Wingtober Day 14: “Fierce”

The way the first vespertilionidae (I think... Chalinolobus dwyeri? Or Saccolaimus flaviventris? it doesn't have the frosted tips of Lasionycteris noctivagans, nor the ears of Molossidae sp., and the bat's ventral surface is not visible...) is scrambling, I hypothesize my first/immediate response would probably be 'eek, spider!' followed by opening the distance in whatever direction the critter isn't heading towards. This hypothetical reaction would not apply to #2 bat's movements due to the position of the wings interfering with pattern recognition of 'freaking huge spider'. Wouldn't be long before that reaction shifts to 'oh, it's a bat' followed by impromptu escort mission. protect lil'friend from cats, or humans that might have... less than positive feelings/intentions towards chiroptera.

Outside of such contemplative musings; aww, the lil'bats! Can't ID #2 as it could be any number of brown bat species (or Lasiurus seminolus).

Such adorable lil'dudes. sorta wishin' one could pick them up so they wouldn't be vulnerable on the ground but alas bats are disease/virii reservoirs and doing so without significant/adequate PPE is a very bad idea.

Hoary bat, via

Ah, nice! Thanks for the art / visual realization of this particular chiroptera!

>"I hope this is close to what you wanted"

It absolutely is! Thanks!

Hiyo! I apologize for any inconvenience/impertinence, but might I request/commission an illustration of a bat?

Underland!Euderma maculatum. Name: Pythia. Not her actual name. Just what she goes by, due to a rumor; some think she is able to hear into the future - or possible futures. Role/task within Regalia: grief counselor for fliers/humans/etc. who have lost their bonds/family members. or family members of their bonds. Or fliers who have been injured to the point of permanent mobility impairment (cannot fly anymore), individuals that might have dubious thoughts regarding their continued biological existence.

refs: https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Euderma_maculatum/ image refs: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?taxon_id=40631

I have three ideas in mind for the illustration I wish to request, but I don't know which of the three to pick. One would be somber, her assisting another... The second would be humorous; possibly depicting Boots and Hazard (or other young-ins) climbing all over the polka-dotted flier, hanging off her ears, etc. Or the third... Pythia's fate. In the hallway leading to Regalia's nursery, with (at least) Dulcet and Cartesian behind her... the Euderma momentarily holding the line, giving what little time before the gnawers overwhelm her position.

I don't know which one to choose. So, leaving that up to you.

I am so sorry it took so long to get finished. I was so excited by someone asking me to draw their OC that I wanted to do more than just a quick sketch and really put my full effort into it. So here's Pythia giving some comfort to a grieving Regalian.

I tried my best to keep her faithful to the bat reference, but a certain degree of creative liberties had to be taken to make her clearly emote. The very iconic spots are only really visible on the back so I had to cheat a little bit around the sides. I hope this is close to what you wanted :')

And FWI yes, the text says "Bat or Owl" that does include Underland OCs... hopefully I won't take three months to get it done next time 😅

Bonuses after the cut:

Alternate color versions that I was iterating. Just getting the right background figured out took so much time and fiddling and I'm still not sure I got it quite right

And here's just a PNG of the characters if you want to put them in a better fitting background

Sugar Donut

after accidentally on purpose scoundrelposting for like 7 hours straight yesterday i feel like it's vital to remind the class that despite all of their horrors and drama they ARE destined to turn into this thing.

they are 3 inches big. they have goofy little eyes. they prey heavily on moths. their lifespan is 2 years long and they are extremely vulnerable to death by wind turbine. just something to keep in mind here

The Stats

...How in the fu-

how does that-

not a single bit of that viewpoint makes sense. like. the frick. how? how would one come to the conclusion that preserving habitat of species is unnecessary for preservation of that species?!?

I think this is it? H.R.1897 - ESA Amendments Act of 2025. https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1897/text

...Though there's another potentially-sketchy bill, one that says the ESA should only apply to species that are native to the United States. (And if a species has extant populations in / migrates to a different country, what then?)

H.R.102 - American Sovereignty and Species Protection Act of 2025 https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/102/text.

...actually this one is rather short, so:

----------------------------

To amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to prevent a species that is not native to the United States from being listed as an endangered species or a threatened species, to prohibit certain types of financial assistance, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 3, 2025

Mr. Biggs of Arizona introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

A BILL

To amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to prevent a species that is not native to the United States from being listed as an endangered species or a threatened species, to prohibit certain types of financial assistance, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. Short title.

This Act may be cited as the “American Sovereignty and Species Protection Act of 2025”.

SEC. 2. Limitation on listing of nonnative species and provision of certain financial assistance.

(a) Limitation on listing of nonnative species.—Section 4(a) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(4) NONNATIVE SPECIES.—The Secretary may not determine that a species is an endangered species or a threatened species pursuant to this section if such species is not native to the United States.”.

(b) Limitation on provision of certain financial assistance.—Section 8(a) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1537(a)) is amended—

(1) by striking “As a demonstration of” and inserting the following:

“(1) IN GENERAL.—As a demonstration of”;

(2) by striking “(which includes, but is not limited to, the acquisition, by lease or otherwise, of lands, waters, or interests therein)”; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

“(2) PROHIBITION ON PURCHASING LAND IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY.—No financial assistance provided under paragraph (1) may be used to acquire, by lease or otherwise, lands, waters, or other interests in a foreign country.”.

On April 16th 2025 the US federal government has proposed to change the interpretation of the endangered species act so that it no longer protects habitat.

This is open for public comment until the end of May 19th. Please comment and make your voice heard.

Wildlife need their habitat. If the ESA redefines harm so that habitat is no longer protected, the implications for wildlife would be catastrophic.