Kaiju Revolution: SKULL ISLAND MENAGERIE 11

Sail Croc:  These large reptiles can be seen sunning themselves across many sandy inlets and lagoons along Skull Island’s shores.  They prefer to sunbath together, though territorial disputes are common.  Despite their resemblance to crocodilians at first glance, they are actually developed from phytosaurs, with heavily armored bony scutes and nostrils placed above their eyes.  Their long snouts and finely serrated teeth are adapted for snatching mouthfuls of schooling fish, which they are able to pursue at great bursts of speed.  Sail Crocs have also been spotted occasionally leaping from the water to catch seabirds.  Length: 30 to 45 feet.

Spore Mantis:  The Spore Mantis is among the most environmentally integrated of florafauna.  Reproducing via spores that settle within large trees, they grow along with the branches of their host.  During this phase in their life cycle, they may sometimes catch small prey to nurish themselves and their host, as well as deter larger herbivores from damaging the trees they are a part of.  At maturity, they will detach to move about the Super Jungles freely, though often very slowly, extending small rootlets from their feet to exchange energy and nutrients with other plants, though they attain most energy through photosynthesis.  Though placid most of the time, a startled or angered Spore Mantis is a highly dangerous opponent.  Many smaller canopy dwellers, therefor, forage around and upon them, including Avisaurs and Burroughsaurs.  One species of slug-like creature has made a habit of living solely within the hollow spaces of the exoskeleton, and may offer added defensive capabilities with its toothy maw.  Length: 35 to 230 feet.

Leafwing:  These insectoids are among the most common creatures on Skull Island.  There are apparently dozens of species of Leafwing, though this may be due to a system of DNA exchange with multiple types of trees.  A single swarm can contain thousands of individuals, and seek to establish symbiosis with many tree species.  By day, Leafwings flutter about the canopy consuming smaller insects, and flock high into the sky to absorb more sunlight for photosynthesis.  At nightfall, they return to their host trees to exchange the acquired nutrients.  This allows many trees in the sun-starved understory and in nutrient-poor areas to survive, and as their DNA and biochemistries become more integrated, may do away with their own leaves altogether and rely wholly on Leafwings.  If provoked, a Leafwing swarm can become dangerous, as many types retain razor-sharp edges to their leafy structures.  Overpopulation may also lead to an ecological takeover, so that their being preyed upon by many other creatures is necessary.  Length: 1 to 3.5 feet.

Voraxosaurus:  Though they might seem relatively harmless, Voraxosaurus sordes is to be treated with caution.  They are common scavengers, feeding on the carrion and waste of other animals.  They are quite immune to many pathogens, and may carry multiple diseases which deter many predators.  They also travel in large flocks for added protection.  With so many mouths, however, a big enough flock can become an inconspicuous hazard.  They may attempt to harass larger creatures, and though this can be little more than an annoyance at first, they can cause serious infections with their septic bodies.  Over time, as the prey weakens, harassment will increase until the victim is weak enough to be consumed alive.  Length: 2.5 to 3.7 feet.

Pteracuda:  Skull Island is a hotbed of evolution.  Among the groups unique to this landmass are the Piranhadontids.  These are fish, believed to be derived from the order Sarcopterygii, with mobile necks derived from their gill racks, and muscular fore-fins.  They include the infamous Piranhadon itself; a giant predator of the swamps, and the Piranhaconda; a smaller, convergently snake-like form that often attacks in swarms.  The Pteracuda is among the more specialized of these predators.  Its lobe-fins have become very large and streamlined that enable it to glide considerable distances, either from a swimming start or by passing over waterfalls.  This creature is the bane of other surface-dwelling fish and waterfowl.  Their long head crests, similar to that of the pterosaur, Pteranodon, are used in much the same way as display structures.  Length: 12 to 20 feet.

Wangmagwi:  The origin of this rarely-seen beast is unclear, though it may be a type of basal primate or secondarily flightless primitive bat.  They are somewhat frail in comparison with other Island natives, hence their cryptic habits.  Their hunting methods are of the more…psychological variety.  They possess some sort of neurological amplification organ on their foreheads, which allows them to modify the brainwaves of selected targets.  This can include perception-dampening, which obscures their presence, and can induce a hypnotic state of slowed reflexes.  This gives the Wangmagwi its chance to go in for the kill and take its prize back to its lair to feed in peace.  Height: 4 to 5 feet.

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Creature Inspirations:
Sail Croc:  Sail-back reptiles from Journey to the Center of the Earth 1959.
Spore Mantis:  Kong: Skull Island 2017.
Leafwing:  Kong: Skull Island 2017.
Voraxosaurus:  Bird-like lizards of Kong: Gods of Skull Island comic 2017, and “compies” of The Lost World: Jurassic Park 1997.
Pteracuda:  Sharktopus vs Pteracuda 2014.
Wangmagwi:  Titular kaiju of Space Monster Wangmagwi 1967.
Additional elements with help from Lediblock2.  Much appreciated as always.  😊