Reflect, for a moment, on just how ‘alien’ life on
our own planet can be. There are countless species on Earth that seem commonplace to us, but if you
think from the perspective of an interstellar visitor seeing them for the first time, you’ll
realize that much of what nature produces on a daily basis seems more outlandish than the vast
majority of science fiction. So if we were ever to discover alien life, it’s highly likely we’d
find it mind-blowing, and maybe even a little disturbing. One science fiction project which
truly excels at accurately representing these likelihoods is ‘Snaiad’: which is one of the most
detailed speculative biology projects of all time. The famous fictional world of Snaiad is the
creation of the one and only C. M. Kosemen, author of All Tomorrows and expert in all
things alien, who you can follow and support in the links below. This online worldbuilding
project includes more than 200 extraterrestrial lifeforms from several dozen lineages — and an
awe-inspiring amount of detail about each one. So, for this entry into the archive, I’ll be
taking you on a documentary-style tour across this truly alien planet, and exploring just
some of the life that dwells on its surface… At first glance, the anatomy of most life
on Snaiad might confuse the common observer. To understand the lifeforms that we’ll encounter
on our voyage, let’s first take a Kahydron — a rather average organism by Snaiadi standards
— as an example. Examining the inner workings of the Kahydron, you’ll find a host of surprises.
Beginning with the skeletal system, Snaiadi bones aren’t made of calcium, but a modified hydrocarbon
composite that resembles very hard wood. While massive and durable, these bones
burn easily, which complicates things for Snaiadi paleontologists. Snaiadi muscles are
equally distinctive. They work via hydraulics: moving by pushing instead of pulling — and their
bones have evolved to accommodate this difference. Strange though these muscles may be, they provide
their owners with incredible strength relative to their size. But the strangeness doesn’t end
there. Snaiadi creatures also possess a second set of traditional fiber-base muscles — which
cover the entire body and help pump the fluid of their hydraulic counterparts. The respiratory
and circulatory systems of Snaiadi animals are similarly unique, with the nostrils of
most organisms located near their armpits. These nostrils are connected to lungs that work
independently from one another, in a highly distinctive set-up. Yet the most divergent system
in Snaiad animals is their brains. Actually two organs that work in tandem, the first component
of the brain is a dense knot of fibrous nerves connected to a larger nervous system, and the
second is a cryptic structure that seems to be the root of consciousness each organism, although
the author imagines it’s poorly understood. But perhaps the most noticeable visual deviation from
familiar life is that almost all vertebrates on Snaiads appear to have two ‘heads.’ In reality,
the first head contains the organism’s jaws, eyes, and reproductive system, but isn’t actually
connected to their digestive tract at all. Instead, all food consumption is done via
the second head, which is almost like an exposed throat that leads to the stomach. This
unconventional arrangement is a holdover from a distant ancestor from which most vertebrates on
Snaiad are descended. In the Kahydron’s case, the jaws of the first head are built for hunting,
as the lifeform occupies an apex predator role similar to a lion — just in its own unmistakably
alien fashion. Indeed, we’ll find much of the life on Snaiad bears some similarities to
an earthly species… although others truly defy classification. A great place to continue our
tour is in the mountainous forests. Here, you can find the Urunyx, a relative of the Kahydron and
member of the larger Kahydroniform classification. Like all Kahydroniformes, Urunyx is also a
predator, with a short, crushing bite and long scythe-like claws. The Urunyx is more than just
a true carnivore, however, but also a part-time omnivore like various species of Earth bears. At
five meters, or sixteen feet in length, though, the powerful Urunyx rivals even the largest
bears in its sheer size. Within the rivers of an equatorial jungle, you can find an aquatic
Kahydroniform called the Crocahydron. Roughly the same length as the Urunyx, the Crocahydron
paddles on adapted fins, snapping up organisms with its elongated jaws. A striking mix of a leafy
sea dragon and an Earth crocodile, the Crocahydron is an effective predator — lying in wait before
snapping up its unsuspecting prey. But Snaiad is more than a world of predators. Dotting the
endless lush plains, the mainly-herbivorous Kettleturts wander the grasslands, plucking
nutritious plants from the soil with their second head. The Kettleturts are a member of the
Turtiformes, a wide-ranging group that bears some resemblance to the turtles or tortoises of our own
planet. Unlike their earthly analogues, however, the shells of Turtiformes aren’t external,
but are instead encased in a layer of skin. Turtiformes also aren’t able to withdraw
their limbs into their shell when threatened. But Turtiformes don’t just populate the land. In
the water, marine Turtiforms like the streamlined Cylindroides genus have become uniquely adapted
to their aquatic environment. Their shell has become a heavy, hydrodynamic ‘hull’ — and the
digits on their limbs have become broad paddles, which they use to steer themselves through the
vast oceans much like sea turtles. On Earth, most species of sea turtles lay their eggs on land,
forcing their young to make a perilous journey back to the ocean. Cleverly, however, Cylindroides
have evolved to birth their young without ever leaving the water. In the forested mountain
ranges bordering the Great Northern Ocean, a one-of-a-kind hunter is looking for food. This is
a Toxoglossos, a member of the diverse Polydactyl classification and a relative of the Turtiforms.
These tiny lifeforms possess a spring-like, extendable second head which they use to ‘zap’
their unsuspecting prey. This hunting strategy shows a remarkable degree of convergent evolution
with chameleons of Earth: who use their long, strange tongues to consume insects. Sometimes life
on our own planet can be downright alien as well. And you might find, flattened along the bottoms
of freshwater rivers, the peaceful Platymoloch, a Polydactyl offshoot that have become
bottom-feeding lifeforms that spend most of their time underwater. Not an active bunch--to
feed, the Platymoloch drag their vacuum-like second heads over the muck to scoop up any
potential food, sort of like the feeding habits of some species of stingray: which also have
unusual mouths on the underside of their bodies. Unlike stingrays, however, Platymoloch’s aren’t
particularly elegant… nor do they have much of a defense against potential predators. Burrowing
just under the soil, the blind, unassuming Vermiphagus make their tunnels — content to be
ignored by the more fantastical Snaiad organisms that stomp aboveground. Vermiphagus are our first
example of a Haplobrachid — a group that is united by their lack of limbs, yet nonetheless have been
remarkably successful. Most Haplobrachids burrow in layers of spongey vegetation called ‘sprog,’
which covers large swaths of Snaiad’s surface. One carnivorous Haplobrachid that tunnels within
the sprog are the Citognathus — meter-sized lifeforms that have evolved a distinctive
hunting strategy. Their second heads have become specialized lures that mimic the appearance
of common prey animals. Like the anglerfish or frogfish of Earth, the Citognathus simply sticks
the lure out and wiggles it around in a bizarre manner that resembles the movement of said
prey, luring curious lifeforms right into the predator’s jaws. A truly fascinating adaptation.
Impressively, some Haplobrachids have even taken to the trees. Among the branches, the large,
sluggish Slothsnakes slither slowly towards their next meal of fruit or vegetation. At a surprising
13 feet, or 4 meters long, Slothsnakes are easily the largest of the Haplobracheds group. As you
can imagine, their nickname comes from their surface-level similarities to the slow-moving
sloths, and limbless arboreal snakes — although like many creatures on Snaiad, the slothsnakes
don’t neatly fit into any earthly category. On the subject of earthly (or non earthly) counterparts,
there are no traditional ‘insects’ on planet Snaiad. Instead, that role is filled by curious
lifeforms like the 4-millimeter long Dactylopus. These evolutionary oddities are a type of
Picozoan: organisms that were once larger, terrestrial vertebrates but became tiny
lifeforms over millions of years. Since organisms the size of insects require a variety of
adaptations to function, this grand shift in size involved various unusual shortcuts, like bones
that never ossify during development and a worm-like larval stage that allows Picozoans to
inhabit different niches as adults and juveniles. Look closely at the leaves in the jungles of the
east, and you might spot the rare Arbovermis: a slightly larger and more distinctive Picozoan.
Also called Grinchworms, these endangered green lifeforms shuffle their long, tube-like bodies
around on numerous tiny legs. As a result, their walking gait is likely not unlike the
movements of caterpillars or centipedes, although Grinchworms don’t have quite as
many legs. Strange as the Picozoans are, however, on the isolated island continent of
Thalassia, groups have evolved that resemble no other lifeforms on Snaiad. For an example,
look no further than the carnivorous Ophictonos, a type of Monoanticheran that lacks front limbs
altogether. A challenging species to decode, the Ophictonos possess long, spear-like lower
jaws on their first heads that help them jab their preferred prey which dwells below ground.
In ‘fishing’ for organisms with their long beaks, their hunting behavior is somewhat similar to that
of certain birds. On the vast plains of Thalassia island, you can spot the herbivorous Bounderjaws,
a species of Monoanticherans that patrol the plains in vast herds. These creatures might look
a little off-balance, but they actually have a highly efficient method of specialized locomotion.
Their legs contain piston-like hydraulic muscles that allow them to leap about, storing energy
from one bound to another. A bit like a kangaroo… although clearly only in certain regards. On
a nearby island, an equally atypical lifeform patrols the scrubland. The Red Headbanger
is a solitary predator with a strange name and even stranger hunting method. Charging out
of nowhere, the headbanger dispatches unwary prey with hatchet-like blows of its massive head. While
an impressive organism, the Headbanger’s island isolation is key to its survival, as on a nearby
landmass, truly terrifying goliaths are waiting… Meet the Seismopus. Weighing over a ton, these
giants are easily one of the biggest predators on all of Snaiad. A type of Tromobrachid, Seismopus
have fused their second heads with their ‘sternums’ and front limbs — and have evolved
the strongest jaw-equivalents in all of Snaiad. This gives them the advantage of being able to
chew and swallow from the same mouth, with their first heads becoming thin, periscope-like organs
useful only for observation. Not surprisingly, the Tromobrachids have been quite successful. Upon
the vast sands of the interior desert, the related Ammodromeus, or Sandrunner pursues prey to the
point of exhaustion. Like the hyenas of earth, these ruthless hunters often operate in a pack to
take down larger prey — although this behavior is likely the simple result of intersecting interests
rather than genuine cooperative behavior. But even a pack of Sandrunners might be wary
of Titaniformes like Z. Urophorus, or Giant Skipbirds — some of the mightiest herbivores
on Snaiad. At almost 20 feet, or six meters, in length, Giant Skipbirds are well protected while
they grind down vegetation with their oversized, plant-munching second heads. Indeed, their
feeding habits are somewhat like an elephant, although Giant Skipbirds grow to even greater
sizes. But surprisingly, they’re not the largest of the Titaniformes… At last, we’ve reached the
final lifeform we’ll be archiving in this video. At almost 40 feet, or twelve meters long,
Legendary Magnodires are one of the largest land animals on Snaiad. Often simply called ‘Titans,’
the second head of these herbivores have become super-extended into long, almost drawbridge-like
structures. These gigantic animals spend their days grazing across a large circle twice as wide
as their second-head necks. We’ve barely covered half the orders in the Snaiad project, and
there’s many more individual species you can read about online. In Part II, we’ll investigate
even larger and stranger lifeforms… but for now, our time in this incredible alien world has come
to an end. If you want to support the author, you can follow and support C.M. Kosemen using
the links below. He’s also working on a book that will overhaul many of the species with updated
details, which I’m really excited for… Also, thanks for watching. If you enjoyed this entry,
please lend your support and like, subscribe, and hit the notification icon to stay up to date
on all things Curious. See you in the next video.
Apologies for being new to this sub, I assume Snaiad is brought up from time to time here.
I’ve been a long-time fan of speculative biology, and inventing alien life-forms, and I always deliberately try to imagine organisms as different as possible. For example, pneumatic pumps for muscles.
I just found this video, and I’m curious about this sub's thoughts, and maybe reactions to my thoughts?
I love the depth of the biology in these creatures, but am I the only one who still finds it still a little too… terrestrial?
The bones being made up of a “wood-like” chemistry is cool, but do they still have to be shaped like a rib cage? Spine, hips, shoulders, four limbs… that is the stuff I usually avoid. A skeletal structure can be shaped like literally anything!
The mammals are still mammals, but satisfyingly alien enough. I’m a little annoyed that the reptiles are still just… reptiles. The turtles are turtles, the lizards are lizards..
I LOVE the “two heads” thing. (Who says the brain has to be attached to the mouth?!) and he explains that the “second head” is a throat that attaches directly to the stomach. This is the kind of weird alien-ness that I love. But a question for the more enlightened - The narrator in this video keeps mentioning predators “snapping up” their prey… If their “mouthparts” don’t lead directly into their “throat-parts,” how does the feeding process actually work? I kept waiting for this video to explain this (to me, by far the most intriguing concept addressed) but never did.
Snaiad seems to be a popular and well-conceptualized project, so I’m sure anything I can ask has been discussed. I’m just curious, interested, and glad I found this sub!
I mean at the end of the day certain rules just apply to all life. Its just kind of a fact that the fastest way to run is either 2 or 4 legs. Thats just how it works, as an example.
Same with bones, how else is a ribcage supposed to look ? It cant be a solid structure because it needs to inflate, furthermore a more rigid structure usually just means you break more. So no a Skeletal structure cant be everything. It has to support the animal. Very fundamentally a Spin above the Centre of mass is more stable than one sideways or below. Humans are actually a bit of an outliner with our Sideways spin.
The Skeliton is more structural Engineering than Evolution anyways which means there is only a couple of ways to do it.
Also i think the critique of "To Terrestial" is complettly meaningless. Like, how do you look at the shit my guy here makes and conclude it is terrestial ?