This Query is part of the Worldbuilding Resources Article.
As you all know there is a series of questions that have been asked to create fictional creatures in a realistic evolutionary way.
And below is a summarized list of all of the questions in order of post, so that a link to this meta post should be enough for future questions.
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Due to a large amount of low quality question using this series' formula, user JBH has suggested adding specifications to the core idea of the series. Below are the most recent rendition of the rules as of April 27 2018. If a question has used the title Anatomically Correct and you feel it's poorly executed, please link to this post.
The Anatomically Correct (AC) series of questions are a popular tradition on Worldbuilding.SE. Their purpose is to invite site participants to consider how to describe fictional or mythological creatures from an evolutionary context with as much biological and behavioral realism as possible.
- In keeping with the Stack's general rule of not fielding questions about 3rd party or commercial worlds, the ACS is now limited to questions about documented myths and legends of Humanity and creatures thoroughly designed (other than lacking anatomical fulfillment) for a fictional world of the OP's own creation. (Source)
It is the responsibility of the questioner to provide sufficient detail to specifically identify the creature in question.
Generalizations such as "Elves as commonly found in fantasy stories" or "vampires" (without further clarification) are unacceptable and grounds for closing the question as "Unclear what you're asking."
Links to specific examples of the creature in question are encouraged, but may not be used alone. A specific description of the creature is required or the question will again be closed as "Unclear what you're asking." An ambiguous or insufficient description may result in closure due to the question becoming "Primarily opinion-based."
Images of the creature are always appreciated. If possible, reduce large images to a width of 450 pixels and link the image to a larger version. As with links, images may not be used alone. A specific description is required to avoid closure.
Creature descriptions must include important behavioral attributes and a clear physical description. It is the questioner's responsibility to invent the creature and the privilege of participants to explain how that invention could be manifest with evolutionary believability. To coin a phrase, We're willing to help, but we will not invent the creature and summon it into this world for you.
This question writing guide was developed long after the first AC question was asked. While we encourage questioners to review earlier AC questions to better understand how to meet these requirements, the fact that some previously asked questions do not meet these expectations may not be used to justify a poor question.
The best answer is expected to be the one that provides the greatest detail, the greatest creativity, and the greatest capacity for suspension of disbelief.
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If you have come to comment on a recent Anatomically Correct post that needs to be added, please post that on the community answer, or I will not see it. Also, the question cannot have been closed within a week of posting because of being off-topic or a duplicate.
