Risan sea turtle
Oct 7, 2119
Leonard Fitzmurdle’s personal log
Risa's inhospitable climate makes it a haven for naturalists. Brutal thunderstorms and earthquakes keep the beaches clear of humanoid intrusions, and the animals have fascinating adaptations that allow them to thrive in this environs.
One such example is the Risan sea turtle. Though built like an armored tank, their skeletal plates are surprisingly light and flexible. While at sea, they can fan them out like sails to catch a wave to shore.
This is a useful trick during the mating season, as they are also very light and frequently get flung back into the ocean by passing gusts of wind. Since their mating ritual must be performed on land, these creatures struggle stoically back through the waves time and again.
After being bitten by a turtle that lay buried in the sand, Captain Briswald has decided he dislikes them, and has been taking advantage of their light weight by punting them into the ocean on a regular basis. I console myself that this is merely an exaggerated version of natural selection; this year, only the most tenacious turtles will pass their genes on to the next generation.
We feel privileged to have come at this time, as it seems the natives have plans to climate-regulate the planet and turn it into some sort of tourist hub in the near future. It will be a shame, to lose so much of what makes this habitat unique; another paradise crushed under the relentless forward march of "progress."
Other mentions: One of these also bit Keyla in 2152 (ENT).
