Styracomatopod WIP

Another very sketchy attempt at ([link]). The primary gene/meme donors are, of course, Styracosaurus sp. and mantis shrimp, but I've noticed some squat lobster, slipper lobster, amphipod, and even horseshoe crab starting to creep into the design. I think this is partially an artifact of lateral/horizontal compression as I try to fit the overall composition onto a single sheet of paper (that is, it ends up truncated vertically), which may simply indicate poor planning and subdivision skills. I've found it especially challenging to reconcile the smooth, vertebrate curvilinearity with the spiky, rectilinear arthropod elements. Note the liberal but judicious (?) use of mirror and skew, which I suspect will continue into the final version. Hmm, I better figure out a way to control the width of the frill; that seems to be the major roadblock in terms of believable symmetricality. I also better work on filling in (i.e. determining what occupies) the middle/lower portion of the body! Intensive crustacean examination to follow, though I suspect a lot of articulated fleshy/leathery segments featuring gill and pleopod analogs.


Note on the concept: I pictured this thing being massive, on the scale of a small whale. So think of the head as stereotypically ceratopsian to get a sense of overall proportions, i.e. head relative to body size.