The planet Gorp has low gravity, and little atmosphere, but what air there is moves fast. High winds and hot temperatures make this a very inhospitable place indeed! What moisture exists is trapped underground. It collects there after the infrequent, but intense, acid rain storms. Gorp is dark and inhospitable. The thin air supports a gas-bag type creature, that hovers above its prey before descending and stinging it to death. What sort of creature could survive in this environment? What adaptations would it have to help it stay alive, and reproduce itself? That was the assignment given to the grade 9 class. Presented here is one entry from that class, Chantilly Clay's gorporite, a creature well designed for the harsh environment of Gorp! The Gorporite Large eyes to see upwards, warning of imminent gasbag attack Spiny protrusions on back as protection from gasbag claws Long flexible proboscis to seek out moisture under the ground Large abdomen to store moisture Protective plates over body to sheild against acid rain See the gorporite in its native environment PLANET WINTER Design your own creature! Visit the planet 'Winter' where it's 20 degrees below zero for most of the 768-day year ... except for a brief 2-week period when it warms up enough for water to flow, and plants to bloom. (Winter orbits the star Fomalhaut in a highly eccentric elliptical orbit, coming nearer to the star, its sun, for only a short period of time each year). The surface of Winter is very rugged; it is almost all mountainous, and covered in snow for most of the year. High winds have prevented the successful evolution of any winged creatures. There are oceans, but these remain frozen over, year-round, and are inaccessible to the native life. Although the planet is cold most of the time, there are life forms which can survive there. The atmosphere is very earth-like, (22% oxygen). Small tree-like organisms flourish on the mountain slopes; these are well-insulated with thick bark, contain liquid water year-round, and are able to grow even when it's cold. Other forms of vegetation conserve energy by blooming and reproducing only during the 2-week 'summer'. Small creatures of all kinds survive under the snow, and live by consuming the plant-life. They are thick-skinned, and never surface except to mate (an unusual process which requires several days, once a year, and is too unpleasant to discuss here!) Some of these creatures are extremely poisonous, but the poison in their carcasses is rendered harmless by the heat of the 2-week summer, so that they can be consumed safely. You must design a predator which can survive on Winter. We have received some information already from Laine W. and Eyvind H., who have described two different predators native to the planet Winter. Learn about these creature and see what Winter looks like: Laine's Northern Pinalopasaurus      Eyvind's Antur Then send us YOUR predator design, using the form provided. You can send us a picture too, by email attachment ... send it to We'll pick the best, most unusual, well-designed creature and create a picture/animation, giving you credit, and locating it on the Winter page. Science Pages | Biology | Worsley School