General Discussion

hi yall, im making a story for class and all the characters are going to be monsters/creatures. so, i’d like some inspiration for designs!
tell me about some cool/weird animals, whether its by look or otherwise! mostly interested in bugs and fish, but feel free to give me anything :)

HOLD ON HOLD ON I SWEAR I GOT SOME

raccoon dog. [img]https://i.pinimg.com/originals/32/14/6c/32146c87cbef2a3df87ff4735747c982.jpg[/img] orchid mantis [img]https://i.imgur.com/4x1fmze.jpg[/img] ghost shark [img]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/Deep_sea_chimaera.jpg/220px-Deep_sea_chimaera.jpg[/img] black knife fish [img]https://thumbs.gfycat.com/ShrillAltruisticBongo-size_restricted.gif[/img]

@PythonVibes wildlife biology major here to talk about my favorite weird fish and bugs!

since you're interested in fish, i'd highly recommend looking into fish that live in the deep sea specifically. not just actual fish either! there are so many interesting crustaceans down there. i especially enjoy the ones that are bioluminescent!

one of my favorite deep sea creatures is gigantocypris! they're these ball-shaped ostracods with very big eyes. i love them to death. they're around the size of a grape.
i also really enjoy the tripod fish. they're just so strange.

some other interesting sea creatures that i think would aid a little better in character designs are the oarfish, coelacanth, crystal jellyfish, bobbit worm (who is an ultimate fav of mine) and the nautilus. also since you like bugs... giant isopods! i love them!

in terms of insects, i have.. so many favorite weird bugs so i'll just try to list off a few from the top of my head. arachnophobia warning for most of these!
- filbert weevil
- long-nosed funnyface locust
- camel spider
- tailless whip scorpion (they have little Grabbers)
- spiny orb-weaver
- house centipede
- bagworms
- pyrops candelaria

... and so many more! sorry for going off, i'm incredibly passionate about this subject. best of luck with your story!

[img]https://i.imgur.com/nCy2OF7.jpg[/img] The tardigrade, a microanimal known for its near invincibility and the fact that it looks like a potato with a vacuum cleaner attachment for a face. [img]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/Pink_Fairy_Armadillo_%28Chlamyphorus_truncatus%29.jpg/1200px-Pink_Fairy_Armadillo_%28Chlamyphorus_truncatus%29.jpg[/img] The pink fairy armadillo, which looks like a Pokemon, but is actually a very rare animal native to Argentina. [img]https://pmdvod.nationalgeographic.com/NG_Video_DEV/950/451/transparent-fish-video-vin_480x360.jpg[/img] The barreleye fish. Those green orbs? Actually its eyes. Its head? Totally transparent.

I will throw in Arapaima, because I think their shape is quite interesting, they are quite large but most of the fins are kind of jammed towards the back for some reason?? Plus they are armored, and I really like the red/black coloration :D Might make for a cool character with a fancy tail or something. [img]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Arapaima-full.jpg/640px-Arapaima-full.jpg[/img]

It's dead but was pretty weird: Kosmosaurus [img]https://i.pinimg.com/736x/66/d0/d4/66d0d45e93412a9f4efa6fab9cd1a9ae.jpg[/img]

HECK YEAH WEIRD CRITTERS HOUR!!!! (cw for arachnophobia and a very weird deep sea fish) Japanese serow! It's like a wolf/goat hybrid. [img]https://www.wilddocu.de/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/C-crispus_Buerglin_004.jpg[/img] Sumatran striped rabbit! Very unusual markings for a bunny. [img]https://stresseffect.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/striped-rabbit.jpg[/img] Loepa oberthuri! A fashionable moth with pink boots. [img]https://64.media.tumblr.com/19ee3ed27f112aa74db468fb2946f650/49e27b7bd786e47b-82/s1280x1920/bdde916ab40cb2af27d0e6c18ec62481c9e17d60.jpg[/img] Ebony jewelwing damselfly! I saw one of these in my yard once and immediately became mesmerised by how dark its wings were and how shiny its body was. [img]https://nature.mdc.mo.gov/sites/default/files/styles/centered_full/public/media/field-guide/Ebony_Jewelwing_grass_blade_6-2-14.jpg?itok=ekqqf7uQ.png[/img] Predatory tunicate! It's like a biological sock puppet. [img]https://i.pinimg.com/originals/e5/f5/50/e5f5508899ca99f0490d6f8e255a8319.jpg[/img] Gigantura indica! Funky lil mad science fish. [img]https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Images/Image/GiganturaIndicaSFSA.jpg[/img] [img]https://images-cdn.9gag.com/photo/a8GG9bV_700b.jpg[/img] Eustala anastera! Mossy spider friend. [img]https://a4.pbase.com/g2/94/339594/3/147106885.MxVUJQhN.jpg[/img] Might return to this thread if any more come to mind; I adore animals that are out of the ordinary! [emoji=heart size=1]

@Grail ooh, the ghost shark and raccoon dog are perfect. i love orchid mantises, theyre so pretty and perfect for monsters!

@fakeviolin aa don't worry about it, i was hoping someone really into bugs/fish would give me a bunch! all of your ideas are great, i hadn't even thought about deep sea creatures! thank you :D

@manx WHAT A CUTE ANIMAL!! do you know what its called?? :0

@Iokharic the pink fairy armadillo is so cute?? and the barreleye fish has so much potential for design!! thank you!

@Arborpunk the arapaima is so pretty!! i also love their coloration, theyre just neat fish :D

@Hisscale im looking at all animals, including extinct ones! ive never head of that dinosaur but it looks cool!

@Lundgren OH THAT MOTH,,, shes gorgeous. and those fish are just so funky, i love it!

Thank you all so much for your suggestions! i adore each and every creature, yall hit my request right on the nose. i am always looking for weird creatures, so this is still open!