Superspecies
Superspecies are a category of creatures described by the scientific organization Monarch in the Monsterverse franchise. The Kong: Skull Island Cinematic Adventure defines the term thusly:
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Superspecies is a catch-all term coined by Monarch to describe the Titans and other creatures they were discovering. As time went on, it was refined to refer to plants and animals that have origins in Hollow Earth or were formerly thought to be cryptoozological species prior to confirmed evidence of their existence.[1]
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As such, there are no strict metrics by which a creature is classified as a superspecies. However, ancestry with a known species seems to be a disqualifying factor, as Monarch's discovery of DNA relation between the Shocker Squid and the Humboldt squid led it to declare the former not a superspecies.[2] Superspecies range in size from as small as the flowers of the Butterfly Bush[1] to as large as the up-to-110 foot-long Mire Squid, with the latter's fragility and limited range being the only things keeping it from qualifying as a Titan.[3] In some cases, a creature may even be classified as a superspecies before its existence has been confirmed, as is true for the Spirit Tiger.[4]
Within the category of superspecies are "classifications" and "sub-divisions". Many of the superspecies discovered on Skull Island are placed into one or both of florafauna and megafauna, the former describing lifeforms which share genetic traits with both plants and animals.[5] However, other classifications exist, such as "megalopod" for the Mire Squid[6] and "necroserpere" for the Death Jackals and Skullcrawlers.[7] Sub-divisions, meanwhile, appear to describe the taxonomical class, family, or genus with which a superspecies is most closely related or most closely resembles; for example, "Arachnid" for the spider-like Mother Longlegs[8] and "Bovidae" for the water buffalo-like Sker Buffalo.[9]
Every superpecies also has a "cryptozoological classification" which, while never defined, appears to be a unique identifier given to them by Monarch in a manner akin to binomial nomenclature. However, these classifications do not appear to follow the rules of real-world taxonomy, as Leafwings, which are said to be a subspecies of Psychovultures, have a cryptozoological classification of Icarus Folium[10] as opposed to the Psychovultures' Vultura Insanus,[11] seeming to disprove that the first word is an indication of genus. Moreover, individual members of a superspecies may sometimes ascend to Titan status, such as the Alphas of the Skullcrawlers[12] or queens of the Snarehunters.[13] In the latter case, Snarehunter Valkyries (which are given the cryptozoological classification Cantus formica along with the other castes of Snarehunters[14]) are believed to transform into queens, but receive a new classification of Cantus Silva Ant despite being the same creature and giving birth to further Snarehunters.[15]
Known superspecies
Below are all known creatures which have been described as superspecies but not Titans, in alphabetical order. Blank cells indicate information that has not been given.
| Designation | Cryptozoological classification |
Classification or taxonomy |
Sub-division | Predation | Behavior | Nature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alluring Bulb | Gloria mesmeri | Florafauna | — | Carnivorous | — | — |
| Amberpede | Scolopendra electrum | Florafauna | Chilopoda | Carnivorous | — | — |
| Aloe Turtle | Chelanoidis aloeveraphorus Chelonia Aloe |
Florafauna | Reptiliomorpha | Herbivorous | — | — |
| Azure Skyshark | Caedes nubis | Superspecies | — | Carnivorous | — | — |
| Bloodspike Impaler | Hemospicum tepesi | Florafauna | — | Carnivorous | — | — |
| Brambleboar | Rubus Grunnio | Florafauna | Sus | Omnivorous | — | — |
| Butterfly Bush/Flower | Tinea mortis | Florafauna | Shrub | Parasitic | — | — |
| Coralmouth | Thanocephala Coralliumos | Megafauna | — | Carnivorous | — | — |
| Corrupted Death Jackal | Spinae Mortem | Corrupted | — | Carnivorous | — | — |
| Corrupted Psychovulture | Vultura Insanus | Corrupted | — | Omnivorous | — | — |
| Corrupted Skullcrawler | Cranium Reptant | Corrupted | — | Hypervore | — | — |
| Corrupted Sporefly Queen | Protolampyris Sporis | Corrupted | — | Omnivorous | — | — |
| Crow of Thorns | Korone acantha | Megafauna | Avidae | Omnivorous, Carrion feeder |
— | — |
| Death Jackal | Spinae Mortem | Necroserpere Canus Megafauna[a] |
Canus Canis |
Carnivorous | — | — |
| Dream Slime | Somnium mucosae | Florafauna | Slime Mold | Carnivorous | — | — |
| Drownviper | Gongros Opprimo | Megafauna | Ophidiomorpha | Carnivorous | — | — |
| Galloping Crocodile | Velox crocodilus | Superspecies | — | Carnivorous | — | — |
| Giant Dodo | Didus dux | Superspecies | — | Carnivore | — | — |
| Grass Hedgehog | Herba erinaceus Erinaceidae Poa |
Superspecies Florafauna |
Monotrematamorpha | Insectivore Omnivorous |
— | — |
| Hedgemaize | Erinaize glocidia | Florafauna | — | None | — | — |
| Hellhawk | Accipiter Infernum | Megafauna | Galliformes | Omnivorous | — | — |
| Ivy Dragon | Phytulus toxicum | Florafauna | — | Insectivorous | — | — |
| Jovian Flytrap | Flos esurio | Superspecies | — | Carnivore | — | — |
| Killral Reef Colony | Eunice anthozoon | Annelida | Eunice polychaete | Carnivorous | — | — |
| King Broodfish | Dinichthys Eusocial | Megafauna | Arthrodira | Carnivorous | — | — |
| Kong | Apus Giganticus | — | — | —[b] | Protector/Guardian | — |
| Lahamu | Not Classified | — | — | — | Unknown | Bio-Transparent |
| Leafwing | Icarus Folium | Florafauna | Reptilia-Aves Hybrid Reptilia |
Omnivorous | — | — |
| Magma Jackal | Canis Vulcan | Magmafauna | — | Carnivorous | — | — |
| Magma Turtle | Tortoisa Vulkana Tortoisa Vulcan |
Testudines Mineral Minerafauna |
Igneous Reptilia Testudines |
Herbivorous | — | — |
| Mature Rockclaw | Saxum Brachyura | Unknown | — | Geovore | — | — |
| Mature Sirenjaw | Gigantus Crocodiliad | Florafauna | — | Omnivorous | — | — |
| Megamaw Mudskipper | Confusa piscis | Superspecies | — | Omnivorous | — | — |
| Mire Squid | Gigantus Leviapus | Megalopod Megafauna |
Architeuthis Hybrid Cephalopoda |
Omnivorous | — | — |
| Mother Longlegs | Arachnida Malum Mater Crura Arachnida Acidosasa |
Florafauna Florofauna |
Arachnid | Carnivorous | — | — |
| Needlewalker | — | Superspecies | — | — | — | — |
| Nest Raider | Kleftipheros avgo | Superspecies | — | Carnivorous | — | — |
| Nightboy | Filius noctis | Superspecies | — | Gummivore | — | — |
| Parrot Frog | Anouras Psittacus | Megafauna | Amphibian | Omnivorous | — | — |
| Plague Weaver | Araneae Pestilentiae | — | — | — | Destroyer | — |
| Psychovulture | Vultura Insanus | Ctenochasmatoidea Megafauna |
Reptilia Aves Hybrid Reptilia |
Omnivorous | — | — |
| Queen Mother Longlegs | Arachnida Malum | Florafauna | — | Carnivorous | — | — |
| Roakur | Equusaqua timida | Florafauna | — | Carnivorous | — | — |
| Rock Bug | Lapis cimex | Superspecies | — | Carnivore | — | — |
| Rockclaw | Saxum Brachyura | Unknown Geofauna |
Arthrodira | Geovore Carnivorous |
— | — |
| Scarab | — | Unknown Superspecies |
— | Unknown | — | — |
| Scarlethead Warbat | Bellum Vespertilio | Megafauna | — | Carnivorous | — | — |
| Singing Blades | Sanguis herba | Superflora | — | Sanguivorous | — | — |
| Sirenjaw | Gigantus Crocodiliad | Megafauna[c] | Siren Reptilia |
Omnivorous | — | — |
| Sker Buffalo | Skerry Bubalis | Megafauna[d] Florafauna |
Bovidae | Herbivorous | — | — |
| Skull Ant | Cranium Oecophylla | Megafauna | — | Omnivorous | — | — |
| Skullcrawler | Cranium Reptant | Necroserpere Destroyer Megafauna[e] |
Salamandra Reptilia |
Hypervore Carnivore Omnivorous |
Destroyer/Hypervore | — |
| Skullcrawler (young) | Cranium Reptant | — | — | — | Destroyer/Carnivore | — |
| Slither Flower | Olisthima louloudi | Florafauna | — | Sanguivorous | — | — |
| Snarehunter | Cantus formica | Megafauna[f] | Formicidae | Omnivorous | — | — |
| Solarcharged Coralmouth | Thanocephala Coralliumos Solaris | Megafauna | — | Carnivorous | — | — |
| Spirit Tiger | Tigris Spiritus | Unknown Megafauna |
Unknown Felis |
Unknown | — | — |
| Spore Mantis | Phasmid Sylas | Florafauna | Ghost Insect Insecta |
Carnivorous Carnivorous/Fungivorous[g] |
— | — |
| Sporefly | Protolampyris Sporis | Florafauna | — | Omnivorous | — | — |
| Stampede Caterpillar | — | Superspecies | — | — | — | — |
| Swamp Locust | Stagnum Acrididae Ramus periculo |
Florafauna | Water Nymph Naiad |
Omnivorous | — | — |
| Tanystalker | Nepentharis calludens | Florafauna | Carnofloridae | Carnivorous | — | — |
| Tree Mimic | Truncus Vorax | Megaflora | Arbor | Carnivorous | — | — |
| Trickmaw | Agarindae raptogellis | Florafauna | Avidae | Decomposition | — | — |
| Trikonicorn | Quercium tricerati | Florafauna | — | None | — | — |
| Vampyr Slug | Diablosanguisuga fodiens | Superspecies | — | Sanguivorous | — | — |
| Vertacine | Alaris Fulgur | Megafauna | Reptiliamorpha | Omnivorous | — | — |
| Vinerat | — | Superspecies | — | — | — | — |
| Vinestrangler | Vitis Strangulari | Florafauna Superspecies |
Fraxinus Devourer Fraxinus |
Carnivorous | — | — |
| Vinestrangler Alpha | Vitis strangulari majoris | Florafauna | — | Carnivorous | — | — |
| Vine Snake | Vitis serpentis | Florafauna | — | Carnivorous | — | — |
| Volt Panther | Panthera Tempestas | Panthera | — | Unknown | — | — |
| Warbat | Vellum Vespertilio Bellum Vespertilio Vellum Vespertillo |
Megafauna | Ophidiomorpha | Carnivorous | Destroyer/Carnivore | — |
| Wart Dog | Cerberus Ulcus | Megafauna | Canis | Carnivorous | — | — |
In other languages
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Trivia
- Monsterverse novel and comic author Greg Keyes previously proposed the term sub-Titan to describe Hollow Earth creatures that "don't quite rise to the level of Godzilla or Rodan".[25]
- Amhuluk and the Snarehunter Queen are the only Titans who are also florafauna.
See also
Notes
- ↑ The Death Jackal had never been given a classification prior to 2023, when the Kong: Skull Island Cinematic Adventure classified it as a "necroserpere".[16] Godzilla x Kong: Titan Chasers later classified it as its sub-division "Canus," likely in error.
- ↑ Though Kong's species has never been given a "predation" category, Kong himself is omnivorous, as he eats both meat (Mire Squid, Wart Dog, Drownviper) and plants (leaves, bamboo[17]).
- ↑ Classified as a megafauna, but described as being an example of "florafauna evolution".[18]
- ↑ Classified as a megafauna, but simultaneously "considered a kind of florafauna".[19]
- ↑ The Skullcrawler had never been given a classification prior to 2023, when the Kong: Skull Island Cinematic Adventure classified it as a "necroserpere".[20] However, this was contradicted by the 2024 game Godzilla x Kong: Titan Chasers and 2026 book The Monarch Files: A Monsterverse Manual, which instead classified it as a megafauna.
- ↑ Despite listing the Snarehunters as megafauna, the Kong: Skull Island Cinematic Adventure describes Snarehunter Queens as "Flourafauna" (sic).[15]
- ↑ The Spore Mantis' predation was given as "carnivorous" in its profiles from Kong: Skull Island's marketing and the Monsterverse Watchalong event.[21][22][23] The Kong: Skull Island Cinematic Adventure adds "fungivorous," explaining that the species is only "partly carnivorous".[24]
References
This is a list of references for Superspecies. These citations are used to identify the reliable sources on which this article is based. These references appear inside articles in the form of superscript numbers, which look like this: [1]
Bibliography
- Trent, Sigfried; Bramnik, Michael; Flanagan, Ivis (2023). Kong: Skull Island Cinematic Adventure. Evil Genius Games. ISBN 979-8-9865552-8-7.
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