Where does it fit in the tree of life?: Taxonomists are biologists that classify living organisms into groups. To display this we can construct a phylogenetic tree that shows how related organisms are relative to others. For example, us humans are more related to a cow (another mammal like us) than a salmon (a ray finned fish - a little side note incoming…).

‘Fish’ isn't a useful phylogenetic term because some fish (like lungfish) are more closely related to ‘not-fish’ (like cows) than other fish (like salmon). If we are going to use the term fish, we can then technically call us humans a lobed-finned fish. Taxonomists argued back and forth on this back in the 60s-80s - google ‘Salmon, Lungfish, Cow dispute’ if you want to find out more!

Anyway, where does your character fit into the tree of life? Perhaps it's more plant-y, but wait, what if it's a fungus that just looks plant-like? Is it an insect? But if it has more than six legs then perhaps it fits somewhere else in the arthropod group. If in doubt, draw an evolutionary tree of organisms that are similar and perhaps see where they join together!

Body-ody-ody!!: What is its physiology like? If it's an animal, where would its brain be? Does it even have one/need one? What about its heart? If your character can speak, where is its voice box? How does it breathe? How do you think it reproduces? Does it always look the way it does or does it have some sort of larval stage (think caterpillars and moth/butterflies having a different larval stage than adult stage)? If so, how does it change?

Ecology: Now think of its Attenborough documentary. We can also consider its ecology! Firstly what type of environment does it fit into? Think biomes! These are defined by the plant life that inhabits it. If there are many plants, how do these define the niches (a niche is the role an organism plays in its environment) that your organism occupies? What other organisms (real or fictional) live in the same environment and how does your character interact with them? Think about its diet. If you already know it, how does it get this food source? If not, what do you think it will need to eat to get its required nutrients? How does your organism interact with its abiotic environment? Does it use tools or build structures? Is it a solitary species or does it live in packs (what is the collective noun for your organism)?

More on Phylogenetic Trees

The Salmon, Lungfish, Cow Dispute

🎶 Microtonal Music: Most Western music uses twelve tones (semitones) within an octave. Microtonal music, however, uses intervals smaller than a semitone, such as quarter tones or just intonation, opening up entirely new sonic possibilities. Check out this video to find out more, and listen to some obscure (and some less obscure….) music that use microtonality! Great if you like Music.

☢️ Nuclear Armageddon (almost): On the 8th November 1983, the world came terrifyingly close to nuclear armageddon. What’s even crazier? No one at the time realised it. To find out what happened, check out this Rest is History podcast about nuclear weapons. Great if you’re into History or Geopolitics!

🩺 AI Doctors?: Medical error kills hundreds of thousands each year — so philosopher Charlotte Blease asks an uncomfortable question: if AI can diagnose more accurately, should doctors step aside? This essay challenges the myth of the irreplaceable human physician and argues that patient outcomes, not professional prestige, should come first. A provocative read for anyone interested in Medicine, Philosophy, or Computer Science.

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