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May 11, 2012
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:iconjwartwork:
Muraenoctinus giganteus, a giant murene-relative that lives some 127 million years from now in the waters around Australia. It is a formidable predator and can grow up to lengths of 3-5 meters. Unlike the extant moray-eels the fins on the back and rear of Muraenoctinus have separated from the tail-fin. Muraenoctinus is an ambush-predator. It waits between the kelp for a prey to swim by and it strikes. The bend in its jaws prevents the prey from escaping. Another tool for preventing the prey from escaping is the immense jaw-power of this creature. It is not the only predator in the Australian kelp-forests. It shares this environment with various sharks, amongst which are some that grow equally large as a small Muraenoctinus. Still most, if not all sharks, are on the menue of the larger Mureanoctinus, except for the ones that are too small to form a good meal.

P.S. If you like this, become a member (request is automatically approved) of the Neozoic-Project-group, to see more of this appear in the future, or even design your own Neozoic creatures and submit to the group! :) [link]
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:iconpalaeorigamipete:
~palaeorigamipete May 11, 2012  Hobbyist General Artist
Hmmm... To tell the truth, I really expected it'd keep its original bauplan, but 127 million years is probably a lot of time for some change...
Still, look at the tube-like nostrills which nare well-visible here: [link]
I've seen moray eels in an aquarium in real life, and it's their "signature feature" - all of them have such nostrills. - just a minor thing you might consider to add ;)

if this was meant to be a huge kelp forest predator, I was thinking that it would be a super sized moray eel with maybe some kelp-like fin extensions or something like that ;)
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:iconjwartwork:
~JWArtwork May 15, 2012  Hobbyist Digital Artist
Yes, I think you're right... =/ I drew this when I didn't have access to photos of extant murenes, so I kinda screwed up with the fins... :(

Wow, thanks for the link, I had actually never really looked at those nostrils... :o I'll see if I can make another version with those nostrills. :)
Yes, just like the carpet shark, you mean:? But wouldn't that limit its streamlinedness:?
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:iconpalaeorigamipete:
~palaeorigamipete May 15, 2012  Hobbyist General Artist
Not "that" much cammouflaged, I was just thinking if the gin tim had kinda oak leaf-like lobed edge, it would be all right. ;) and I don't think it would limit its streamlined shape much, it's an ambush predator, not an "active pursuit" predator, so I think it would work - I'm also trying to find ways how to make it noticably different just by looking at a picture of it. I was picturing it to have kinda long fin spines right behind the head, which would work to increase cammouflage but would be folded flat along the back during the attack itself, and the rest of the fin rim yould just have small lobes to break down its outline a bit. Also some striping ans peckling would help a lot, mimmicking the light penetrating through the kelp growth. ;)
But you did a great job for not having any reference picture ;)
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:iconjwartwork:
~JWArtwork May 23, 2012  Hobbyist Digital Artist
Yes, you're actually right... I kinda screwed up on this on when you look at anatomy... :( I might try it again once.

By the way, how is sculpting going? ;)
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:iconpalaeorigamipete:
~palaeorigamipete May 23, 2012  Hobbyist General Artist
Don't worry about it, i'm sure the new one will rock! =)

Ah, the sculpts D= sorry man! I screwed the chevrotain whale up and totally got discourraged... =( Gotta try harder next time! =)
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:iconjwartwork:
~JWArtwork May 23, 2012  Hobbyist Digital Artist
I hope it will... =/
So are you still in the mood for the collab:? If you're not, you should say so. I sometimes take a little break as well, when I'm too busy or when I'm not in the mood! ;)
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:iconpalaeorigamipete:
~palaeorigamipete May 23, 2012  Hobbyist General Artist
I'll try at the weekend. If I see it doesn't work, I'll probably take a break. i've been taking my time, I know, sorry to leave you waiting. ;)
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:iconjwartwork:
~JWArtwork May 23, 2012  Hobbyist Digital Artist
I'm eager to see it, but do take the time if you feel you need it! I've kept you waiting so many times before, now it's your turn! ;)
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