Ornamented Anomalothere

    Anomalotheres are Kygor's most powerful terrestrial predators.  There are members of a second group of Kygorian "vertebrates" known as Arthrochoradates, united by their possession of head appendages (with varying levels of ossification), eyes on stalks, a proboscis containing a tubular radula, sexual dimorphism, armor plating, lack of a true tail, and incorporation of biogenic silica into their endo- and exoskeletons.  Arthrochoradates probably do share a marine vertebrate ancestor with the Parachodates.  While true Anomalotheres are bipeds they evolved from quadrepdal ancestors, unlike terrestrial Parachordates, which were ancestrally bipedal.
    While most anomalotherids are large (to 12 meters) top predators, other have specialized to incorporate varying degrees of plant matter into their diets.  The head appendages, their primary tools of food acquisition, vary in their anatomy between species.  Members of the genus Squillasaurus have "smashers" akin to those of certain mantis shrimps (ironically, not shrimps of the genus Squilla).  Those in Anomalotherium have "rakers" armed with sharp hooks like those of the Cambrian Earth invertebrate Anomalocaris, after which the genus is named.  Other genera exhibit variations on these basic themes.
    Though very peculiar, Arthrochoradates like the Anomalotheres are perhaps the Kygorian creatures most similar to Earth life in term of their anatomy and biology.

.....................................................................................................................................................................................................

Kygor Introduction

Just a quick Kygor doodle this time.  

Made in Sketchbook Express