Team sandbagger:
Owner: sandbagger
1.12
Giant Squid
Giant squid are carnivorous mollusks that have a long, torpedo shaped body. At one end, surrounding a beak-like mouth strong enough to cut through steel cable, are five pairs of arms. One pair, thinner and longer than the rest, are used to catch food and bring it to the mouth. Just past the mouth are the eyes. Eyes that are the largest in the animal kingdom, getting as big as eighteen inches across.
All squid move through the ocean using a jet of water forced out of the body by a siphon. They eat fish, other squid, and perhaps some argue, in the case of the largest species,
whales. The legend of the Kraken, a many armed sea monster that could pull a whole ship under, may have been based on the giant squid.
2.05
Komodo Dragon
When dealing with smaller prey, it may lunge straight for the neck. However, the basic strategy is simple: try to smash the quarry to the ground and tear it to pieces. Strong muscles driving powerful claws accomplish some of this, but the Komodo's teeth are its most dangerous weapon. They are large, curved and serrated and tear flesh with the efficiency of a plow parting soil.
Its tooth serrations harbor bits of meat from the Komodo's last meal, either fresh prey or carrion. This protein-rich residue supports large numbers of bacteria, which will kill prey if its teeth and claws don't.
Komodo Dragons can run up to speeds of 20 kilometers per hour. There's no escaping this beast.
3.12
Tamara
At 55 years of age, Tamara isn't the most spry of Russian brides, but that's what I get for trying to pick the Fossa out of turn. Odds on Tamara having the finger money break her hip: 3:2
4.05
Fossa
The fossa was as sleek and feral a mammal as I'd ever seen. Though it's a member of the viverids, the civet and mongoose family, it looked superficially like a panther, with a long, streamlined body covered in brown fur lightening to chestnut underneath, strong legs, and a muscular head with long whiskers and those cat-like eyes. It was clearly designed to kill, with powerful jaws filled with canines as formidable looking as any guard dog's, and long claws on both front and hind feet.
"Its feet are reversed," Dollar said, holding up a hind paw, on which the biggest toes lay on the outside rather than on the inside as ours do.
"That's so it can grip trees," he added, turning the paw to face inward toward the body. Fossa can run up trees and snatch lemurs before they knew what hit them. Indeed, the fossa, as its species name suggests, has a fearsome reputation, and Malagasy kill it with impunity whenever they get the chance.
5.12
Pygmy Hippo
The pygmy hippopotamus is about half the size of the common hippo. They weigh around 350 - 650 lbs and stand at about 75 - 100 cm (2.5 - 3.3 ft) at the shoulder with a body length of 15 - 28 cm (6 - 11.2"). The thick hide of the pygmy hippo is greenish black on top with grayish sides and grayish white to yellowish green under parts. Just like the common hippo they are basically hairless and excrete an oily red substance from their pores to prevent sunburn. But unlike its bigger counterpart the pygmy hippo has a rounder head and its eyes are located on the side of its head instead of on top.
While not as big as the overall first pick, the Pygmy Hippo is the poor man's Hippo and great value being drafted in the late 5th round.
6.05
African Warthog
The warthog's huge tusks are unusual: The upper tusks emerge from the sides of the snout to form a semicircle; the lower tusks at the base of the uppers are worn to a sharp cutting edge. The lethal tusks are used in fights between males and when being attacked by predators. The sharp tusks can inflict fatal wounds.
Quoting one scientist:
"Warthogs are to many people, just ugly African pigs with grotesque heads. To me the warthog represents far more than a dust coloured beast with warts and huge tusks, The warthog is in reality a fine example of courage. No matter the situation the warthog displays an awesome amount of courage and determination when confronted with some of the most dangerous animals on the planet. Warthogs seem to not know how to give up! Man can learn much from the Warthog"
The African Warthog is my team captain with his courageous persona.6.05
Stingray
Unlike other rays, which spend most of their time buried on the sandy seafloor, the pelagic stingray spends its time in open waters. They are distinguished by their diamond-shaped body with a rounded snout and streamlined eyes that don’t protrude out from their body. The pelagic stingray is dark purplish above and purplish to gray underneath. This coloration makes the ray harder for predators to see from above, as the ray’s dark back blends in with dark waters below, making the ray almost “disappear” from view.
Furthermore, stingrays feed on
jellyfish, a useful weapon against teams with those animals.
7.12
Vampire Finch
The Vampire Finch is perhaps the most unusual finch in the world, because true to its name - it feeds on blood!
The Vampire Finch is native to the Galapagos Islands, specifically Wolf Island, also known as Isla Wolf. The Vampire Finch is a member of a large group of finches known collectively as Ground Finches. Within the genus Geospiza, which is the scientific name for Ground Finches, there are 13 different species. The Vampire Finch is unique, however, in its dietary preference. The Vampire Finch feeds on the blood of other birds.
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This is a team of diverse talent and raw power. The size and power of the giant squid is unmatched by even the largest of the whales while the stingray provides quick striking power underwater. This combination will rule the seas.
My land animals are composed of the highly deadly Komodo Dragon, using its teeth, claws, and mouth-filled bacteria to kill opponenets. The Fossa is the pound for pound deadliest animal on the planet. With the ability to climb trees and strike from anywhere, the Fossa is a Puma on crack. The Pygmy Hippo gives me a smaller version of the overall 1st round pick while the African Warthog is a fierce, albeit small competitor.
Finally, the Vampire Finch feeds on other birds' blood, sucking the life out of it's opponents in the sky.
the rover does not match up well at all with my team. He has a mongoose, but what good will that do him since I have no snakes? His sea creatures are a couple of alligators, no match for the giant squid alone, let alone a stingray as well. I think I'll give the stingray this match off as he won't be needed. On land we match up decently as he has the smallest of the elephants and a wolf and a jaguar. Are these three a match for the komodo dragon, the fossa, the pygmy hippo and the warthog? It will be a close matchup, but at the end of the day my strength in numbers will prevail as the mongoose will be an early snack for the fossa.
He has the vampire bat, I have the vampire finch. A push.
Tamara is a 320 lb. beast that Anna will have a hard time beating. Once Tamara has finished off Anna, she'll be squaring off with the Asian elephant for sure.
None of my animals have been handicapped in any way so they are all at full strength ready to take down any challenge before them.
These battles are all about matchups, and rover just doesn't.