#They're both leaf-nosed bats

[moon9931]

more bats

im attempting to do pizzahead next, but everytime I try and draw him, I always hate the result

[chiiroptereh]

The bats of Pokémon through the eyes of a bat nerd (who also used no references so they're a tiny bit iffy)

Forgot to bring my tablet so I'm playing with dad's rainbow markers and pens. I kinda dig it actually but my phone cannot take proper photos of them lol

Nerdy stuff about design choices and lots of bat facts under the cut if you're interested in that!

Zubat is mainly modelled after Vespertillionidae and Natalidae species, inheriting both families' pointy faces and dense fur that often covers their eyes, making them appear blind (except zubat actually is blind). Their wings are broad, more akin to a Megadermatidae species, which was just a choice based off of the original design. Broader wings allow for increased manoeuvrability at the cost of speed in real species. Their legs are long and spindly, another trait borrowed from Natalidae.

Golbat still has zubat's woolly fur to keep its rounded appearance but has narrower wings as well as stumpy ears and a large mouth, all traits gleaned from free-tailed bats, the latter a trait specifically of the genus Otomops. They really do look like that sometimes yes. Its large feet are borrowed from the fish-eating myotis (Myotis vivesi) who frankly has even bigger feet than this guy. Bats are wacky lol

Crobat has a mostly furred face similar to Pteropid, Rhinolophid or Phyllostomid bats. Its ears are more fantasy and not modelled after any existing species. I had hairy-tailed bats of the genus Lasiurus on the mind while interpreting the little tufts on its bum, here they're meant to be fluff hanging off the uropatagium. It has very narrow wings similar to Molossid bats, and it fits for such a speedy Pkmn! (Fun fact: a Molossid bat was the fastest recorded vertical flight of any animal)

Woobat is inspired by Desmodus species, more commonly known as vampire bats. While their cousins the Honduran white bat (Ectophylla albus) is more commonly the interpretation, I chose Desmodus instead for its flat, heart-shaped noses and similar dental structure. The excess in fur is more attributed to the same families as in zubat, but with some more Lasiurine influence.

Swoobat's choice in inspiration was pretty obvious to me at first: the heart-nosed bat (Cardioderma cor)! The furred face and ears joined at the base is indeed inspired by Megadermatid bats but otherwise it has probably the most mixed influences of all these designs. I once again took the flat, heart-shaped nose from Desmodus species like I did with its pre-evo, and then its tail was adapted from Rhinopoma species (fittingly known as mouse-tailed bats!) as well as Molossid (free-tailed) bats. From an entirely nerdy perspective swoobat is easily my favorite, it really highlights a lot of chiropteran diversity whether intentional or not.

Noibat has joined ears like swoobat, inherited from Megadermatid bats (and sometimes Molossids) and is the first to have an actual nose-leaf, partially influenced by trident bats of the genus Asellia. I was kind of imagining that the bare patch between the tufts of black fur were present because they housed scent glands like in Emballonurid (sac-winged) bats who have similar bald patches. (I don't know a ton about Emballonurid bats unfortunately, so I'm not sure whether this is a family-wide occurrence or attributed to certain genii, lol. If anybody knows feel free to tell! I think some Molossids have scent glands too so heck throw them in as well)

Noivern is easily the most fantastical of the bunch, more dragon than bat, but it wouldn't feel right not to include him. He's got the same design choices on the face that its pre-evolution has (joined ears and nose-leaf) but otherwise doesn't have any more specific influences in batty terms. However, I turned the tragus into that little protrusion under the ear of the original design which I thought was kind of clever ;)

[dude-iloveu]

parents of parents. uh. parents². fambly

under the cut because i like the drawings but not that much that i wanna put it out there just like that. i just wanna talk about them, mostly additional things that i would dive into less but they're on my mind anyway

1st version designs. agfgsj you can see it's an old drawing from the way i draw noct and ron

current version

-> aeron's family :]

Mom (White-tailed deer) - Zara

Dad (Yellow-winged bat) - Hariz

Zara is the co-founder of a nonprofit organization (nothing specific i've thought about. they provide services and help for struggling ppl, adolescents/young adults with no one to turn to). She started it with a friend, before they moved on to pursue other projects. Hariz is. now pensioned idk what he worked as. was a long time volunteer and contributor(?) and after being vice president(??) basically took the role as one of the directors along with Zara.

Later on they met a young lady who they helped with finding a home, and she would also sometimes do volunteering work with them. She became pretty good friends with the two, and Zara just cares for her a lot because she is "the most genuine and sweetest person she's met". Sometime later the lady had an unexpected pregnancy, tho while she did want the baby she was pretty much struggling to make ends meet. so her two friends have been most supportive for her and really just. made sure to take care of her. unfortunately she did not make it in labour. the couple, not wanting to leave the baby with complications, took it in as their own, the baby is now known as Aeron.

Sister (some type of feline) - To be named

Brother (Elephant) - to be named

they were both taken under care by the parents, the sister when she was young, who basically grew up in the streets, and the brother as a teenager who lost their family and didn't want to get caught up with their relatives' feud.

random - they're a pretty loving family but can be overbearing at times too. they kinda baby aeron alot which aeron tries to avoid. zara is intersex trans and hariz is cis het ally, they always do their best to be empathetic and understand their kids. technically aeron has more older siblings but he rarely if ever meets them. aeron is most involved with their parents' line of work, since he was raised with helping around in charity events and stuff. he would have a younger sibling but i havent thought of that

-> noctis' family

Mom (mix of California leaf nosed bat & brown long-eared bat) - it used to be Arielle but I'm thinking of changing to Cassiope.

Dad (CA leaf nosed bat) - placeholder name was Dell short for delaware (lie). still unsure what to name him.

The parents have some sort of high position in their jobs at different companies. The mom is strict on upholding a perfect family image and is very envious of others' success. The dad is more lenient, still upholds a 'sophisticated' persona but is a cheater. After it was found and fights happened, they separated with the mom taking the kids. she raised the twins to be perfectionists high achievers while neglecting their emotional and mental wellbeing.

some detail - Noctis likes to fold her ears down as a kid, and this would make the mom mad. it is because folding ears meant being vulnerable because lessened hearing ability (not attentive) which makes her look improper. ironic considering that trait/ability comes from her side. like noctis is literally just chillin lmao. punished for chill crimes.

- the dad bought noctis one of those tamagotchi type toys (virtual pet?) which she loves. he also brought them to various places on the weekends before the divorce.

Twin sister - was named Cielle. now maybe would be Cygnus? not sure yet

the beloved model student who excels in alomst anything she does. loves noctis dearly but is often unable to stand up against her mom to defend her sister.

[ollifree]

SparkClan Year Five

Leader Agavestar ♂︎ Deputy Skysting ♂︎ Medicine Cats Rookstreak ♀︎, Kiki ♀︎, Tulipspeak ♀︎ Mediators Heartspot ♂︎, Slipcove ♀︎, Eaglescar ♂︎

Warriors Aspenroot ♀︎, Johnny ♀︎, Ravenquiver ♀︎, Fuzzybreak ♂︎, Branchflood ♀︎, Bramblegorse ♂︎, Slipfog ♂︎, Butterflyheart ♀︎, Flabby ♀︎, Sugar ♂︎, Swiftquill ♀︎, Groveleaf ♀︎, Marcy ♀︎, Rosetwist ♂︎, Aetherfreckle ♂︎, Betelgeuseleaf ♀︎, Birdleaf ♂︎, Palestripe ♂︎, Rainminnow ♂︎, Finchpelt ♀︎, Flail ♂︎, Sapcloud ♂︎, Wagyu ♂︎ Apprentices Oddpaw ♀︎ (mentor swiftquill) Kits Cloudykit ♂︎ Elders Warren Peace ♂︎, Raccoonthicket ♀︎

Moon One

skysting has a rival in dancingclan

oddpaw given the name oddstalk

clan took in an abandoned, sick kittypet scratchivy ♀︎

Moon Two

heartspot tossed a snake out of camp. thanks heartspot

finchpelt has a secret starclan knows

outsider relations worsened because of a raccoon. i don't get the logic but okay.

improved relations with ganderclan

Moon Three

aspenroot!! no taking food from twolegs!! >:o

rainminnow touched noses with a ganderclan cat. so much drama this month.

cloudypaw given to slipfog as an apprentice

didn't give ganderclan herbs because we didn't have any. even though all patrols for herbs were successful last month.

marcy mentioned a starclan dream while on patrole and agavestar gave his advice as he's experienced. it's nice seeing a leader do that.

Moon Four

broken (a loner) died i am so upset

wagyu has beef with a ganderclan cat

flabby has a secret starclan knows

togepi (a kittypet) threw a hissy fit at the vet's. you tell 'em girl

slipcove and birdleaf had a nightmare about the river. hope no one dies this time

met mangosteen ♀︎ (a kittypet) while on patrol and accidentally scared her off, worsening outsider reputation

improved that reputation again by taking in a sick humphrey ♀︎ after her twolegs abandoned her

mangosteen has a deep starclan bond the possibilities

Moon Five

skysting and ravenquiver are mates. congrats on winning her over, we finally have more than one mated pair in the clan

fuzzybreak rejected twilighttail

drove invading rogues away

took in another abandoned kittypet shilin ♂︎, improving outsider reputation

Moon Six

raccoonthicket rejected agavestar

branchflood rejected johnny

butterflyheart rejected ravenfeather

love loses

bramblegorse got caught breaking the warrior code

skysting and ravenquiver had a disagreement about kits. i need to know if divorce is in this game

heartspot is exhausted from mediating and slipcove is playing a prank on him. best mentor/apprentice duo.

thrushpaw ♂︎ of wishclan joined sparkclan, worsening relationship with wishclan

thrushpaw given to fuzzybreak as apprentice

"Cloudypaw leaps out of the leaf drift, bowling Thrushpaw head over paws and batting at they (sic) furiously. Aetherfreckle and Slipfog share a long, exasperated look, rolling their eyes as the apprentices flicker between yelling insults and flirting while they spar. Aetherfreckle's sure the apprentices think they're very subtle." Aww that's cute

Moon Seven

aspenroot retired to the elders' den

i somehow misread her name for months apparently it's tulipSPECK sweetheart i'm so sorry T-T

anyway she gave agavestar bitter herbs on purpose

rosemaryspot (deceased) wants to warn agavestar about something. it's too late he's already eaten the herbs

mangosteen and togepi know each other. is this back in the first arc when it was set in the uk? is that why every twoleg lets their cats out?

hold on

why is

what

OH MY STARCLAN i mislabeled tulipspeck's gender he's a tom

tulipspeck i'm SO SORRY

slipcove wants to sabotage a pair out of boredom let's make her dreams come true. aetherfreckle and johnny.

finchpelt is rethinking her life choices. i'm sorry sparkclan doesn't support your dreams of bloodsport queen we'll never know if wishclan would

warren peace and aspenroot are both giving advice to flabby, flabby is bored and looking for trouble to get into.

relations with dancingclan improved

twolegs stop abandoning your sick cats. hamburger ♀︎ joined the clan.

Moon Eight

thrushpaw given the name thrushbeetle at 11 moons old after being in sparkclan for two of them he is absolutely becoming the next deputy

rookstreak and heartspot had a disagreement over kits

burdockpaw (deceased) wishes she could train with cloudypaw. aww :(

Moon Nine

rookstreak, johnny, and sugar all got injuries. johnny's is visible on his sprite

cloudypaw given the name cloudymask

wagyu retired to the elders' den

shilin works twice as hard to prove themselves to the clanborns. honey i appreciate what you're doing but the majority of cats here aren't.

cloudymask is rethinking his life choices. you are 12 moons old

Moon Ten

heartspot went to ganderclan to smooth things over about all the herbs we keep refusing to give them, but the relationship between clans worsened

flabby got visibly injured by a fox

sapcloud and eaglescar became mates

multiple cats are upset at how little the elders have to contribute, including other elders

improved relationship with dancingclan by telling them about a badger a patrol saw on their territory

Moon Eleven

flabby and slipfog became mates

eaglescar did a better job with dancingclan about the herb issue and improved relations

rainminnow and finchpelt became mates

skysting is wondering what it would be like to be a leader. as agavestar hasn't lost a life yet i imagine old age will take him before skysting finds out.

failed to save a kittypet twolegs abandoned, worsened reputation with outsiders

Moon Twelve

agavestar thinks about retiring. maybe as a gift for him next moon.

carnationbranch (deceased) wants to warn agavestar about something. no he's only two weeks from retirement!

[4shfur]

I'm here to hear about bats! Do you know any colorful ones?

sorry this took so long! I got busy. there are lots of colorful bats!! bats often have spots and stripes for camoflauge.

the painted bat (Kerivoula picta) is bright orange. reminds me of firestar. They're not esactly sure why it's such a bright color though.

the Nimba mountain bat (Myotis nimbaensis) is also bright orange. i have a stuffed animal of him :))))

both bats in the family Noctilionidae (bulldog bats) sometimes turn bright orange and yellow after they molt, which we think is because of ammonia bleaching.

the spotted bat (Euderma maculatum) is a bat that often comes to mind when I'm thinking of funny looking bats. its easily distinguishable by its huge ears and black and white spots.

the pied butterfly bat (Glauconycteris superba) has bright cream spots and really does look like a butterfly

lots of fruit eating bats in phyllostomidae (new world leaf nosed bats) have pale stripes below and above their eyes, and along their back

The spectacled flying fox (Pteropus conspicillatus) has bright circles around its eyes and around its neck.

the queensland/eastern tube nosed bat (Nyctimene robinsoni) has yellow spots on its wings :)

The honduran white bat (Ecrophylla alba) and the yellow winged bat (lavia frons) are both easily identified by their snow white fur and bright yellow wings, ears, and nose leaves. theyre in different families and suborders though. ectophylla alba is part of phyllostomidae and lavia frons is part of megadermatidae (false vampire bats)

The genus Lasiurus (in Vespertilionidae) are known as the "yellow bats", who have red or yellow fur, sometimes with silver tips.

The genus Dasypterus (also in Vespertilionidae) also has bats with yellow fur, like the northern and southern yellow bats (D. intermedius and D. ega)