#mustelid covers

[mustelidsinlove]

Dramione one shots that are never far from my thoughts

[in no particular order; mind the tags — some of these are dark]

As Sharp as Any Thorn by Argosy [E, 8.8k]

The road to redemption is a winding one. Christmas at Grimmauld Place, Post HBP.

Art: Night and Her Daughter Sleep (detail), Mary L. Macomber, 1902

Scenes from a Marriage by hiddenhibernian [T, 5.4k]

They say love isn't about what you say, it's what you do. If you see it that way, Hermione doesn't have any reason to complain.

Art: The Lovers, Akseli Gallen-Kallela, c. 1907-1917

Grit by witchsoup [T, 4k]

Hermione attempts to diagnose a secretive patient suffering major curse damage.

Art: Hands Grasping 7, Susan Manspeizer, 2018

remedia amoris by magneticwave [M, 14.7k]

The most amazing thing about Malfoy is not that he managed to build a successful Ministry career out of the total disgrace of his family, but that somehow Hermione only despises him half of the time that they work together.

Art: Circe Offering up the Cup to Ulysses (detail), John William Waterhouse, 1891

Inside by onebedtorulethemall [M, 7.5k]

Something is wrong with Draco Malfoy.

Art: Illustration from The West Wing, Edward Gorey, 1963

With Teeth by provocative_envy [M, 5.4k]

Albus Dumbledore had been wrong about Voldemort’s horcruxes.

Art: Escape Before the Dawn, Devinez, 2023

On the Virtues of Inexhaustible Burning by PacificRimbaud [T, 5k]

In which Draco Malfoy wrestles geology and Hermione receives several gifts.

Art: Saint Augustine (detail), Philippe de Champaigne, c. 1645-1650

I am Sleeping on a Time Bomb by i forgot to blink [M, 4k]

The war is over, and they go to Antarctica.

Art: Barne Glacier, Herbert Pointing, 1911

Tromp as Writ by a_rum_of_one's_own [E, 7.2k]

‘Merlin and Morgana, what’s that?’ he breathed. ‘Muggle underwear. We’re beyond chemises, you know.’ ‘Granger,’ he said. ‘Granger. You can’t. This isn’t fair.'

Art: Saturnina Canaleta de Girona (detail), Federico de Madrazo y Kuntz, 1856

Reset by provocative_envy [M, 4.5k]

And the fear—the fear that he’s learned to swallow, choke on, bury the crushed and fragmented shards of—it's turning the space between him and her and the last six weeks, the last six months, into a gaping yawning brutally invincible chasm; a wall to scale and a cliff to jump and a step he’s never quite been brave enough to take. She takes it for him. Of course she does.

Art: Joan of Arc, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, 1882

Chiaroscuro by ifyouwereamelody [T, 5.1k]

Draco Malfoy returns to Hogwarts for sixth year a changed man. Marked, dangerous, and tasked with something terrible, he finds himself haunted by memories of the year before — a bright spark of connection that now he's got no choice but to douse.

Art: Vengeance is Sworn (detail) from the Revenge Triptych, Francesco Hayez, 1851

The Street Where You Live by scullyvasan [T, 10.5k]

Muggle childhood AU. Single mother Narcissa Malfoy co-parents her son Draco and functionally parents the little girl down the street. Light homages to Books 1-4 but no wands, no wizards, no Hogwarts — just human magic and the passing years at work.

Art: Daydreams, Thomas Couture, 1859

The Running Club by winterwells [E, 10.4k]

Hermione returns to Hogwarts for the "Seventh Year Was A Cluster F*** So Let's All Do It Again!" year. The war has left its mark, and she copes in the best way she can. Running. And she might pick up some stragglers along the way...

Art: Stripes of Silence, Lu Guada, 2012

Whistle by witchsoup [T, 1.5k]

Hermione spends the majority of her time on the tube, or dashing around Sainsbury's hunting for the last of the vegetarian wraps for her two-thirds-complete meal deal. Though it would be somewhat off-brand, she feels that it's well within her rights to ask David Cameron to lower the price of a meal deal, while he's at it. Possibly her rent, too.

Art: Untitled, Isabel Bishop, c. 1940s-1960s

Lights Out by Phoebe [E, 10.2k]

She smiles, and it enrages him further. Granger is afraid of many things. She's afraid of what lies outside Hogwarts, what could be lurking within the walls. She's afraid of Voldemort, and probably of his father. And she is inexplicably, illogically afraid of the dark. But she's not afraid of him.

Art: The Woman with the Candle (detail), Cornelis Visscher II, c. 1643-1658

Salvage by storycat9 [T, 1k]

Who is Hermione Granger when there’s no one left to protect?

Art: After Igor Svyatoslavich's fighting with the Cumans, Viktor Vasnetsov, 1880

The Object Lesson by Fleurizel [M, 13.6k]

When Hermione is forced to spend a weekend at the Bulstrodes’ country estate glad-handing for the Ministry, she finds an unlikely ally in the only other house guest who hadn’t fled the country when the war broke out: Draco Malfoy.

Art: Hands of the Puppeteer, Mexico City, Tina Modotti, 1929

i think i've seen this film before by magneticwave [T, 24.8k]

It doesn’t occur to Harry until supper that night, while Luna makes a Spanish tortilla with pink and blue potatoes from her garden, that Granger might actually be his friend now. Not just a transferable friend, comfortable with him because she’d grown up with a strangely domestic alternative version of him with short hair, but a real friend. Since he’s not sure how to feel about it, he eats his half of the tortilla in a silent daze and then helps Luna go over the last of the proofs for next week’s Quibbler. 

Art: Still Life with Orange by Süleyman Seyyid Bey, c. 1900

Party Lines by PacificRimbaud [E, 10k]

As the dust settles in the 2000 United States Presidential election, Ivy League student Hermione Granger goes to three different parties, in an effort to think about something- anything- other than the state of Florida. So does that argumentative trust fund prick, Draco Malfoy. A college AU all about enemies who...aren't.

Art: Jasper Johns, Edisto Beach, Ugo Mulas, 1964

i have gone at dusk through narrow streets by i forgot to blink [T, 4k]

Draco, Hermione, and what came before and after the end.

Art: Interior Strandgade 30, Vilhelm Hammershøi, 1901

Breathe by Argosy [T, 14.5k]

The war is over and everyone wants something from Hermione. But that's nothing new; she can handle it. Really.

Art: Cupid and Psyché (detail), François Gérard, 1798

[serpentface]

The wassibi, threatening you with a very bad time.

Wassibi are mid-sized (11-16 lb) solitary mustelids. This species is native throughout the lands south of the Viper seaway, thriving as generalists in a great diversity of habitats (though rarely occur in very arid environments or at high elevations). They are omnivores, using their broad noses and strong claws to dig out earthworms, beetle larvae, roots and tubers, foraging along the ground for insects, scorpions, bird eggs, fallen fruit, and small lizards and snakes, and occasionally scavenging carcasses and trash. They are particularly noted for their ability to find honey- splitting open bees nests with their claws and leisurely consuming larvae and honeycomb, seemingly untroubled by bee stings.

Wassibi are known above all else for their devastatingly noxious defensive anal gland spray. When threatened, they hiss, arch their backs and tails, raise their fur, and point their anus menacingly in the direction of danger. Should posturing fail, they will unleash their spray at the threat's face. Their anal glands have powerful muscular control and the attack is devastatingly accurate at up to 10 ft. In addition to having an atrocious stench, the liquid is mildly irritating to the skin, painful and temporarily blinding to the eyes, and can induce intense nausea and vomiting. The smell is resistant to washing, and can take weeks to fade. Most predators who experience a hit will learn to recognize the wassibi's stark aposematic coloring and avoid anything resembling it.

In addition to this potent defensive weaponry, they have dense fur and thick, loose skin, which renders them difficult for most predators to effectively grasp or pierce without risk of being bitten themselves. As such, wassibi have few consistent natural predators and are given a wide birth by most other animals. Their tendency to walk boldly in the open and sometimes even scavenge at carcasses alongside much larger predators commonly lends them cultural reputations of fearlessness. Wassibi are known for attacking large venomous snakes that potentially threaten their young, which (along with their frequent consumption of scorpions and bees) leads to common misconceptions that they are entirely immune to venom. They have no such resistance, rather their thick fur and loose skin cause bites and stings to land less effectively- most stings fail to penetrate their fur altogether, and bites often deal glancing blows that inject little to no venom.

Their biggest predatory threats come from humans. Wassibi meat is fairly rich and not unappealing to most palates used to wild game, but they are rarely considered worth the effort and risk of killing for consumption alone. They are more commonly hunted for their pelts (worn commonly by Wogan and North Wardi herders in hopes of deterring attacks from predators), bones, claws, and fat (used in traditional medicine for their purported antivenom properties). This hunting is fairly limited in scope overall, and most Wassibi populations remain stable.

[striehart]

disabled trans person lost their job 3 weeks ago and needs help ($155/$500)

This is embarrassing, I know. I am running on a rough estimate of what is necessary.

I am currently studying Cybersecurity, and have recently gotten my ITILv4 certification. I have a Certified in Cybersecurity exam to take on the 12th. I'm making progress! Unfortunately, I don't have a job yet.

The 500 benchmark I'm setting should be enough to get me out of the red and cover bills for the next few weeks, hopefully. Being able to not worry about the bills would allow me to focus more on my studies.

I'm closer to getting out of the red, but aside from my bank being overdrawn I have several overdue bills.

paypal: helioboros cashapp: striehart venmo: striehart ko-fi: striehart

Message me for my phone number for zelle if necessary.

I'm still taking PWYW comms, just tell me what you'd like. Most of what I can reliably do is sketches, but I have been steadily increasing my energy and may be able to do more color work.

Some examples of my work under the cut, of varying quality:

[equipment-manifest]

Curated list of Rain World analysis I like

The Benefactors (aka the Ancients) dragonpropaganda on popular misconceptions about the Benefactors' culture ikayblythe's speculative biology kociamieta's notes on Benefactor character design pocket-goat, morebagels, prismsoup, and opashoo discuss the usage of "Benefactors" and "Ancients" in reference to the cultures of Rain World sluglore explains the purpose the Benefactors built the Iterators to serve

Character analysis eliias-bouchard on NSH's portrayal ikayblythe on Pebbles' age and motivations pocket-goat's thoughts about Moon in the context of the Saint campaign shkika on Moon and Pebbles' relationship shkika on whether Moon and Pebbles are siblings skybristle's and my own thoughts on the decay of Moon's organic parts

General speculative biology chaotic-minds-think-alike's interpretation of lizards dragonpropaganda on the relationship of purposed organisms to ingame fauna flickering-nightfall's interpretation of the reproductive strategies and social structures of various species in the game iteratorsex and dragonpropaganda discuss the origin of wormgrass and its role in the ecosystem sluglore on the intelligence of Slugcats and the experience of playing Rain World for the first time

Iterator anatomy bonniesband's exposition on the Rot as a type of cancer copepods and myself on whether parts of post-collapse Moon beyond the puppet could be conscious copepods on viewing iterators as more than the puppet delta-orionis' method for estimating the height of Iterator cans delta-orionis and myself discuss the meaning of the terms "Recursive Transform Array" and "Abstract Convergence Manifold" mebis-art-dump and I discuss the axon-like coral stems and other internal biota of Iterator superstructures my theory about how an Iterator's memories are stored and why Moon doesn't forget anything when she loses a neuron orangedoorhingeinstorage and kayjaypax on movable components in the memory conflux and adjacent systems skybristle's and my own thoughts on the decay of moon's organic parts

Iterator puppet anatomy aluminum-angels' interpretation bitsbug's puppet interpretation copepods' mechanical interpretation: moon & pebbles / post-collapse moon flickering-nightfall's journey to understand the puppet arm: part 1 / part 2 flickering-nightfall on the "umbilical" ikayblythe's arthropoidal interpretation: overview / endoskeletons / "skin" joowee-feftynn observes that puppets can't walk spotsupstuff on the relationship between puppet and can trashiiplant's ragdoll interpretation yellowsnacc's "jello-covered skeleton" interpretation

Natural philosophy bitsbug and ikayblythe discuss the age of the ecosystem dragonpropaganda explains why igneous rocks don't exist in Rain World and discusses the implications with delta-orionis grunckle's notes on what we know about the cosmology of Rain World ikayblythe's speculative geology of the surface and void sea

Slugcat anatomy arrayydee's slugcat design artihunter's take on the fur/slime question dopscratch's mollusk/mustelid interpretation kelocitta on the ecological implications of Rivulet's external gills honey-marrow's interpretation of Spearmaster's anatomy

Themes and storytelling bitsbug draws a comparison between Rain World's Cycle and the real-world Water Cycle comrade-slugcat and myself on themes of inevitability and futility in Monk & Survivor's campaigns dragonpropaganda on how Rain World's level design is based on the idea of civilizations successively building upon each others' ruins grunckle's theory relating ascension, void worms, and voidspawn together through the idea of qualia grunckle's illustration of the parallels between the iterators and void worms and some connections to Gnosticism nyuuronfly and vodens on the relationship between Rain World's lore and gameplay and the experience of a blind playthrough seventeendeer on the thematic significance of ascension and the player's agency in choosing it sick-ada's theory that the final cutscene in the Void sea leads back to the start of each vanilla campaign sluglore on the intelligence of Slugcats and the experience of playing Rain World for the first time Miscellaneous flecks-of-stardust's theory that (in vanilla) the Chimney Canopy pearl was created by Five Pebbles mebis-reblogs' animation of one of the harvester machines from Farm Arrays in action monkmain on the illustration for Stolen Enlightenment my theory on the meaning of "HR_LAYERS_OF_REALITY" my timeline of architecture on the surface rw-me elaborates on the canonicity of Downpour shkika on the distances between members of the local group shkika, flecks-of-stardust, and fluffybunny35 discuss why it rains in Shaded Citadel soaricarus, flickering-nightfall, and myself on why Seven Red Suns is probably not a member of the "local group" yunnifo discusses Rivulet ending projections

[dogpilled-puppymaxxing]

random atypical things that give me species euphoria (as a canine & mustelid)

shirt i got from hot topic thats black with white print of snarling wolves

hoarding info on my typee & talking to others about it, feeling like i know more about it than humans

heavy chains & slipchains around my neck, plus chokers & collars & dog tags

wearing several keychains on my bags or necklaces round my neck so i jingle when i walk + excess of pins & patches on my bags and sweaters

snarling and snuffling when i breathe

ripping ribs or chicken right off the bone

playing breath of the wild or any open exploration game with pretty nature graphics

scrapbookin

masks, anything that covers the lower half of my face

letting my hair get shaggy and kind of a mess

my comfort / dysphoria hoodie (thick black sweater. like really thick, insulated with wool on the inside and its like physically heavy. stop sign patch on the back, might sew ears & paws into it :3 )

doom eternal, any first person combat game, especially ones where you have to hunt targets

bean bag

drawing myself

collecting bones and other trinkets but also giving packmates & friends bones and other trinkets!

paintin my kintypes and hanging em up on the wall

the squishmallow hoard

eating things out of bowls

heavy boots that go clomp clomp when we walk

[weasel-posting]

MUSTELID ZINE INTEREST CHECK

Hello everyone! I present you my idea of a zine celebrating the wonderful critters belonging to the family of mustelidae!

Basic information about the zine:

The zine would be completely free and in PDF format

Completely artwork focused, no writing (for now)

Pages would be formatted in order of family

No anthros or ocs since this would be focused on the IRL animals themselves

All skill levels would be allowed to participate as long as you can tell what the species you're drawing is!

Artists would make a list of species they'd like to draw a page of. There'd be no duplicate species pages, but collaboration on pages would be welcome. Artists would choose the number of pages they'd draw with a maximum of 3.

I expect this will be a small project and won't cover the complete family, so keep that in mind.

If enough people are interested in participating I will create an account for the zine and release and application form!

If few people are interested in participating but enough people want to see something like this I'll handle making the thing myself!

[script-a-world]

I have a question regarding half-animal people's anatomy.

If an animal person has plantigrade, paw-like feet, something like dog or cat paws, would it make more sense to extend the metacarpal pad down to the heel or keep the common paw structure near the front of the foot and add a carpal pad on the heel? Assume that they evolved from a previously digitigrade animal that walked on its toes and evolved to walk more plantigrade. I've seen it done both ways but I've never seen the former done in the context of mammals with paws

Synth: Here on Earth the plantigrades were first, and digitigrade and unguligrade came later. Which certainly does not mean nothing ever evolved the other way, but as of now we don’t know about any. So where can we look for some ideas? Well, humans aren’t the only plantigrade mammals. Bears, rats and mice, raccoons and several other mustelids, and many primates are all plantigrade. Here are photos of some of their hind feet:

Bear:

(Source: https://photocontest.smithsonianmag.com/photocontest/detail/a-brown-bear-paw/)

Baboon:

(Source: https://www.dreamstime.com/foot-baboon-fingerprints-behind-glass-foot-baboon-fingerprints-behind-glassin-zoo-image144277356)

Raccoon:

(Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mm_Fu%C3%9F.jpg)

Rat:

(Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/8071753@N07/2283200060/in/album-72157601058889946/) 

Would a creature that started out as digitigrade and gradually shifted to plantigrade eventually have all of its separate paw pads fuse into one large one? Perhaps. Or maybe the pads expand to cover the entire underside of the foot but just cozy up beside each other instead of becoming a single large pad. Or they don’t change too much aside from the addition of a pad at the heel. Ultimately it will come down to how you want to play it for your particular world, based either on which option you think is more likely to occur, or which one you find more aesthetically pleasing to use.

Wootzel: I think what will make the most difference is how they walk. 

Most animals I can think of that walk plantigrade are primarily quadrupedal, and the heel touches the ground but doesn’t take much impact. Humans are very weird for how we walk, with the heel usually striking the ground and taking most of the weight before the front of the foot. From a bit of poking around on zoo videos on the internet, it looks like lesser apes and monkeys usually walk with either the toes hitting the ground first, or the whole foot kinda hits the ground at about the same time, and then the heel area will bear the most weight during the stride. Chimpanzees walk more like us when they’re walking bipedally, with their heel hitting the ground first.

This matters because the point of a thick, padded heel in humans and chimps is shock absorption. Those species that walk toes-first need to have a surface at the rear of the foot that can bear weight comfortably enough, but it doesn’t need to have nearly as much reinforcement and padding as a species that walks heel-first. Check out this photo of a chimpanzee’s foot, and compare it to the baboon foot above: 

(Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/62425933@N04/45894783645 )

As to whether your animal has one long pad down the foot or one at the heel separate from the metacarpal pad, I agree that that’s more aesthetic than anything concrete. I think the way they walk would definitely impact the size and prominence of the rear pad (or the rear part of the singular pad), and perhaps that’ll inform your decision!

[fall-shorter]

Beastmen classification by race and type! There is so fucking much of them omfg. help.

Anyways! wordbuilding loredump & close ups below!!

In The Other Earth, Beastmen are considered a species of humanoid, however the term "species" is rather customary, since "Beastmen" is a term that gathers all creatures (wild, non-humanoid animals) that mutated and turned sapient after the Spell Bomb casted in America.

First classification of beastmen is the two types.

Type I - They usually look like anthropomorphic animals. They generally look more like beasts than humans. Appeared first and are the original beastmen.

Type II - In short: humans with animal parts. They are a crossbreed between type I beastmen with humans. Usually many generations of humans.

Second classification are the "races" that similarly to the term "species" doesn't really mean what it should. The six races are:

Warkins - the most popular type of Beastman, as they cover the largest group. Land- based, carnivorous mammals, that have paws and fur or hair. Canines, felines, bears, mustelids, racoons, hyenas, etc.

Dwarfs - rodents and lagomorphs. They are usually significantly shorter than other humanoid (not taller than 4'10'')

Satyrs - characterized by having hooves. All ungulate animals like equines, cattle, deers, zebras, camels, boars and hippos classify.

Aquatins - combine both aquatic mammals (whales, seals) and amphibians (frogs, axolotls).

Harpies - include all birds. The most profound trait is the wings that are a third set of limbs placed on their back, with regular arms also present. Most Harpies also have some form of feathered ears on top of their head or directly replacing human ears.

Kobolds - contain almost all reptiles: starting at lizards, through turtles and aligators ending on semi-dragons. Excluding snakes and so alike, because they are a sub-race called Lamia, that own most Kobold traits, apart from the fact they lack legs. Their lower half is a big tail they can use to move around.

The images are simply examples of how certain races of beastmen can look like, since it's impossible to picture them all (there is too many animals simply)

[mustelidsinlove]

The Isle of Ogygia by citrusses on AO3

There is an island, far out in the sea.

It’s useless to fight Potter. Isn’t that the lesson he’s refused to learn his entire life? // “Harry,” he says, as instructed, the word another link in the chain he’s binding himself with. // Potter comes back the next month, as reliable as the tides. Draco starves for him when he’s not there. // But Harry is also clearly a walking disaster and would apparently rather be kidnapped than face the mess he’s made of his life, so if Draco wants to spend the next four years eating Harry’s pancakes and fucking Harry until he can’t walk, he needs Harry to get his head right. // “There’s still a chance we could starve to death,” says Draco. “A bad enough storm could come in and–” “Then we’ll starve,” Harry says, smiling at him, and Draco gives up, because he’s finally learned his lesson about fighting Harry Potter.

A perfect little miracle of a story, almost fairytale-like in its rhythms, setting, and concision — though I don't know any fairytales featuring a protagonist quite as petulant, arseholey, or delightfully unfiltered (in the narration) as this Draco. Its real triumph might be the world-building, though, which is accomplished swiftly, elegantly, and uniquely — creating an expansion to the magic of the HP universe and portkeys that I will be thinking about for a long while. The dynamic is lovely as well: an easy relationship, that still honors the fact that these are two broken boys in need of saving. The smut is very good, too, as is the ust. 

Art:

(1) A Fisherman's Bedroom, Christen Dalsgaard, 1853

(2) Eddystone Lighthouse, Clarkson Frederick Stanfield, print made by W.B. Cooke, 1836

[template]

[psilliguykai]

This is by far the dumbest [cj-related] thing I have ever drawn.

[context under the cut]

kinda shitty/low effort sorry 😭 but I wanted to pay tribute to this comment under the CJ drum covers because I think about and reference it with my friends constantly and it’s so fucking funny to me.

I think it’s the pure panic for me. The fact that I can read this and feel this person shaking in fear. It’s the proper punctuation and capitalization juxtaposed with the contents of the comment. It’s the fact that he’s . Not even bald lmao.

Shoutout wuvsong for permanently planting this in my brain.

[taag-the-withering]

wow it has. it has been a while alexa play the drainpipe trumpet cover of it's been a long long time. how are you doing and what are you up to?

HI!!! It’s nice to hear from you!

Holy shit it has been a while! I’ve been doing pretty good all things considered!

Uhhh lets count it up:

- I have a newfound love for geology, even though that isn’t my major I just like rocks and can’t do any other science

- continuing down the MCYT SMP pipeline and have fallen into Lifesteal. But focusing on The Realm (Tubbo’s latest minecraft server) and Whitepine (youtube series by Ivorycello that I ADORE) lately

- I’ve finally posted some of my writing on AO3! Hermitcraft and Lifesteal crossover plus a Realm fic!

- have only gotten slightly funnier, tumblr humour is rubbing off on me a bit

- Got into Sonic, then DC, then reforged my love for sci-fi with Star Wars

- realized that my favourite animal group are mustelids. I love little freaks, and mustelids are freaks

- I click cookies a lot in cookie clicker

- Started worldbuilding for a sci-fi story inspired by Star Wars that I want to create. Just for funsies really

- just yesterday I did a blog revamp because I was tired of the username I made 4 years ago and wanted a change!

How about you? How have you been, and what have you been up to?

[bethanythebogwitch]

We return to the series where I discuss the origin of every non-fish aquatic Pokémon. This time I’ll be covering generation IV, which has some of my favorite designs out of the whole franchise. As before I’m saving starters and legendaries/mythicals for their own posts and I covered all fish Pokémon in their own series of posts. To see previous parts of this series see gen I part 1, gen I part 2, gen II, and gen III. To see the fish of Sinnoh, see here. To see the fish Pokémon series see here.

We begin with what is undeniably the most popular and influential Pokémon line in the history of the franchise: the Bidoof line. Never before has there been a beast of such majesty and power, an angelic presence from the heavens. Mere mortals are not worthy to gaze upon Bidoof. Technically only Bibarel is aquatic, but to not include Bidoof would be the greatest of heresies. They’re both rodents (the chaddest of mammals) with Bidoof most likely being based on a groundhog or mountain beaver. Mountain beavers resemble tailless beavers but are not closely related and don’t live in water.

(image: a mountain beaver)

If you are foolish enough to dilute Bidoof’s purity by evolving it to Bibarel, it will be based on a beaver.

(image: a North American beaver)

These amphibious rodents are famous for building dams by chewing through small trees and assembling the trees and branches in structures that block waterways. Beaver dams can turn a stream into a full wetland by blocking the flow and they are very important to the wetland ecology of their habitats. The dams serve as homes for the beavers and is where they keep their young.

(image: a cross-section of a beaver dam. source)

Juveniles will stay in the dam until they are mature enough to fend for themselves. Bidoof is likely a juvenile that is not old enough to swim yet and must rely on its parents to thrive in wetland habitats. There are two species, the North American beaver and the Eurasian beaver. The Eurasian beaver was almost hunted to extinction for its fur, but has been successfully reintroduced to quite of a bit of its historical range. Bibarel might be based on the Eurasian beaver as it is native to, and has been reintroduced to, China and Sinnoh has quite a few references to China. Also of note, the male Bibarel has two extra balls on the base of its tail. Male rodents are notorious for having large testicles. Do with that information what you will.

Moving on from Bidoof will never be easy, but it is necessary. We now turn to the moist mustelids of the Buizel line. They are based on otters, particularly river otters due to their freshwater habitat.

(image: a eurasian otter)

Even more specifically, they may be based on the Japanese otter, a river otter native to Japan that was last seen in the 1970s and officially declared extinct in 2012. Despite being primarily depicted as a freshwater species, their category name is the “sea weasel Pokémon”, indicating that they are also based on marine otters, the most famous of which being the sea otter of the north Atlantic. Otters and weasels are both members of the family Mustelidae, with their subfamilies being sister groups. There are weasels that are partially or even primarily aquatic, though they as a group are more terrestrial.

(image: a mink going for a swim. Minks are a subset of weasels)

The Buizel line also draws from floatation devices like inner tubes, water wings, and life vests, with the yellow parts of their bodies being inflatable and buoyant and Floatzel being said to rescue drowning victims.

The Shellos line is without exaggeration one of my favorite lines in the franchise due to the cool biological references they have. They are based on nudibranchs, an order of marine gastropods commonly called sea slugs (though some non-nudibranchs are also called sea slugs). Many nudibranchs are very colorful, which inspired the pink and blue coloration of the Shellos lines.

(image: it's a nudibranch, dudeibranch)

Nudibranchs can be divided into dorids and aeolids based on their breathing apparatuses. Shellos and Gastrodon are aeolids, who have tendril or fronds like growths called cerata that help them breathe. The head tendrils of east sea Shellos and both Gastrodons and the crown-like organ of west sea shellos are based on cerata, as are the various lumps and fin-like structures found on all of them. A few species of nudibranch have moved their cerata to a more fin or wing-like position, which may explain why east sea shellos appears to have wings. The “wings” could also be based on sea hares, another group of sea slugs, some species of which have developed wing-like structures that allow them to swim.

(Image: a flying sea hare)

Sea hares are named for their large rod-like scent organs called rhinopores found in most sea slugs, which may be another inspiration for the head tentacles of Gastrodon. Shelos and Gastrodon can learn some poison-type moves depending on generation and this has a few bases. Many nudibranchs have venomous or poisonous cerata. Often this is a result of eating venomous hydrozoans like anemones and sequestering their stinging cells in the cerata. The bright colors of some nudibranchs may be the result of  aposematic coloration, where a species is brightly colored as a warning to potential predators that they are poisonous. The line releases a purplish chemical when stressed, which likely references sea hares again. They can release a colorful, toxic ink into the water as a defense mechanism.

(image: a California sea hare at a rave releasing ink)

The coolest trait of the Shellos line in my opinion is the fact that there are two distinct populations, east sea and west sea, that have different colors and body structures. This is due to the process of allopatric speciation. This is the process where a species is split into two or more distinct populations by a geographical barrier. Once they are isolated, the populations will begin developing distinct traits due to evolution and them no longer being able to interbreed. Over a long enough time period, the populations can grow so different from each other that they can no longer breed and will be considered different species.

(image: a diagram of how allopatric speciation works. source)

The two Shellos and Gastrodon populations in Sinnoh were separated by the Sinnoh mountain range, causing the process of allopatric speciation to begin. The two populations can still breed, suggesting that they have not been separated long enough to become two distinct species and may be more accurately described as subspecies or a superspecies, but breeding in Pokémon is nothing like real life reproduction so that may not be the case. Most other regions use only one Shellos population and in Paldea they may be isolated by the connection to Kalos. A real-life example of allopatric speciation can be seen in the two species of chimpanzee: troglodytes and bonobos. The two shared a common ancestor a few million years ago but that ancestor’s range was cut in two by the Congo River. Since chimpanzees are very poor swimmers, the two populations were isolated from each other and developed into two species. Allopatric speciation likely plays a part in how some regional variants developed, but this on on a case-by case basis and is rarely the only factor.

This is the shortest of these series and Gen V will hopefully be out soon.  See you next time for when I talk about my first generation of the games.

[pomrania]

Here's my rendition of the rubkawat, from @maniculum's Bestiaryposting. I had a realization this week, which brought joy back into the activity for me: I don't have to actually draw a bird, just something that might possibly be described as a bird. I mean I eventually ended up with something that's either a bird or bird-adjacent, but early in the process I was going for, like, a feathered mustelid. I looked up zero dinosaurs for this; but I read Dinotopia a couple million times as a kid so I had some of that available in my head to use as reference.

First, the art choices that come from stuff in the description. I decided to work from the concept that no injury actually took place, so any reference to "blood" was in reality blood-coloured markings. Thus the red patch on the face of the adult, where they're supposedly struck, and juvenile plumage that looks like the chick is covered in blood. The red marking on the side of the adult, that's an instance of sexual dimorphism, and only the female has it; there's presumably also other colouration differences between sexes, but nothing that would seem "symbolic". The curved beak is because the only Egyptian bird I know about offhand is the ibis, and I wanted to at least gesture towards that.

Now, the art choices that are just from visual merit or personal preference. For colours, I started with the overall concept of "American goldfinch" (and also looked up zero reference for that), which is where I got the idea for black and white striped wings. The pale underside is something I just default to, apparently; hey it's not my fault that it looks nice, and also serves a practical purpose so it's found on all sorts of different creatures. The dark stripe on the side, right above the pale area, I think I got that from antelopes or gazelles (although I believe it's likewise found on a bunch of different animals). No real reasoning for the adult's pose beyond "this is the first one that actually worked out for me", but for the juvenile, I thought it'd be cute if it was trying to mimic its parent as much as possible. Speaking of the juvenile, the bald face wasn't originally intended; I was working on the final bits of the sketch for the finished piece when I thought "you know what, that might look cool".

You can find my progress thread here; it doesn't have any extra design info there, but it starts with my first messy design sketches, where I was just putting anything on the canvas to see what might work.

[wolfclans-story]

I offer to yall: LORE!!!

So! Wolfclan is one of three clans living on an island in an unspecified alaska-ish sort of area. When the tide is low, theres also a narrow path to the mainland. The island has a variety of terrain, from open field, to rocky, to wooded. At the center of the island, there’s a large pond. On one side of the pond, there’s a small, sheltered hollow that the three clans hold monthly gatherings at . On the other side there’s a weeping willow that leans towards the water on a small outcropping.

They call the willow “The Star Tree” both because of how the leaves look silvery like starlight at night under the moonlight, and because of the fireflies that constantly surround it that they believe to be the souls of their ancestors.

Wolfclan’s territory is rocky and full of cliffs and crevices, though they have a number of tidepools along the shore that they can typically find fish and seafood in, even in the winter when other prey is scarce. They started off in a camp near the shore, but eventually moved inland when the clan grew too large to live in the original camp. With the recent earthquake, the clan has moved back into their original camp.

Mooseclan, of of the other two clans is sort of an open tundra grassland once they leave the shoreline. They largely hunt birds and small rodents in the grass, though they too will turn to fishing as needed. They tend to be the most aggressive of the three clans about their resources. Their camp is an old fox den that was found abandoned, and has since been expanded by tunnelers.

Owlclan lives in a more wooded area, mostly pines and other evergreens. They tend to have the best herb supplies, and are largely nocturnal like the owls their clan is named for, hunting rodents and even larger mustelids under the cover of darkness. Their camp is a large sheltered hollow surrounded by raspberry bushes that hav been carefully cultivated over the years from just a few, to surrounding the whole camp.

[howlingday]

Mustelid!Faunus Rose-Xiao Long- Branwen Family

Weasel!Faunus Ruby

Yang: So, what's for dinner, Rubes?

Ruby: Leftovers!

Yang: Again?

Ruby: What's wrong with leftovers?

Yang: We've had leftovers everyday for the past week!

Ruby: It's too cold to go out right now!

Yang: Ruby, there's so many leftover boxes, I have to move them to get to the milk!

Fun Fact! Weasels are one of the few animals that "refrigerate" their food. In the winter, their nests have a hole near the entrance in which they store prey for later. One whole was said to be filled with about 150 lemmings!

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Fisher Cat!Faunus Yang

Yang: Can't hit me, can ya?

Yang: I'm just dancin'! Whattaya gonna do?!

Yang: POW! Knock out!

Ruby: Yang! Your armlooks like a pincushion!

Yang: Huh? (Looks at arm, Needles all over) Meh. I'll walk it off.

Fun Fact! Fisher Cats are among the few animals that regularly hunt porcupines. Lions and other large predators often die from infection after fighting porcupines, but Fisher Cats manage to survive with minimal injuries by tiring out the porcupine.

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Wolverine!Faunus Summer

Ozpin: Close the school.

Goodwitch: Sir, that's-

Ozpin: I SAID CLOSE THE SCHOOL!

Summer: Oh, Ozzie, it's already too late.

Ozpin: Oh no...

Summer: Now, how are my girls doing in their classes?

Fun Fact! Wolverines, despite their average 33lb size, are infamous for their tenacity and rage, and are willing to hunt down grizzly bear mothers and their cubs. When a wolverine had found it's way near a Yellowknife Middle School, the entire school was put on lockdown. Also, it should be noted that there is no escaping a wolverine in the tundra as they are too good at moving through snow to the point they leave little trace in their pawprints.

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Giant River Otter!Faunus Raven

Raven: Take the chairs.

Raven: Take the tables.

Raven: Take the seat covers.

Raven: Take the door.

Raven: Take the wall.

Raven: Take the-

Fun Fact! Giant River Otters are the second most formidable predator in South America, after the Jaguar. Like their smaller cousins, they are pack hunters who live in packs up to nine otters, can grow up to six feet long, have paws wider than human hands, and regularly hunt anacondas and caimans, the former of which they bash against tree trunks. Also like their cousins, they will eat all parts of the animal.

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River Otter!Faunus Qrow

Zwei: (Barking happily)

Taiyang: (Tosses stick) Go get it, boy! Qrow! Come on out and play with us!

Qrow: I'm not going near that son of a bitch!

Taiyang: Language, Qrow, and what did Zwei ever do to you?

Qrow: He knows what his kind did...

Fun Fact! In Anchorage, Alaska, there is a warning posted for locals and their dogs to use caution near bodies of water. A "gang" of river otters have been attacking children, adults, and especially dogs who come near the water. It is uncertain why, or even if they are the same animal each time, though it is likely due to a history shared between otters in the area and dogs.

[thesleepingdemonofhogwarts]

The Jarvey is a curious and lively creature in the magical world, often found inhabiting wooded and overgrown areas, particularly in Britain, Ireland, and parts of North America. Though it resembles a large ferret in both size and appearance, the Jarvey is anything but an ordinary mustelid. Known for its unusual intelligence and vocal abilities, this creature is both fascinating and challenging for those who encounter it.

Physical Characteristics

Jarveys are typically about three to four feet long, with slender, muscular bodies covered in a coarse, brownish fur, which allows them to blend into forested environments with ease. They have sharp teeth and strong claws, well-suited for hunting their primary prey: gnomes, rats, and other small vermin. A Jarvey’s appearance is strikingly similar to that of a ferret or weasel, though their longer size and slightly more expressive faces can set them apart. Their keen senses, especially their sharp eyesight and acute sense of smell, make them highly efficient hunters.

Unique Abilities and Behavior

What truly sets the Jarvey apart from its mundane relatives is its unique ability to speak, though this ability is somewhat limited. Unlike magical creatures capable of full human-like speech, Jarveys can only produce short, often rude, phrases and insults. This trait has made them both notorious and endearing in magical communities, as their vocabulary seems to consist mostly of exclamations, insults, and the occasional word of genuine interest. Jarveys are not malicious, but they are known for their somewhat abrasive, cheeky nature.

Their vocal outbursts are involuntary and often unpredictable, which can startle those unfamiliar with the species. Researchers have observed that these outbursts appear to be instinctual, as Jarveys will mutter or shout phrases when hunting, when defending their territory, or even when at rest. The exact origins of this vocal ability remain mysterious, though some magical biologists suggest that it may be an evolved form of communication used for intimidation or a way to confuse prey.

Ecology and Habitat

Jarveys are primarily carnivorous and are highly effective at controlling gnome populations, which has earned them a reputation as useful—if noisy—pest controllers for those with sprawling, gnome-infested lands. They are territorial creatures and will hunt within a specific range, returning to a burrow or den after their excursions. Jarveys do not typically form social groups and are generally solitary, though they have been known to share their dens with offspring or mates for short periods.

They are active both day and night, depending on prey availability, and are adaptable to a range of climates, though they prefer temperate forests and shrublands. Their natural hunting instincts mean they will pursue almost anything that moves, though they are particularly adept at sniffing out and catching burrowing animals.

Magical Properties and Uses

While Jarveys themselves are rarely used in potion-making or other magical practices, they hold a certain cultural significance due to their unique communication abilities. Their fur is sometimes used in wand cores, though this is rare due to its erratic nature, which can lead to unpredictable results in spellcasting.

Some magical biologists have attempted to study Jarveys to better understand magical linguistics, hoping to uncover how and why certain creatures can mimic human speech. Although these efforts have yet to reveal definitive answers, they have shed light on Jarveys’ intelligence and potential for emotional expression, however limited.

Challenges and Care

Keeping a Jarvey as a magical pet is generally not recommended. Not only are they difficult to handle, but their constant chattering, usually peppered with rude phrases, can be bothersome to most people. Their solitary, territorial nature means they can be aggressive if confined to small spaces or introduced to other pets.

For those determined to manage a Jarvey, a secure, large outdoor enclosure is essential, as is ample access to live prey. A Jarvey without sufficient hunting opportunities will quickly become restless and, worse yet, noisier than usual. Although training them is challenging, some skilled magical handlers can establish a respectful relationship with a Jarvey, ensuring that it contributes to gnome control without causing too much disturbance.

Overall, the Jarvey remains a marvel of magical biology, admired for its intelligence and quirks yet respected for its fierce independence and sharp tongue. For those who encounter a Jarvey in the wild, the best advice is to observe and appreciate it from a distance—and perhaps to brace oneself for an unexpected insult or two.