The other thread on unusual Fur Coat designs had me thinking. Given the prevalence of genegineering in Eclipse Phase, I figure there's tons of unique and unusual animals out there for everything from utilitarian purposes to pure aesthetics. The setting has genegineered dinosaurs and life adapted to Venus, so why not other things? They can't all just be smarter version of regular animals. So, here are a few ideas for genegineered animals, and I'd love to hear any other people have. Flocktopi: Originally developed as a submission for the Venusian planetforming project, Flocktopi were later rejected when they did not properly fit the proposed ecosystem. Since then, they have become popular as pets on other habitats, as their genes are open-source. With a mantle of only four centimetres and tentacles only around eight, their mantle has been modified to become a gas-bag filled with hydrogen and a small amount of bioluminescent bacteria just beneath the skin. With their ability to change colour, this allows them to produce all kinds of interesting shades of light, creating spectacular shows in open areas of habitats where they exist in large numbers. On some habitats, though, it is mandatory that Flocktopi are bred as females only; a few cases of population explosions have led to whole areas of habitats being filled with hundreds of Flocktopi. While this is beautiful in a park setting, it makes giving a presentation in an office building significantly more difficult. Fossilife: Not so much one creature but a branching term, Fossilife is a descriptor of any creature recreated to look like an extinct one. Far removed from Sky Ark's immense dinosaurians, however, most Fossilife is relatively small and meant to be kept as inoffensive pets. Examples include recreated ammonites, meganurae, and trilobites. Some take it a step further and even recreate extinct plants and fungi to create miniature recreated ecosystems, but, as with Sky Ark, some simply call this what transhumanity thinks the eras looked like and not an actual recreation. Heaters: A more utilitarian creature, Heaters were created for companionship in a very specific way. Resembling overly large and fluffy ferrets, Heaters produce an excessive amount of body heat, and are attracted to cool places. Transhumans in particular are favourite targets, and they have a tendency to wrap around hands, feet, and necks, providing warmth when the person is cold. When they start to get too warm, the Heater unwraps itself and crawls away. While most smart clothing is undoubtedly just as capable at keeping a person perfectly balanced in terms of temperature, many enjoy having a Heater around for the company it provides. EFS: EFS (pronounced "ehfs") are a rather dark-minded creation of an anarchist gatecrasher who was tired of carrying dried food supplies or lugging around a nano-printer for the purpose. EFS stands for Emergency Food Supplies, and consists of a rather pudgy creature modelled off of a wild boar. Incredibly loyal, the animal follows its owner wherever they go, and will not defend itself against them, which is perfect considering their intent. EFS are designed as an early warning system for gates with exofauna and, as their name would suggest, food in the case of an emergency. The latter they provide rather obviously, and the former they provide by always staying a few steps behind their owner, so that, should they ever be chased by a predator, it is the EFS that will be eaten and not the transhuman. While most consider owning an EFS in bad taste, it has seen a fair amount of use and saved a number of lives and is seen by some as a symbol of altruistic valour.