The Manticore: Biology of a Forgotten Predator

This video was edited by @CyanRameron, who does excellent work!
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Sources:
- _Ctesias: On India_ by Andrew Nichols, pages 48-49

Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
0:51 - The Mantichora
02:48 - The Investigation
07:47 - Morphology
13:04 - The head
18:56 - Ecology

[misterhyde]

Mantacore in myth: A freakish abomination

Mantacore in Science: Monkey!!!!

[thiago.leal]

The manticore being an ape is brilliant idea. Even tho I didn't expect it, it made perfect sense as soon as it was revealed

[jawz]

The idea to make the Manticore a primate is genius!

[snekbetch]

In a weird way, this went from spooky to sad as it mentioned how the manticore was dying out and may go extinct. I know these videos aren't real, but there ARE real species that are near extinction like the way they presented the manticore. Amazing video as always, Thought Potato. You never fail to deliver fascinating and thought-provoking videos.

[konnosx]

A scientific version of the Fae would be quite interesting to see in this series it could go various ways, either a divergent species of hominin or an insect species that can produce hallucinations, perhaps even a symbiotic pairing between the two or a parasitic one which would explain tales of Fae stealing children to get more human hosts

[silentnight]

Another banger has come out. Deeply hope some more greekish myth creatures will be covered like, satyrs, gorgons and etc. Always a fun time when one of these are releases.

[PeacefulConflict]

I really like this explanation of the Manticore, a baboon-like creature whose behavior and morphology aligns with the original ancient accounts. Its intelligence and the use of its face/eyes to form expressions to sociaize reflecting its protein-based diet is also rly cool and would give it a leg up on most non-hominid primates. A terrifying hunter, I’m sure this “employer” of yours sees its potential as an “asset liquidation agents” in its preferred ecosystem.

[TheRoomforImprovement]

I always envisioned the manticore as a member of the Pantera family (Lions, Tigers, Leopards), but I think it being a predatory baboon like creature is more fitting and unique.

[wendylacey]

I have a theory that another factor contributed to the Manticore’s decreasing population. Perhaps they were in an evolutionary arms race with another creature from Greek mythology, a creature that has convergently evolved an eerily similar visage to a human and an even more deadly neurotoxin. I am of course talking about the Gorgon aka Medusa. I’d imagine the Gorgon to be a giant venomous snake, perhaps an offshoot of the cobra variety.

[leoornstein]

I am not crying, you are crying.

Joke aside, this is one of the two episodes that genuinely made me emotionally moved. The other one was the Frankenstein episode.

[dreadthemadsmith]

A baboon type animal convirgantly evolving into a lion like creature is a very clever and interesting way to show how something like a manticore could emerge.

I wonder if you could tie them into the various Sphynx groups somehow.

[purplehaze]

Specializing in the hunting of humans specifically is a fool's errand, I think. Individual man eaters don't tend to last long even if they manage to wrack up total body counts numbering in the triple digits, so an entire species of them going extinct is a rather predictable outcome.

[Molech]

I really needed this right now. I freaking love this series. Also, it’d be great if you’d make a video about the biology of Lovecraftian creatures, such as the Elder Things.

[EmperorofToonsandBeasts]

I can’t wait to see your take on the following creatures:

Phoenix
Thunderbird
Roc
Shenlong (Eastern dragon)
Wyvern
Goblin
Ahuizotl
Chimera
Fairy
Gryphon

[benjamindebo]

The manticore feels happiness whenever you feel sad, because you got kicked in the junk the manticore is glad.

[jennyfeare]

Have you heard of the possible Japanese cousin of the Manticore, the Nue? Could be fun seeing that covered sometime, can also easily see Sphinxes be of this "man-faced false feline" family of primates too, especially with the false snake head-like tail they share with their eastern island-dwelling kin the Nue! Sphinxes may also have an erect shoulder mane that resembles false wings.

[gabrielleleilani]

My goodness! May I just say that your channel is a treasure trove for RPG DMs/GMs! Thank you for what you do!

[thespookymage]

Yet again proving why Thought Potato is one of my favorite channel, I bloody LOVE this series!

[Blacksun-xuhz]

EVERYONE WAKE UP NEW CRYPTOBIOLOGY VIDEO DROPPED

[TheRealEvilRoy]

You should do Ghosts next. Like scientifically explain what causes them and what they are, talk about experiments with ectoplasm. Maybe the difference between wraiths and spectors