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[sdsichero]

It's Halloween!

So, was this mystery solved by science or is it a cover up?!

http://www.medicaldaily.com/news/20101031/3119/blood-sucking-monster-tales-explained-through-evolution-theory.htm

Blood sucking monster tales explained through evolution theory
Medical Daily Staff Writer | 31 October 2010 @ 09:20 am EDT

Scientists could not have found a better time than Halloween to explain the tales of the mysterious blood sucking monster chupacabra, or chupacabras that has been doing the rounds in US, Mexico and even China since the mid-1990s. The first case was reported in Puerto Rico.

The chupacabras have allegedly been found as recently as June—making the flesh and blood monsters eminently more accessible for study. In most cases, the monsters have turned out to be coyotes suffering from the worst case of mange, a painful, potentially fatal skin disease that ultimately cause baldness and skin shriveling.

Barry OConnor, a University of Michigan entomologist who has studied Sarcoptes scabiei, said the parasite that causes mange said there is no need to look for any further observation, according to National Geographic.

Wildlife-disease specialist Kevin Keel has also seen images of an alleged chupacabra corpse and recognized it as a coyote. But for a layperson, this might be confusing as they indeed looked very different.

The scientists have explained that Sarcoptes scabiei also causes the itchy rashes in humans and non-humans as well where the mites burrows under the skin of its host and secretes eggs and waste material that trigger inflammation of the skin. While, scabies is a minor irritant in comparison, mange can be life threatening for canines such as coyotes, which haven't evolved especially effective reactions to Sarcoptes infection.

The University of Michigan's OConnor speculates that the mite might have passed from humans to domestic dogs, and then on to coyotes, foxes, and wolves in the wild.Further explaining the evolution process, he said, primates are the original hosts of the mite. Human body can keep scabies under check because of the evolutionary connection with the primates but other animals cannot cope with it.

“Animals with mange are often quite debilitated," OConnor said. And if they face difficulty in finding prey, they might chose livestock, because it's easier, he added.

[sdsichero]

In D&D's Monster Manuals, I like a lot of the creatures there. For some reason I have an extra fascination with Aberrations.

Stuff like...

Aboleth


Beholders (yeah they are goofy looking)


Chuul


Illithid


Otyugh


Rust Eater


Umber Hulk

[Cat-Scratch]

Goddamn Goblin Sharks, man.

...

Soon to be a B.Lumpkin avatar.

[sdsichero]

Soon to be a B.Lumpkin avatar.

I guess it could be a Strict-imal... but I thought he'd go like something more obviously stabby.

Maybe a swordfish.


(oo scary a swordfish skeleton...
)

or a knifetooth sawfish

[Cat-Scratch]

I guess it could be a Strict-imal... but I thought he'd go like something more obviously stabby.

Maybe a swordfish.


(oo scary a swordfish skeleton...
)

or a knifetooth sawfish

[sdsichero]

This might be one of the scariest real monsters for Cat-Scratch...



A flea!!!

Actually though, those suckers can do some damage. My friend had an infestation and they bit him to hell.

Also, I do find those tiny creatures very fascinating. Been buying books on the kind of creatures best seen under scanning electron microscopes. It's a very interesting world we don't see there...

[covalesky]

Magic the Gathering has some great monsters, like for example;

Nicol Bolas:


Lord of the Pit:


Masticore:


Atog:


And lots more

[sdsichero]

Magic the Gathering has some great monsters, like for example;

Nicol Bolas:


Lord of the Pit:


Masticore:


Atog:


And lots more

Cool. Do they have good backstories too (eg. ecologies, etc)? I love the art on some of those as well as other card games, but never saw a "manual" of them (which of course I am a sucker for).

[BubbaKanoosh]

Magic the Gathering has some great monsters, like for example;

Nicol Bolas:


Lord of the Pit:


Masticore:


Atog:


And lots more

Nicol Bolas is going to be getting new artwork because of the new Vs. deck coming out.

I didn't know you played magic!!!!

[BubbaKanoosh]

Cool. Do they have good backstories too (eg. ecologies, etc)? I love the art on some of those as well as other card games, but never saw a "manual" of them (which of course I am a sucker for).

http://wiki.mtgsalvation.com/article/Nicol_Bolas

http://wiki.mtgsalvation.com/article/Atogs

http://wiki.mtgsalvation.com/article/Lord_of_the_Pit

[BubbaKanoosh]

Monkey Pig

[outsider]

The entire reason I started eating fried calamari was just so I could say I ate something that preys upon humans. If i ever get devoured by a giant squid, my last words will be "Yeah bitch, but I ate more of you than you ate of me!"

LOL, that's one of the funniest things I've ever seen you post.

How can someone not like vampires? What's the matter with you? They're probably my favorite monsters but at certain times when I was a kid I liked werewolves just as much or maybe a little more.

The problem with werewolves is that their look is very inconsistent in movies. They rarely look cool. I think I prefer when they just turn into wolves.

I agree that werewolves have been inconsistent, but I still prefer them any day over vampires. I've never bought the whole vampires-are-suave-mofos thing and werewolves-are-like-dogs bit. If you look at their situations, vampires would be cowering all the time and acting like meth addicts (well, blood addicts), and werewolves would be pretty damn cool (or at least normal) 28 days in a row. Maybe it's because I'm already part werewolf, but I could handle completely losing my shit for 8-10 hours two or three days a month.

[BubbaKanoosh]

Giant Isopod
This giant isopod is the kind of creature that horror movies are made of -- at least when it comes to his size (2.5 feet), segmented shell (which allows him to bend roll into a ball without losing any protection), and compound eyes (comprising 4,000 facets that let it track fast movements with ease).
Isopods are deep-sea dwellers that scavenge dead saline for food. But it's not as dangerous as you might think: According to Popular Science, isopods are harmless -- and since most of them live below 1,200 feet, you're not likely to run into one while swimming.

In Taiwan, however, you're apt to find them on the menu.

[sdsichero]

http://wiki.mtgsalvation.com/article/Nicol_Bolas

http://wiki.mtgsalvation.com/article/Atogs

http://wiki.mtgsalvation.com/article/Lord_of_the_Pit

Ah interesting thanks.

[sdsichero]

LOL, that's one of the funniest things I've ever seen you post.
I agree that werewolves have been inconsistent, but I still prefer them any day over vampires. I've never bought the whole vampires-are-suave-mofos thing and werewolves-are-like-dogs bit. If you look at their situations, vampires would be cowering all the time and acting like meth addicts (well, blood addicts), and werewolves would be pretty damn cool (or at least normal) 28 days in a row. Maybe it's because I'm already part werewolf, but I could handle completely losing my shit for 8-10 hours two or three days a month.

Lycanthropy is more interesting to me in general... though the moon thing never interested me.

I thought you'd like gargoyles.