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Submitted: March 5, 2009
Image Size: 164 KB
Resolution: 596×577

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Beak Variationby ~povorot

Traditional Art / Mixed Media / Animals & Plants

Based largely on malformation and variation in the beaks of passerine birds (corvid and otherwise), this is an example of positive and negative mutation in action. Pictured are the three most common beak "malformations" in dinosauroids. In the case of the individual with the elongated beak with a pronounced space between mandible and maxilla, this "malformation" may well help him survive better - his uniquely tactile beak may make him a better tool-maker, and the gap may give him better grip on beak-held tools. In contrast, the individuals with deformed beaks 1, 4, and 5 would be unable to hold the weapons which their bands need to kill their food, thus making him a liability to the group. Such an individual would most likely be sold into slavery by their family at an early age...

~Nemi-the-nen Jul 23, 2009

I'm aware that this is a fairly old picture, but I just stumbled over here so...

Would mutation 1 really be such a large problem? Unlike corvids these guys have stone knaping, what's stopping them from bringing his beak down to size?

It might give him a notch in the front which could be useful in holding certain tools.

And 3, the biggest advantage I can see with him is the ability to have a...grip or a handle. A tool that goes into the beak and expands slightly to fill the gap would be harder to pull out of his mouth. He might even be able to use sideway mounted weapons better.

~TehFuzzyDuck May 13, 2009

This is quite fascinating, and crucial. So much of culture is defined by biology. Nemo Ramjet made a good example of that when he made artwork by his Dinosauroids. This has very interesting implications for this Dinosauroid world.

!JohnFaa Apr 2, 2009 Student Writer

The ones with the beak type one could perhaps use their beaks as killing weapons, rather than relying on objects. Perhaps they could be some sort of religious order responsible for animal sacrifices

~Saxophlutist Mar 29, 2009 Hobbyist Traditional Artist

Hmmm, I'm thinking certain population depending on the endemic culture will have higher frequencies of a certain malformation depending on the culture's needs?

~OrzhovSlodier Mar 9, 2009

Just an idea, but what if there was some little culture that thought that beak malformations such as the top one were like "gifts from god", and they would feed and protect them? Of course, this would have to be more of an agrarian society, I doubt that hunter-gatherers would have time to feed useless members.

~povorot Mar 9, 2009

Damn, that's a good one. I've been thinking of more sedentary/agricultural societies, so I think there could very well be a place for such individuals - as religious elites, maybe?

~OrzhovSlodier Mar 10, 2009

Yeah, sort of like priests.

~Lig28 Mar 5, 2009

Ah very cool idea. It just goes to show you how the random hand of evolution can deal you a winning card in some cases and a losing one in another.

~povorot Mar 5, 2009

Exactly.

!Social-Animal Mar 5, 2009

Interesting implications for culture. Perhaps a tribe of skilled artisans, a culture of elaborate weavers, wood workers, and smiths stemming from an increased occurrence of the 3rd mutation. These people could have generally smaller and weaker frames, and use a mix of trade and shrewd diplomacy to keep themselves safe from conquest at the hands of other, more warlike, groups.

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