Description: Red Kelpie.  An oxygen breathing, aquatic animal that gives birth to live young.  It's main food source is a sea plant that resembles Earth kelp, hence the common name of Kelpie.  The animal shown has typical coloration.  Very little variation has been found among the specimens collected.  The largest individual animal observed was approximately two meters in length and had an estimated weight of 100 kilograms. Found in small pods of up to 12 individuals. Shown here with Yellow Star Catchers that often accompany pods while they feed.  The Star Catchers eat the snails that are dislodged when the Kelpies feed among the aquatic plants.

Geographic Spread: Found in shallow waters throughout the temperate  zones of the planet.

Uses and Cautions: A non-aggressive animal, the flesh can be eaten.

Description: Leopard Ray. A predator that feeds on smaller sea  creatures. Disables prey by using electric shock. Usually seen alone, but periodically, large herds have been  observed floating together in the warm surface waters.  These congregations are probably for mating purposes.  Otherwise the individuals appear to be territorial. Low register sounds are emitted, especially when stalking schools of fish. This may be a form of sonar used for echo location.  The glowing red eyes intensify and dull according to the animal's sense of threat. The most intense effect usually precedes an electric discharge. The mature rays vary in size from a wing  span of 20 to 100 cm. Immature rays are a mottled gray and hide in the bottom sands.

Geographic Spread: Found in shallow waters throughout temperate zones.

Uses and Cautions: Aggressive, administers a severe shock when touched. Tail barb contains toxin that is poisonous to humans. Skins can be tanned and used as a type of leather.  Flesh is toxic to humans when eaten.

Description:  Golden Razors.  Small scavengers who prey on small animals, and insects. 20 - 30 cm in length and 15 cm tall, they occupy a niche similar to Earth rats.  They have extremely sharp teeth and will bite if caught, hence the name razors.  They usually hunt in pairs, one male and one female.  Egg laying, they make their nests in hollows dug among tree roots or under rocks using body warmth and gathered nesting materials to ensure successful hatching. The young are abandoned to fend for themselves in the undergrowth shortly after birth.

Geographic spread:  Original habitat was the "Blue" forests of temperate Monarch.  The species has quickly adapted to human associations and is now found in settlements, living in refuse heaps and sewers.

Uses and Cautions:  Some use in insect control and carefully monitored populations have been used in plant nurseries and greenhouses to control plant eating pests. They are also used in  quarantine storage areas for off-world imports. They sniff out and destroy imported pests.  They are especially fond of Earth roaches. Their bite is especially painful, and easily infected, however they are not particularly aggressive to humans.

Description: The Shimmer Dog.  the Shimmer Dog has an unusual form of camouflage.  The individual hairs in it's coat are prismatic, giving them a reflective quality that mirrors the surrounding light source.  Here it is pictured at sunset in the desert.  The animal is compact and swift.  It is 50 to 70 cm tall and 70 cm to 1 meter, nose to tail.  Mature adults weigh 20 to 30 kg.  The shimmer dog most closely resembles the Earth-based coyote or dingo in habit and habitat.  It bears live young, and hunts smaller animals by scent and visual tracking. It lives in caves or dens and does not normally travel or hunt in packs.

Geographic Spread: Desert and high plains, scrub land on Australis.

Uses and Cautions: There are no instances of true domestication. The dog is shy and will rarely be seen by humans.  Not known to attack humans unless defending young. The hairs that make up the dog's coat are sharp and produce stinging cuts on the hands if handled.