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Wherry: Skeleton and Whole

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Pern arts. Decided to do my take of the larger carnivorous Wherries of the south on Pern. I even went so far as to come up with a skeleton. Skeletons are the one thing I can spend /all day/ on without going alkfjeklajef. ANd I learned a lot about leg types and and and quadrupedal locomotion and and and and it's just all so exciting! (EDIT: Yes I know quadrupedal locomotion has nothing to do with this drawing, but I still learned it today lol) And I guess I'll start making my wings like this after a conversation with a couple people. Because apparently wings above the forelimbs will cause breeeathing problems. BREATHE BREATHE I TELL YOU (hyper)

Must draw more skeletons! 8D lol

So then. They hunt a lot like terror birds, by using those nasty beaks of theirs like spears! A human stands to about the highest point on their back, so they aren't overly large, but still dangerous. They're very speedy, and are better better runners than fliers, but their wings are still functional and they can make short bursts of flight that are best started from a high vantage point.

Their two wing digits have the claws reversed in order to make slashing enemies with them easier while still keeping their wings somewhat safe. The two smaller digits have normal claws in order to assist in clinging to rough surfaces or prey. The smallest wing digit is mostly vestigial though, and serves no real purpose other than hooking into objects and adding additional grip. The very first digit has been modified into a small spur for the leading edge of the wing to attach to.

They have a tridactyl orientation for their hands, a lot like native Dragonets, but more flexible and dextrous. The hand can splay out a lot in order to increase gripping surface area, and the phalanges can flex at an almost 90 degree angle to the metacarpals. Then when the tendons that pull the phalanges back release the claws snap shut like a trap. A great adaptation for catching small critters like firelizards that can't be speared with their beak.

They're very fast and have a leg structure similar to an ostrich. In order to counter balance their large head and wings they have a long tail, stiffened by bony rods along the length. The base of the tail has a lot of flexibility, though when needed it can be stiffened by tendons attached to the Pubis of the Pelvis.

They have splayed toes in order to keep them from sinking into the soft ground of Southern's rainforests and plains.


I love these guys now, and though I can't really copyright them the information not given by the books is mine. As is the artwork here and is not to be used by anyone other than me.
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© 2011 - 2024 SelenaRH
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Cheddarness8's avatar
:) This is just beautiful. Amazing work!