Some More Assorted Doodles For This Endearing Comic

Round 2 - Chordata - Actinopterygii

(Sources - 1, 2, 3, 4)

Over 50% of chordate species are Actinopterygians (“Ray-finned Fishes”). There are over 30,000 species, comprised of the Polypteriformes (“Bichirs” and “Reedfish”), Acipenseriformes (“Sturgeons” and “Paddlefish”), Amiiformes (“Bowfins”), Lepisosteiformes (“Gar”), and the Teleosts (about 40 orders containing all rest of the actinopterygians).

Ray-finned Fishes are so called because of their lightly built fins made of skin webbings supported by thin bony spines. Actinopterygians are unique for their swim bladder, an organ that allows them to adjust their buoyancy. They are the most abundant free-swimming aquatic animals and can be found almost anywhere there is water. They come in a vast majority of sizes, shapes, scale-types, fin-arrangements, colors, and behaviors, from the 8 mm (0.3 in) long Paedocypris to the 11 m (36 ft) long Giant Oarfish (Regalecus glesne) to the 2,744 kg (6,049 lb) Giant Sunfish (Mola alexandrini). They have feeding strategies ranging from predatory to grazing to filter-feeding.

In most actinopterygians, males and females exist and reproduce through external fertilization. However, some species utilize sequential hermaphroditism, in which they start life as females and convert to males at some point. In a few species, they start life as males and convert to females. Some species give live birth, and some species self-fertilise. Some abandon their young, while some practice maternal and/or even paternal care.

The earliest known actinopterygian is Andreolepis hedei, from the Late Silurian. The teleosts in particular diversified wildly during the Mesozoic, resulting in the high diversity of shapes we see today. The earliest fossil relatives of modern teleosts, (Prohalecites and Pholidophorus), are from the Triassic period, though it is suspected that teleosts originated already during the Paleozoic Era.

Propaganda under the cut:

Many Actinopterygians, especially those that live in the deep sea, are bioluminescent, glowing in a variety of colors and patterns to attract prey, mates, or even just communicate.

Some species of Puffer Fish (Family Tetrapdontidae) are highly poisonous, second only among vertebrates to the Golden Dart Frog (Phyllobates terribilis).

The most venomous fish is the Reef Stonefish (Synanceia verrucosa). The spines on its back produce a venom which can cause severe pain, shock, paralysis, and tissue death in humans.

Male Seahorses (Genus Hippocampus) are known for having a pouch in which they carry eggs laid by the female.

The Harlequin Tuskfish (Choerodon fasciatus) has electric blue vampire teeth.

Speaking of teeth, Serrasalmids have jaws ranging from human-looking nutcracker teeth to bear-trap looking flesh-eating chompers.

The Mandarinfish (Synchiropus splendidus) and the Picturesque Dragonet (Synchiropus picturatus) are the only two vertebrate species known to produce their own true blue coloring. Blue as a color is usually a result of reflected light, and almost all cells that are perceived as blue are actually a reflective black. However, these two mandarinfish species have cyanophores, which are both blue in pigment and reflective, making them the most blue animals in nature.

Many fish are popular in the pet trade (some more ethical pets than others) and some have even been domesticated and bred to display a variety of colors and shapes, including goldfish, koi, Betta, and zebrafish.

Moray Eels (family Muraenidae) have a hidden set of internal jaws, called pharyngeal jaws. While most predatory fish use suction to “inhale” their prey, moray eels just… pull them in.

The Mangrove Rivulus (Kryptolebias marmoratus), a species of killifish, mostly breeds by self-fertilization and can survive for about two months on land. Males are rare, and can only hatch from eggs kept below 19 °C (66 °F).

The most famous pupfish (family Cyprinodontidae, also a type of killifish) is probably the Devils Hole Pupfish (Cyprinodon diabolis). It is a critically endangered species found only in Devil’s Hole, a water-filled cavern in the US state of Nevada. When nearby agricultural irrigation caused the water to drop in the cavern, several court cases ensued, resulting in Devils Hole being declared a National Monument in 1952, including the preservation of adequate groundwater to maintain the pool. As of September 2022, the count showed a total of 263 observed wild pupfish, up from only 35 in 2013.

There are waaaay too many cool fish for me to write about; I keep thinking of cool facts but this is already getting so long and I gotta save some for if this class makes it to the next round 🥲

Custody

Iknowthemoviehasn'tcomeoutyetbut-

mpreg

Saffron Toucanet (Pteroglossus bailloni), family Ramphastidae, order Piciformes, Brazil

photograph by Renato Augusto Martins 

(i drew them all from memory)

"I can see the future. You don't live to see tomorrow." — Mark Grayson

Another ffanart i made for Invincible hope yall like it 😤🙏💛

cecil probably spends too much time watching over teenagers

So, heard these two hotties are teaming up now 👀:

Is it bad that I kinda wanna ship them? 💙🩶

🪩 ✨

[https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/143674484] Chalcidoid Wasp || Perilampus hyalinus Observed in United States No Conservation Status

Penitentiary AU Staff Part 1

Here they areeee!

As promised some more info about them:

Hal:

Head of the penitentiary

formerly police officer before taking up the position as a Warden

similar to his OG version, he’s a pretty polite and friendly guy who switches to angry and violent the second rules are being broken

new inmates are often confused as to why half the prison seems to fear him, after all the Daymare guy seems much more intimidating

a bit too relaxed in terms of management, his staff gets a way with a lot of shit while inmates get immediately punished

a family man at heart, soft spot for kids

even if his family consists of a toaster and a microwave, nobody really dares to ask what’s that about

keeps a cell reserved that’s labeled “Mario”, nobody knows what’s that about either

Daymare:

since no assistant Warden exists, he’s second in charge

most people assume he’s mute, but he just often doesn’t feel the necessity to speak

has the tendency to appear out of nowhere

superior of Chris, Swag and Greg

where Hal lacks management over his staff, he’s keeping an eye on them as much as on the inmate

he never blinks, making it seem like he’s staring at people 24/7

Hal is the only one who has a vague idea about Daymare’s background

most ppl refer to Daymare as Lieutenant Day

Also, the prison (for now) has three Sectors planned:

Moderate Secuirty for inmates with the standard level of supervision

High Security for inmates with a higher level of supervision needed

Special Security for inmates with abilities that need specifically adjusted cells