View source for Dog Days Ecology

''This article covers the species that are confirmed to either still exist, to have evolved, or to be extinct by the time of the [[Dog Days]] comic in the [[In Pursuit of Bez]] universe.''

== Ecology of the Fwonnel Peninsula, Permechiko, and the West Coast ==

''Adapted from multiple ecology notebooks. Any lifeforms not mentioned in these lists can be assumed to be similar to their present-day Earth equivalents.''

=== Plants ===
* Angiosperms
** Cacti
*** (Stenocereus) Ziren: These are one of multiple descendants of the dragon fruit. They create large, yellow-to-pink fruits that are a staple crop in Permechiko and drier parts of the Fwonnel Peninsula.
** Brome:
*** Giant Brome: These are the descendants of Red Brome, and are a staple grain across the Western Continent. The Giant Brome can grow up to eight feet tall. Their seeds are turned to flour, which becomes one of the largest source of grain for much of pup civilization.
    

** Baccharis:
*** Cucumber Leaf: These trees are descendants of the Desert Broom bush.
    

* Gymnosperms: (TBD)
    

  

=== Fungi ===

* Onygenales: These fungi often secrete enzymes that can break down keratin, and some can even dissolve the skin and flesh of animals. They are often much more strong and prevalent than during the present-day.
    

** Coccidioides
    

*** Valley Fever: Valley Fever is a species of fungus that is one of the most common causes of death in the deserts of the Western Continent. It develops as a mycelium under top soil, and its spores are released into the air when disrupted by dust storms or other means. It can accumulate and expand inside the lungs of mammals. If it gets into the bloodstream, the fungus can migrate to other regions of the body. Its growth and parasitism can be as tame as an extended period of lethargy, and at worst can lead to death.
    
**** The [[Ick]]: This is a descendant of Valley Fever that developed in a way that allows for extended suspension in the air until the beginning of April each year, when it rains from the sky. As it reaches critical mass to descend from the sky, it secretes digestive enzymes which convert the flesh of animals and plants that lack waxy bilayers into consumable nutrients. For every animal or plant digested by the Ick, millions of spores are released into the ecosystem to go dormant until the next year.
    

  

=== Animals ===

* Mammals: Mammals have, on average, shrank in size since the time of humans, with several exceptions. As insects, arachnids, and crustaceans grew in size, smaller and faster mammals were able to expand and diversify.
    

** Canids:
    

*** Pups: These are tall, bipedal descendants of dogs, especially hybrids of those that were formerly poodles, chihuahuas, dachshunds, huskies, retrievers, and pointers. Their rapid evolution and increase in intelligence is a subject of great debate, but there is no doubt that these are the dominant land species on the Earth.
    
*** Wolves: These are large, semi-bipedal descendants of dogs, especially huskies, german shepherds, and retrievers. They are larger than pups, often reaching seven feet in height while standing upright. They retain the strong paw tissue and claws that pups have mostly lost, allowing for quadrupedal movement along with short-term bipedal movement. They are mostly found in the northern interior of the continent.
    
*** Coyotes: This term refers to the descendants of both true coyotes and of Mexican grey wolves. They are quadrupedal and retain similar intelligence to their past selves.
    

** Felines:
    

*** Bobcats: These are descendants of modern bobcats.
    

** Procyonidae:
    

*** Coati: 
    
*** Ringtail:
    
*** Kinkajou:
    
** Lagomorphs:
*** Pika:
*** Rabbits:
    
** Scluridae:
    

*** Squirrels:
    
*** Marmots:
    

* Reptiles
    

** Snakes: Snakes during this era can be slightly larger than what is seen in the present day. The main difference is that of behavior. Snakes now often have social hierarchies and live in families that cluster in caves.
    

*** Sjanpipera: These are tan-to-brown snakes that descend from bull snakes. They live with several other snakes and demonstrate significant social cohesion. Typically they are found in the Krakerber Mountains and along the west coast of Permechiko.
    

* Birds: Many birds remain similar to their present-day counterparts, however the intelligence of grackles, ravens, and crows has continued to increase, to the point that it is disputed whether their sounds represent true language. Less intelligent birds shrank in size in general.
    

** Corvids
    

*** Grackles: Grackles are the most intelligent birds in the world. They have shrank slightly in size, but increased in intelligence. They travel in flocks with complex social structures and can build shelters together using their beaks.
    

** Smaller Birds
    

  
  

* Insects: Flying Insects, on average, remain similar to how they were on the present-day Earth. However, land insects, including termites and ants, are often much larger.
    

** Striders: These are the descendants of water striders. They are much larger, and several have grown additional, leg-like appendages to give them more surface tension on water. Some are so flat and with such surface area that they may look like furry lily pads.
    
** Moths: Moths are descendants of our moths.
    

* Arachnids: Arachnids during this era have a much larger size range than in the present day. Many remained small, while some grew to be as large as horses.
    

** Harvestmen: Harvestmen are the descendants of Opiliones who have grown to be much larger.
    

*** Sand Harvestmen: These are hard-shelled arachnids with legs spanning up to 6 feet in length. They typically cling to boulders or burrow into shallow sand before hunting their prey.
    

* Crustaceans: Crustaceans also have a much wider size range than during the present day. Most crustaceans have much thicker exoskeletons and can be as large as a child.
    

** Fwonnel Crab: These are one of multiple descendants of hermit crabs that inhabit the tropical and subtropical west coast of the Western Continent. They can reach up to 3 feet tall by about 2.5 feet wide, and they often wear the shells of larger snails as a protective shield.
    
** Taxi Bugs: These are large descendants of woodlice. 
    

* Cephalopods (TBD)
    
* Gastropods (TBD)

=== Microbes ===
(TBD)