Spec's biological diversity is fully equal to that of Home-Earth, and so any single description of this world's life can only be a scratch on the surface. There are literally millions of taxa to be found on Spec, but we have only the space to describe a tiny fraction of this bounty. We have therefore chosen to
focus on those creatures that will be most interesting to the layperson of Home-Earth: the ones that are different.
Dinosauria
(Saurolopes, birds, etc.) Great and terrible beasts
Crocodilia (Hoplocrocs, croclions, etc.)
Four-legged predators on land and in the waters
Lepidosauria (Tuataras, mosasaurs, etc.) Most of the
things called "reptiles", including "lizards" and snakes
Choristodera (Champsosaurs) Elusive relicts that keep lurking in
certain swamps and simply refuse to
die out
Testudinata
(Featherbotties, panzertoitles, etc.) Ancient, armoured "reptiles"
Mammalia
(Bats, spec-rodents, etc.)
Small to tiny milk-producers, plus a few big marine ones
Lissamphibia (Frogs, newts, crocomanders, etc.)
Wet-skinned animals with water-born young
Dipnoi (Lungfish) A small and rare but widespread group of
freshwater "fishes" with impressive toothplates
Actinistia (Coelacanths) An even smaller, even rarer, and even
more widespread group of big predatory "fishes"
Actinopterygii
(Catfish, trout, etc.) Boney fishes
Chondrichthyes (Sharks, ratfish, etc.) "Fishes" supported by cartilage
Echinodermata
(Sea stars, sea urchins, etc.) Knobby-skinned marine animals with hydraulic supports
Arthropoda (Beetles, wasps, crayfish, spiders, etc.)
Cuticle-covered animals with jointed limbs
Mollusca
(Clams, baleen-squid, etc.) Soft-bodied, often shelled aquatic animals
Annelida (Earthworms, etc.) Segmented "worms" of waters and
soils
Cnidaria (Corals, jellyfish, etc.) Simple but deadly marine animals
Fungi (Mushrooms, etc.) Usually multicellular organisms that let their
food seep through their cell walls
Plantae
(Ferns, daisies, etc.) Multicellular photosynthesizers
