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[Loren Schmidt]

This is an ongoing collection of inspirational images. I've been searching for reference images for flora and fauna in an RPG, and I've accumulated a fun pile of images in the process. I thought I'd share these with others.

Some of these are real creatures (and plants) that I never knew existed... many of which look like they crawled, intact, out of a dime novel or a medieval bestiary. Others are just illustrations that I either found beautiful or entertaining. (This first batch is entirely the latter.)







More to come.

[Loren Schmidt]

Here's a second batch consisting of real creatures.

[Gainsworthy]

 

Now those, I have never heard of. Incredible. What a strange animal. And a real one!


Also props for the Velvet Worm and Haeckel's Jellyfish Illustrations. He made an incredible collection.

[Bood_war]

I remember growing Trilobites once. 

[Hempuli‽]

I remember growing Trilobites once. 

WAIT A SECOOOND

[Bood_war]

I remember growing Trilobites once. 

WAIT A SECOOOND

Hmmm?

[Gainsworthy]

I remember growing Trilobites once. 

WAIT A SECOOOND

Dude, Bood War is from the Late Permian period or something. He has seen the rise and fall of the World. You didn't know?

[Loren Schmidt]

Bood War is actually a member of the Great Race, and is only visiting us courtesy of mental projection into a human host. Hail, fellow sapient from the dim reaches of the past.









By the way, I neglected to make this clear earlier, but if anyone else has any fun pictures, feel free to post them. It would be great to get a shared fantasy creature / life / environment themed collection going.

[Gainsworthy]

 :D

Ah, Coconut Crabs. I wish we had them here. Nothing like cat sized crustaceans going through your rubbish to start a day off.






Unfortunately, they're largely imagined. But still marvellous.

[superflat]

Excellent.  I was just thinking about Heyre Be Dragones (or however they spelt it back in them days) the other day , and how I always liked the idea.

[Bood_war]

If Trilobites aren't around anymore, how can there be color photos?

YES! ALL HAIL THE ANCIENT ONE!

(Damn I'm going to have to find that article n strange crabs that was on AOL one time)

[KennEH!]

They be fossils.

[shrimp]

What are those things with the image filename of "trilobyte larva" then?

Velvet worms are possibly one of the weirdest things on the planet: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velvet_worm

Here's my contribution of an alien plant: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noble_rhubarb  I think it was on an episode BBC's Planet Earth.

Water Bears are also ace. Check out the amount of radiation and other shit they can survive. 

Lastly this blog often has some weird animals, amongst other fun stuff like retro scifi and steampunk features.

[Danrul]

These are exactly outlandish, but they are nonetheless awesome creatures.


Argentavis Magnificens - 40 ft wingspan, took off like a plane it was so heavy. Wiki the stats on this one

Pangolins are possibly my favourites animal.  They can walk on their hind legs and are just plain awesome.

This shit be scary.

Vampire squid.  Has photophorescent orbs that change colour according to his posture.  This one is worth Wiki-ing.

Generally, deep sea creatures are damned awesome.  But as far as awesome land faring animals im in the dark.

[Gainsworthy]

Trilobite Larva, as in "Trilobite Beetle Larva". Check 'em out.

Also: Hooray, Pangolins! I want one.

And That Noble Rhubarb is wierd as hell.

[Bood_war]

Gulper Eels are cool.

[Oddball]

No love yet for the narwhal. Shame on you all.

[jeb]

The Puss Caterpillar is cool too:

[Loren Schmidt]

Jeb, I promise I will look up the puss caterpillar, but I'm eating right now and something tells me it would be prudent to wait until I'm done with breakfast

More to come, but here's a video of a

I find this strangely disturbing, and can't help but imagine versions large enough to eat people...

[Bree]

That Puss Caterpillar is strangely adorable.