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**Prior_of_the_Ori** · 20 March 2006, 09:20 AM

Question: The creatures must be on the planets in the show right? Just making sure.

~Nemean Lion
~Felis Nemea
~ Dakara
~ 15-18 feet long
~ Analysis of Greek mythology has discovered that such a species once existed on Earth long ago. However, it is believed that the creature did not survive from hunting and other ecological factors and eventually died out. The Nemean Lion was believed to be a massive creature and was the largest of the cat species known. They possess a yellowish fur which sometimes allows them to blend in their natural environment. They also have sharp claws though their teeth are not as strong as the Mafdet Lions present on Chulak. The males tend to have a strong mane of hair around their neck which they grow from childhood. A small furry tail is present and its movement can determine the 'mood' of the animal. Their sense of smell is particularly impressive and is used when they are hunting for food.

The Nemean lion is a feared creature even among the Goa'uld who found the species on the ancient world of Dakara. The planets surface was a hostile world for life yet the mighty mighty beast managed to survive. They tend to follow many of the same breeding patterns as the lions present on Earth. Some even wonder whether the lions seen on Earth are actually descendants of the Nemean Lion which might have been present all over the planet and different ecological conditions produced different offshoots of the species however nothing supports this theory currently.

The Nemean Lion demonstrates many of the traits of the lions present on Earth being that they are social creatures and considered 'kings of the jungle'. They often travel in groups with a single male protecting the pride. Younger males tend to be protected also however once they reach adulthood, they tend to be 'chased' away by the dominating male. Lone males can challenge the Alpha male and should the newcomer win then they become the new Alpha male.

The creatures were often hunted by the Goa'uld yet respected by the Jaffa who believed that the Nemean Lion was a symbolism of Jaffa strength. Despite this it was common for some Goa'uld to domesticate the animals and keep them as pets. It is believed that Bastest modelled her Jaffa on the Nemean Lion and that she kept a pair of the animals at her city of Bubastis. Chronis himself was known to have a gladiator arena where warriors would be sent to fight Nemean Lions.

~Khebian Firebird
~Avias Phoenis
~ Kheb
~ 80-100 cms long
~ A large eagle species that is native to the planet of Kheb, the creature is believed to be the inspiration of the Phoenix in mythology. The Firebird feathers are bright red in colour and seem to almost glow in the night. It is theorised that this is partly used as a form of mating to attract potential females depending on how bright they are. On such nights, they are believed to complicated dance in the sky which can be extremely tiring for the animals and on some occassions, fatal.

The Firebird are lone predators who are carnivorous in nature feasting on the flesh on killed prey. Strangely enough they seem to be almost nocturnal, preferring to hunt in the night rather then at day time. The males tend to be seen more then the females who, once mated, form nests and raise the young. Once the young have grown to adulthood, the mother simply leaves the nest and hunts once more.

Khebs mythical status among the Jaffa and the fact that almost no human life exists on the planet shows that the Firebird has never been domesticated. The creatures are wild and on some occassions have proven hostile to humans that approach their habitat though generally the beasts

Many Jaffa who arrived in Kheb and left brought the tales of the mythical Firebirds. Some say that they are the reincarnated souls of Jaffa who watch over the paradise that is Kheb. This is why that Jaffa who arrive at Kheb never harm the beasts and believe its a crime to do so, one that is punishable by death. This is more common now in the days of the Free Jaffa then in the era of the Goa'ulds domination of them as the parastical beings discouraged their warriors to find the planet.

~Alicorn
~Equs Cornis
~
~ Camelot
~ Believed to be the mythical Unicorn of legend, the Alicorn is an impressive breed of horse that was believed to have been cared for by the Ancients in times long ago. The creatures possess a near golden coloured hair at the base of their necks and a single horn which seems somewhat odd for such a creature. They are plant eaters and travel in large herds across the fields though some small herds tend to travel around a single location which serves as their home.

The musculature of the beasts is quite impressive as the animal has an efficient twin heart system allowing blood to be pumped across the body at a fast rate. This dual heart system allows the beast to survive constant running and not be tired from the event. The muscles are equally impressive as they tend to be thick and strong allowing them to move heavy objects which makes it common for them to carry heavy carts around. However, the price of such a strong body is the need for a greater amount of food then is normally required for such a creature.

The animal tends to be somewhat domesticated though hard to train as the creatures are known to have a somewhat 'rebellious' nature. The Alicorn is a social animal though one renowned for its fierce temperment when angered. Some even say that they possess an excellent memory and remember wrongs committed on them by others. Its interesting to note that the Alicorn herds tend to have an 'Alpha' male who watches over the herd and protects it from predators. These males are especially hard to train and capture and there are reported occassions of the animals killing those who attempted to do so. Yet this has only sparked the desire by the villagers of Camelot to domesticate the Alpha Alicorn.

The horns of the Alicorn are also priceless to the villagers and there exists a black market which hunts the beasts and attempts to remove the horns present to form knives and other weapons. This is generally frowned upon by most and such activity often leads to imprisonment for the offender.

~Mammonth
~Pachyderm Mamontus
~
~ P3X-439
~ A large elephant sized beast that lives on a world that was once colonised by the Ancients and whose monuments can be seen. The Mammonth is a furred beast and very similar to the extinct species that used to exist on the planet Earth. They possess many of the same qualities as elephants. Short tails, four strong legs, tusks, a long tusk and large ears though there are certain differences are present. The Mammonth possesses a thick layer of fur across its body similar to the Mammoths of Earths past. This is used to keep heat around the body and protect the animal from the cold of its native environment.

The creatures possess massive tusks and despite the fact that they tend to be gentle creatures, the tusks can be used to kill most creatures easily. Their large task is also strong enough to wrench a small tree from the soil easily which shows just how strong these creatures are. The animals are considered wild at this point and the fact that no human civilisation is present on the planet shows that no one had attempted to domesticate the animals.

These large beasts tend to breed slowly and take many years to grow to adulthood which somewhat keeps their population in check. They follow a similar way of breeding as those of the elephants present on Earth.

The Mammonth are plant eaters who travel the surface of their cold world in herds which migrate constantly depending on the food source present which makes their appearances in one area a rare sight. The family nature of the herd allows adequate protection from predators and on the rare moments when they do stop for rest, the females of the herd tend to watch over the young collectively. The Mammonths mothers are fiercly protective of their young going out of their way to protect their young from harm. On one occassion a member of an SG science team was almost killed when she approached one of the young at which point a female Mammonth attempted to attack the researcher.

The creatures were sighted by an SG team when returning to the world to examine the remains of a repository of knowledge left behind by the Ancients. On arriving at the monument where the device was located, the team found a herd of Mammonths travelling the location slowly. Another interesting factor is that on the planet very few Mammonth skeletons have been sighted which leads some to believe that the creatures congregate at one point to die forming a large graveyard of Mammonths. However, other scientists dispute this theory.

~Ophidian
~Serpentis Ophidis
~ 40 feet long
~ Chulak
~ A large species of serpents that shares a similar physiology as anaconda's and python's. They have long forked tongues which they use to 'taste' the air and help them scent their prey. The mouths hold a gland that allows them to spray their prey. The venom has a burning effect which can blind their prey and in time can paralyse their prey if sufficient quantity is sprayed. The 'spray' also leaves a particular trail for the Ophidian to trace its food. They can survive under the water for long periods of time which is attributed to their impressive lung capacity. A membrane surrounds the eye allowing an added layer of protection while in the water and also allows them

The creatures possess a thick layer of scales which the animal sheds once every year as the Ophidian grows larger and larger. Their strong musculature allows them an ability similar to most constrictors in that they wrap themselves around prey and squeeze the life out of their victim. Once dead, the Ophidian begins to feed.

The Ophidian jaw structure is extremely flexible allowing them to open them to near impossible levels which they do so to swallow prey whole. A strong digestive system which has powerful acids is used to eat the swallowed animal which can include humans on some occassions.

The Ophidian serpent are lone hunters though during mating season the males tend to congregate around females. This can lead to vicious fights and sometimes results in the death of the mating party. The winner among the males tend to win the right to mate with the female. During mating season they can be particularly vicious to trespassers. Though the Ophidian is a deadly animal it is common only in the deepest areas of the jungles and swamps where few humans travel and is therefore rare for human or Jaffa casualties to appear.

**jhkplaya888** · 20 March 2006, 09:59 AM

confused....

**TjomasC** · 20 March 2006, 12:03 PM

Hmm... how about:

Emperor Penguin
Aptenodytes forsteri

Proof that the gate was open thoughout the middle ages is the discovery of an easily tracable genetic line of Emperor Penguin found on a fish rich, icy planet.... belived to have wandered through when an active wormhole has left unattened by Sokar's Jaffa, the Penguins have thrived in their new home.

and another, more imaginative one!

Lindworm
Draconis wyvern

Belived to be a creature resident to the Asgard galaxy, the slavic's view of a dragon comes from a number of rare appearences when a Lindworm has managed to make its way trough an active stargate and thus terroise an unsuspected population.

The "Dragons" fed on cattle, sheep and many other domestic farm animals, thus causing the villages it visited to fall into starvation. Its ability to fly allowed it to travel long distences around planets, and was often the reason why it was able to get though the stargate, diving from high altatude into what it thought was a pool of water, looking for fish.

Not the brightest of creatures, they often ate out most of their food sources and where forced to move on, but often returned when the villages had managed to repair. This led it to be seen as a bringer of destruction and pestilence. Strangly, it also symbolised good luck, as often a sighting led from a visit from the Asgard, aiming to get rid of the creature before it caused to many problems, showing them that their gods still existed.

**Andrew Joshua Talon** · 20 March 2006, 02:38 PM

Chel-nak, Prior of the Ori and TjomasC! Very nice starts-I like your creativity!

And yes, Prior: Generally, animals and plants that developed on already established worlds in the canon. But, you may add a few new worlds if you wish. However, with so many already established planets, I don't think you guys need to start inventing new ones any time soon. ^__^

Now then, to add in some diversity, here's a list of interesting plants across the galaxy:

~Lightshow Cactus/Shifu plant
~Neoraimondia shifu
~Dakara
~4-7 feet tall
~Among the most beautiful plants in the Milky Way is the Lightshow cactus, related to a genus of cacti found in Peru on Earth. It is theorized that migrating birds would occassionally fly through the Stargate in Antartica, after being blown far off course by storms, and would then desposit the seeds of the cactus in their droppings. On this rough, desert world, few plants and animals have had the fortitude to survive. But, the Lightshow Cactus has devised a clever method of survival.

Due to Dakara's different solar energy, the cacti absorbed far more sunlight than they could introduce into their systems. Where other plant species on Dakara deal with this by "venting" the excess heat energy, the Lightshow put it to a different use. Gradually they developed special bioluminescent cells that released the excess heat during the night, resulting in a colorful light display of purples, oranges, pinks, reds, blues, and yellows. This light show also allows the cactus to attract insects and birds to land, and pick up pollen from the cactus's blooms. The Lightshow is thus one of the more dominant plant species on Dakara's deserts.

Known by the Jaffa as the Shifu plant, it has been a favorite of Gou'ald and Jaffa alike, who took to growing the cacti in gardens only open during the night. The cacti are also delcious and nutrious food sources, their inner flesh very sweet and filling.

~King Re'talnai
~Re'talnai rex
~Retalia
~40-60 feet tall
~With the Gou'ald defeated, the Re'tu were able to open formal diplomatic relations with the Tau'ri without the threat of their rebel faction causing any more destruction. Allowing a number of SGC science teams to explore their world, among the various discoveries made include an entirely new order of plants-the Re'Talnai.

Like the other inhabitants of Retalia, the Re'Talnai exist 180 degrees out of phase with normal matter. It is theorized that this state of being is caused by something unique in the Re'tue home solar system, though what is still unknown. The Re'taln produce oxygen from CO2 like normal plants, but have, in a case of parallel evolution, mimicked the Re'tu by becoming mobile plants. Using a method of fluid regulation through their various fibres and internal structures, the Re'taln plants can actually move about on a number of specially evolved stalks. The Re'taln range in size from the tiny Re'tillion flowers, which move about on three specially designed stalks like miniature, graceful tripods, to the massive King Re'talnai (Re'talnai rex), a tree the size of a three-story house that moves only a few feet every year. This addition of movement to the Re'talnai plant order seems to compensate for Retallia's slightly lower atmospheric carbon dioxide content. The movement actually increases the amount of CO2 pumped by the plants, and so like sharks they must keep moving to breathe. This evolution also grants the various plants an effective deterrent against being eaten, as a number of species have shown the strange tendency to move about in "groves", like protective herds, that can adjust their speed accordingly when they detect the chemicals released by a plant being eaten or attacked. There are thousands of species of this plant on Retallia, and only a small number have been documented so far.

(Feel free to add on to the walking plants of Retallia, guys, if you so wish.)

And now, for something a bit more familiar.

~Papyrus sedge
~Cyperus papyrus
~4-5 meters tall
~Most former Gou'ald worlds
~

Papyrus sedge, also known as Bulrush or Paper reed (Cyperus papyrus) is a monocot belonging to the sedge family Cyperaceae. It is a herbaceous perennial native to Africa.

This tall, robust, leafless aquatic can grow 4-5 m high. It features a grass-like clump of triangular green stems that rise up from thick, woody rhizomes. Each stem is topped by a dense cluster of thin, bright green, thread-like rays around 10-30 cm in length. This cluster resembles a feather duster when the plant is young. Greenish-brown flower clusters appear at the ends of the rays. The flowers give way to brown, nut-like fruits.

The younger parts of the rhizome are covered by red-brown, papery, triangular scales, which also cover the base of the culms and represent reduced leaves. It is therefore untrue to call this plant "leafless".

Papyrus is estimated to range from subtropical to tropical desert to wet forests, tolerating annual temperatures of 20-30°C and pH of 6.0 - 8.5. Papyrus flowers in late summer, and prefers full sun to partly-shady conditions. Like most tropical plants, it is sensitive to frost.

The papyrus sedges form vast stands in swamps, shallow lakes, and along stream banks throughout the wetter parts of Africa, but has become rare in the Nile Delta. In deeper waters it is the chief constituent of the floating, tangled masses of vegetation known as sudd. It also occurs also in Madagascar, and some Mediterranean regions such as Sicily and the Levant.

Used by the Ancient Egyptians for writing, papyrus was taken and transplanted to other worlds by the Gou'ald, who found the plant's ability to be made into writing material very useful. Nearly all Gou'ald written documents were made in papyrus scrolls, in order to keep the masses ignorant of Gou'ald computer technology.

**Prior_of_the_Ori** · 20 March 2006, 05:15 PM

Thanks

here's somemore.

~Harpi
~Reptis Scavis
~Delmak
~
~ The Harpi is a monkey sized flying reptilian animal that was native to the harsh wastelands of Delmak where changing environmental conditions shaped the animal as it is today. Since its first discovery by the Goa'uld the Harpi has made its way to many other worlds via the stargate or sneaking on to ships. They have a beaked mouth which they use to feast on flesh and peck plants as they are omnivorous creatures. They has long tails and short taloned legs which they use to secure their footing over tall locations.

The Greek mythology spoke of a creature called the Harpy and it is believed that the Harpi is the origin of those myths. Furthermore, the myth stated that the Harpi were mainly female and it appears that the Harpi is indeed mostly dominated by females of the species. There are fewer males, which are larger and far more aggressive, which mate with many females and maintain no bonds of family. The females never encounter the male again and form nests for their 'brood'. The young are born by eggs which are nurtured until they are hatched. The female then raises the children shortly then leaves them to their fate. As a consequence, only a few of the brood survive yet due to the 'mass matings' on the part of the males, this is not a problem.

The Harpi can be best described as the 'vulture pigeon rat of the galaxy' due to its scavenging ways. Though if confronted alone the Harpi tends to run away but if present in large numbers then the Harpi can be a dangerous animal as they would attack prey many times their size and weight depending on the availability of food sources. On one desert planet it was noted that the species resorted to cannibalism to sate their hunger when no other food source was present. They also seem to congregate - like vultures - over dead animals and many can tell when something has died by the circling Harpi's over the body.

Despite the ruined surface of Delmak - from its own naturally harsh environment, heavy industrialisation and the crash of Apophis's mothership to the surface - the Harpi has spread to many worlds and has become a pest to the many. The creatures large numbers prevents the Harpi from dying out either from natural disasters or by hunting which makes it a pest that needs to be dealt with. In fact, it is a common Jaffa rite to hunt the Harpi. One myth speaks of Sokar leaving his enemies chained to the high rocks that decorate Delmaks surface and allowing the Harpi's to feast on the chained individual slowly and painfully.

~Sesen Lotus Flower
~Lotai Sesai
~Ne'tu
~10-20 feet tall
~ Beautiful plants which produce a stalk full of several lilac coloured flowers. The flowers produce an intoxicating smell that is pleasant to many animals including humans who are all tempted to touch the plant. However, the Sesen flower is naturally beautiful yet equally dangerous.

The naturally harsh environment of Delmak provides very few species to live and those that do are often few in number. This makes life particularly difficult for the Sesen Lotus flower which is why it has a natural defense mechanism. The stem of the delicate flower possesses numerous thorns which all hold a powerful poison capable of slowly shutting down the nervous system of animals. The poison is quick acting and once the animal is dead, the roots of the flower begin to feed - through the soil - of the dead creature. This serves as an added bonus to help in the growth of the plant. The poison is perhaps one of the most poisonous known and can even retard the natural healing abilities of a Goa'uld.

The plant is only safe during the pollination cycle where the poison is naturally stopped and instead a sweet smell is generated to attract animals to the flower. Animals would be then gorge themselves on the natural liquid produced as a byproduct and carry the spores to new locations for the plant to take root.

The plant was first discovered on Ne'tu but has since been transplanted to several worlds due to its poisonous nature which is often used as an assassination tool by the Goa'uld. It is known that the Goa'uld Nirti was particularly fond of the plant.

~Wisp
~Pyrus Wispia
~Nox
~
~ The Wisp is a creature that is easily recognisable despite its small form. They resemble small floating balls of light that are extremely quick. While they might look like floating insects the fact of the matter remains that nothing is known about the Wisp beyond a few facts. One being that they are social animals forming small 'nests' which are fiercely protected. The purpose of the 'nest' is unknown. Despite their small size the creatures can be vicious as they are slightly out of phase allowing them to pass through solid objects. When moving at high speeds, this phasing literally stings an animal causing intense pain and enough 'stings' can kill a person. Their phasing ability seems somewhat controllable by the Wisps themselves as they can eat solid food.

Reproduction is believed to be through a process similar to fission in bacteria. This allows a single 'parent' to only be necessary which splits into two wisps. The creatures natural phase shifting ability makes some scientists wonder whether the Wisp has a natural predator. As the ability associated with phasing through matter would make it impossible for normal animals to harm the Wisp. Yet the Wisp does not appear to dominate its habitat and maintains a low population which leads some researchers to believe that the Wisp are slow breeders.

It is difficult to theorise what the Wisp actually as there is evidence of insect behaviour similar to bee's on Earth yet the ability to phase goes against the idea of an actual insect. The creatures elusive behaviour when alone and their aggressive nature when in numbers makes it difficult to study. They are known to be influenced by electrical fields. Strong fields act as a wall which kills them if they ram into. Zat blasts are known to kill the animals and the 'charge' left over a person or thing detracts the animal from attacking the object. While light magnetic fields alter their behaviour sometimes to high aggressive levels whereupon they 'hunt' prey even when their is no reason to do so.

It is believed that these creatures are actually native to the home world of the Nox but was spread across worlds by the Ancients and the Goa'uld who attempted to hunt the mythical Fenri. The Wisp is known to present on which was a moon orbiting a gas giant. Another species of the Wisp is even known to be present in the Pegasus galaxy one a desert world in the Lantian system. In the case of the latter, it is believed that several of the Wisps stowed away on Ancient cityships bound for the Pegasus galaxy.

**Andrew Joshua Talon** · 20 March 2006, 08:34 PM

Nice job, PotO! And now, to add to the ecosystem of the planet P3X-888-The birthplace of the Goa'uld. I mean, surely, there are more creatures than just Unas and Goa'uld there, right?

Just to be somewhat cheeky, I've assigned the Goa'uld we know (the evil, parasitical kind) the scientific name Goa'uld goa'uld. I wonder how they would react?

***
~Summisaurus/Chalnas
~Summisaurus chalnas
~P3X-888
~100-120 feet long
~The largest lifeforms on P3X-888, the huge Summisaurs are gigantic, sleek ocean-going reptiles, resembling modern-day whales on Earth in many respects. The Summisaurs feed with baleen-like filters in place of teeth, usually on small invertabrates and small Gou'ald offshoots filling the oceans of
P3X-888. Their behavior is also very whalelike, gathering in large pods of mating pairs that collectively feed, raise, and protect offspring, which are born live. Unlike whales, however, the Summisaurs communicate primarily with light-producing organs lining their bodies, instead of sound. Their
eyesight is thus exceptional, even better than that of several species of bird of prey on Earth.

Despite their large size, the Summisaurs (which means "gentle lizard") are extremely playful and peaceful. They have no true natural predators in the oceans of P3X-888, and are very intelligent despite their size. Competition between males during the mating season is in the form of light displays and acrobatics.

Several SGC teams have asked to set up a research base and R&R facility on the coastline to observe the Summisaurs, as the area is very far from any parasitical Gou'ald infested waters. And the Summisaurs do not fear humans or Unas-On the contrary, they enjoy being scratched and petted by them.

The native Unas (who call them "chalnas, or "free ones") have revered the Summisaurs as expressions of beauty and peace for generations.

~Goa'uld fish
~Goa'uld aureus
~P3X-888
~8 inches-4 feet long
~Their name something of a pun, the Goa'uld fish nevertheless are nearly all colored like precious metals, such as silver, copper, and yes, gold. An offshoot of the Goa'uld, the Goa'uld fish became truly aquatic lifeforms, developing into numerous species and subspecies over the millenia that now
populate the oceans of P3X-888. All Goa'uld fish have similar attributes: They have four eyes, gills, two genders (male and female), and are incapable of taking hosts. They give birth to live young, which are soon abandoned to their fate by their mother after she releases them from the pouch her eggs
were fertilized by a male a few weeks before, during the summer months of the year.

Most of the Goa'uld fish are omnivorous, live in large schools, and generally congregate around algae fields which draws potential prey, in the form of aquatic arthropods, and herbivorous Goa'uld fish. The largest species yet documented is the Goa'uld aureus boreal, or Cow Goa'uld. It ranges
from 3 to 4 feet long, and is omnivorous, but seems to prefer a diet of mostly seaweed and algae, only rarely eating carrion or very small shellfish.

Only a very small number of Goa'uld fish species have been properly identified and studied. Estimates range from a minimum of 100 species, to a maximum of 10,000 species yet to be found. One of the most surprising supporters of further study of the Gou'ald fish of P3X-888 has been General
Jack O'Neill, formally of SG-1. He maintains that since these are the only Gou'ald that went and did something useful, they should be studied in great detail.

~Goa'uld shark
~Goa'uld feral
~P3X-888
~3 feet-30 feet
~A very unique offshoot of the Goa'uld, the Goa'uld "sharks" barely resemble their parasitic forebears, appearing as sinewy sharks with four eyes. They are pure carnivores, prowling the oceans of P3X-888, alone or in huge schools. They are also the only form of Goa'uld that the native Unas have
respect for, as one species in particular, the Goa'uld feral nemesis (named the Chakanel by the Unas, which roughly means "slayer of the enslavers"), hunts nothing but the parasitical Gou'ald infesting the various interior waters of P3X-888.

The largest species has been named the Goa'uld feral gigantis, or Giant Goa'uld Shark. At over 30 feet in length and weighing nearly three tons, the Giant Goa'uld Shark is the undisputed master of P3X-888's oceans, the only creature not it's prey being the mighty Summisaurus. Curiously enough though, despite the Giant Goa'uld Shark's size and power, it (like nearly all other Goa'uld offshoots) flee when they catch sight of either humans or Unas. It may be an instinctive defense mechanism against parasitical Goa'uld, who (now with an Unas under their command) were a great deal more threatening than they were before.

~Flying Snakes
~Goa'uld avis
~P3X-888
~5 inch-6 foot wingspan
~Although parasitical Gou'ald have developed enlarged fins for rudimentary gliding to better take hosts, only the Goa'uld avis, or flying snakes, have achieved true powered flight. They give birth to live young, are no longer amphibious, and do not take hosts. After some kind of mass extinction
on P3X-888 over forty million years ago, the vast majority of the survivors were the ancestors of the Gou'ald, Unas, a few reptile species and large numbers of insects. There was thus left a very big gap in the ecosystem, which nature endeavored to fill. And among these empty niches was the air. Sporting long, hollow scales that serve as wings, enlarged ribcages and muscles, and much stronger tails, the flying snakes are more like Earth birds than their swamp-dwelling cousins.

Although only a few species have been observed, there is more than likely a huge variety of these flying Goa'uld, in every conceivable shade, color, and shape. The ones seen so far have mostly been omnivores, scavengers, and a few that developed into raptor analogues, stooping like falcons as they take down their prey. The run the range of tiny Bumblebee Goa'uld, colored bright yellow and able to fit in your hand, to huge Eagle Goa'uld, gliding high upon thermals overhead.

**Andrew Joshua Talon** · 21 March 2006, 08:45 AM

While crude, and not even close to true scale, this is an image of some of the species I described above on P3X-888.

**Prior_of_the_Ori** · 21 March 2006, 09:42 AM

Wow that looks quite good actually and nice idea about various species of Goa'uld. Would make sense since environmental factors would force new evolution changes and those would make sense. Like how you had the 'original' Goa'uld being the shark ones since in the show I think it was implied that they were something like those.

**Mr Prophet** · 21 March 2006, 09:56 AM

~Bundes
~Urside procyon urbanus (Kelownan taxonomic classification)
~Langara
~c. 20" long
~The bundes is a small, carnivorous mammal, not disimilar in size and behaviour to a raccoon. Its build is also raccoon-like, but it does not exhibit the characteristic 'mask' of the terrestrial raccoon. Most bundes have dark brown fur, marked with grey brindling. They are predators by nature, feeding on small mammals, baby birds and bird eggs, but have become heavily urbanised and subsist in towns largely by scavenging from rubbish bins. They are typically shy, but can become accustomed to the presence of humans and even be partially domesticated.

~Che'hal
~Sphyraenus aesahaettr
~P3X-888
~c. 9' long
~The che'hal is noted as one of the few natural predators of the robust, predatory line of the Goa'uld race. It is a large fish, similar to a pike or barracuda, with a long, powerful jaw full of sharp teeth. The memory of the che'hal of their primordial home resonates in the Goa'uld genetic memory as a recurring, racial nightmare.

~Kitsune-tsuki
~Vulpes eidolon
~Yomi
~c. 7'-9' long
~The kitsune-tsuki are the ghost foxes who give their name to the Forest of Foxes on the planet Yomi. On a world populated with dragons, giant eagles and wolves the size of hippos, the kitsune-tsuki are the most feared natural predator. Although more vulpine than lupine in build, they are powefully muscled and quite capable of killing animals several times their own, not inconsiderable, size.

The kitsune-tsuki possess several extraordinary evolutionary adaptations which add to their fearsome reputation. Their fur ranges in colour from silver to black, but in low light invariably fades to a mere shadow, making them almost invisible in twilight and darkness. More impressive still, they are natural mimics, capable of copying the sounds made by other animals to lure them to their deaths. Finally, faced by the arrival of predators of their own - humans, Jaffa and Goa'uld - they have adapted a unique defence. Their retinas contain a reflective membrane, similar to that in a cat's eye, which, as well as enhancing their night vision, can vibrate at a frequency which induces blackouts and seizures in humans; effectively a hypnotic gaze.

~Trenoth
~Limulus aegis
~Getek (P5G-991)
~2' (unbonded), >6' (bonded)
~Crustacean lifeform, genetically modified by the Goa'uld to be used as a form of body armour for the gladiatorial warriors known as the Guyen-tor (from the Goa'uld for 'fighting human'). The unbonded trenoth resembles a horseshoe crab and lives in sulphurous pits. Those chosen for the bonding process are taken from the pits in infancy and attached to a Guyen-tor child. The two grow together over the years until, by adulthood, the Trenoth's armoured carapace almost completely covers the warrior's body.

Possessing a bonded Trenoth might mitigate against winning any beauty contests, but it has many advantages. The carapace of a bonded adult can resist energy blasts and projectile weapons alike and the muscles of host and symbiote work together, greatly increasing the warrior's strength. In addition, the claws of the trenoth grow into weapons of considerable size and power and the hooked pseudopods which stud the carapace are used to hold additional weapons and equipment, as the Guyen-tor invariably fight naked except for their trenoth.

**Prior_of_the_Ori** · 21 March 2006, 10:23 AM

~Basilisk
~Sevis Basilai
~Erebus
~
~The Basilisk is a large near elephant sized reptilian creature native to the naquada rich world of Erebus. The Basilisk is believed to be the origin of the myth present on Earth. The reptiles are large heavily green scaled creatures whose strong natural armour protects them from even staff weapon fire. Which is why the animals are greatly feared even among the Jaffa on Erebus who have known for the animal to charge squads of Jaffa warriors. If that weren't enough, the Basilisk possesses a long powerful spiked tail which is strong enough to shatter every bone in a human with a single swipe. Four sharp claws are present on their four legs which are strong enough to take the head off a human.

The head of the animal is particularly armoured with two horns decorating the front allowing it to impale others. There eyelids contain natural membranes that shroud over the eyes to protect them from the hostile gases that tend to emit from the ground. The Basilisks tend to congregate around the small number of natural pools that are present on the planet where they bask in the heat generated from geothermic energy. An interesting factor of biology is that these pools tend to be near naquada formations which 'leak' into the pools and has resulted in the Basilisk developing a natural affinity for sensing naquada which can be dangerous for mining sites. A common tactic by the Goa'uld Overlord is to throw rogue Jaffa or Goa'uld or Tok'ra into the wild who eventually get hunted down by the roaming Basilisks. Along with this 'naquada' sense, the creatures hunt by heat using their sensitive eyes. A common Jaffa tactic is to temporarily 'blind' the creatures eyes by firing near the head. This simply distracts the creature and allows a the party to escape. Even if wounded, the Basilisk has a strong regenerative system allowing them to heal serious wounds.

The myth of the Basilisk sometimes spoke of a creature which could petrify humans with just a stare. It seems part of this myth is accurate as the mouth of the animal contains dozens of harmful bacteria which the creature can spit out. Infected prey die in days while those with a symbiote would be greatly weakened. Their bodies also tend to have multiple stomachs allowing them to store food for later digestion allowing the Basilisk to survive periods when food is scarce.

The animals are carnivores who take the role of lone hunters. The creatures tend to live entirely alone for most of their lives and the only two times they encounter their own kind is either during confrontations over food or territory or during mating. Once mating is complete the two 'parents' leave and the female lays her eggs either under sand or in an area in a cave. She then leaves the eggs to their fate. Some are killed by natural predators while others cannot survive the planets harsh environment however the large quantity of eggs allow a small percentage of the species to thrive.

**Andrew Joshua Talon** · 21 March 2006, 02:04 PM

Originally posted by Prior_of_the_Ori

Wow that looks quite good actually and nice idea about various species of Goa'uld. Would make sense since environmental factors would force new evolution changes and those would make sense. Like how you had the 'original' Goa'uld being the shark ones since in the show I think it was implied that they were something like those.

^__^ Thanks! Well, in "The First Ones", Dr. Jackson and SG-11 excavate some Gou'ald fossils preserved in the rocks of P3X-888. He notes that these Gou'ald had larger fins and more robust skeletal structures than their modern-day descendants, indicating that they were predators instead of parasites.

Now, we've seen three distinct "species" of Goa'uld: The primitive Gou'ald in the waters of P3X-888, that have apparently developed the ability to glide in order to get at hosts farther away from water, the fossil Gou'ald, and of course, everyone's favorite evil, disgusting snakes with delusions of divinity.

However, an ecosystem is not based on one or two species, especially not one as large as a planet. Considering the abundance of the Gou'ald on P3X-888, and the fact that the fossil Gou'ald were found some distance away from modern bodies of water, I think it's safe to conclude that there could be Gou'ald everywhere there is water on P3X-888. However, they can't all be parasites/scavengers. And the Unas are not numerous enough on their own to control the population. Ergo, there have to be more species at work on P3X-888. Why not Gou'ald-relatives?

The dominant lifeforms on our planet at the moment (mammals, such as bears, cats, whales, and us) are all descended from a common ancestor, early mammals that were hiding in the bushes as dinosaurs went by. The Gou'ald can certainly qualify as a reasonably common lifeform on P3X-888 (though we have only seen a very small portion of it). Some of the Gou'ald may have never encountered Unas. Many of them probably never even heard of the Stargate. And they wouldn't evolve to be parasites without needing to.

However, my interpretation may be flawed, considering that we've only seen a pretty small percentage of P3X-888. But, with the range of mammals on our own planet that developed in fifty million years (bats, dolphins, elephants, and so on) it's not all that impossible to think that the Gou'ald might have done the same. Those that didn't become disgusting, slimy parasites, that is.

**Mr Prophet** · 22 March 2006, 08:01 AM

~Dragon (Yoman)
~Draco naquidas
~Yomi
~10-15' long (body), 25-30' (tail)
~The dragon is one of a number of extraordinary species to have developed in the isolated, naquadah-rich confines of Yomi. They are a large, reptilian species, capable of achieving true flight through a combination of vast wings, hollow bones and gas-filled sacs which line their long, narrow bodies. Despite their size, they eat little, feeding mostly on small mammal, birds and young deer. They occasionally raid the nests of the great eagles and this can lead to spectacular aerial clashes. In addition to meat, they eat scrub grass and bamboo and, to aid digestion, swallow large quantities of the naquadah-bearing soil of their habitat.

The dragons possess a unique defensive adaptation, in that they can digest and metabolise raw naquadah, refining it within an organ in their forehead until it reaches a purity somewhere between artificially refined, weapons grade naquadah and that occuring naturally on Yomi. They are then able to utilise the energy store in the naquadah to generate and channel plasma discharges through their nasal tubes, it is thought by manipulating electromagnetic fields in the same manner as a hak'tar.

The dragons are majestic, beautiful creatures. Their courtship rites incorporate a dazzling aerial dance and they sing to their mates, the hollows of their bones and gas sacs acting as resonating chambers, creating an eerie, haunting song that can carry for several miles.

Sadly, the song of the dragon is rarely heard these days. When the Goa'uld arrived on Yomi they recognised a rival for the planet's naquadah reserves and hunted the dragons almost to extinction. Although powerful and resilient - their scales also contain a quantity of naquadah, which acts to disperse plasma fire and zat blasts - the dragons were no match for the relentless hatred of the Goa'uld. Most of the surviving dragons are too mean to die, but too old to breed. Only a handful of mating pairs remain in the highest reaches of the Mountains of Storms.

~Great Eagle
~Aquila superior
~Yomi
~35-40' wingspan
~The great eagles are another of Yomi's zoological oddities. Colossal, avian predators, they are similar to terrestrial eagles, save that they kill and eat large deer and elk, and occasionally even take small dragons for their prey. The ninja clans of the Mountains of Storms have learned to use the largest eagles as mounts, but they are useful only for transportation; no rider could remain seated on an eagle in the midst of battle and unridden they will instinctively flee from battle.

~Fire Willow
~Salix incenderae
~Erana
~Specimens as tall as 20', with a branch span of almost 50' have been recorded.
~The fire willow is a species of the Genus Salix, indigenous to the planet Erana. Like many of the Galaxy's more eccentric works of nature, they grow in naquadah-rich areas. In the case of the fire willow, the deep ground water of Erana is rich in aqueous naquadah and this is drawn up by the willow's taproot. As a result, the green wood and bark of the tree are very difficult to ignite, but burn with a ferocious heat once lit. The people of the town of Yeth extract the naquadah compounds from the bark and mix it with rape oil to create flare oil, an incendiary oil which burns very hot and as bright as a halogen spotlight.

~Pal'ok
~Piper lethargum
~Chulak
~Pal'ok is a member of the pepper family and its fruit can be dried to use as a spice which has a sweeter, maltier flavour than black or white pepper.

The root of the plant is used as a medicine or poison and has the effect of reducing metabolic function. Carefully applied it can slow bleeding, inhibit the spread of toxins and otherwise preserve life until proper medical care can be administered; an overdose causes death by cardiac or respiratory failure. If administered to a Jaffa, the drug is filtered out by the symbiote in their pouch and concentrated in the tissues fo the immature Goa'uld. This renders the prim'ta lethargic, reducing the Jaffa's resistance to disease and injury, but also slowing the development of the prim'ta. A Jaffa using this drug could last for up to thirty years before their symbiote matured and had to take a host.

It is illegal for any Jaffa to possess pal'ok root or to grow pal'ok, although the Goa'uld use it as both a medicine and a recreational narcotic.

**Andrew Joshua Talon** · 22 March 2006, 08:04 AM

Originally posted by Mr Prophet

~Dragon (Yoman)
~Draco naquidas
~Yomi
~10-15' long (body), 25-30' (tail)
~The dragon is one of a number of extraordinary species to have developed in the isolated, naquadah-rich confines of Yomi. They are a large, reptilian species, capable of achieving true flight through a combination of vast wings, hollow bones and gas-filled sacs which line their long, narrow bodies. Despite their size, they eat little, feeding mostly on small mammal, birds and young deer. They occasionally raid the nests of the great eagles and this can lead to spectacular aerial clashes. In addition to meat, they eat scrub grass and bamboo and, to aid digestion, swallow large quantities of the naquadah-bearing soil of their habitat.

The dragons possess a unique defensive adaptation, in that they can digest and metabolise raw naquadah, refining it within an organ in their forehead until it reaches a purity somewhere between artificially refined, weapons grade naquadah and that occuring naturally on Yomi. They are then able to utilise the energy store in the naquadah to generate and channel plasma discharges through their nasal tubes, it is thought by manipulating electromagnetic fields in the same manner as a hak'tar.

The dragons are majestic, beautiful creatures. Their courtship rites incorporate a dazzling aerial dance and they sing to their mates, the hollows of their bones and gas sacs acting as resonating chambers, creating an eerie, haunting song that can carry for several miles.

Sadly, the song of the dragon is rarely heard these days. When the Goa'uld arrived on Yomi they recognised a rival for the planet's naquadah reserves and hunted the dragons almost to extinction. Although powerful and resilient - their scales also contain a quantity of naquadah, which acts to disperse plasma fire and zat blasts - the dragons were no match for the relentless hatred of the Goa'uld. Most of the surviving dragons are too mean to die, but too old to breed. Only a handful of mating pairs remain in the highest reaches of the Mountains of Storms.

~Great Eagle
~Aquila superior
~Yomi
~35-40' wingspan
~The great eagles are another of Yomi's zoological oddities. Colossal, avian predators, they are similar to terrestrial eagles, save that they kill and eat large deer and elk, and occasionally even take small dragons for their prey. The ninja clans of the Mountains of Storms have learned to use the largest eagles as mounts, but they are useful only for transportation; no rider could remain seated on an eagle in the midst of battle and unridden they will instinctively flee from battle.

~Fire Willow
~Salix incenderae
~Erana
~Specimens as tall as 20', with a branch span of almost 50' have been recorded.
~The fire willow is a species of the Genus Salix, indigenous to the planet Erana. Like many of the Galaxy's more eccentric works of nature, they grow in naquadah-rich areas. In the case of the fire willow, the deep ground water of Erana is rich in aqueous naquadah and this is drawn up by the willow's taproot. As a result, the green wood and bark of the tree are very difficult to ignite, but burn with a ferocious heat once lit. The people of the town of Yeth extract the naquadah compounds from the bark and mix it with rape oil to create flare oil, an incendiary oil which burns very hot and as bright as a halogen spotlight.

~Pal'ok
~Piper lethargum
~Chulak
~Pal'ok is a member of the pepper family and its fruit can be dried to use as a spice which has a sweeter, maltier flavour than black or white pepper.

The root of the plant is used as a medicine or poison and has the effect of reducing metabolic function. Carefully applied it can slow bleeding, inhibit the spread of toxins and otherwise preserve life until proper medical care can be administered; an overdose causes death by cardiac or respiratory failure. If administered to a Jaffa, the drug is filtered out by the symbiote in their pouch and concentrated in the tissues fo the immature Goa'uld. This renders the prim'ta lethargic, reducing the Jaffa's resistance to disease and injury, but also slowing the development of the prim'ta. A Jaffa using this drug could last for up to thirty years before their symbiote matured and had to take a host.

It is illegal for any Jaffa to possess pal'ok root or to grow pal'ok, although the Goa'uld use it as both a medicine and a recreational narcotic.

(nods) Very nice, Mr. Prophet. Where did you get the idea for these creations, BTW?

**Mr Prophet** · 22 March 2006, 08:16 AM

Originally posted by Andrew Joshua Talon

(nods) Very nice, Mr. Prophet. Where did you get the idea for these creations, BTW?

I make them up to provide local colour for my fanfics. I went the entire story set on Yomi without anyone ever seeing a great eagle or a Yoman dragon, but they were important to the setting.

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