Late Lyonocene

The Late Lyonocene (24.5-40 million years after Humanity) Is the warmest the Earth has been since the Miocene, with little in the way of ice caps (only about 25% of the amount that exists today. These warm and wet conditions have allowed forests to thrive across the globe and reclaim the various plains biomes created during the earlier ice ages.

Map of the world circa 35 million years after humanity

Geography

Appalachia

Appalachian Rainforests

Neo-Laramidia

Western Coastal Wetlands
Isla California

Europe

Mediterranean Lake Valleys

Asia

Indian Plains
Indonesian Rainforests

Africa

West African Coastal Forests
East African Woodlands
East African Montane Forests
Riftia
Madagascar

South America

Patagonian Pampas

Sahul

Northern Mangroves

Antarctica

Antarctic Fjords

Islands

West Atlantic Archipelago - A ridge of volcanoes formed this archipelago that stretches from the arctic to the antarctic. These islands provide homes for unprecedented levels of unique adaptations and is the most biodiverse region on the planet.

Wildlife

Appalachia

Appalachian Rainforests

Range of the Appalachian Rainforest (In Red)

Kraken-Mole (Teuthitalpus ferox) - A descendant of the Star-nosed Mole, the Kraken-Mole is an apex predator in the coastal forests and marshlands of Neo Laramidia. The Kraken-Mole is the planet’s largest Eulipotyphan at 2 meters in length and 250 kg in weight; they are roughly lion-sized. The species is reliant on the soft and loamy soils, as well as the plentiful shallow water sources of these regions to successfully perform their unique ambush attacks, and so are unable to spread into other areas of the continent. This method of ambush is one perfectly suited to the Kraken-Mole’s biology. The animal lacks external eyes and ears resulting in a lack of sight and hearing, though it is able to compensate with spectacular scent-tracking, vibration sensing and touch sensing. From its underground and underwater network of tunnels the Kraken-Mole will sense the vibrations its prey makes going about its daily life on the surface. The mole will then stop and extend its facial tentacles and vibrate those tentacles rapidly, creating a map of the surrounding area. The mole will then either wait for the prey to approach them or dig towards the target slowly. Once the mole senses that the selected animal is close enough it digs upwards quickly and bursts out onto the surface. It will then proceed to extend and wrap around any part of the animal that it can, usually a limb or tail. The tentacles are both incredibly muscular and covered in thousands of tiny sharp spines that dig into flesh and keep the mole connected to its prey. The mole will then drag its prey underground, keeping itself anchored in its hole with muscular, bird-like feet. Once dragged under ground and immobilized the mole will drag it to a tight space and begin to disembowel the prey with its claws. Then it will begin to feed often while the animal is still alive.
Prong-Okapi (Antilokapia cryptus) - The Prong-Okapi is an interesting case of convergent evolution. The animal takes both the niche and appearance of the extinct African Okapi despite descending from the North American Pronghorn.. Prong-Okapis live in small groups of about 3-6 in the densest parts of the Coastal Forests. The Mating season is in the spring, during which males ‘sing’ mournful elk-like songs. Prong-Okapis have a wide variety of complex vocalizations ranging from grunts and bleats to sirens songs, wendigo shrieks and anguished human screaming. As such they ‘sing’ like songbirds in the mornings and evenings to mark territory and keep rivals away. Another way the Prong-Okapi marks territory is by making gashes in the tree-bark with their horns so that if another does not heed their songs warning they can see just how big the opponent they may have to face could be. An interesting behavior seen among smaller and weaker males relates to this. Rather than simply gashing the bark at head level they will either raise up on their hind legs, climb nearby objects or even attempt to climb the trees themselves (this rarely works) to trick others into believing the owner of their territory is large and powerful. When the mating season ends a Prong-Okapi cow will be pregnant for 7-months before giving birth to a single calf. This calf will be able to walk within minutes of being born, but will spend much of it’s time hiding in Lyregrasses, using its camouflaged pelt, waiting for it’s mother’s song. Prong-Okapis are Parasitized by many small species, including mites and ticks. Prong-Okapi’s are browsers feeding off of Lyregrasses, Oaks, ginkgoes, and more. Due to their size (2.5 meters/365 kg) and preferred habitat they have very few natural predators as adults, one of which being the Kraken-Mole, but younger animals are preyed upon by the variety of large carnivorous creatures that lurk in the forest depths. If these manage to survive they can live up to 50-60 years.
Forest Deer (Art and Concept by UnderwaterBeauty)
Forest Deer (Chlorodocoileus saltus) - a descendant of the white-tail deer, 35 million years into the future. Inhabiting the Eastern Temperate Forests of North America, these deer have symbiotic relationships with several varieties of algae, moss and epiphytic vine. Algae grows in their fur providing camouflage and masking their scent. Bucks typically have miniature canopies attached to their antlers, they achieve this by wrapping their antlers around large draping trees, collecting as much foliage as possible, usually preferring various epiphytic vines that drape over them and help further obscure their silhouette. This technique is how they maneuver around, the Forest Deer rely on disguise and the poor eyesight of predators, often foraging at dawn or twilight zones where natural light is lowest. Using their mud and dirt stained fur and mini canopies they attempt to disguise themselves as trees or bushes. Because of this trait, Bucks have significantly grown in height to avoid suspicion from predators. The canopies may also act as a miniature food source, if a buck was lucky enough to gather growing fruit plants. Forest deer rely on leaves and fruit from bushes. Importantly, they act as a mating ritual. A Forest Deer doe will choose her mate depending on the display of the canopies, because of this, mating often happens in a season where more flora and eye-catching flowers tend to start repopulating. Choosing her mate on what arrangement the male counterpart contestants have made she believes is the prettiest. Forest deer tend to avoid putting their body in water to not wash off any new coatings of mud and, or dirt. Especially their hooves to their legs, as to prevent revealing their light colouration underneath. Once a foal is born, it is immediately covered in mud, to hide scent and to blend in with the ground, it is to sit with the father as to hide under it, or if both lay down, hide in the mini canopies.

Harpoonbeak (Art by Brand0nsm1th; Concept by MockingMaeve)
Harpoonbeak - The harpoonbeak is a descendant of pileated woodpeckers. Harpoonbeaks serve the niche of dominant aerial predator in their ecosystem. Harpoonbeaks are very large birds, on average being about the same size as an adult Philippine eagle when fully grown. Harpoonbeaks closely resemble other members of the Dryocopus genus of woodpeckers, and still possess the iconic beak and tongue of contemporary woodpeckers. Harpoonbeaks take down prey by using their sharp talons to pin their target to the ground, before using their long harpoon-like beak to puncture the throat or skull of the animal.

Douglas’ Spine (Megaxylondemos sp.) - The douglas fir evolved over 39 million years to be way bigger, with about a 2x larger shaft to expand and contract easier with the temperatures, and 3x larger leaves due to a lack of water. It gets its name from its arched log, and its curved, rib-ish leaves, that stretch out in both directions like a ladder. It has also developed large, walnut-like seeds that crack open from the impact upon falling from the douglas’ spine tree. The trees grow out of the seeds diagonally after growing roots into the ground. The trees log and leaves curve towards the rising or setting sun as they mature to gather more sunlight.

Mimic Fungi (Simulmycomalady sp.)- A type of root rot. This fungi grows one root, and looks almost exactly like the extremely dangerous mycomalady, but unlike mycomalady, it has rounded holes that do not release spores, but instead, roots. This fungus uses spear-like roots from the top, and a big tentacle-like root on the bottom. The top fungus spears small rodents, takes them into the holes, and digests them like a pitcher plant. The bottom root digs under the ground to nearby trees, (mainly Douglas’ spine) and hollows them out for their nutrients, replaces its leaves with its own, and grows a flower on the base, or the top, for reproduction. The roots can reach up to 12 meters in length, depending on the size of the main plant. Once the juveniles are grown, and fall off the flower, they wait to be taken away from the parent plant using electrical impulses from its roots to detect it before it plants. They like to spread out at least 9 yards before rooting. The simulmycomalady can not withstand temperatures above 90* F.

Neo-Laramidia

Western Coastal Wetlands

Bludgeoner Goose (Art by Brand0nsm1th; Concept by MockingMaeve
Bludgeoner Goose - The bludgeoner goose is a very temperamental descendant of Canada geese. Bludgeoner geese are completely flightless, but make for it with their size and natural weaponry. Bludgeoner ganders can grow to be up to be 3.5 meters tall and can weigh up to 1000 pounds in some cases. The bludgeoner goose gets its name from its front limbs, which not only do they use to support them when walking on land. However the most bizarre feature of these forelimbs are how they’ve evolved into being weapons. Bludgeoner geese possess bone-reinforced elbows, which the geese use as weapons when aggravated. They do this by essentially thrusting their elbows into foes with huge force (enough to kill a human in a single blow)

Isla California

Baja California has broken away from the North American Mainland, becoming a large island, it is dominated by semi-deserts and redwood forests. The surrounding ocean is cool and nutrient rich, supporting vast kelp forests.

Siege-Gull - Descendants of the Ring-billed Gull, these large seabirds have become cunning pack hunters and efficient scavengers. Working together they will swarm a target tearing into it with sharp, pseudo-toothed beaks.

Vulcan's Dune Trekker (Art and Concept by Nibblesnarf)
Vulcan's Dune Trekker - a descendent of the common chuckwalla 35 million years into the future. They've become much larger, about the size of monitor lizards, Roaming plains, deserts and rarely areas of high geothermal activity, these herbivores are nomadic, always on the move. They are generalist herbivores, foraging any shrubs, fruits, or fungi they can find. They live in herds of about 15 which is lead by the largest male and 1-3 subordinate males, Males have bright blue heads, small red nubs on their head, they have large flexible plates of cartilage on their chest. Females are about half the size of males. When predators approach the males will puff up their chest using air sacs and make mock charges to intimidate them, if this doesn't work they will charge at them to scare or overwhelm their adversary's numbers and mass. During the mating season multiple herds will meet up staying in the nesting spot for a month where males will fight over females by headbutting and ramming. When the egg hatches the herds will split again and their mothers will carry them on their back until large to walk along the herd, once they reach about a year then they will be kicked out of their herds to start anew.
Western Dune Wyrm (Art and Concept by Nibblesnarf)
Western Dune Wyrm - a descendant of Mexican mole lizard 35 million years into the future. Living on Isla California these serpents dwell beneath the sands where they spend most of their lives. The few times they leave the ground is to hunt or to wallow in mud/water during particularly hot days. They hunt using hyper sensive whiskers to sense vibrations in the sand. They feed upon medium-large sized herbivores like the vulcan's dune trekker. When prey is sensed they lunge from the earth. biting the animal by it's leg or wrapping itself around it. Then it drags them under the sand or until they're deep enough to where they are immobilized. They then will eat the prey alive, starting from the back then to the front of the animal. There are other species found in Mexico and other arid areas of the Americas. During mating season after the male and female breed, the female lays her eggs inside a still warm carcass. she will then hide the carcass as to keep the eggs safe from scavengers looking for the body, when eggs hatch they eat their way out, starting their lives as one of the desert's mightiest predators.

Ram-headed Wrasse - A giant hypercarnivorous and predatory descendant of the Sheepshead Wrasse, they are similar to sharks and will feed on any creature they can catch and overpower, though they’re endemic to the kelp forests found off the western coast of North America. They are sequential hermaphrodites, all being born female with the largest and strongest Wrasses metamorphosizing into males.

Europe

Mediterranean Lake Valley

Echosnap (Art and Concept by Nibblesnarf)
EchoSnap (Novuranasuchus anops) - a descendent of the olm, evolving from populations being washed out of their caves by floods 15 million years ago; those who survived evolved into these large predators. still without eyes they locate prey with electro-magnetic receptors and a strong sense of smell though they will rarely cannibalize each other. They live in rivers and swamps, though when small they inhabit ponds and streams. During the mating season females release pheromones alerting males in the area, they make warbling bellows once two come into contact and females will linger around eggs until around 2 weeks after they hatch as during that time eggs and tadpoles produce pheromones that stops the female from accidently cannibalizing them after that they move to small shallow bodies of water until they are big enough to return. they have thick hides which protects their vulnerable sensory organ and from attacks by other echosnaps.

Asia

Indian Great Plains

Indian Unicorn Lizard (Rhinocerossaurus indicus)

South-East Asian Rainforests

Range of the South-East Asian Rainforest (In Red)

The South East Asian Rainforests are the oldest in the entire world, remaining relatively untouched since even before the Age of Humans.

ButterflyMarauder (Art and Concept by FeatherednScaled)
Butterfly Marauders - the Butterfly Marauders are a group of dragon-like predatory lizards that are common throughout the tropical regions of Late Lyonocene Earth.
Gazing Kyte (Art and Concept by Nibblesnarf)
Gazing Kyte (Volantophis sondaicus) - a descendent of the ornate flying snake about 50 million years into the future. While still mainly inhabiting their ancestral range of South East Asia these serpents have grown much bigger now being roughly the size of a large anaconda. Despite their enormous size, they are relatively light as they still glide through the forests and swamps like their ancestors, their long thin bodies gracefully gliding through the air like kites, using large expandable flaps of skin to catch the wind currents. Still due to their size they usually stay on the forest floor only climbing trees to travel great distances or look for prey leaving a haunting sight as their skin flaps have multiple large eye shaped spots which scare off would be rivals and threats. They predate upon large animals, through the millions of years they had foregone their venom and fangs and switched to constriction once they swallow the animal, their slow metabolism lets them go months and maybe even years without needing to eat again. They give live birth and young will stay in dense forests for the first 3 years of their life during this time in their life they are preyed upon by a multitude of creatures and only about 10% of young kytes make it to adulthood.

South America

El Gran Cerrado

Snare-Claw (Art and Concept by Nibblesnarf)
Snare-Claw - The snare claw is a large, bear-sized descendent of the giant ant eater 50 million years into the future. due to their insectivore diets they followed wherever the ants go and as the ants scavenged off of carcasses the ant eaters also eat some of the carrion as well and over the course of a few million years they have transitioned into carnivores. they used their large blunt claws to batter prey until the animal is severely injured and if the animal tries to fight back I uses it's long tongue coated in a very adhesive saliva to ensnare prey in play as they bash in the animal and at which they will eat the animal still alive or not using their now sand paper like tongue to shred and scrap meat of the carcass. they live in tropical and temperate regions, ones in warmer areas in warmer climates have a thin layer of fur while ones in colder regions have thick shaggy fur and their tails are mostly made up of fat reserves. during the mating seasons males will wrestle for the right to mate trying to knock each other over or exchanges punches and slaps until one of them backs off and retreat, females will carry babies hidden in their big bushy tails

Allornoctus (Art and Design by FeatherednScaled)
Allornoctus - A group of large land crocs that have evolved a robust and interesting build, retaining some of their scales as a form of display. They can attain sizes anywhere from 30 to 500 kg. Their bite forces allow them to crush through the hides of most animals. They are endothermic, permitting them to live in most climates.
Armatuscroctus (Art and Concept by FeatherednScaled)
Armatuscroctus - Similar to Ankylosaurs and Nodosaurs they are armored plant eaters. Feasting on nuts, fruits, mosses, roots, and more. They can get anywhere from 25 kilograms in mass to the largest being 300 kg. Due to their mostly pseudothermic bodies they generally prefer warmed climates, however they can hibernate during winters,
Mossuscaulus (Art and Concept by FeatherednScaled)
Mossuscaulus - They are more smaller sized Crocodillians, having a more interesting diet. They lost most of their rough scaling for a more streamlined build, allowing them to better catch fish. Along with flattened hind teeth to feast on moss and algae. Due to a lack of a endothermic metabolism they generally perfer to live in warmer climates

Africa

West African Coast

Mer-key (Thalattopithecus phocaoides) - Descended from Allen’s Swamp Monkey, the Mer-Key is an almost entirely marine primate. They feed mostly on crustaceans and molluscs on the seafloor, supplementing their diet with algae, fish and even carrion. They move about primarily by pulling themselves along the seafloor using their strong hands to grip onto boulders and rubble on the seafloor, though they are capable free swimmers when the need arises

East African Woodlands

African Unicorn Lizard (Art and Concept by Nibblesnarf)
African Unicorn Lizard (Rhinocerotosaurus nasicornis) - a descendent of the Rock Agama 35 million years into the future. Sometime during the Early Neocene, tropical storms ravaged their native islands near Riftia sweeping some away in the currents. Those who had survived their unexpected voyage found themselves on a completely new landmass and with the extinction of some large mainland African herbivores they quickly filled the niches left behind becoming larger as they weren't being held back by the size of their habitat, they also migrated to Asia and with all the niches left open they diversified. residing in plains, forests, and jungles they mainly graze but they forage for fungi and fruits whenever they are available. They often compete with the thornbacks especially over fruits and water sources. They have a large rear hump that is a water and fat reserve for during dry seasons. They live mostly solitary only being tolerable of others during the mating season where males will duel each other over mating rights and hatchlings are about the size of a small monitor and stick by their mothers until about half of their full size where they will be shoo'd off by their mother.
Lowland Thornback (Art and Concept by Nibblesnarf)
Lowland Thornback - a descendent of the armadillo lizard native to the low lying grasslands and sparse forests in Eastern Africa, these medium sized herbivores are as adaptable as they are resilient. Eating mostly shrubs and other grasses they also snack on the occasional insects using their claws to dig up ant nests or break through termite mounds, crumbling them and lapping them up, they also have a sweet tooth for any fruits they can find. Despite being rather slow and bulky these cumbersome beasts, they can defend themselves well using extra thick scales on their tail which they can swing like clubs and 2 shoulder spikes to keep any pesky hunters from leaping onto their back. During the mating season males and females gather in large numbers where the males fight using their aforementioned club tail and ramming once the eggs are laid they will be covered in leaves and or partially buried for coverage and babies will rush to the safety of the forest as soon as they hatch where they will spend their early years. Usually solitary they will form small family units of half a dozen individuals and younger Thornbacks often stick together in groups of up to 15 individuals.

East African Montane Rainforests

Range of the East African Montane Rainforest (In Red)

Highlands are rare in Eastern Africa

Mountain Thornback

Riftian Tropical Moist Forest

The formerly East African continent of Riftia has continued to drift out to sea, providing a refuge for animal lineages rare or extinct on the mainland continents

Riftian Thornback - A descendant of the Armadillo Lizard and close relative of the Lowland Thornback. The species exhibits Insular Dwarfism and is only around half the size of their mainland relatives.

Sahul

Australian Mangroves

Volatacetus (Art and Concept by SirSaurian)
Volatacetus orientalem - These Whales are descendants of the Herpacetus, however these Whales changed drastically since then into the 35 million A.D. Voltacetus are found across Both Sahul & Asia, Inhabiting all kinds of Wetlands, These Whales feed on just about anything they can, from forest rodents to fish and other aquatic Mammals. Volatacetus weighs on average 440-530 lbs and has a length of about 2-5 meters, tho much larger specimens exist. The Voltacetus is a skilled walker and swimmer, able to run at 15mph and swim at 20mph, this allows the Volatacetus to catch a Variety of prey, from forrest critters to many kinds of fish. The Volatcetus is also very territorial and will attempt to drown or scare off any creature that approaches its turf.

Australian Central Desert

Golden Poptail (Art and Concept by Nibblesnarf)
Golden Poptail - a descendant of the thorny devil that evolved sometime during the late Lyonocene. Living within the inner most parts of Sahul, wherever colonies of ants and termites are, so are they. They eat invertebrates and any small animal they can get their hands on. Using their large chin spike to dig up and break mounds forcing the bugs to rush out as they lick them up. Due to their large size compared to their ancestors they only have spikes running across their back and have rough, thick hides to ward off bug bites. Though their main form of self defense lies in the last 2 sacks on their tail. The 6 back sacks are fat and water reserves but when a poptail is attacked they run away, dropping the one of the 2 back sacks. Once a predator bites it the sack will explode with a noxious smell and contain chemicals that leave a nasty taste in any would be pursuers. Often found in pairs they mate for life and defend the territory from trespassers trying to take the land for themselves by locking their heads with the horns and chin spike until the rival or owner backs down.

Antarctica

Antarctic Fjords

Crimson Cliff-Clinger (Art and Concept by Nibblesnarf)
Crimson Cliff-Clinger (Pithecosalvator antarcticus) - a descendent of the Argentine Red Tegu. This bizarre reptilian inhabits a now slightly warmer antarctic evolving from individuals who were swept away in storms and stranded on the thawing landmass. As they adapted to the harsh temperatures, their scales have become numerous, thin hairs that cover the majority of their body, they also have large fat reserves on their neck and tail for when times turn lean. Their diet consists mainly of fish and birds; during nesting season they become nest raiders, using their long arms to scale mountains to reach cliff nesting birds gobbling up the eggs and chicks. They have orange marks on their palms that resemble eyes that they display along with a set of loud screeches and hisses to scare off predators and competition. They have brightly colored hairs on their tails as a form of identification amongst each other. During the mating season females will release loud calls that can be heard from 3 miles away and males will rush toward their location and the first one to arrive will have the chance to mate, they will ferociously protect their egg until they hatch then male will departure as the baby will stick by their mother for the next 2 years learning from their mothers on how to survive.

Islands

West Atlantic Archipelago

A ridge of volcanoes formed this archipelago that stretches from the arctic to the antarctic. These islands provide homes for unprecedented levels of unique adaptations and is the most biodiverse region on the planet.

Coastal Oceans

West Atlantic Reefs

Range of the West Atlantic Reef (In Red)

Blunt-snouted Wholphin
Blunt-snouted Wholphin (Pachydelphis carcinophaga) - The Blunt-snouted Wholphin is a large toothed whale descended from the Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) notable for its short rostrum filled with flat grinding teeth that let them feed on hard shelled invertebrates. These animals can reach 4.8 to 7.3 meters in length and weigh 350 to 950 kg, they do not have a thick layer of blubber like most other cetaceans giving them a skinny appearance and making them lighter than other whales of a similar length. Their colors vary from individual to individual, ranging from dark gray, light gray, blue-gray, brown-gray and even black. They have twin-lighter colored stripes on their flanks and a pale underbelly which serves as counter shading. Blunt-snouted Wholphins may live up to 60 years, with some extraordinary individuals reaching their 90s. The species does not exhibit sexual dimorphism, on average males are larger, but this is not always the case. The Blunt-snouted Wholphin is found in warm coastal waters throughout the tropics and subtropics, especially around Australia and the Pacific Coast of South America. They prefer reefs, especially barnacle reefs, where they can easily break large amounts of food off the reef. This species is intolerant of colder waters due to their low amounts of blubber and will freeze to death should they be swept off to Northern or Southern waters. Blunt-snouted Wholphins prefer to stay in shallow, well-lit waters, typically going no deeper than 125 meters and staying in water 10 to 20 meters deep. The Blunt-snout Wholphin is a specialist of molluscs and crustaceans, using their flat, molar-like teeth to crush the shells of mussels, crustaceans and even the limestone skeletons of coral. Which they grind into a powder along with their soft bodied prey before swallowing. The meat is digested while the shell or limestone powder passes through the gut, being excreted with the waste as a fine sand, much like parrotfish of the Holocene, this sand often forms the base for idyllic white, sandy beaches found throughout the tropics. Wholphins will also take any small fish or cephalopods that they are able to catch and will also open and grind up bones of other large marine creatures if they can be found. Like nearly all cetacean species the Blunt-snouted Wholphin is very intelligent and highly social. Pods can range from 10 to 500 individuals and even include members of other Wholphin species. Females are the dominant sex, and like elephants the pod is usually led by an elderly female or Matriarch. Mothers with calves are the next most dominant in their social structure, followed by breeding or ‘stud’ males, childless females, and then non-breeding males. Matriarchs and mothers swim at the center of the pod guarded by the breeding males, with non-breeders sticking to the outside of the pod, Nearly every wholphin has a close tightly knit ‘friend group’ that care closely for each other, these friend groups can transcend social class, with some including both matriarch and non-breeding males and even other species. Wholphins display advanced senior-care behavior, elderly wholphins will often have grinded their teeth away completely, leaving them unable to eat, but wholphins may survive for years without teeth, as other wholphins will often grind up shells for them and the transfer the soupy mixture of meat, powdered shell and saliva via mouth-to-mouth contact, preventing them from starving. Wholphins are extremely vocal, communicating primarily through echolocation but also through whistles, squeaks and pulses. Different pods have been recorded using different types, combinations and frequencies of sound amongst one another, forming ‘languages’ of sorts. Body language and physical contact is also very important in Wholphin society, with dozens of gestures and postures being used by individuals to convey messages and emotions. Blunt-snouted Wholphins breed all year round and have no specific breeding season. Rather, whenever a female is ready to breed she will present herself to a large group of stud males which will then argue display for her by leaping out of the water in order to show off their strength and offering her gifts, mostly food, but also certain pufferfish and polychaete worms whose venoms/poisons can act as a narcotic or hallucinogenic substance to the Wholphins. Once a suitable stud has been found, the female will mate with him several times and, should she like how her suitor performs may keep him close to her and copulate throughout her pregnancy. Gestation takes about 14 months, resulting in the birth of only a single calf, which suckles from its mother and other related females for around 18-21 months. Babies are often targeted by predators like large Macroraptorial Dolphins, Pinnipeds, sharks and even giant tuna. Though because the entire pod is tasked with protecting the calves, few of these predators are actually successful.

Terror Trevally (Carangarex terribilis) - This 3 meter long, 650 kg predatory descendant of the Golden Trevally prowls the reefs of the West Atlantic Archipelago snapping up any smaller creature they come across, from reef fish to small sharks to seabirds, sea serpents and even juvenile Wholphins.

West Atlantic Sea Serpent (Art and Concept by Sigmagoon18)
West Atlantic Sea serpent (Serpenmarinus americanus) - After 50 million years of evolution, a genus of large aquatic polychaetes descended from the bottom dwelling Bobbit worms, emerged and spread around the globe. This particular species is found on the Americas east coast, mainly within the East American Archipelago and their breeding grounds being located in the Amazonian bay. After choosing to move away from their ancestors' ambush hunting strategy the Sea serpents now choose to drift along the bottom of the sea floor and attack from below. They use their powerful mandibles to grip their prey in place as they start to feed on their catch as it’s still alive. They have evolved fins similar to the Anomalocaris from the Cambrian period. Their long bodies with countless fins make it one of the most manoeuvrable aquatic creatures of its time, though this comes at the cost of speed, not being nearly as fast as other predators of similar size. Females typically lay thousands of tiny eggs that drift along the Great eastern American current in a planktonic state. The hatchlings will live a planktonic lifestyle for the first few months of its life before being able to reach 1 m in length after a year. They reach their maximum length of 12 meters at the age of 25. Due to being slow growers and living most of their life as small opportunistic feeders, very very few of them reach adulthood as their slow speed and size forces them to hide in coral and caves similar to the moray eels of today. Once they reach adulthood they are left alone by most predators due to their thick but flexible exoskeletons and deadly mandibles. Even as adults they aren’t invincible however, as they are slow growing when they rarely have to shed their exoskeletons it can take up to 2 days to fully shed leaving them very vulnerable. Many Sea serpents choose to move to the deep dark waters to shed their exoskeletons.

North Pacific Kelp

Hillenburg’s Sea Bear - A fully marine descendant of the brown bear, that hunts and moves in a similar manner to the Pliosaurs of the Mesozoic

Kelp Cruiser (Art and Concept by Nibblesnarf)
Kelp Cruiser (Thalattandrias pacificus) - a descendant of the Japanese giant salamander 35 million years into the future. Still roaming the seas of south east Asia, they've become completely adjusted to salt water. They can usually be found in most types of environments like coral reefs and kelp forests. They feed primarily on large fish, pinnipeds, and small cetaceans, stalking them as they start rapidly accelerating towards the unwary fish once they get into range and tackling them with enough force to leave them dazed for a minute, once stunned the kelp drifter will simply swim in and snatch it up, making quick work before it ever has a chance to wake up. They live mostly solitary only pairing up to mate, clusters of eggs will laid attached to kelp and coral and once they hatch, the safety of reefs act as a nursery, often to small for adults to enter as infanticide is very frequent amongst adults.

Open Oceans

Equatorial and Temperate Oceans

Coyote Porpoise (Postphocoena latrans) - A descendant of the Harbor Porpoise, the Coyote Porpoise thrives amongst the sapient cetaceans of the time, often sighted within their floating cities and skilled at pilfering livestock, making them an agricultural pest. The species is widely disliked by many cetaceans for their thievery as well as their similarities to dolphins making them fall into the uncanny valley.
Pelagic Cruiser - A descendant of the Blue Whale, that is able to reach sizes slightly larger than its ancestor. But otherwise the species is not much different
Emperor Beaked Whale (Postmesoplodon imperator) - a 75 ft long filter-feeding beaked whale
Forest Physeter (Dendrophyseter pteriderma) - A species of Sperm Whale that has evolved an extremely slow metabolism as well as a thick layer of spongy tissue that allows organisms from algae to corals to molluscs to anchor themselves to the mammal without harming it’s internal organs. The Forest Physeter spends most of its life immobile, simply floating in the water column letting the plants and animals living in their skin photosynthesize and deposit a fraction of the sugars they create into their bodies. They are by no means lazy or stupid however, Forest Physeter are constantly calling out to one another singing complex songs to communicate their emotions, health and any potential threats they might sense. They are completely blind, and have no eyes at all, instead they sense the world with echolocation
Thalassothanator (Pliohydrurga thalassothanatos) - The oceanic apex predator, these Leopard Seal descendants bear similarities to the extinct Pliosaurs.
Royal Sea-Paddler (Kronozalophus imperator) - A gigantic macropredatory Sea Lion, reaching nearly 80 feet in length and weighing 140 tons
Big Brown Cetophoc (Cetophoca balaenodon) - A gigantic, fully marine descendant of the Crabeater Seal, they are filter feeders that strain krill out of the water with their modified teeth and whiskers
Emperor Cetophoc (Gigaphoca maximus) - another filter-feeding Crabeater Seal descendant and one of the largest non-Kaiju creatures to ever live, able to reach an astounding 87 meters in length, they feed mostly on krill but won’t pass up on any small creature unfortunate enough to be caught in their mouth,

Noah’s Ammerdosaur - a giant 25m long Ammondosaurid that carries a variety of small creatures on its back, ranging from unique species of Snouter, Haramiyidans, Glossid, Frogbat, Anurathere, terrestrial shark and more, most of which are only found on the backs of these mega reptiles.
Brood-mouth Crocodile - A Marine Crocodilian, descended from the American Crocodile/Gulf Crocodile
Giant Sea Turtle - A descendant of the Green Sea Turtle, but far larger, having a shell length of 18 feet and weighing up to 5.5 tons. They feed on sea grass and jellies.
Giant Golden Sea Snake (Novomosasaurus giganteus) - a descendant of the Olive Sea Snake, this 20-45 ft long snake possesses a shark-like tail paddle and undulating fleshy fins giving them great speed and maneuverability underwater. These large carnivores will greedily consume any creature they can grab and swallow. They possess a weak venom but mostly rely on their sharp teeth and jaw strength to kill their prey.

Saurocetus (Art and Concept by Nibblesnarf)
Saurocetus giganteus - a descendant of the Japanese giant salamander 50 million years into the future. During the time between the late neocene and the postocene they exploded in size, now becoming almost entirely global. Found in nearly every ocean except the southern and arctic ocean they are rulers of any environment they find themselves in. They play a role similar to the mosasaurs of the mesozoic, they prey upon almost anything. Swimming through schools of fish lapping up any in their way, biting medium sized prey into pieces, or crashing into large creatures like a battering ram rending the animal nearly immobile. They communicate with loud calls that stretch for hundreds of miles. They are highly territorial, ruthlessly defending their domain from any intruders. They give live birth, females grouping up to safely take care of their young. They feed their young with a thick, nutrient dense fluid secreted from pores on their sides. Once the young saurocetus become a third of their grown size, the females split up where then the young will continue to be nurtured by their mothers for about 4 more months.

Pelagic Cape Ray - A large highly intelligent descendant of the Manta Ray, these peaceful filter feeders have wingspans of over 30 feet and are among the most intelligent creatures in the ocean after the various cetacean species

Sapient Species

Late Lyonocene Earth is home to over forty sapient animal species, they are split between two groups, varanids and cetaceans

Monitor Lizard Society

Sapient Varanid (Concept by MockingMaeve; Art by Nibblesnarf)

Descended from the Perentie Monitor. They are a primitive, stone-age society and extremely violent, waging frequent war on other tribes.

Cetacean Societies

The singular ocean-wide Cetacean mega-society encompasses 44 sapient cetacean species

K’k’k’k’k’-yyy - A sapient semi-aquatic dolphin species descended from the Bottlenose Dolphin. They were the first species to invent many technologies due to them being able to experiment with fire and electricity when out of the water.

Ck’ck-ck’ck-ck’ck - A sapient descendent of the Sperm whale

Uuu-oouu - A sapient descendant of the Humpback Whale

Wi’wiiiah - A sapient descendant of the Orca

IIIIIIII-wahwah - Beluga Descendant

There are also descendants of Pilot Whale, Spinner Dolphin, Common Dolphin, Acrophyseter robustus, Ankylorhiza tiedemani, Atlantic white-sided dolphin , Brachydelphis mazeasi, Brygmophyseter shigensis, False killer whale, Hemisyntrachelus oligodon, Livyatan melvillei, melon-headed whale, Pacific white-sided dolphin, Pantropical spotted dolphin, Piscobalaena nana, pygmy killer whale, Risso's dolphin, Rough-toothed dolphin, Scaphokogia cochlearis, Squalodon calvertensis, Zygophyseter varolai, 4 Beaked Whales and 10 Zeuglodonts

By the very end of the Lyonocene the cetaceans managed to form an Interstellar Cetacean Society, with hundreds, possibly thousands of cetacean and post-cetacean races spread across the galaxy

Domesticated Species

Domestic Whale - A descendant of the Gray Whale, these whales are farmed for their meat and are used as beasts of burden
Domestic Cetothere - A descendant of of the Pygmy Right Whale, these whales are farmed for their meat

Domesticated Sharks - Four shark species have been domesticated by the cetacean society; being the descendants of the Copper Shark, Lemon Shark, Grey Reef Shark, and Whitetip Reef Shark
Domestic Forage Fishes - A variety of small fishes and invertebrates farmed by the Cetacean Civilization, these small fish are farmed in massive quantities and are a primary food source for both fish-eating species and filter-feeders alike. Additionally many of these species have been bred into ‘ornamental’ breeds that are kept as pets by some.
- Domesticated Herring
- Domesticated Anchovy
- Domesticated Capelin
- Domesticated Squid
- Domesticated Krill
Domestic Pufferfish - These toxic pufferfish were domesticated for their poison, initially used as a preservative for their food. Which later developed into edible spices and even narcotics and drugs.
Dolphinoid Octopus - A domesticated form of octopus, first tamed by the K’k’k’k’k’-yyy Ancestrally, they would’ve picked and moved octopuses into crevasses that they themselves couldn’t have reached. This was useful for spooking out fish and any other prey item hiding from them. This eventually became more refined, purposefully holding them in their mouths, and getting them to grab things more precisely. The octopuses, now being cared for by another species, lost its own intelligence, eventually becoming comparable to its other mollusk relatives in this regard. They developed nerve clusters near the places the cetaceans would push on, which would affect their tentacle movement. The K’k’k’k’k’-yyy themselves developed more complex tongue shapes perfectly evolved to control their makeshift hands. With this came added intelligence, which they could put into things like tool use, building, farming and more. As additional cetacean species joined the global society, the K’k’k’k’k’-yyy developed additional breeds each uniquely suited for a particular species’ oral biology.
Domestic Cushion Star - Farmed by the Cetacean Civilization, these creatures produce high amounts of mucous that is used to produce various technologies and their floating cities.
Domestic Hagfish - Farmed by the cetaceans to produce copious amounts of mucous that they use to create their floating cities.

Spice Worm - Spice worms are the domesticated descendants of fireworms, they were domesticated for their toxins which come of as spice to the whales, they have been breed to produce more and henceforth are fatter, and breed faster