator and a slow unrelenting scavenger.

>>19077222
Could ya hit me with another hybrid where the Spiny gains armored spiky hooks on the ends of its tentacles and the bioluminescent blinker on the front?

rolled 6, 5 = 11

>>19076289
>>19076431

Rolling for glorious bord.

rolled 6, 6 = 12

>>19077335

Wow, that's weird. Should the mandibles replace the beak or be added to the sides?

(and thanks for mentioning the lowercase dice btw)

>>19076969
In an effort to kill themselves, the Optical Phou follow some of the hoppers back towards shore. Hoping to beach themselves and suffocate. Instead, they discover they had the ability to breathe air this whole time... Due to the horrible mutations and bright coloration though, the Hoppers avoid eating the creatures but instead use them as bait to lure in other prey. Throwing them in shallow water and letting their forlorn splashing draw in other hungry things they will eat.

>>19077357
No problem. And I think the mandibles should be in addition to the beak. Duck beak with twin mandibles on the sides.

>>19077286
Well, I'd like to leave the name of the world open for interpretation. Obviously the Bords named it Borgas 4, but what about the Lem? Frowg? Suzumou? Hmm, there seems to be stuff missing from the tribal stage that I want a clear answer to. Like, the East/Central/West/South continents, they're just for ease of telling where we are, but what do their inhabitants name them?

>>19076092
Ocean Hoppers make their way to the Western Reef and find it strangely fine for them. The poisonous plankton for whatever reason do not harm them in the least. They take advantage of the lack of any large predators and make this reef home for the time being.

>>19077381

Well, now that you asked, I quickly came up with a name for the continent, or the whole world actually, in suzumou language, as they are unaware of the other continents.

Seen-kel Hazu.
Which means the Desert of the Worms.
They really believe that the world is mostly made out from the desert, although those Zu-nul who joined the great Thickblood in the sky now know how small their previous idea of the world really was.

I had many plans for the Zu-nul that I didn't jet manage to fulfill, so I hope we return to the desert soon.

>>19077444
Those bastards the flying Roha discover a way to attack the large beasts when the surface for air by swarming their air tube and sliding down inside the Ocean Hopper. The lucky Roha get to eat happily for quite some time before the Ocean hopper finally dies. This also acts as a safe place for the Flying Roha to place their eggs.

>>19076289
>>19077335

Aquabords mutate into horrible spiked abominations with strong mandibles next to their beaks. The mandibles prove helpful in holding down smaller prey and cutting food into bite-size bits.

New Mini-Event since Im going to bed.

During the tidal waves and massive chaos of the past few cycles, a massive storm has brewed. Now, this doesnt mean much to the ocean dwellers, but in the constant surge of wind and weather, a bunch of eggs were scooped up and dropped in a different reef.
-------------

Optional Event- Chose one Local Species of a Reef and deposit/migrate it to another region. The species remains at their home reef, but now attempts to survive in this new environment. Do they prosper or are they all doomed to a short and pointless death?
most recent species list: >>19076075

Alright, this will be probably my final update for a while, as I have a quest to run. I'd like to know how many of you are still lurking here, so that I know if I should keep bumbing this.

Anyways, the "hands" of the island hoppas develop further. They can now reliably handle and hold all kinds of objects.
They have grown slightly more social, often working together when they hunt all kinds of shallow water and land critters.
They have also learned that the easiest way to get to the meat of the stilt walkers is to bash them to rocks until their shells break.

Before anyone thinks that I might be trying to make another intelligent hoppa species, fear not. I intend to make these insland hoppas into somewhat intelligent yes, but not tribal. They will be the Nad'lun equivalent of mermaids, that the pirates and sailors tell stories about.

Also, I have a question for you IG.
What kind of fauna lives in these islands?
This is pretty long after the black dawn, and in my recollection the island games didn't go on that long after the event, so the fauna developed in that thread might be outdated.

Im technically here. But trying to fall asleep. Basically in read only mode. Although, if you had time I would still love if you could help me with this one: >>19077321

>>19077851

Here you go.
I hope that I understood you request correctly.

>>19077888
amazing as always.

>>19077888
WE ARE THE HARBINGER OF YOUR PERFECTION

>>19077888
>>19077526
The Spiny Hybrid finds its way to the Eastern Colonies where it quickly starts to intermingle with the Colonial Boost Roha. Not breeding right away, but cohabitating. It starts to pick up habits from the colonial roha and the two species start to form cooperate with one another forming mixed families in one hive.

The recent storm uncovered lots of dumped chemicals which caused many mutations in the animals of the sea, including the Luscanemats, and the Old Nameless one was not an exception. the effect of potent chemicals started to show when many Luscanemats started to increasingly grow more tendrils. The effects might have not been so strong for the Old nameless but in its neverending hunger it started to eat the containers. This caused it to grow great number of new tendrils and this strong growth also intensified the leaking of Cystonemats poison to the surroundings.
The madness grows and even now we don't know what the chemicals are doing to it in the future.

>>19077735
Well, it seems like there's a lot of Adoni variants in the islands, as well as Stalcks.
Maybe an Archipelago Evolution pt 3 is needed, as the island Kuckar is not getting enough love.
Maybe sometime in the future.

Come to think of it, this world has some nasty megafauna. Titandonis, Whale Kafka, Whale Hoppa, old Ramel, Thick-Blood... wow.

Some of the flying rohas also start to live in the shallow waters of and lush island of the archipelago.
Their stabilizer tentacles become stronger, allowing them to anchor themselves in plants for resting.

BEHOLD!

rolled 3, 4 = 7

>>19076882
Exposed to a plethora of new chemicals, the Jet Slizer goes through a genetic freakout. Its leg muscles rupture their exoskeleton and form into long, powerful tentacles capable of latching onto prey and tearing off armor plating. The Sliver's digestive system also swells and overflows, pouring out of the Sliver's mouth. These weaker tentacles are caustic due to stomach acids and are used to partially digest prey before dragging it into the rest of the Sliver's stomach.

Now rolling for West Reef Slizer

>>19078510

Bump before i'll go for now. i'll be back later

>>19078510
Exposure to chemicals and environmental changes accelerates the West Reef Slizer's evolution. It claws grow larger and more powerful, as well as growing a second set. The Slizer's tail splits apart and grows an inward set of spikes, resembling teeth. This secondary mouth allows the Slizer to tear apart and consume prey faster.

>>19077735
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/18960430/ This is the island Nad. One of many around the world. Also, your bord solider is top notch! Also, might i add...this,

Just woke up and set up my computer after moving out of my dorm room. What did I mi-
>>19076431
It seems quite a bit of debris fell from the falling ship. I guess now we know what caused the Common Ojo to express its animal-like traits.

>>19076075
So only the Central Reef has Nuro? I had intended the Tail Nuro to be a general reef thing, as it evolved from the basic, not the central spiny.

Also, what happened to these guys? They haven't really been seen since the first thread. Sticky- Jellyfish. Colony- Siphonophorae
Not for evolution unless IG or NG says otherwise.

>>19080831

I guess that they are general plankton or something.

>>19080831
Tail Nuro should be everywhere, the I think somebody forgot to put them on the All list

I think there should also be non-regional Spiky Nuro in the Eastern Reef and Western Reefs, though they may have died off in the Western due to the toxic plankton event

rolled 6, 2 = 8

>>19081031
In that case, rolling for normal (or Eastern if they died from poisonous algae in the west) Spiny Nuro.

>>19082210
The (Eastern?) Spiny Nuro grows two additional tongues, which become long and prehensile. From the corners of their mouths, they sprout a pair of bony mandibles. Their mouths are not as suitable for life as an herbivore, nor are their digestive tracks meant to handle meat. They end up taking up a lifestyle as an omnivore; Eating what plants they can still manage to bite into, and scavenging small amounts of meat which their mandibles assist in tearing up.

>>19081031
Crap sorry, I think I accidentally deleted it when I was trying to consolidate species. Yeah Tail Nuros should be everywhere

rolled 6, 4 = 10

Rolling for... dammit, let's go with snakephou.

The Eastern Spiny Roha under the guidance of the Boost Roha has developed a new hunting tactic that creates a significant boost to the food supply of the Colony. Using their vertical orientation, they are able to glide down between the spines of the Dire Spiked Phou and kill it by ramming its long barbed tentacles into its eyes.

A strange side effect of this is that, because the creature does not die right away, the Roha can somewhat guide the beast into the colony hives upon which the Phou had been munching. Making for easier eating for the whole group

>>19082984
The Western striped snakephou gets pulled up in the torrents of storms, and come out at the other reefs quite changed. While the majority of the body is beginning to be covered in small hardened scales their mouths and pincers have a slightly hardened shell covering them

>>19075985
This overabundance of new food brought by the Spiny Curve Roha has spurned the rest of the Boost Roha into further prosperity. Signs of intelligence continue to grow and now, the Boost Roha find their pairing with the Curve worthy of note and attempt to seek out other species of Roha to communicate with. Perhaps further unions could prove beneficial?

>>19068447
Some of the Stilt Roha (Western Walkers) were scooped up during the storm and deposited amongst the other two reefs. The Tank Walkers in the central region were quick to devour them before they could establish themselves, but in the Eastern Region they were able to find a place amongst the other reef dwellers.

The Roha were approached one by one. The more intelligent species seemed to be the only ones at the table though. Did they listen?

>>19083246
With the help of some offfered food some boost Roha manages to lure a couple of specimen of Electric Cave Roha into the mouths of the cavernous dead lusconemats they live in. Their larger cousin form excellent guards who with some training devours any attempted intruders. Their electrical stun ability does caus a couple of "friendly fire" accidents, however, but their stronger arms and vicious barbs form an excellent defense.


>>19083462
Now this is almost becoming bord level...

>>19083462

The flying roha are already far too distant from their shelled cousins to commune with them. They are becoming more and more independent from the ocean, and the creatures living in there.

I also decided that I was too tired last night to do the Deep Roha's Super Eye Mutation any justice. So here it is redone. Now with tentacle Eye Stalks and they kept the Bioluminescent Blinker, which they have now learned to master during the course of negotiations with the Boost Roha

>>19083687
Those eyes looks like coffee beans to me...

Mmm... coffee roha...

>>19083687
The deep roha answer the call, but are too big to dwell within the colony proper, instead in exchange for food, the Deep Roha bring in discarded Megamouth Kafka shells to increase the size of the Colony Hives by adding to the coral infrastructure

>>19083462
Only a few of the rogue Spiny Boost Roha answer the call and join into the Colony. Their spiny mutation is quick to find a place amongst the species. They may lack in intelligence but make up for it in aggressiveness

The Stilt Roha having no means of communicating themselves aside from frantic gestures with their grasper tentacles were unable to reply to the Boost Roha. This was not the end though, the Boost Roha allowed them to continue living within the reef in hopes that one day, communication could be established

A third reef thread soon?
This one is nearing the bumb limit.

rolled 1, 1 = 2

>>19076431
rolling for super late evolution for the trench roos
they change slowly (and i had a film shoot today)

>>19084003
massive goddamn roo colonies coming soon to an ocean trench near you.

>>19083462
What's going on here?

Decided to draw us a picture of the hive with the new Colony Luscanemats as well

>>19084124
The Roha are attempting to create cohesive relationships between the species. So far, the Spiny Boost, Colonial Boost, Spiny Curve, Deep and Electric Cave Roha are working together in some fashion or another

>>19084124
This.

I dont know if I would go that far. But the Roha are starting to develop intelligence. And attempting to see if it exists in other species as well

>>19084257
>swaggerroha.png
>swagger

Cue Thick Blood in 3... 2... 1...

Well, we've definitely hit the bump limit. Hopefully IG is around to archive this and get us a third thread going. Maybe even with a new event to start us off?

Ill try to update our list of regional activity/species

>>19084273
I know that IG said that this was not supposed to reach tribal. Would the creation of sentient creatures count as something like that?

>>19084338
I'm pretty sure it does. While I am defenitley for Rohas brining other kinds of beings into the hive, I think the way it is phrased in the "Great Roha Coalition" is overstepping the boundaries of this game.

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/19064012/

Thread archived

Seeing how we're now in autosage, we can use this for a little discussion. I guess we have a new creature which stands out from the rest of its kind to join the ranks of the giant ramel Valorishous and the Cho-Wesper Thick Blood. There is now this guy too. Old Nameless.
>>19077958

This is my new list. Anything I missed? Also, I put Old Nameless in the west as there werent any luscanemats there yet, and it fits with the poison theme.

Western
-----------
Roha - Stilt, Red Comb (spotted/striped)
Kafka - Needle (orange),
West Reef Slizers
Striped Snakephou
Ocean Hoppa
Old Nameless Luscanemat
Western Spiny Nuro (Now with tentacle maw)

Eastern
-------------
Roha - Boost, Deep (few), Stilt, Deep Curve, Spiny Ripper (few)
Phou - Bearded, Dire Spiked
Colony Luscanemats
Kafka - Vivid, Crusher, Megamouth
Island Hoppa


Central
-------------
Roha- Tank, Deep Curve, Spiny Ripper, Ripper
Nuro - Central Spiny, Luscanemat
Kafka - Maw, Crusher, Megamouth
Sand Slizers
Kelp Ojo
Luscanemat - Fly Trap, Super Tentacles

Trench
- Trench Roo
- Abyssal Phou

All
--------
Phou - Winged, Remora, Optical, Razor, Thickhead
Nuro - Tail, Spiny
Roo - Simple, Mass, Cluster, Thermal, Epic
Roha - Flying, Electric, Curve (few), Leaf Lurkers
Kafka - Toothed, Parrot
Cystonemats- Cluster and Great
Ojo - Filter, Common, Roo
Jet Slizers
Aquabords

>>19084548
Considering where the Aquabords are from, they'd probably be mostly at the east, unless we say that they were swept to the other reefs from the storms. Yeah. Storms spread them out.

>>19084548
I think Boost Roha has migrated to exist in all reefs, but the Hive variant only exists in the East so far (at least in any greater extent) and the others are mainly nomadic.

Then some species can have been moved from a single to multiple by storms, the Striped Snakephou among others. While I haven't put in any developments for it, I still think basic (non-striped) Snakephous exist in all areas.

>>19084548

Damn, it's 5 am. There is no idea in going to sleep at this point.

Anyways, you forgot the island hoppas, which are mostly seen in the western reefs and in the archipelago near them. There is also the sub species of the flying rohas, who also live in the shallow island waters.

>>19084633
West, I meant west. Got my directions mixed up today.

>>19084667
Got it. Still working on the list as I go. Will post finished one in new thread.

Aside from the Hive Roha, is there anything unique about the Eastern Region itself. I know there is the deep sea plankton (which is why I think they have gotten smarter). But thats all I can think of so far.

>>19084937
I made a new thread