#beetlewings

i’m in a wof roleplay server called talons & war and i just thought i could suggest some stuff for the beetlewings and drew visual examples. I referenced some actual beetles cuz i just love how cool their horns can be , but i tried to keep it close to the current beetle wing design in TnW (which i did not make)

the server is here if you wanna join. I am bored and if you ever do join in i will gladly make seagull give your oc trauma fr https://discord.gg/talonsnwar

Not long ago, I decided to hold an event to redesign the appearance of one of the tribes from the "Wings of Fire." The chosen tribe was Beetlewings, who hadn't received official art with their canonical appearance for years. Each artist drew their design independently of each other, as it was forbidden to show their designs anywhere until announcement of the results!

Below are some headcanons for adaptations each tribe has to survive in their environment! Note: These do not include any magic-based tribe traits (Breaths, leaf speak, NightWing magic, etc)

SeaWings

Habitat: Various Marine

Gills allow for breathing underwater

Lungs and ribcage able to collapse under pressure

High levels of O2 bound in hemoglobin and myoglobin in muscles

Buoyancy is reduced due to the collapse of lungs, saving energy for moving back to the surface

Have both antifreeze proteins in their blood (like alligatorfish) and blubber layers to cope with freezing temperatures

Streamlined bodies for energy efficiency

Lateral line sensory organs (like in sharks and fish), as well as barbels on chin and/or vibrissae on face allow for individuals to pick up on nearby vibrations in low light

Nostrils positioned on the top of their face able to close to block water from entering

Large, dense kidneys to process salt

Inner ear between the tympanum and cochlea fills with blood, allowing for good hearing underwater (fluid-fluid-fluid transfer, rather than fluid-air-fluid which would result in poor hearing while underwater as is the case with humans)

Large eyes and pupils for low-light environments

tapetum lucidum ("eyeshine") allows for ample opportunity for eyes to receive and process light

Rapid dilation of pupils allows for SeaWings to see both above and below water

More rod cells, which allow for better night vision

Semi-flattened limbs allow for stability and speed in swimming

Powerful, muscled tails allow for strong, fast swimming

High blood volume for more oxygen

Able to do anaerobic respiration when holding their breath. While they breathe with their gills, if they're in a low-oxygen environment, they can also use anaerobic respiration when needed

Large body to minimize heat loss

Countercurrent heat exchange allows for hot arterial blood to warm cold venous blood to prevent thermal shock

Curved jaw tip aids in catching prey

Webbed talons

High aspect ratio wings- active soaring, Long, narrow wings for long-distance flight over water, pointed tips (Albatross, gull, gannet-like wings)

Bioluminescent scales that can be turned on and off for communication

Have two fovea in their eyes, allowing for an extended range of vision, like other tribes

Nictitating membrane to protect the eye

SandWings

Habitat: Various Arid, including Desert and Xeric Shrubland

Naturally high body temperature, increases thermal tolerance and forces them to go to shade only when the air temperature is greater than their internal temperature

Reduced resting metabolic rate (Their metabolism is naturally low) reduces energy costs in a low-productivity environment where regaining lost energy is difficult. This also reduces the amount of water lost due to slower breathing

Smaller clutch sizes and long dragonet development period

Lower oxygen use

Most active in the dawn and dusk, often avoiding the hottest parts of the day

Large "sails" along their body and large ears allow for thermoregulation to keep cool

Eyes set deeper in the head to reduce glare

Don't excrete wet waste to conserve water

Long legs and lean bodies

Stinger that can inject venom which grows more potent with age

High endurance

Light coloration reflects light and keeps them cool

Wide-set talons prevent sinking in sand and aid in digging

Low aspect ratio passive soaring wings that are long and broad with "fanned" junctions/slots at the tips. The slots allow for soaring without reliable wind currents, instead rising on warm air. (Eagle, vulture, hawk-like wings)

Have two fovea in their eyes, allowing for an extended range of vision, like other tribes

Nictitating membranes and thick eyelashes to protect the eye

SkyWings

Habitat: Alpine and Subalpine

Long tails

Larger lungs and hearts than other tribes to optimize oxygen in low-oxygen environments

Higher resting metabolic rate allows for increased breathing rates and increased oxygen intake

High levels of hemoglobin in blood to bind more oxygen

High oxygen extraction in lungs due to cross-current exchange (air passing over the lungs during both inhale and exhaling as well as gradient of oxygen through blood to maximize intake)

Low aspect ratio passive soaring wings that are long and broad with "fanned" junctions/slots at the tips. The slots allow for soaring without reliable wind currents, instead rising on warm air. (Eagle, vulture, hawk-like wings). Their wings are bigger than those of SandWings due to their larger size

Have two fovea in their eyes, allowing for an extended range of vision, like other tribes

Some individuals may possess thick fur or feather-like scales on some or all of their body, providing insulation in frigid temperatures

Nictitating membrane to protect the eye

Eyes set deeper in the head to reduce glare

Roughly scaled skin along the bottom side of their talons aids in gripping stone and their talons are spread relatively wide to provide balance

Higher body temperatures, though not as high as SandWings

Fairly low center of gravity due to stocky bodies and legs

Thick, well muscled upper bodies

IceWings

Habitat: Arctic including Tundra and Taiga

Shorter snout and ears to preserve heat

Serrated claws for moving across ice

Semi-ectothermic meaning they need to regulate their temperature manually by basking, or in most cases, moving to cooler climates. They can warm themselves up through their metabolism (muscle movement, digestion, etc), but it's not easy for them like in most of the other tribes. As a result, they, despite their extreme climate, can tolerate and adapt to warmer climes when needed, though many prefer to stay in cold regions. Additionally, in warmer climates, their internal temperature is often too high for them to produce frost breath

Some individuals may possess long, soft, fur-like scales on some or all of their body, providing insulation in frigid temperatures

Antifreeze proteins in blood, like in alligatorfish

Have two fovea in their eyes, allowing for an extended range of vision, like other tribes

Nictitating membrane to protect the eye

Eyes set deeper in the head to reduce glare

MudWings

Habitat: Riparian Forest and Wetland

Webbed talons

Increased lung capacity allowing for long durations underwater

Ability to close nostrils and ears with membranous flaps underwater

Well developed sense of smell

Short, powerful neck

Large pupils for navigation in low-light and low-visibility areas

Dome-pressure receptors- extremely sensitive sensory organs along body and jaw that detect movement

Dorsally positioned nostrils, ears, and eyes

Streamlined body

Powerful tails to aid in swimming

Thick, armor-like scales

Elliptical wings allow for controlled flight in dense areas. They are not well-suited to long-distance flight, as flight is energetically costly due to reliance on lapping, rather than gliding

Have two fovea in their eyes, allowing for an extended range of vision, like other tribes

Nictitating membrane to protect the eye

NightWings

Habitat: Deciduous and Coniferous Temperate Forest

Tapetum lucidum ("eyeshine") allows for ample opportunity for eyes to receive and process light

More rod cells, which allow for better night vision

Enhanced sense of scent, sight, and hearing

Large corneas and eyes that allow for more light

Traditionally noctournal, though many are cathemeral- not limited to a traditional day-night cycle and instead functioning at odd hours without any single resting period (think how most mammals hunt and move in both day and night)

Have two fovea in their eyes, allowing for an extended range of vision, like other tribes

Nictitating membrane to protect the eye

RainWings

Habitat: Tropical Forest

Elliptical wings allow for controlled flight in dense areas. They are not well-suited to long-distance flight, as flight is energetically costly due to reliance on lapping, rather than gliding. Able to take off quickly, maneuvering through tight spaces, and avoiding entanglement in foliage

Have weak photosynthetic abilities, with photosynthetic cells in their membranes

Fangs that can inject venom through bites or by flexing their fangs to spray it as a long-distance defense mechanism

Long, prehensile tail for maneuvering in dense undergrowth

Have two fovea in their eyes, allowing for an extended range of vision, like other tribes

BeetleWings

Habitat: Grassland and Shrubland, both montane and lower elevations

Have two fovea in their eyes, allowing for an extended range of vision, like other tribes

Long hindwings (alae) tucked under their elytra (hardened forewings that form protective coverings when not in flight; the back hard part of a beetle) with reduced and modified veins to allow for folding

Strong flight capabilities

Hard exoskeleton made of thick, plate-like scales for protection

Two pairs of veined wings made from protein and chitin. Veins prevent tearing and provide stability and structural support of the elastic membranes that make up the wing's surface, as well as containing sensory organs and nerves that detect air movement, inform of any strain on the wings, and aid in balance of the dragon overall

Antennae (clubbed, thread-like, angled, string-of-beads-shaped, comb-like, or toothed) aid in sensory detection and can pick up on motion, odor, and chemical signals, as well as physical touch to aid in low-vision navigation

Can excrete pheromones to communicate

Unlike other tribes who only have three life stages (Egg, dragonet, adult), BeetleWings have four- egg, flightless dragonet, metamorphosis, and adult

Some have venomous stingers, some can spin silk, and others may possess long, soft, fur-like scales on some of their body.

Nictitating membrane to protect the eye

Eyes set deeper in the head to reduce glare

SilkWings

Habitat: Tropical and Subtropical Grassland, Savanna, and Shrubland

SilkWings may possess long, soft, fur-like scales on some or all of their body, similar to moths. Even if they don't possess the obvious 'fur' of moths, all SilkWings have a fine layer of soft, feathery scales on their head, wings, and portions of their abdomens, almost akin to the layer of velvet on deer antlers. These soft scales provide insulation, aid thermoregulation, and make gliding easier on their fairly light frame

Powerful muscles in the forewings to propel flight, while smaller hind wings, while muscled in their own right, may act for more of stabilization

Unlike other tribes who only have three life stages (Egg, dragonet, adult), SilkWings, like BeetleWings, have four- egg, flightless dragonet, metamorphosis, and adult

Have antennae used as sensory, balance, and navigation aids that come in a range of shapes and sizes

Relatively weak flight when compared to the other tribes. Broad wings make them excellent gliders, though they usually have poor long-range flight ability

Ability to produce silk or venom, though some have fur-like scales, similar to SilkWings

Contain chromatophores in their scales and skin, allowing for color changing.

Many have the ability to mimic sounds with ease, to an almost eerie extent.

Long, strong limbs and tail

Have two fovea in their eyes, allowing for an extended range of vision, like other tribes

LeafWings

Habitat: Temperate and Tropical Forest

Elliptical wings allow for controlled flight in dense areas. They are not well-suited to long-distance flight, as flight is energetically costly due to reliance on lapping, rather than gliding

Wings flattened and almost papery like a samara ("helicopter" or "whirligig" of maple trees and other fruiting plants)

Photosynthetic cells in their scales and membranes providing them with a secondary energy source

Have two fovea in their eyes, allowing for an extended range of vision, like other tribes

HiveWings

Habitat: Temperate Grassland, Savanna, and Shrubland

Two pairs of veined wings made from protein and chitin. Veins prevent tearing and provide stability and structural support of the elastic membranes that make up the wing's surface, as well as containing sensory organs and nerves that detect air movement, inform of any strain on the wings, and aid in balance of the dragon overall

Hindwing locked onto the forewing by hooked bristles (Hamuli)

Tough outer edge of forewing acts as a pseudo elytra to protect the hindwing and softer half of the forewing, as well as the dragon's body and organs.

Have two fovea in their eyes, allowing for an extended range of vision, like other tribes

Stingers act as defense mechanisms or for the subduing of prey by injecting venom

Can release pheromones for communication

Nictitating membrane to protect the eye

I wish i could have made the generations more lined up in the IceWing tree one but there was just so much i had to say “fuck it we ball”

I could have also forgotten at least one character but im not redoing these rn

Comprehensive book 16 family tree with a small cleril bias

Comprehensive (but still messy) tree of Sunny also having royal IceWing herritage

Bonus!! Cricket and Blue’s families :)

after one minor inconvenience i finished my Joy Ang style BeetleWings base! it is ftu w/ credit and do not get rid of the signatures if you find them.

notes

ppl who have seen the WIP will be seeing this prob for the third time but if we were to go with "Clearsight is the mother of both tribes" thing (i think its religious/saying but canonically it doesnt seem like it), the SilkWings look way more like NightWings than the HiveWings do. All the HiveWings realy have is color but from the NightWing underbelly, rectangular neck patterns, even the opaque wings, the SilkWings clearly have more NightWing dna. So i made them learn more into HiveWings instead

also hc'd the rhinoceros horn from Taipan to be of BeetleWing descent. could be just becase ofc but it looks like a start of a hercules beetle horn kinda and also no tribe would cause that except maybe a horn enlarged on a mudwing snout but not on a mudwing snout but the horn is still larger bc it thinks its gonna be on a mudwing snout...WHICH SOUNDS EXTRA COMPLICATED SO BEETLEWING TRAIT IT IS

my vr of beetlewings do have wing patterns like the silkwings i just didn't include a basic on or anything here so u can customize :D

@sarcasticrat @incorporeal-entity @daishitheprofessionalfool

It's a funny meme in the WoF community that HiveWings are incestuous abominations having all descended from a single dragon (Clearsight). But honestly I think a lot of the weirdness revolving around that idea is missing a fundamental piece of the way WoF genetics work.

It's relatively well known that when two dragon tribes hybridize, their offspring will primarily take after their mothers. Every. Single. Time. At most, there may be somewhat-even mixes of both parents, but the mother's tribe is still largely apparent. We see this with Whiteout, Darkstalker, Typhoon, and Sunny. Whiteout and Darkstalker appear primarily NightWing, like their mother Foeslayer (although Whiteout has a little more IceWing than Darkstalker). Sunny is mostly SandWing in appearance like her mother Thorn; enough that most regard Sunny as a regular SandWing that may just have a rare genetic anomaly. Typhoon confirms his mother as a SeaWing in his dialogue, when he mentions that his father is ill by the animus IceWing plague that Darkstalker caused.

What does this mean for HiveWings?

While it does still sound exhausting to have so many relatives, it's very plausible for her to have caused a branching new tribe with her genetics, WITHOUT inbreeding being involved in that process.

Because Clearsight is female, the VAST majority of her dragonets with BeetleWings would appear.... mostly NightWing! Mostly black scales!

Somewhat like this, if you assume this is relatively canon:

And, any of her daughters who decided to have dragonets themselves, would have ALSO had dragonets with primarily black scales, no matter WHO they married to. The black scales would have easily passed along hundreds (if not thousands) of dragons, without a single instance of genetically problematic inbreeding, so long as the direct descendants of Clearsight were female and had black scales. Regardless, no matter how many children Clearsight had, her daughters, granddaughters, great granddaughters and so on, would pass down her black scales to future generations; all of their Night/Beetle offspring would have taken after the mothers that appeared more NightWing-like, until eventually the form of HiveWings became most familiar because of the consistent mixing of the NightWing & BeetleWing physical traits.

Clearsight may well have only needed to EVER have 6 of her own dragonets total, for there to be a tribe split based on her genetics; depending on whether or not all of her dragonets chose to have families of their own (which we assume they all did). But, it is canon that Clearsight remarried several times, so we can assume she had more than 6; albeit probably not as many as your mind wanders into thinking. No slutshaming!!!! /j

Assuming she had 4 daughters and 2 sons, and each of her children had 3 dragonets of their own (predominantly female from her daughters and predominantly male from her sons), that would be 12 NightWing-dominant hybrids and 6 BeetleWing-dominant hybrids to kickstart the tribe splitting. It's perfectly plausible with the way canon genetics work.

What about SilkWings?

BeetleWings were a spread-out tribe, not existing purely in one location for their kingdom. So, while it's fun to theorize about SilkWings also being descendants of Clearsight, it's improbable at best (and disprovable at worst) that they're related in any way. It's theorized (and probably accurate) that BeetleWings had already been in the process of diverging into SilkWings, and Clearsight's arrival sped up that process significantly by reducing the population of non-diverging BeetleWings.

Incest had to happen at some point, didn't it?

I'm going to tentatively say, yes. But not in the way you're thinking.

At some point, after the BeetleWings had been bred out of existence and replaced by HiveWings and SilkWings, there HAS to be interbreeding of HiveWings at some point. And if ALL HiveWings are descended from Clearsight, that would mean that modern HiveWings are technically inbreeding by continuing to have eggs with other HiveWings, instead of more BeetleWings.

However, this is not as problematic as you'd think. (Stay with me here, this isn't proship territory. I promise.)

If we're looking at animals as a prospect, you'll notice that millions of extant species in REAL life are actually the result of similar conditions. Direct descendants of ancestors that they inherited their primary abilities and traits from, that have ultimately somewhat inbred.

You may be shocked (and even grossed out) to hear that we're actually all somewhat related, especially to those in our own countries. However, the reason incest between close relatives is considered immoral to people (and is illegal in many places, thankfully) is because of genetic anomaly. There is always risk to pass down genetic anomalies, I happen to have one myself! (A congenital defect of the heart that gives me two aortic valve flaps instead of three. This is a standard defect though and I promise I'm not an incest baby.) But the issue with inbreeding is just that it drastically increases the chances of such anomalies happening, the more closely related to an individual you are.

To put it more science-y, inbreeding only increases the chances of consequential or fatal anomalies if the offspring of two individuals contain alleles at the gene site that are identical from descent. In other words, there's a single ancestor shared from both the maternal and paternal sides. This becomes negligible when it's no longer probable to pass identical alleles from both sides; i.e, hitting about 6th degree (roughly second cousins once removed).

In other words, should someone interbreed with their second cousin-once removed, the chances of there being genetic anomalies or consequences are so low, that it's about as likely as if you had a child with any other person in the general population of your area. Your average shared DNA with that 2nd cousin-twice removed would be ~1.5%, which is actually lower than the default chance of any other average birth defect happening to the child of an unrelated couple (~3-4%). Genetic counsellors themselves state that they completely stop worrying about the potential for inbreeding-related fetal anomalies (AND moral code) once the relativity is 4th degree or further, because there is simply such a low chance of any defects, and it would be substantially different from marrying & reproducing with your siblings, parents, grandparents, and other direct relatives. Simply put, incestuous pairings are not black & white when it comes to more distant relation. Although direct relative pairings are inherently risky and therefore morally & ethically reprehensible by any means.

Dragons in Wings of Fire live to a maximum of about 130 years, and 2000 years had passed since Clearsight's arrival to Pantala. That's about 13 generations of dragons, give or take a few. We know based on the story told by Lady Scarab that a close relative of hers that she knew personally actually named the HiveWing tribe - implying that BeetleWings' extinction was actually relatively recent; within the last 200-400 years. Meaning that the genetic diversity of modern HiveWings is high enough that it would be incredibly unlikely for any random pair of HiveWings to pass down identical alleles to their child and cause significant issues.

So while, definition-wise, it is TECHNICALLY inbreeding, it is not a morally questionable issue because there are very few physically consequential results from their pairings; there have simply been FAR too many unrelated BeetleWings in their family trees for so long, that the VAST majority of HiveWings are as closely related to one another as the average city population in the United States.

Additionally, reptiles are not affected by incest the same way mammals are. The majority of unique pet trade reptile color morphs is a result of inbreeding for those colors; it's quite rare for them to have consequential anomalies as a result of such inbreeding as long as they aren't direct relatives only exclusively inbreeding with each other. Also these are magical fantasy dragons, so like. Shrug. I can't imagine incredibly distant relative consanguinity would affect them as badly as anything that's ever happened to British royalty.