ShopDreamUp AI ArtDreamUp
Deviation Actions
Description
In the waterways and lakes of Australia, there lurks a secretive shaggy beast, revered by the natives of the land and named the Bunyip. But far from the dangerous predator of men found the tales told around many aborigine fires Bunyips are secretive and shy beasts that spend their days hunting fish, crustaceans and amphibians. They are amphibious marsupials being distant relatives of Quolls and resembling large shaggy otters. Unlike otters they have un-webbed forelimbs, a constraint of marsupial evolution due to the need for the under-developed young to climb from its mothers vulva to the pouch with the aid of developed grasping arms. These are used to grasp onto and dextrously fish out crayfish. Instead Bunyips use their strong tails and large webbed hind-limbs which propel the animal through the water with alternate strokes similar to the Yapok (Chironectes minimus) of South America. They also have a watertight pouch due to a strong ring of muscle which keeps the young dry while the mother is hunting.
Bunyips are crepuscular, being most active during dawn and dusk and spending most of the day in a large burrow on the bank of the river. They tend to avoid areas with high crocodile populations and have been observed actively hunting out crocodile chicks. Because of this there has only been a few accounts of coastal Bunyips. When fully grown they can measure two metres in length.
Image size
1560x1534px 429.94 KB
© 2014 - 2024 Raptorboy998
Comments6
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In
Really cool concept! 