Scorpion451 on DeviantArthttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/https://www.deviantart.com/scorpion451/art/Murkstalker-203979557Scorpion451

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Murkstalker

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"I discovered today that the local tribesmen who have been hosting me during my explorations in this area have the most curious fear of fog. A fog bank encompassed the village last night, and the entire tribe reacted as if the cloud were some kind of horrible apparition or omen of death.
I, for one, would have been quite content to enjoy the cool mist, given the tropical climate of this latitude, but my hosts became so distrought at my lack of concern over the fog that I was compelled to join them inside the villiage's "common house"- a large well built hut in which the tribe hold and prepares meals in inclement weather.
I pressed the tribesman who was serving as my guide and interpreter for information on what had them so terrified over a bloody cloud. He related to me that the natives believe that the fog is controlled by some sort of spirit, the name of which in their tongue loosely translates to "the cloud with teeth" He then proceeded to show me a bit of scaly hide and a tooth which he claimed were the remains of one of these "fog demons" as I have taken to thinking of them. He claimed (with a certain amount of pride) a mighty warrior of the village had once slain one of the beasts singlehandedly after it had carried off several villiagers.
I begin to belive that there may be some sort of large animal here like the hippo which enjoys the humidity of the fog and is the source of these tall tales of man-eating monsters. The natural history museum is going to give me a medal!- after I catch one of course."
-entry in a field journal recovered from the last known camp of missing explorer Percival Redshirt

This is a creature concept which has been percolating in the back of my mind for quite some time now; I had attempted concept art for it several times but never could quite capture the idea of a creature which generated its own cloak of smokey mist to conceal itself from its prey. I think I finally nailed it on this latest iteration, though.
The mechanism by which it generates the mist works similar to a fog machine. It compresses CO2 in numerous small reservoirs formed by hollow bone, to the point at which it forms dry ice. This process is aided by certain catalytic enzymes, which help to crystalize the CO2 at a much higher temperature and lower pressure than is normally possible. Charging its reservoirs can take several days, during which the reptilian creature remains largely dormant, and conceals itself in a cave or burrow. When forming its cloud for hunting, it opens its reservoirs to the atmosphere and allows the dry ice to boil off. It also releases a reflective chaff into the vapor which enhances the scattering of light. In addition to the cloud formed by the CO2 itself, the cooling of the tropical air causes the water vapor abundantly present in the rainforest to condense. The net result is a dense cloud of opaque fog.

Digital lineless painting, done in Gimp
Image size
4200x2550px 1.62 MB
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