Hydroponics: Alien Fauna
In order to create a sustainable micro-ecosystem in Hydroponics, a number of compatible species of alien fauna were collected and placed within. Each creature is implanted with a monitoring chip, which also doubles as a control mechanism. A designated "keeper" from the crew can have the chip activate, which enhances the creature's natural stress-combating mechanisms, causing them to become much more docile. Also, if the creature becomes hostile towards a crew-member for any reason, the chip will activate and cause the creature to fall into an unconscious state, which a keeper can then revive them from.
Upon the opening of the Hydroponics section, information on all of the fauna within will be available to the crew. Some of the creatures in the Hydroponics section are as follows:
Stilt Glider: Lithe, graceful herbivorous creatures, these are among the most common creatures in the Hydroponics section. They typically move by prancing around in a manner typically described as "deer-like", but the wing like growths on their backs allow them to glide for short distances as well. This gives the impression that gravity affects them less as they hop around, gliding softly to the ground. They are adept at avoiding predators, but some eventually are caught. Due to their abundance, they are the typical prey animals for predators on the ship.
Skyyrk: Bipedal avianoid creature with ape-like intelligence and movement. Long, wiry bodies were the result of the slightly low-gravity environment from their world of origin. They have oddly shaped heads with a pronounced cranium and an elongated "snout" which has a beak at the end of it. Their hands have opposable thumbs, allowing them to make use of crude tools to gather food. They are also covered in soft, quill-like feathers. A very social and friendly species, these creatures were chosen due to their generally calming effect on sentient species that find their behavior endearing. However, they can be very protective of their young, and are known to attack keepers on occasion who get too close to their children. They are an omnivorous species, preferring small insects and fruits.
Quoran Tree-Eater: A large, quadrupedal creature, with stalked eyes, an insect-like mandible, and two arm-like appendages for reaching the tops of trees. Normally these solitary, herbivorous creatures eat only the leaves of trees, but in times of scarcity (such as winter) they can also eat the actual trees themselves. These creatures are slow moving due to the lack of natural predators, but they are known to be somewhat skittish at the approach of other animals.
Rajkan Night-Runner: A nocturnal, quadrupedal predator. A solitary hunter, despite its similarities to the Earth wolf. While swift and most certainly capable of hunting small, swift prey, it prefers going after larger, slower herbivores. It typically hunts in a hit-and-run style, pouncing unseen at their prey and taking off a large chunk of meat before dashing back off into hiding, repeating the process until its prey is dead or it has eaten enough. Extensive work was done to "train" these animals to avoid sentient creatures before allowing them to reside in the Hydroponics section of the ship.
Morl: A plant-like flying creature. They originate from a jungle world, with a rather humid atmosphere. Though capable of some flight, mostly they use their wings to float on pockets of hot-air, gliding from tree to tree on leathery wings. Their primary diet typically consists of small fruits.
Leenkant: A swift predator creature with a silhouette similar to a prehistoric Earth raptor. These creatures typically hunt in packs of 3 to 4, chasing after small and larger creatures alike. It typically kills its prey by slashing at it with its four normally retracted arms, each with claws coated in a mild venom that slowly paralyzes the prey. Like the Night-Runners, these creatures underwent "training" to keep them from attacking sentients.
Kyth Grub-Mole: Small, subterranean herbivorous creatures, the size of a small house pet. They spend most of the day burrowed, but emerge when it is time to eat, typically searching for low-growing fruit and leaves. Though skittish, they are rather friendly creatures (they respond well to being rolled around, as this is similar to their way of playing with each other). Due to their endearing behavior, they are typically used as ship-pets to boost morale. However, they do have a tendency to attempt to make "burrows" out of their master's belongings, especially clothes or something else that has their scent.
Fleth Deer: Another deer-like species, especially notable for its bioluminescence. They appear to be active at all hours, but in reality this is because some members of he species are diurnal and others are nocturnal. They are shy, flighty, non-violent creatures but not terribly intelligent. They are a favored prey species.
There are a number of lesser creatures, from bird-like avian creatures, to fish like creatures, to small, rodent-like creatures, but there is little of note about these creatures.
Upon the opening of the Hydroponics section, information on all of the fauna within will be available to the crew. Some of the creatures in the Hydroponics section are as follows:
Stilt Glider: Lithe, graceful herbivorous creatures, these are among the most common creatures in the Hydroponics section. They typically move by prancing around in a manner typically described as "deer-like", but the wing like growths on their backs allow them to glide for short distances as well. This gives the impression that gravity affects them less as they hop around, gliding softly to the ground. They are adept at avoiding predators, but some eventually are caught. Due to their abundance, they are the typical prey animals for predators on the ship.
Skyyrk: Bipedal avianoid creature with ape-like intelligence and movement. Long, wiry bodies were the result of the slightly low-gravity environment from their world of origin. They have oddly shaped heads with a pronounced cranium and an elongated "snout" which has a beak at the end of it. Their hands have opposable thumbs, allowing them to make use of crude tools to gather food. They are also covered in soft, quill-like feathers. A very social and friendly species, these creatures were chosen due to their generally calming effect on sentient species that find their behavior endearing. However, they can be very protective of their young, and are known to attack keepers on occasion who get too close to their children. They are an omnivorous species, preferring small insects and fruits.
Quoran Tree-Eater: A large, quadrupedal creature, with stalked eyes, an insect-like mandible, and two arm-like appendages for reaching the tops of trees. Normally these solitary, herbivorous creatures eat only the leaves of trees, but in times of scarcity (such as winter) they can also eat the actual trees themselves. These creatures are slow moving due to the lack of natural predators, but they are known to be somewhat skittish at the approach of other animals.
Rajkan Night-Runner: A nocturnal, quadrupedal predator. A solitary hunter, despite its similarities to the Earth wolf. While swift and most certainly capable of hunting small, swift prey, it prefers going after larger, slower herbivores. It typically hunts in a hit-and-run style, pouncing unseen at their prey and taking off a large chunk of meat before dashing back off into hiding, repeating the process until its prey is dead or it has eaten enough. Extensive work was done to "train" these animals to avoid sentient creatures before allowing them to reside in the Hydroponics section of the ship.
Morl: A plant-like flying creature. They originate from a jungle world, with a rather humid atmosphere. Though capable of some flight, mostly they use their wings to float on pockets of hot-air, gliding from tree to tree on leathery wings. Their primary diet typically consists of small fruits.
Leenkant: A swift predator creature with a silhouette similar to a prehistoric Earth raptor. These creatures typically hunt in packs of 3 to 4, chasing after small and larger creatures alike. It typically kills its prey by slashing at it with its four normally retracted arms, each with claws coated in a mild venom that slowly paralyzes the prey. Like the Night-Runners, these creatures underwent "training" to keep them from attacking sentients.
Kyth Grub-Mole: Small, subterranean herbivorous creatures, the size of a small house pet. They spend most of the day burrowed, but emerge when it is time to eat, typically searching for low-growing fruit and leaves. Though skittish, they are rather friendly creatures (they respond well to being rolled around, as this is similar to their way of playing with each other). Due to their endearing behavior, they are typically used as ship-pets to boost morale. However, they do have a tendency to attempt to make "burrows" out of their master's belongings, especially clothes or something else that has their scent.
Fleth Deer: Another deer-like species, especially notable for its bioluminescence. They appear to be active at all hours, but in reality this is because some members of he species are diurnal and others are nocturnal. They are shy, flighty, non-violent creatures but not terribly intelligent. They are a favored prey species.
There are a number of lesser creatures, from bird-like avian creatures, to fish like creatures, to small, rodent-like creatures, but there is little of note about these creatures.