Thursday, October 25, 2012

The Inferno Spider: The Spider Truly from Hell

Hell, like any other ecosystem, is vastly filled with different species including the most common demons and devils. Whenever anybody thinks of the word, people generally think of a place where human souls are punished due to their sinfulness and they're right. Hell is an afterlife where the souls of humans go if they breaks certain rules such as murdering another or being an atheist (according to Christianity) to pay for their misdeeds. The Inferno Spider is an arachnid native only to this particular afterlife but, has the ability to travel into the mortal world by catching rides on incoming demons or demonic spirits. In Hell, the Inferno Spider can reach to about eight feet in diameter by adulthood while in our world they can reach up to the size of a tarantula. They can create complex webs that are known to burn the flesh of anything living, except for demons. Inferno Spiders, on both 'dimensions', are solitary hunters who target the weak as a food source. They are ambush predators and tend to use magma-like venom to paralyze their prey. For demons, this venom can easily paralyze them for enough time to allow the large arachnid to feed, however for humans, the venom tends to turn their veins into liquid lava which kills them if untreated. Anti-venom is possible if frozen or froze to the point of become injectable only for human use. Demons on the other hand, can become immune after the paralyzing effects wear off.

Inferno Spiders, like said above, are solitary animals until mating season. During mating season, both males and females fall into a strange, ritualistic  dance once in courtship. This dance can happen from hours to days until their mating ritual is over. Unlike most animals whom lay either eggs or have live birth, both the male and female explode after colliding with each other at the end. After the fiery explosion, eggs and sperm generate young Inferno Spiders within a few seconds creating instant birth. Predators, such as  fire elemental Salamanders, wait until the explosion to feed. In the mortal world, this is a dangerous deal after mating season has began which can result in some body's home to burn down. Like said in the first paragraph, Inferno Spiders catch rides from demons or evil spirits into our world to either obtain prey or create a new breeding population. The only way to get rid of Inferno Spiders is by exorcisms made for their species or are eaten by a fire elemental such as the Salamander mentioned above.
Inferno Spider (shown above) infestations can cause serious problems in our world and must be dealt with before mating begins unless, you don't mind having your house burn to the ground. The two common ways on knowning there is one around is by a sulfuric smell or strange burning from air vents, walls, or unusual places throughout the house.  

Sunday, October 21, 2012

The Rock Nest Monster: Exclusive Testudines

A species of Testudine (tortoises and turtles), the Rock Nest Monster is the most exclusive creature ever to roam America. Like its name, this exclusive creature lays porcelain-like eggs which are predator proof and cannot be x-rayed. Rock Nest Monsters are unknown to Monstrologists due to their mysterious nature. No evidence, except for their eggs, have ever proven the creature's behavioral patterns. Due to some evidence and theories, Monstrologists believe that the Rock Nest Monster is an aquatic herbivore and mainly spends its time submerged underwater. Mainly found around the Eno River of North Carolina, evidence had shown that this creature has been found in most of the southern states. Nesting, the largest piece of evidence, shows about twenty eggs surrounded by arranged rocks. The eggs are left to the elements, same as Testudines, and range from mottled brown to light green in color. Its known that the Rock Nest Monster reuses the same rock pile to lay its eggs, making this  a possible means of competition during mating season(s). There is evidence to support that this creature also has a distant cousin living in France called the Rock Less Monster, which is too a mysterious creature.
Above: a photograph of a Rock Nest Monster's nesting site with eggs.

Friday, October 12, 2012

The Suwannee Penguin: Modern Day Cousin of the Extinct Palaeeudyptines

Palaeeudyptines were once the largest species of penguins ever to have existed until extinction took hold of these amazing creatures. Afterwards, the family was lost forever until in 1948, at Florida's Clearwater Beach; strange foot prints were found in the sand. The prints were a mystery until, later that year, a large bird was sighted waddling alongside the beach. This mystery bird stood taller than any human (approx. fifteen feet tall from a distance) and looked similar in appearance toward a penguin. The Suwannee Penguin (named after the same river in Florida) is a modern day cousin of the giant penguins of the far Pacific. These creatures are only found off the coast of North Carolina to the Gulf of Mexico. They're also known to travel inland up large river systems into swamps, marshes, bogs, and even the everglades to mate and lay a single egg. Though they look frightening due to their size, Suwannee Penguins are harmless toward humans and tend to be shy toward them. They'll only attack if somebody frightens or threatens them. Their food sources is a wide variety from fish to aquatic mammals (muskrats) to the fearsome alligator. Predators vary depending on the carnivore's size such as giant alligators or the thought-to-be-extinct Megalodon. Hunting, trapping, and poaching of this rare bird is illegal thanks to the Suwannee Penguin Protection Act (passed in the southern states in the 1950's by Floridian Monstrologists) to help protect this endangered creature from human contact. Also, as a safety measure, Monstrologists created the cover-up called the 'Giant Penguin Hoax' to keep humans from chasing these giant birds just in case the act is dropped (which it had done in the 60's until the early 90's).
The Palaeeudyptines (such as the Kairuku Penguin, shown above) were mainly found in areas such as New Zealand, Antarctica, and even Australia. The Suwannee Penguins are only found in the United States/Mexico and don't enjoy the cold like their modern day cousins.  

Thursday, October 11, 2012

The Horses of Diomedes: Man-Eating Horses of the Black Sea

Diomedes' Horses are one of the world's most dangerous Equidaes (horses, donkeys, and zebras) due to their unnatural behavior to consume flesh from either animals or humans who come into contact. First originated in Southern countries nearby the Black Sea starting at Romania throughout Northern Turkey, the horses were accidentally brought to Greece by merchants trying to sell the horses to farmers. Unfortunately, a few escaped and created a small population within the country. In appearance, the horses vary between sexes with colors ranging from white to black. Males, smaller, are less aggressive and are omnivorous while the females, larger, are more aggressive and are carnivorous. Diomedes' Horses (unlike domestic and wild horses) have sharp, jagged teeth used for ripping food from their victims except for males, which have only K-9s and grinding teeth due to their omnivorous lifestyle. In the wild, females are usually in charge of a herd and are violent toward each other during mating season in which gender roles switch (males are picked by the females instead of the opposite of other animals). Domestication is still possible, but remember to always have in mind that even though females tend to be less aggressive in captivity, they still have a carnivore's thirst for blood.
Diomedes' Horses (shown above) were once part of the twelve labors of Hercules in which he binded their mouths shut with chains. This method is still used today whenever someone wants to 'break-in' the horses for domestication.

Thursday, October 4, 2012

The Bandersnatch: The Frumious Monster

The Bandersnatch is a species of large, carnivorous mammals that are only found in a few regions of Europe which mainly includes the United Kingdom and Germany. In appearance, the Bandersnatch looks something like between a bulldog and a "monster". With its bulldog-like face with rows of razor sharp teeth, the Bandersnatch can quickly rip apart prey without even breaking a sweat. Like a shark, the Bandersnatch can lose and regrow teeth without even noticing. The creature is lightly greyed in color and has black spots all over its body. The Bandersnatch is covered with long hair with a long, furry tail. Bandersnatches are both incredibly strong and unnaturally fast which gives the creature an upper edge while hunting down large prey. The Bandersnatch even has an extended neck which allows the creature, while running, to grab hold onto its prey (mainly deer or boar) without having to tackle its victim. The Bandersnatch produces a foul odor from its body which would repel any predators from attacking it and can automatically "turn off" the odor while hunting. They live throughout the winter thanks to their long fur and can survive without food for almost a week if they successfully kill a large enough prey (like for example a dragon). Bandersnatches are naturally aggressive toward other animals/humans in the wild but, in captivity; they can become the most loyal of friends and are totally harmless toward their masters. Hunting a Bandersnatch takes dedication, patience, and intelligence with a few hints of craziness.
The Bandersnatch (shown above) is one of the world's most dangerous and exclusive creatures on the planet.

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

The Strong Toad: Chile’s Invulnerable Toad

The Strong Toad is a very unique species of magical amphibians that are only native to Chile. In appearance, the creature looks like a normal horned toad except for a turtle-like shell on its back. The Strong Toad has the power of invulnerability, which allows the creature to withstand most harm and can actually glow-in-the-dark thanks to its unnatural skin. Strangely, one may think that the invulnerability is the creature's main defense mechanism. In reality, the Strong Toad's eyes actually have the ability to hypnotize any other life form away or toward the creature. Humans and predators are usually repelled but, insects or small mammals like mice are attracted toward the animal. Staring down either a predator or prey allows the Strong Toad to wisely choose which animal can get close enough to it, and if all else fails; the invulnerability protects the animal from any potential harm. Strong Toads are known to be great pets (only by choosing their owners) and are known to be great "guard dogs" due to their abilities. Though if a person ever wanted to kill a Strong Toad, fire is the most effective away due to the creature's amphibious nature but, just remember to burn it thoroughly until its reduced to cinders. Strong Toads are generally harmless but, are very picky on what or who they want to meet.
Over a century, Monstrologists have argued if the Strong Toad (illustrated above) is actually related to amphibians or reptiles. Until only recently, it has been confirmed that the animal is actually an amphibian thanks to recent technology.