Hyrulean Wildlife Theory Guide

I have decided to share my theories about the wildlife of Hyrule here. And I'm not just talking about the cats and the dogs, and other simple animals you see running around Hyrule, I'm talking about all of its flora and fauna. I have complied them in a field guide of sorts. I'll post each one, and you comment on my work. Here is the first entry: The Octorok, which I have given the common name, "Land Octopus", and the scientific name, "Octopus edaphos"(eight-foot land dweller).

The Land Octopus is a unique amphibious cephalopod found in Hyrule's moist environments, such as lakes, swamps, and the coast-line. It pulls itself along with six, muscular legs, and catches prey with two extended grabbing tentacles above its siphon. As a defensive adaptation, the Land Octopus can shoot semi-solid balls of ink from its siphon at its enemies.

It has a mantle opening which is finely lined with blood vessels inside the cavity, which it uses to breathe out of water. But in order to breathe out of water, it must keep this cavity wet, so it can never stray too far from the water. The Land Octopus sports a skin-covered shell on it's "back". Partially for defense, and partially to keep from drying out while on land.

The Land Octopus has chromatophores in its skin which allow it to change color at will. It uses this adaptation to camoflauge itself from both predators and prey. Its beak is located on its underside, in the middle of its ring of tentacles, and has a mildly venomous bite that it uses to stop its prey from struggling. The Land Octopus mainly feeds on insects, fish, and hard-shelled invertebrates. It has excellent vision, and also has scent-detecting organs in the suckers on its tentacles.

wow! nice!

I like this! Can't wait to see the rest of them.

Next in my field guide is the Bombskit from TP, which I have given the common name, the Grassrunner.

A relative of the grasshopper, the grassrunner's long and semi-erect back legs allow it to run at speeds of up to 25 mph. If pursued, it lays a "fake egg", filled with a slimy, black substance. This "egg" usually distracts any predator, seeing it as an easy meal. However, upon contact with the predator, the "egg" bursts, covering the predator in black slime. It is especially irritating if it gets in the predator's eyes, which usually happens. This distraction is usually enough for the grassrunner to escape.

At night, grassrunners sing by rubbing their small wings together, in an attempt to attract mates. Grassrunners use their shovel-like noses to dig for worms, which are their main source of food. They will also hunt and eat other small insects such as beetles and grasshoppers. A "real-life" grassrunner is only about one ounce in weight, and is smaller than what is seen in TP.
"

Since the Big Octo in Jabu-Jabu's belly seems to be a "land octorok"
is it possible that there is only one species of octorok that can exist
in land or water?

Originally Posted by Cukeman

Since the Big Octo in Jabu-Jabu's belly seems to be a "land octorok"
is it possible that there is only one species of octorok that can exist
in land or water?

Maybe. Perhaps the octoroks that live in the rivers are "larval" forms of the land variety. They could go through a metamorphasis like frogs do.

Of course then you would have to consider the octoroks from TWW, which I don't believe ever take a land form.

Isn't Phantom Hourglass the only game to feature land ones and sea ones?

Originally Posted by ríomhaire

Isn't Phantom Hourglass the only game to feature land ones and sea ones?

Yes it is. So maybe there is a land variety and a sea variety.


Anyway, next in my field guide is the Chuchu (the one from TP takes on the "real-life" form), which I have given the common name, the Giant Slime Mold.

The Giant Slime Mold is actually neither an animal, nor a plant, but a collection of single-celled organisms that move together as one, able to change shape, and creep along the ground. They feed on microscopic organisms that live on the ground and on plants. They often carry Slime Beetles inside of them (I will explain more about them in my next post). Each microscopic organism that it is made up of can reproduce asexually. It can create more Giant Slime Molds by splitting parts off of its body. Multiple Giant Slime Molds can also merge to increase their chances of survival.

Giant Slime Molds produce a gelatinous excretion that can be used to make certain medicines or used as fuel. This "jelly" is often used to make potions, used as oil, or can be eaten raw.

Got one for Deku Scrubs/ Babas

I don't really see much point in this thread, but good never the lest.

is the keaton an actual animal on the games? that might be fun to do one on.

not to divert the thread, but in ALttP there seem to be "keatons" in the
Dark World's village of outcasts...man or beast?

interesting... what do you mean, man or beast? I mean the things they model the masks off of.

I mean that creatures in the Dark World were once men
(the transforming power of the golden land)

ah. yeah, the people there are man-shaped with fur & other animal features most of the time. anyway, back to what this thread was started for!

Well, if you ask me, the "Keaton" is most likely a spirit or man disfigured by magic.


Okay, next in my field guide is the Chu Worm from TP. However, since it looks like a beetle and not a worm I have given it the common name, the Slime Beetle.

Slime Beetles live inside of Giant Slime Molds, breathing within them through means of an aqualung, an air bubble that surrounds their body. The Giant Slime Mold and the Slime Beetle live in symbiosis. The Slime Beetle is supplied food (the "jelly" of the slime mold) and shelter from the slime mold, and the slime mold is provided with protection. If it's home is attacked, the Slime Beetles that live in the slime mold viscously attack with their sharp mandibles. This attack is usually enough to deter even the most persistant predator.

In "real-life", Slime Beetles weigh only about one ounce, and are about the size of a hissing cockroach.

Oh wow! Discovery channel.

Uh... "Chu Worm"?... Could you pull up some Pics for some of these please?

Originally Posted by MetaLinkA

Uh... "Chu Worm"?... Could you pull up some Pics for some of these please?

Ya know, those things in the Lakebed Temple, that look like bugs inside of giant bubbles? That you either have to use the bomb arrow on, or pull them out with the clawshot? Those things!

Well, up next in my field guide is the Helmasaur. Actually there are two varieties, the Grassland Helmasaur (from TP), and the Mountain Helmasaur (from TMC). This one is about the Grassland Helmasaur.

The Helmasaur is a gentle herbivore of the fields of Hyrule. It normally grows to the size of a small cow, and sports a formidable shell upon it's back, which covers most of the animal's top. The shell is not bone, but actually a mucous that has hardened over time.

Helmasaurs lay their eggs near the edges of forests. Upon hatching, a helmasaur is lacks a shell and is vulnerable to attack, so it retreats deeper into the forest for protection until it can grow its own shell. As a youngling, the shell can occasionally weaken and fall off, during which the helmasaur then seeks shelter. During this time, it secretes new mucous which will harden into a new shell.

An adult helmasaur's shell is normally far too strong and heavy to fall off, and the helmasaur's reinforced spinal column is adapted to deal with the weight. Helmasaur's often travel in herds that consist of many individuals of either gender. A full-grown helmasaur weighs about half a ton.

So, do the Helmasaurs in various ALttP dungeons qualify as Grassland or Mountain Helmasaurs?

Wow, for once we have a theorizing thread that doesn't provoke arguing and is very interesting to read. It's just so peaceful...and quiet.

Excellent work, Titan. Very well done.