Gallery: Taranturaptor, Pandaroo, and Other Animal Hybrids We Wish Existed
01spidershark
Earth has no shortage of animals that amaze, frighten, and perplex us. But what if we could combine species and create even more terrifying hybrids? This compilation of imaginary critter combos we'd love to see in the wild (from a safe distance) was inspired by our readers, who seem to be very interested in everything we write about spiders or sharks. Thus, the spidershark. With the help of friends, colleagues, readers and followers, the list grew to include a horde of monstrosities ranging from strangely adorable to intensely scary. But why sit around and argue about whether the spider shark would have eight fins or eight additional leggy appendages or eight eyes or all of the above? We needed artists to bring these hybrids to life, and we knew just where to find them. The [Science Illustration Program](http://scienceillustration.org) at CSU Monterey Bay is a training ground for [artists who love science and nature](http://scienceillustration.org/gallery/galleryhome.htm). We enticed 11 alums and current students to take on our fictional creatures and make them look real. Their awesome talent and creativity resulted in the beautiful, awe-inspiring, and sometimes terrifying visual creations in this collection. __Above:__ Spidershark ----------- This has to be one of the best and scariest species of landshark ever imagined. And also, it's completely adorable. How can you not want to hug this many-eyed creature? As the original inspiration for this gallery, the elasmorachnid occupies a special place in this pantheon of preposterous critters. *Illustration: Copyright Calene Luczo \[[Portfolio](http://www.luczoillustration.com)\]*
02pandaroo
Pandaroo -------- Behold the pandaroo, a bouncy creature with a taste for bamboolyptus. "Think of the stuffed animal possibilities," said [Robert Irion](http://scicom.ucsc.edu), who suggested the pandaroo. "Jumping pandas with pockets!" *Illustration: Copyright Maayan Harel \[[Portfolio](http://www.maayanillustration.com)\]*
03flying-squirwolf
Flying Squirwolf ---------------- Sailing from tree to tree, the flying squirwolf casts quite the shadow on unsuspecting meals below. "An awesome predator," said [Dirk Hanson](http://www.dirkhanson.org), who suggested the flying, lupine fortress. Squirwolves, with their ability to glide long distances, can launch coordinated aerial assaults, often organizing hunts while tiptoeing through the treetops. Unlike the werewolf, a larger, land-bound cousin, squirwolves are not restricted to hunting during the full moon. *Illustration: Copyright Natalia Wilkins \[[Portfolio](http://www.wilkinsillustration.com)\]*
04taranturaptor
Taranturaptor ------------- A large, spiderlike creature, the Taranturaptor (*Escensu aranea*) has a legspan that can span 4 meters across. [That's, like, 20 times the size of your face](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/04/new-giant-tarantula/). "Spend enough time scouring the dense rain forests of Belize and you are bound to come across signs of the Taranturaptor," wrote [Kyle Hill](http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/overthinking-it/), who dreamed up the critter. "While you are deep in the jungle, a *Taranturaptor* likely has its eyes on you." The creature's huge and valuable exoskeleton makes it a target for poachers, Hill notes, meaning its population hovers between 5,000 and 10,000 individuals. "While efforts to save the species and information campaigns to clear their fearsome reputation have been moderately successful, few zoos want to take on the risk in displaying this beast to the public," Hill writes. "The San Diego Zoo is still paying out civil suit settlements." *Illustration: Copyright Alex Babakitis \[[Portfolio](http://babakitis.com)\]*
05cuttlephant
Cuttlephant ----------- Here be the cuttlephant, an amphibious, multi-trunked, color-changing beauty. The elephantine creature comes with a self-defense bonus: According to [Elizabeth Preston](http://inkfish.fieldofscience.com), who suggested the amphibious cephaloderm, the cuttlephant possesses "the camouflaging skills and killer instincts of a cuttlefish, to protect it from poachers." She also points out that its cousins could include the cuttleoceros and goruttlefish. *Illustration: Copyright Meghan Rock \[[Portfolio](http://www.meghanrocktopus.com)\]*
06stomatopetrel
Stomatopetrel ------------- Combining the mantis shrimp's rainbow-colored countenance, super-sightedness, and I'll-punchisize-your-face-for-free attitude with the blatant badassery of giant petrels yields a lethal creature that could only be called a stomatopetrel. "That's a mantis shrimp with wings," tweeted [Ed Yong](http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/blog/not-exactly-rocket-science/), who suggested the evil beast. "THEN YOU WILL ALL PAY." *Illustration: Copyright JL Hirten \[[Portfolio](http://www.jlhirten.com)\]*
07piranhatee
Piranhatee ---------- Hey, [manatee patriots](http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-february-19-2013/tea-party-manatee-riding-patriots): We dare you to ride one of these. "Manatees might be the most defenseless animals out there, but piranhas are the badasses of the freshwater world," said [Kate Shaw](http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/incubator/2012/11/06/introducing-kate-shaw/), who suggested the toothy sirenian. "Give the poor sea cows a giant, razor-sharp set of teeth and an appetite to match, and we’ll see if anyone messes with them." That includes you, [Cannonball Guy](http://www.mercurynews.com/nation-world/ci_23300978/cannonball-onto-manatees-online-video-launches-probe). *Illustration: Copyright Justine Shih \[[Portfolio](http://justineshih.com)\]*
08pterodactwhale
Pterodactwhale -------------- The exuberant breach of a humpback whale is a wonder of nature. But I wanted to know what it would look like if that airborne hulk then unfurled its leathery wings and soared into the sky, bellowing a strange, mashed-up version of humpback songs and pterodactyl screeches. And now I do. *Illustration: Copyright Laurel Mundy \[[Portfolio](http://www.laurelmundy.com)\]*
09dinoflagellate-starling
Dinoflagellate Starling ----------------------- "Imagine a murmuration of bioluminescent starlings, flowing across the sky in a series of phase transitions," said [Jessamyn Fairfield](http://letstalkaboutscience.wordpress.com/author/jessamynfairfield/), who suggested the glowing birds. "Sounds better than fireworks to me." Us, too. Looping swirls and shimmering, avian clouds? Yes, please. *Illustration: Copyright Katie Bertsche \[[Portfolio](http://wanderingfalcon.com/)\]*
10fire-dog
Fire-Dog -------- A combination of firefly and dog, with a blinking, yellow butt. And why shouldn't the fire-dog's head to light up too? The better to walk you with, my dear. Fire-Dog was imagined by [George Aranda](http://about.me/georgearanda), who'd like to take his pup for evening strolls, "lit by his bioluminescence." *Illustration: Copyright Kelly Lance \[[Portfolio](http://www.kellylance.com)\]*
11gazelligator
Gazelligator ------------ "Scary fast," said creator Lewis Wallace. That is all. Zip-zip-chomp. *Illustration: Copyright Lucy Conklin \[[Portfolio](http://www.lucyconklin.com)\]*
