The sun-scorched world of the Wildspire Waste.
A land of the truly fearsome… and truly bizarre. A place where the extremes of climate, and the
extremes of survival meet. This second episode on the biology of ‘Monster Hunter: World’ will show
you an environment where resources are scarce, and competition is a way of life. And as usual,
it’s a battleground I’ll be braving firsthand. So, join me on my mission to chart
the extreme reaches of this world, and better understand the titans that live here... Now that I’ve been staying in Astera for a few
weeks, I’ve decided to upgrade my accommodations. My new lodgings are more spacious and more
comfortable. And more space means more room for archiving, which I’ve accelerated drastically. Yet
as I write these very words, I can’t help but wish I was back in the field. I know that just beyond
my window, there are new worlds waiting to be discovered. With my supplies gathered,
the time has come for another expedition… Further from civilization than the Ancient
Forest lies the unforgiving Wildspire Waste. Arriving in the early morning, it will be a race
against the rising sun to document this sweltering region without succumbing to the heat. To live
here demands the most extraordinary survival strategies… But the first lifeform I encounter,
the Barroth, seems up to the task. Despite their bulky stature, this mighty goliath isn’t afraid
of overheating, because they have a secret weapon against the sun. Mud. The Barroth’s tough, craggy
armor is absolutely coated in it. They use this mud as a kind of natural sunscreen against the
intense solar radiation of the waste. And being covered in mud makes making one’s territory a
simple matter. But where does a creature get mud in the middle of a desert? The answer lies
in a marshy delta to the south of the waste. Here, a slow-moving trickle of water creates vast
mud flats that the Barroth frequently return to. Exposure to the sun means this Barroth’s
protective coating is almost completely gone. But it’s nothing a nice, long roll in the mud won’t
fix. And for the Barroth, this is just plain fun. On our planet, many familiar animals wallow in the
mud themselves to cool down. And the Barroth is an expert wallower — at times letting themselves
become fully submerged. With just the peak of their large head-crest sticking out of the water,
the Barroth looks a bit like a floating log. But the Barroth can breathe comfortably, as their
nostrils are located on the tip of their snout. The nostrils of semi-aquatic animals moving to the
top of their heads is a common evolutionary trend, and can be seen in the hippos of our planet. Once
the Barroth’s important itinerary of wallowing is satisfied, they return to patrolling the
dry waste. And as the Barroth traverses, they give back to the land. The Barroth will
shake off excess mud, which happens to provide the plants of this region with damp, nutrient rich
soil. In bringing mud to many different regions, the Barroth is an unintentional cornerstone
of the Wildspire Ecosystem…. Yet each time the Barroth returns to the muddy swampland,
they are making a calculated gamble. For there is more to this region than safe shallows. To
the East, the marsh becomes deeper… and darker. This murky region hides all manner of
unknown dangers. Here, the fins of the Gajau protrude over the gloomy mire. Small yet
viscous, they’ll attack if I get too close. But the Gajau aren’t the true terrors of this
wetland. This pale-eyed predator is a Jyuratodus, and they are an uncommonly vicious hunter.
Like the Barroth, they thrive in the mud, propelling themselves along the stream
on muscular fins. Most any creature that gets stuck in the swampland ends up a meal to
indulge the Jyuratodus’s voracious appetite. And while they typically lurk in the deeper
waters, the scent of their next potential feast can compel them to journey upstream. And this
Jyuratodus has caught the scent of our Barroth. From the mud, the Jyuratodus ambushes the
Barroth, using their serpentine body to wrap around the creature and try to bring them down.
It seems like the end, until with a mighty heave, the Barroth flings the attacker off. It’s a
devastating blow to the Jyuratodus. For a moment, it looks like the battle isn’t over… but then
the Jyuratodus retreats, scarred off by the Barroth’s tenacity. The Barroth celebrates their
victory with a thunderous roar. Clashes over resources are common in the Wildspire Waste,
where there is rarely enough to go around... One species in particular is an expert at
desert survival. These are Apceros, the foundational herbivores of the Wildspire Waste.
The role they fill in the ecosystem is similar to the Aptonoths of the ancient forest. Yet if
an Aptonoth were to wander out onto the waste, they would succumb to dehydration in minutes.
The Apceros, however, are built like a tank, with all parts of their body armored to endure
the sting of sand and the clamp of ravenous jaws. Even the brutal sandstorms that often tear
through this area do little to slow them down. And when an Apceros herd is truly threatened, they
have a curious final defense. Three Apceros will stand in a protective circle, shielding each other
with their spiked tails. It’s an unusual looking formation, but a mostly impenetrable one. Once the
danger has passed, the Apceros herd continues to march on through the elements in a stubborn,
unyielding procession. Even now, as the heat of midday reaches its most extreme, the herd is
undaunted… While the Apceros can withstand this heat, I’m not as well adapted, and hide from the
sun’s rays in a narrow cave. With my face close to the ground, I notice a hidden drama unfolding
not far from my shelter. This is a Wildspire Dung Beetle, and they are on a mission. Rolling
a piece of Apceros droppings into a sphere, the beetle sets off with their prize on a long trek
across the sand. It’s certainly… somewhat gross, but it’s hard to not be impressed with this little
bug’s determination. Earth Dung Beetles behave in a similar manner, with some species able to roll
spheres several times their own mass. And if this Wildspire Beetle is to survive, they will have to
pick up the pace and get out of the sun. At last, they reach home base. The Wildspire Beetle is
a gardener, and uses the… natural fertilizer provided by larger species to improve the health
of the plants they feed on. A fairly ingenious little insect. While it’s easy to overlook such a
creature as insignificant or downright disgusting, this display shows that in the Wildspire
Waste, no resources are taken for granted... Yet there is one region where life flows in
abundance. To the west, the waste borders the Ancient Forest, and here, water drifts all the
way from the forest to the edge of the desert. It is this life-giving runoff is responsible for
the vast lowland swamp. But closer to the water’s source, a peripheral forest has risen. Sheltered
from the sun’s rays, the interior of region is unrecognizable next to the other parts of
the Wildspire Waste. And the lifeforms which dwell here are equally unrecognizable. This is
a Nightsade Paolumu, a creature well adapted for the perpetual twilight of the peripheral
forest. This shadowy lifeform has converged on an appearance similar to an upscaled version
of an Earth bat. And unfortunately for me, they seem to have excellent hearing. Detecting
my presence, the Paolumu begins a furious threat display, so I try to back away. Not satisfied, the
Paolumu inhales vast amounts of air and inflates a sac in their neck — the result of which is truly
something to behold. While I stare transfixed by the display, the Paolumu expels a pale gas cloud
into my face, which doesn’t appear to have any effect… Although I’m starting to feel… kind
of sleepy …I think I’ll take… a quick snooze… Reawakening to an empty forest, I realize
what just happened. The Nightsade Paolumu’s last defense is a unique chemical mist that
induces severe fatigue in potential threats. Luckily, that Nightshade Paolumu simply
used the gas simply as a means of escaping, and didn’t feel the need to eat me while
I dozed off. I count myself as fortunate, and make a note that if I see any other members
of this species, I’ll be sure to give them space… To the north of the peripheral forest, an unknown
species flaps on thunderous wings. At first, I mistake this lifeform for a Rathalos, as
their appearances are quite similar at a glance. Upon closer inspection, however, this is
actually an entirely different monarch of the forest — a Rathian. The female counterpart of
the Rathalos, the Rathian roams further from the nest and spends more time patrolling the ground.
Defined by a green coloration and more protruding chin-spike, the Rathian can feed on most-anything
in the waste. With highly venomous tail spines, the Rathian is an expert combatant. Given
the wide territory couples tend to occupy, it’s possible that this specimen is in fact
the mate of the Rathalos I observed on my prior expedition. If this is correct,
these two are a deadly power couple… Other lifeforms are markedly solitary. This is a
Glavenus: one of the absolute top predators of the Wildspire Waste. A beast seemingly made entirely
out of sharp surfaces, the Glavenus's most striking feature is their blade-like tail. This
huge weapon aids the Glavenus in combat, and helps keep their body balanced while on the move. Out in
the open, the Glavenus’s strange, almost metallic scales seem out of place. In the darkness of the
caverns where the beast makes their nest, however, the Glavenus appears right at home. Indeed, I
have a theory that the Glavenus might share an unexpected connection with these caverns. Their
metallic armor seems to match the mineral deposits that form on the rocky floor. This leads me to
wonder if the Glavenus can actually incorporate the naturally occurring metal into their scales.
It’s not as far-fetched as it might sound. In Earth’s oceans, Scaly-Foot Gastropods — which I’ve
discussed elsewhere in the archive — incorporate similar metallic sulfides into their armor to
survive in hydrothermal vents. And if the Glavenus have evolved something similar, it’s little
wonder they’re so formidable... An echo draws this Glavenus deeper into the cave. Another species
has taken refuge in their nest. It’s the Rathian from before. And she’s not happy to find the
cavern is taken. Striking first, she releases a powerful burst of flame. The Glavenus returns with
a fearsome blow. In this brutal clash of titans, either species might meet their untimely end.
But this Rathain doesn’t seem interested in a fight to the death. Better to look for another
cave… While most species avoid the Glavenus, on rare occasions where a fight escalates,
they have a fearsome final tactic. By violently grinding their tail on mineralized surfaces, they
keep up the external metal to high temperatures. This superheated tail is even more destructive,
although the accumulated metal can quickly melt off. To keep the blade hot and razon sharp,
they will even temper it with their jaws. The Glavenus can store excess
sparks into a specialized flame sac, which they can unleash in a fiery display. This is
one species that should be avoided at all costs… Patrolling a shadowy ravine is a creature from
a lost age. This primordial species is a Tigrex. The last remnant of a prehistoric lineage, the
Tigrex is something of a living fossil. Such an ancient taxon persisting into the modern era is
astonishing, although not entirely unheard of. On Earth, The Coelacanth was once known only
from fossils, and thought to have gone extinct over 65 million years ago. Until one was found
very much alive off the coast of South Africa. And just like how a fish unchanged since the age
of the dinosaurs was a tremendous discovery, this Tigrex is an important find indeed — and provides
critical insight into the natural history of this continent. The Tigrex lacks fully functional
wings, only able to leap short distances. It’s likely, however, that this type of
gliding membrane is the precursor to the fully functional wings on contemporary species.
In another departure from their modern cousins, the Tigrex lacks a flame sac, apprehending prey
through the brute strength of their jaws alone. Yet to have held on for so many millions of years,
the Tigrex’s strategy is Cleary still effective… One thing defines the waste more than any other.
Across the region, the titular ‘Wildspires’ tower above the surrounding environment.
These intimidating monoliths are as massive as they are mysterious. Given their size, one
might expect them to be the nesting place of this continent’s largest residents. Yet they actually
belong to the very smallest. Shuffling near the base of these towers… are Carrier Ants. These tiny
insects don’t look like master architects, yet by working together, they have built their several
hundred-ton nests one particle of dirt at a time. On our planet, the largest ant super-colonies can
reach millions of members, and can stretch for hundreds of miles below ground. Yet the enormous
colonies of the Wildspire Waste can indeed grow so big they can start to overtake the surrounding
environment. Fortunately, a familiar face has stepped up to keep the ant population in check.
Barroths like this elderly one will regularly come to the spires to snack upon the ants. And this
behavior keeps the ants construction projects under control… Yet in braving the deep desert,
this Barroth is taking a risk. Without warning, the vulture-like Noios cry out. Soon, a full-on
panic breaks out among the flock. The Barroth and I have a bad feeling about this. Something is
coming. From the sand, bursts a mighty behemoth that lifts the Barroth up and slams them down,
before vanishing underground in a cloud of sand. I’ve just had my first encounter with the
Diablos. These horned desert tyrants are highly territorial, although they aren’t true carnivores,
primarily feeding on the tough, cactus-like plants endemic to this region. While the search for
food can compel them to travel above ground, they prefer to spend their days in caves hidden
beneath the sand. From these underground pockets, the Diablos can both keep cool and ambush
unwelcome lifeforms from below. And the connection between the Diablos and the caverns they call
their home is greater than meets the eye. These cavernous networks, which define the underground
of the Wildspire Waste, aren’t naturally occurring — but were in fact dug by the Diablos
themselves over countless generations. With their horns and wings, Diablos are natural excavators.
Yet competition between Diablos over tunnel rights can be fierce. Many old bulls are missing horns
due to constant territorial clashes. Yet with age comes experience, and many elder Diablos
can keep their caves safe from young upstarts. Whether above ground or below, the Wildspire
Waste is a stage for endless competition... Back on the surface, I’m preparing to conclude my
expedition when I notice it’s eerily quiet. Then, a shadow passes overhead. An invader has come to
the waste. This is a Bazelguese. A rare, nomadic hunter, all creatures fear their shadow. A true
biological nightmare, the Bazelguese bombards the ground with strange scales while flying overhead.
To my shock, the creature then smashes into these scales, causing each one to detonate in a burst
of searing flame. Thanks to their thick armor, the Bazelguese is immune to these organic
explosives... but other species aren’t. It's an imprecise, yet lethal hunting method. Yet
how could a lifeform produce such scales? The answer lies in chemistry. Within the Bazelguese,
explosive chemicals are formed, and solidify into rows of hardened pods on the creature’s underside.
If stimulated or left to oxidize, these volatile compounds explode, severely damaging anything
caught within the blast. In nature, one of the most famous chemical defenses belongs to the
Bombardier Beetle, which, like the Bazelguese, stores volatile compounds within their body, that
erupts out as a burning, noxious spray. With this level of destructive power at their disposal, the
Bazelguese can terrorize any region they assail... Yet in time, the Bazelguese flies onwards.
The night has now come to the waste. In the cool night air, the region is transformed into
a place of calm and stillness. And overhead, the innumerable stars shine more brilliantly over
this desert than anywhere else on the continent. Returning to my desk at long last, I feel
I’ve gained a significant understanding of the ecosystems of this continent. While there
are rumors of a rich highland to the north and other regions beyond, I might turn my attention
to other archival projects before venturing there. In any case, if you’re a fan of worldbuilding and
speculative biology, I’d encourage you to check out the work of my fellow scholars in Astrovitae,
a free online magazine dedicated to speculative evolution. A new issue is out this Sunday, April
24th — that will have art from projects I’ve covered on this channel in the past, as well as
some entirely new works. If you’re interested, there’s a link in the description. And as always,
thanks for watching. If you enjoyed this entry, you can lend your support by liking,
subscribing, and hitting the notification icon to stay up to date on all things
Curious. See you in the next video.
