Hoxia-39:
A World of Giant Insects
A Thorough Compendium of the sole Arthropoda derived lineages of notable lifeforms on the Exomoon of Hyperoxia -39
A Thorough Compendium of the sole Arthropoda derived lineages of notable lifeforms on the Exomoon of Hyperoxia -39
Created by: (Z-Zero, Arthropod Hybrid Zeries)
@jay_zeeee on discord
Partnered with its planet project : in a binary celestial body system
The collaborative community spec evo: Vulkos
( by RaptorArt ; Raptor Art's Insta )
Hoxia is a ongoing seed world speculative evolution project, and involves ZERO vertebrates, rather being completely inhabited by invertebrates. Hoxia's only major lifeforms are arthropods, and its goal is having the suitable conditions for such insects to become as gigantic as possible in order to fill the ecological niches vertebrate megafauna once held. At the same time, it also facilitates a biodiverse environment / ecosystem interactions to influence how macro predators and megafauna invertebrates arise to fill the niches that vertebrates usually hold. The world will mostly follow scientific realism to dictate Hoxian lifeforms’ speciation and selection
TLDR: MAKE AN ENVIRONMENT FOR ARTHROPODS (INSECTS) TO BECOME AS BIG AS POSSIBLE,
NO VERTEBRATES
ONLY INVERTEBRATES
What is a seed world spec evo?
Seed worlds are a branch in the genre of speculative biology. It is usually in a fictional setting, though most of them adheres to scientific realism.
It's concept revolves around a few species of real world Earth life placed on a terraformed habitable planet, before being abandoned for hundreds of millions of years, leaving the organisms to quickly speciate and eventually evolve into a wide diversity of lifeforms over the course of several Eons.
Some of the most famous works in this genre include:
Serina, A world of birds. ( Serina Video Series )
Kappa, A world of turtles. (Kappa Video Series )
When you consider that all four legged vertebrate animals on Earth ( Mammals, monotremes, placentals, Reptiles, lizards, dinosaurs etc. ) originated from a single /few species of sarcopterygiian tetrapodomorphs, the possibilities for adaptive radiation seems endlessly mind boggling.
Some of the most fantastical creatures in spec evo actually descend from innocuous real world animals, ie, The Archangels from Serina . This thought at the back of one's head is a constant reminder to what amazing complexity and variation natural selection has done for life.
Most seed worlds consist of one or more vertebrate animal species, which will be the main target focus, alongside a bunch other arthropods , insects and other invertebrates to serve as background environmental maintenance / decomposition or food. Various other plant species can also be described. However, unlike this usual trend, in Hoxia's case, it is only the latter.
Arthropoda is actually a rather extremely large and diverse group of animals, with many different groups within clades. Because of this, only choosing a single species would be a rather poor representation of the arthropod phylum.
We will primarily be selecting the largest modern species across the Chelicerata and the Mandibulata Clades, too have a small head start in starting a biodiverse lineage of giant arthropods.
( The first substantial lifeforms to exist on Hoxia)
“Generation Zero” Species: Mandibulata
M Y R I A P O D S
Diplopoda
Archispirostreptus gigas
One of the largest modern land millipedes, a decomposer. Usually living along forested and coastal areas, it also possesses a repugnatorial chemical defense.
H E X A P O D S
Insecta
Pepsis Heros
A Tarantula Hawk Wasp, as larvae they consume tarantuals. As adults, they feed on nectar and hunt for tarantulas to resume the cycle.
Blaberus Giganteas
One of the largest modern cockroaches, it has hemelytra resembling leaf litter . It lives primarily as a decomposer / scavenger.
Megasoma Mars
A heavily armored insect, it is one of the larger Elephant beetles and is primarily a herbivore that feeds on fruit.
M U L T I C R U S T A C E A
Malacostraca
Macrocheira Kaempferi
Largest modern arthropod and one of the largest crustaceans still alive today, with the largest specimen measuring 12 feet across in legspan. They often exceed 40 pounds at max size.
Birgus Latro
Largest modern land arthropod, an omnivorous giant that roams the coastal regions in order to keep their brachiostegal lungs wet.
Macrobrachium Rosenbergii
The larest modern freshwater prawn, with strangely disporpotionate 2nd chelipeds.
“Generation Zero” Species: Chelicerata
C H E L I C E R A T A
Arachnida
Gigantometrus Swammerdami
Currently the largest modern scorpion, albeit not as famous or well known as the Pandinus Imperator. They usually use their pincers to kill rather then venom.
Theraphosa Blondi
The Goliath Birdeater Tarantula, known for its tendency to climb trees and attack juvenile birds, it is the largest modern spider and often attacks smaller lizards, rodents, and other vertebrates for prey.
Various Species ( several hundred ) of genetically modified trees
Various genetically modified Fruit Bearing plants
( Various trees are included )
( mostly w/ tougher exocarp or epicarp )
Various Ferns
Various Moss
innumerous Miscellaneous species of Angiosperms
( Seagrasses included )
Various other earth plants unlisted
Phytoplankton
Microscopic Algae
( Various Cyanobacterium )
( Various Macroalgae Kelp )
Other planktons, various planktonic protists ( protozoans )
Other bacterioplankton
Cnidarians
( Corals, Anemone )
( Includes Jellyfish )
Various Flatworms
Various other Marine Worms
( Mollusks )
Small Cephalopods
Various Gastropods
( Slugs, Sea Slugs, Abalones, Sea Hare, Limpets, Nudibranchs )
Various Bivalves
(Heteroconchia, equivalved mussels and clams )
(Palaeoheterodonta, freshwater mussels )
( Pteriomorphia, saltwater clams, oysters )
(Protobranchia)
Neogastropoda, including various whelks, cone snails, conchs
Various Annelid ( Earthworm Phylum)
Includes stuff like the Trapjaw Bobbit Worm and other marine annelids, phyllodocida, sabellida, etc.
Various Echinoderms
( Sea Stars / Starfish, Urchins, Sea Cucumbers, Crinoids )
Note that their are and could be other unlisted benthic soft bodied invertebrates present.
-No Basidiomycota, or decomposing fungi will ever be seeded or introduced
-No Actinobacteria or other wood eating bacteria will ever be initially seeded or introduced
-Nautiluses
© 2025 "Jay" Karl Kessler. All material / artwork was created originally unless stated otherwise. Real world images sourced from the web, and credits will be stated when applicable