Animal house creature candidates
Continuing on with my idea thread for more "animal houses" for JWE, this is the full idea candidate list for such features. Here is where I will further explain in detail as to what extinct creatures I believe, if they are to be implemented in-game, should be pre-built exhibit exclusive just like the Pteranodons of the JP DLC's aviary. You can view the thread I posted about this below.
The idea of more Jurassic World era buildings inspired by the aviary from the JP DLC. Likely as big DLC editions, should they be planned and decided, I see them being a part of something like my conceptual “Phase Two” and my dedicated aquatic park map threads (the latter I actually suggest...
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All the creatures I'm going to list here are what I think could workout for a JP film series authentic kind of game like this, and they will all be categorized for the respective types of pre-built exhibit structures I could possibly think of.
(Amphibian house)
The idea of amphibians really came from inspirations by Ludia’s two Jurassic World games. Some of them are very “Jurassic” looking in my opinion, as well as a good number of known notable giants being dinosaur associated. So I thought, “Why not?”
1. Koolasuchus (Australia): A large salamander-like amphibian from the Cretaceous southern pole that is thought to have been the amphibian equivalent to the crocodiles in the warmer environments of that time. Despite its massive size, I really don’t see this being free roaming because it might’ve been cumbersome on land, something which I don’t think something like that would work properly for this particular game, even if deep water is to be a thing. So a dedicated building would seem like a better choice to me.
2. Beelzebufo (Africa): From what is now Madagascar, Beelzebufo may look like an oversized frog, but it’s been speculated to have hunted small sized dinosaurs! Despite its size, I see this being more of a dedicated building type animal because it’s just a (big) frog, and amphibians probably won’t really need the same kind of treatment as the dinosaurs themselves for a game like this.
3.
Diplocaulus (North America and Africa): A bizarre amphibian with a notable boomerang shaped head. It’s unknown if Diplocaulus went into land, so it wouldn’t make too much sense if it were treated like all the other dinosaurs in-game in almost every aspect. In addition to Mesozoic amphibians, there are also a couple of Paleozoic amphibians that I think would be excellent for this kind of concept for this game, particularly from the Permian period, as there are a couple of Permian creatures associated with the franchise already.
4.
Eryops (North America): A large terrestrial amphibian from the Permian, and a contemporary to Dimetrodon. While large in size, and the fact it was likely terrestrial, this creature I still seeing being part of an amphibian building to add that detailed habitat vibe you get when viewing such animals in zoos.
5.
Mastodonsaurus (Europe): Another Giant amphibian, but with a presumed fully specialized aquatic lifestyle from the Triassic. Its reasons for it being building exclusive rather than free roaming is the same as the other above, despite its huge size. After all, it’s definitely something I do see an actual Jurassic World doing, shoukd they bring something like those amphibians back to life.
(Reptile house)
There are a number of non-dinosaur reptiles that are associated with dinosaurs. Some of which were rather small during the Mesozoic, but most of the most recognizable ones are probably from the Triassic period (during and before the dinosaur age). While I know Compsognathus is a tiny free roaming dinosaur in-game, I don’t see the same thing for the non-dinosaur reptiles listed below.
1. Longisquama (Asia): A really tiny Triassic lizard-like creature known for their extensive long protrusions on their backs. No one knows for sure what the protrusions really are and how they may have looked or functioned in life, as all specimens of the species are poorly preserved. It’s animals such as this that I think can work for a JP authentic environment, and nothing too cheap looking.
2. Kuehneosaurus (Europe): Another tiny lizard-like Triassic reptile, but one with a pair of wings that are almost certainly used for gliding. Flying prehistoric “lizards” are definitely something I can see being part of the JP film series kind of feel.
3. Rhynchosaurus (Europe): A member of a family of big toothed stocky Triassic reptiles. While most certainly tiny as the free roaming Compsognathus (maybe slightly smaller), what better way to bring more diversity to a reptile house by adding something a little bigger than my previous options above? An odd looking headed, ground based reptile seems like a good choice.
4. Simosuchus (Africa): A small herbivorous crocodile relative from Madagascar, during the end of the Cretaceous period. It was shaped like a mammal-like reptile, and was covered almost entirely of heavily armored scales. Like the Rhynchosaurus above, its size is in the same league as the Compy, but I think it's a good way to add variety to a reptile house besides such tiny "lizards".
5.
Tetrapodophis (South America): An Early Cretaceous snake that is known to have four legs, and only know snake believed to have four legs! This is probably one way on how to add diversity to a hypothetical Jurassic World style reptile house, although I’m not entirely sure if it would be possible if they would have a separate exhibit, or you can put them together with everything else, while risking the lives of your “lizards”.
(Bug house)
This is probably
my least potential kind of "pre-built enclosure structure idea" because notable giant bugs have been known to be prominent before the Permian (the Paleozoic period with many non-dinosaur candidates for a JP authenticity kind of approach). But, that doesn't mean I don't think giant bugs may not be
completely possible. Giant bugs in general have been featured in several dinosaur related media for a long time, by the way. Some such examples I can give out are the 2005 King Kong movie, Ark: Survival Evolved, several classic films that are dinosaur (or generally prehistoric) themed, a couple of Turok games, and even
vaguely in the original 1989 JP novel.
1.
Arthropleura (North America and Europe): A giant sized distant relative of millipedes of the Carboniferous, likely herbivorous in life. If any giant bug house were to be a thing, Arthropleura is an almost definite candidate as it is well known enough for this kind of approached kind of environment.
2.
Meganeura (Europe): A Carboniferous giant sized dragonfly-like insect with a large wingspan. Just like the Arthro above, the Meganeura is well known enough to be a potential candidate for such a building feature.
3.
Hibbertopterus (Europe): A massive Carboniferous "sea" scorpion that may have been amphibious, thanks to the evidence of a track way attributed to it. A good way to add diversity to have something that can go in and out of the water.
4.
Gigantoscorpio (Europe): One of the couple species of giant terrestrial scorpions of the Carboniferous. Giant arachnids are an element that is present in a few dino related media, modern and classic, so why not do something to reference that here as well?
(Sea reptile pool/tank)
Some sea reptiles of small size I can see being either free roaming or at least being able to be placed in a big water area (assuming more than just the Mosasaurus will be a thing). However, there are some small sea reptiles that I think could be pre-exhibit dedicated because of how too much it would be if they would be placed in a too large water area, something which I currently doubt you would be able to place yourself.
1. Placodus (Europe): A small shallow sea placodont reptile from the Triassic that may have not been very well-adapted as oppose to later sea reptiles.
2. Psephoderma (Europe): A small shelled placodont from the Triassic that had a shell that was divided in two.
3. Tanystropheus (Europe and Asia): A Triassic long-necked reptile that was probably suited for both a terrestrial and aquatic lifestyle.
4. Dallasaurus (North America): A tiny mosasaur from the Cretaceous.
(miscellaneous sea invertebrate homes)
These last two would probably be best if they were in their own tanks or whatever style homes they could be in.
1.
Ammonite: Iconic shelled cephalopods that were abundant everywhere in the world. Very well-known animals from the time of the dinosaurs and likely very authentic for something like this game. Without getting too technical to the general audience, if any are to be in-game, I believe they should stay with the generic name:
Ammonite. Species wise, maybe they could be based on the typical medium sized species like
Perisphinctes from the Jurassic, or perhaps the largest known species from the Cretaceous,
Parapuzosia.
2.
Trilobite: Small sea arthropods from the Paleozoic era and were abundant all over the world. While certain never made it as far as the Mesozoic (at least to known science), they are still very iconic to general prehistoric themed media. I believe even the JP fossil wall decor has some trilobite fossils on them, even in-game. So, why not bring them to life as well in the same fashion as everything else (collecting fossils and extracting DNA)? Name wise, they should probably be best if stayed as
Trilobite so it doesn’t get too technical with the general audience, while still basing them to an existing species.
