When is a "dolphin" not a Dolphin

> On Thu, 1 May 2003 10:17:08 +1000 Beth.Fulton@csiro.au writes:
<snip>
> And the amount of dolphin-ness is till hazy for this native

Okay, this  wa-a-a-a-y down the line but eventually I want to field the
aliens (Nektons and Klackons) into the setting I have with the
PHR/NPC/LLP/etc.for additional options.  I thought it might be nice to
add to the human submersibles and the two alien groups above a 'native' group.

Since the Nektons are amphibian-ish (the above ground stuff right now is
very clandestine and on parts of the planets not visited often, if at all so
far.) There are some above ground (intermittently) habitation areas in
isolated islets.

Klackons are Crustacean like creatures the size of horses and tend to spend
more time in the water and shallows than the Nektons (who in uncontested space
would like along the seashore but since their presence in the planets is still
relatively small and clandestine they spend (to a Nekton) an unnaturally large
amount of time in the water. The klackons are more attuned to spend time in
shallows (well, shallow to them) waters with frequent forays unto land.

The idea for the 'dolphin-like' natives would be more 'open sea' and/or
deeper water oriented than the Nektons or the Klackons (much less the humans,
hence the lack of knowledge of the natives to the colonizing humans.)
"Dolphin" was a first cut at what these creatures are like. The big difference
is that the 'dolphins' can (although very seldom do) spend time on land for
short periods. Usually they spend time in environments like swamps, marshes,
or areas of goodly amounts of moisture (Like the Olympic Peninsula of
Washington state here in the USA) when they do go ashore. And usually it's for
a very specific and necessary reason (TBD.) Only a few of the very young and
most adventurous spend
more than part of a day on land (due to extreme conditions - well,
extreme for them - and a history of having some of such adventurous
sub-adults dying on such excursions.)

So, by "Dolphin" I mean a marine mammal superficially like certain aspects of
terran Dolphins. But I am progressing slowly because 1) I still have to get
the Nektons and Klackons introduced in the setting and 2) Well, I'm a Regional
Analyst and not a marine biologist...

Suggest away, Beth.

Gracias,

G'day,

> The klackons are more attuned to spend time in shallows

Do they wear suits for this? Just curious as horse sized crustacean isn't
unheard off (ancient sea scorpions were that big) its supporting themselves
out of the water that would get difficult (in theory there's non around these
days to actually see for sure).

> The big difference is that the 'dolphins' can (although very

When you get into this look up the early whales (still in the transition from
land to sea) they're probably more like what you're after.... think
mammal with crocodile-like habits as far as they can figure.

> Only a few of the very young and most adventurous spend

So the young do it for excitement and the older know better?

> 2) Well, I'm a Regional Analyst and not a marine biologist...

Well we'll have that corrected one day;)

Cheers

> On Sun, 4 May 2003 11:17:18 +1000 Beth.Fulton@csiro.au writes:

The Klackons are lifted pretty much in toto from A. Mark Ratner's old Space
Marines rules. Upon review I find they are not explicitly the size of horses
(The Bugs are described that way.) But the miniatures by Stan Johansen appear
to be at least horse sized (thus coloring my memory.)

Gracias,

> On Sun, 4 May 2003 11:17:18 +1000 Beth.Fulton@csiro.au writes:
<snip>
> The big difference is that the 'dolphins' can (although very

Okay, I'll take a look.

> Only a few of the very young and most adventurous spend

A lot like my experiences in Los Angeles! <grin>

More like Mark Twain's Tom Sawyer, the urge for adventure and a false sense of
invincibility.

> 2) Well, I'm a Regional Analyst and not a marine biologist...

I doubt I have enough years to achieve that.

> Cheers

Gracias,