Metazoica back-up

I have no common name for this family. I simply call them the Ruonids. Or the uchlid and allies. It used to go under the family Regniidae. But at one point I had considered separating the subfamily Regniinae from the Ruoninae, which I never really carried out for long. But the name Ruonidae stuck, so now, that is what this family is known as. The two subfamilies differ mostly in that the Regniinae are bipeds, and the Ruoninae are quadrupeds. There are only 2 genera in the Regniinae, they are Regnium , and Stolidus . These are predatory animals descended from weasels. They are for the most part, an old-world family and the basic appearance is like that of a dog. Like dogs, these animals are pack-hunters for the most part. They are also diurnal animals, much like modern dogs. They are big animals. The largest species is actually Regnium , which is an early Metazoic biped. It stands about 6 feet tall. The smallest species is Nanovenator , which is the size of a modern stoat. Some spec...

I also call these "serpent-slashers" because they feed mostly on large lizards and snakes. This is a very late Metazoic era family, Anguilestidae, that is the last link to the mongoose family. Though they can stand for some period on 2 legs, these are mostly quadrupeds. Their claws are long and sharp, and retractable on the rear feet. The head is elongate and jaws are powerful. The legs are long, the animal it's self is built for speed, but is not wimpy like a cheetah. The tail is long and stiff. The animals themselves when they run and leap appear to be able to defy the laws of gravity! They can leap more than 50 feet in a single bound, and race at speeds topping 70 mph. Most species live in the New World, but some are able to migrate over the new land bridge connecting the New World to Asia. They are solitary hunters, that hunt mostly by night, when most of their prey becomes active. The eyes are large and pupils are a lot like those of a cat. The ears are generally sma...

The zofons (pronounced like "zuh-fones") are a group of carnivorous mammals that descended from modern day weasels. Most of them are scavengers. The face is much like a modern dog's the tail is relatively short in most species, about half the length of the legs. The ears are small and round. The eyes are rather large and round. Though they are scavengers, their heads are not nude, as in the metazoic hyenas. In some genera, like Zoodes , Truculentus and Dirogale , a horse-like mane is also present. The claws are bearlike, and sharp. The fur is thick, and in Uvidictis is also waterproof. Most species are either solitary, or travels in couples. The smallest species are in the genus Ischuos , the largest species are in Truculentus . Most species inhabit the new world, though some of the larger species are migratory, and occasionally make their way across the land bridge connecting North America to Asia. The sense of smell is better than most other mammals. Almost all specie...

The Paracetaceans are actually a group of mammals that are not related to modern cetaceans, but actually evolved from elephant shrews, much like the therapeds and Deinognathids. However, this branch went a totally different way. These animals developed flippers from what was left of their limbs and took to the water. They have long, flat tails and swim by moving the tail from side-to-side, much like fish do, rather than up and down like modern cetaceans. The family Pelagiidae are entirely aquatic, never retreating to land. The flippers are pleated in most species, instead of diamond-shaped like in most modern dolphins.  Pelagius even still has claws on it's flippers. The basic body form is much like that of modern dolphins, the body is long and torpedo-shaped, they have flippers in front that are used for steering, and a flat, rudder-like tail. In some species, the tail is longer than in others. But unlike modern dolphins, these animals have fur that covers the body, more like sea...

I promise! I've been sooooooooooooo busy lately, it's been unbearable! But I will get back on track soon.