Bainoceirus reference

Complete reference sheet for the genus Bainoceirus commonly called Landpike. Please download for full resolution!
This is a closed species. Ask me if you want to create one. 
Text description is here: terazed.deviantart.com/art/Bai…
Landpikes are fishes, they behave like fishes and they are as smart as a fish or geko. They are not ponies and they can't cook pies so pelase no anthropomorphization unless it's a joke.

Etymology and terminology
Bainoceirus means walk-with-hands from Greek, βαίνω Baino- walk + χείρ ceir hand. Common names are Landpike, Heronfish.

Taxonomy
Classification of Bainoceirus is controversial. It is considered an amphibian but recent studies confirmed that this animal is genetically closer to fishes.

Evolution
While tetrapods ancestor was lobe-finned fishes (like Tiktaalik), Bainoceirus probably evolved from a mudskipper fish ancestor. 

Morphology and physiology
Bainoceirus are carnivorous, and feed mainly on fishes, mollusks and crustaceans. The largest species can eat lizards, frogs and reptiles. They are characterized by a long neck and strong forelegs used for locomotion. The hind legs are vestigial and the tail is used like a third leg to help standing and during slow walk. Bainoceirus can run very fast for a short time on its long front legs, using its tail for balance.
Bainoceirus species can vary in size, depending on their environment and diet: Bainoceirus nasicornis is small, the size of an house sparrow and his weird beak is adapted to prey on mollusks with an hard shell. Bainoceirus elegans is as big as a duck and, with its long snout and neck, can prey on fishes hidden under the mud. Bainoceirus regius is as big as a stork and can swallow even small alligators.
All Bainoceirus species have frontal stereoscopical vision, like owls, needed to track down fast moving preys, enabling very accurate strikes.

Circulation 
One of the most interesting feature of Bainoceirus is its four chambered heart. Unlike all amphibians, oxygenated blood never mix with venous blood. This allow Bainoceirus to move quickly and be very active with an high metabolism rate. Once believed a cold blooded animal, Bainoceirus is now proved having its body always 5 to 10°C warmer than external temperature, despite varying environmental temperature. The extra heat is mainly produced by the exertion of huge foreleg musculature and erect posture.
Respiration
Bainoceirus has only one long, dorsal lung. It is derived from fishes swim bladder, starting from the base of its neck and ending under its pelvis. Without a thoracic diaphragm, Bainoceirus breathe swallowing air into the lung, like frogs and reptiles. It is proved that Bainoceirus can absorb oxygen also through its skin.
Bainoceirus lung allow them to easily float, but they are a poor swimmers.
Skin
Bainoceirus skin is smooth and always covered with mucous to allow skin respiration. Differently, the head is covered by bony plates, like in fishes.
Digestion
Bainoceirus have a very fish like jaw bony joint. they use their teeth to grab food. They have a very large esophagus, allowing them to swallow very large preys whole. The food then moves through the esophagus into a muscular crop-like structure at the base of the neck. After the first digestion, it travel to the true stomach where most digestion occurs. The food then proceeds to the small intestine. Bainoceirus carry pancreatic juice and bile from the liver to the small intestine, where the fluids digest the food and extract the nutrients. When the food passes into the large intestine, the water is reabsorbed and wastes are routed to the cloaca. All wastes exit the body through the cloaca.
Nervous system
Bainoceirus has a well developed nervous system which consists of a brain, spinal cord and nerves. In the brain, the medulla oblongata regulates respiration, digestion, and other automatic functions. Muscular coordination and posture are controlled by the cerebellum. The relative size of their cerebrum is very small, but it is much larger compared to other amphibian's brain, and can be compared to the brain relative size of reptiles.
Bainoceirus do not have external ears; the eardrums are directly exposed. As in all animals, the ear contains semicircular canals which help control balance and orientation.

Life cycle
The life of Bainoceirus starts with an egg. A female generally lays gelatinous egg masses containing thousands of eggs, in water. Eggs and hatchlings are very vulnerable to predation: many individuals will breed at the same time, overwhelming the actions of predators; the majority of the offspring will still die due to predation, but there is a greater chance some will survive. Eggs hatch and continue life as full acquatic larvae (tadpoles). Tadpoles are carnivorous like the adults, and feed on fish and mollusks. Tadpoles are highly vulnerable to predation by larger fish, birds and mammals.
The tadpole stage may be as short as a month for the smaller species, or as long as a few years for bigger ones.
Bainoceirus can live for many years; though little is known about their life span in the wild, captive Bainoceirus are recorded living up to 20 years.

Coloration
Mimetism is very important for Bainoceirus: in fact, it is needed to hide from predators and sneak up on preys. 
For this reason, their coloration can vary depending on different habitats and species. Like most amphibians and fishes, they can change their colors slightly from lighter to darker, depending on light conditions.
During mating season, males fins and heads became colorful to attract females and protect their territory. After mating, their colors return brownish and are almost indistinguishable from females.

Reproduction
Once adult Bainoceirus reach maturity, the males will take control of a water source. Males are territorial and they often fight for the best breeding site. Fights consist in color display and rarely involve biting.
Fertilization is external: the egg and sperm meet outside of the body. The female releases her eggs, which the male covers with a sperm solution. The eggs then swell and develop a protective coating. The eggs are typically brown or black, with a clear, gelatin-like covering.

Call
Bainoceirus don't have vocal chords, but they can make hissing and barking noises very similar to gecko vocalizations. It is presumed they can make sounds by moving air through different branches of their posterior lung.

Distribution and conservation status
Bainoceirus inhabit tropical and subtropical humid areas, swamps, ponds and lagoons and prefer stagnant shallow water. Researchers suppose stagional floods are responsible for their diffusion into new colonies. In fact, during floods and inundations, their ability to float and go downstream allow them to find new wet areas and expand their population. 
Bainoceirus formerly occurred in Madagascar, North and South America, Asia, Europe, Australia and New Zealand with 63 known different species but is now probably extinct. 
There are many reasons for its disappearance. Introduction of predators in their habitat (Like dogs, cats, rats in New Zealand and Australia; or Pythons in Florida), Pollution of the water, Habitat destruction and fragmentation. Flood control prevented the last remaining specimen to meet each other and breed. 
The last remaining Bainoceirus regius died in Georgia Aquarium in 2007; unfortunately captive breeding attempts failed. 
A few specimen of B. elegans, B. chloris, B. longus and B. nasicornis are preserved at the National Museum of Natural History. Eventually, cloning attempt are being discussed. 
Recent sightings of B. okeefenokensis may indicate this species is still living at Okeefenokee swamp, however researches did not confirm the presence of this animal.


texture by DougFromFinance