Plants
John Carter's description of Barsoomian plant life is brief
and vague. In A Princess of Mars we are told that the
entire surface of Barsoom is covered by an ochre, mosslike vegetation
which wild herbivores live on. Trees are mentioned, but only
a few varieties are described. There are a few forested regions;
most notable the Kaolian Forest, the Toonolian Swamp, the Forest
of Invak, and the Valley Hohr where many varieties of pre-drought
plant life have survived. Flowers are mentioned occasionally,
but not in detail - only that they are beautiful and of indescribable
colors.
| calot tree |
A carnivorous plant about the size of a large bush. Each
branch of the calot tree ends in a set of strong jaws, with which
the plant captures and consumes its prey. The tree often grows
quite large, and its jaws are capable of capturing even large
beasts of prey. The calot tree is apparently tropical, and thrives
in the Kaolian Forest. It is often called the "tree of death"
and is used by murderers and assassins to quickly dispose of
their victims. It can easily be identified both by its jaw-like
branches and by the piles of animal bones scattered around it. |
| gloresta |
One of the many harmless, flowering plants that grow in any
depression with even a trace of moisture. |
| grass |
On occasion, Carter mentions slender, purple grass that grows
to a height of eight to ten feet. This is most often seen in
equatorial regions. |
| lawns |
While the surface of Barsoom is covered with a yellowish,
ochre-colored, mosslike plant life, in some low-lying areas and
civilized regions, lawn of reddish moss or lichen are kept. This
only occurs in regions where there is sufficient moisture for
the plants to become red. |
| man-flower |
Another of the bizarre carnivorous plant forms on Barsoom.
The man-flower has eyespots in its blossoms and hand-like fronds
for sensing and catching its prey. It lives on small insects. |
| mantalia |
A shrub or tree which grows to eight or ten feet in height.
It is found in groves of varying sizes, throughout the surface
of Barsoom except at the polar regions. The plant's milk-like
sap is used by the green hordes and travellers of all races as
an excellent food source. A single plant will give eight to ten
quarts per day. |
| moss |
An ochre-yellowish moss which covers the dead sea bottoms
of Barsoom, as well as the low-lying hills and plains. Herbivorous
animals such as thoats and zitidars can live almost indefinitely
upon this growth, deriving both sustenance and moisture from
its stems and stalks. |
| pimalia |
A flowering shrub cultivated by Barsoomian gardeners, and
also found growing wild in the hills and valleys of Barsoom.
It produces an oil which is used as a body lotion by Barsoomian
women. |
| skeel |
A tall, hardy, drought-resistant tree which is highly prized
both for its large, flavorful nuts and for its wood. The wood
of the skeel tree can be used for making doors, floors, furniture,
and other products capable of lasting for centuries. |
| sompus |
A tree which produces a red, delicious, pulpy fruit called
the somp. It is cultivated by the civilized nations of
Barsoom and grows wild in tropical valleys such as the Forest
of Lost Men. |
| sorapus |
A hardwood tree favored for its blossoms and nuts, and also
commonly used in the making of furniture and paneling. |
| subterranean plants |
Carter mentions weird, grotesque, colorless
shrubs with strange blossoms that grow along the banks of Barsoom's
rare subterranean rivers and lakes. |
| trees |
Trees on barsoom rarely grow above a height of a few ads.
In the Valley Dor and other sunken areas, however, there
can be found trees hundreds of feet in diameter and thousands
of feet tall. These vary in color from pale white to deep black,
and some are azure, scarlet, or purple. The blossoms appear on
the branches, and are of brilliant hues. These trees are highly
prized due to their rarity. |
| usa |
A fruit tree common on Barsoom. It is hardy and requires
little irrigation, and bears fruit abundantly. It is a staple
food for the lower and middle classes, and for travelling armies
and soldiers. Its fruit is often called the "Fighting Potato." |
Animals
The animal life of Barsoom is not well documented, as John
Carter describes only a few animal species. Those few that he
does describe are often not given much detail; for example, he
gives almost no information about common animals such as the
zitidar or the orluk.
Carter tells us that there is only one mammal on the entire
planet of Barsoom (PoM, 3) and that there are no hooved animals.
He also implies that there are fur-bearing creatures in the south
polar regions, but does not name them. The only fur-bearing creatures
specifically named are the orluk and the apt.
Birds, fish, spiders, reptiles, and snakes are occasionally
mentioned, but no description is given.
| ape, white |
A colossal, white, apelike creature standing twelve to fifteen
feet in height, hairless except for a shock of white bristles
on its head, and having an extra pair of limbs midway between
its upper arms and its legs. The face and snout resemble an African
gorilla's in appearance. White apes are tribal by nature; they
are often found in mated pairs or small families. They carry
clubs and some even wear skins in imitation of the leather harness
of green men. They make their homes in the deserted cities of
Barsoom.
- Size: 12 to 15 feet tall
- Attributes: INT -6, PER +2, STR +6, DEX +3
- Levels: 2 - 8
- Attacks/Damage: Bite d6, Pummel (x4) d8, Club STR + d6
- Special Abilities: Grapple
- Armor: None
- Hit Points: 24+4/level
|
| apt |
A white-furred creature found in the north polar regions.
Its has six limbs, four of which are used for locomotion and
the other two have hand-like paws which it uses to grasp its
prey. Its head and mouth resemble that of a hippopotamus. It
has two horns or tusks which grow from the lower jaw and curve
downward, and its eyes are composed of several hundred ocelli
each. Each ocellus has its own lid and can be opened or shut
at will.
- Size: 8 to 10 feet tall
- Attributes: INT -7, PER +4, STR +4, DEX +2
- Levels: 2 - 8
- Attacks/Damage: Bite/gore d8, Claws (x2) d8
- Special Abilities: Grapple
- Armor: Heavy Fur, 1 point
- Hit Points: 26+4/level
|
| banth |
The fierce Barsoomian lion. It is found in the hills surrounding
the dead sea-bottoms of Barsoom. Like all Barsoomian animals,
it is nearly hairless, except for around its neck, which sports
a great mane. It has ten powerful legs, razor-sharp claws, and
a wide, powerful mouth filled with rows of needle-like teeth.
Its hide is yellow in color, and it has green eyes that protrude
slightly, adding to its terrifying aspect. Before striking, it
emits a frightful roar which is believed to paralyze its prey.
Banths typically hunt alone or in pairs.
- Size: 8 to 12 feet long
- Attributes: INT -7, PER +2, STR +5, DEX +4
- Levels: 2 - 8
- Attacks/Damage: Bite d10, Claws (x10) d8
- Special Abilities: Paralyzing roar (test vs. WIL)
- Armor: None
- Hit Points: 26+4/level
|
| birds |
Birds of Barsoom are brilliantly feathered and
apparently are voiceless, and appear to inhabit only the forested
areas. Only one type of bird, the malagor, is ever mentioned
by name. |
| calot |
A Barsoomian hound. About the size of a shetland pony, with
ten short legs. Its head resembles a frog's, but with several
rows of sharp teeth. The calot is domesticated by the green men
and kept singly or in packs as a watchdog to guard the camp.
Wild calots typically hunt in packs.
- Size: 5 to 8 feet long
- Attributes: INT -6, PER +3, STR +4, DEX +4
- Levels: 2 - 8
- Attacks/Damage: Bite d8, Claws (x10) d8
- Special Abilities: None
- Armor: None
- Hit Points: 18+3/level
|
| darseen |
A chameleon-like reptile. No clear description
is given. |
| hormads |
Ras Thavas' name for the humanoid creatures he
created in his secret laboratory in the Swamps of Toonol. Each
hormad was unique and grotesque; many had deformed faces and
limbs. |
| insects |
Barsoom has a wide variety of insects, which
range in size from only a few millimeters in length to those
having a wingspan of thirty feet or more. The latter are equipped
with powerful poison stings and can kill humans. No mention is
made of the Barsoomian bee, but honey is known to be produced
in Dusar. It is not clear if its origin is plant or animal, however. |
| kaldane |
Strange, inhuman creatures that have guided their own evolution
for millions of years, emphasizing brain power over physical
prowess. Today the kaldane resembles a large disembodied head
about the size of a basketball, slightly resembling an oversized
crab, with large, protruding eyes, a slit nose and a ragged hole
where the mouth should be. The creature's limbs, are atrophied
and weak, except for its powerful chelae with which it hunts.
Kaldanes are symbiotically linked to rykors, humanoid
creatures with no heads, which they use as beasts of burden,
for riding, and for food.
All kaldanes have awesome powers of telepathy, and are capable
of forcing lower creatures to do their bidding as long as eye
contact is maintained.
Kaldanes are found only in the region known as Bantoom, where
they continue their evolutionary experiment to produce the perfect
brain.
- Size: 6 to 15 inches tall
- Attributes: WIL +2 to +12 (+2 +1/level), INT +4 to +10, PER
+4, STR -3, DEX +4
- Levels: 2 - 10
- Attacks/Damage: Bite d6
- Special Abilities: Telepathic control (WIL vs. WIL)
- Armor: Chitin, 1 point
- Hit Points: 8+1/level
|
| lizards |
Only one lizard is mentioned in the series -
a huge, white, subterranean beast found in the pit of The Death
in Tjanath. It was slain by Tan Hadron and Nur An (FMoM). |
| malagor |
A huge bird of prey, once thought to be extinct. It was used
as a riding beast by Ras Thavas' hormads in Synthetic Men
of Mars.
- Size: giant
- Society: solitary
- Ferocity: aggressive
- Attacks: claws, bite
- Defenses: flight
|
| orluk |
A creature found in the polar regions. It has
yellow and black striped fur, which is highly valued throughout
Barsoom. No clear description is given, except that it is an
"elephantine beast of prey" (WoM, 9) |
| plant men |
One of the original life forms to emerge from the fruit of
the Tree of Life, the plant men have not changed or evolved in
over 23 million years. An adult plant man stands twelve feet
tall and is generally humanoid except that it has four short
arms muscled like an elephant's trunk. Each arm ends in grasping
claws which surround a leech-like mouth. It has a massive tail
some six feet long that ends in a broad, flat paddle. Its body
is hairless and of a ghoulish blue color. Its head is dominated
by its single protruding white eye, below which is a small orifice
that resembles a ragged bullet hole. The head is covered with
thick, black "hair", each strand of which looks like
a large earthworm. Each hair acts as an ear, and the hair appears
to writhe like a mass of snakes when the creature is relaxed.
The young plant man starts as a bud in its parent's armpit, and
develops into a miniature version of its parent, suspended from
a cord attached to the parent's body. When the infant reaches
10 to 12 inches in length, the cord breaks and it becomes an
independent creature.
Plant men move about on their kangaroo-like legs in leaps of
twenty to thirty feet or more. When fighting, they leap over
their opponents and use their tails as slashing weapons.
- Size: 12 to 15 feet tall
- Attributes: INT -12, PER +3, STR +6, DEX +4
- Levels: 2 - 6
- Attacks/Damage: Bite d6, Tail sweep 2d8
- Special Abilities: Drain blood, +1 points damage per round
- Armor: None
- Hit Points: 26+4/level
|
| reptiles |
Reptiles are rare on Barsoom, though they were
common millions of years ago. The only reptiles left are found
in the Swamps of Toonol and in underground caverns. They are
indescribably hideous and venomous creatures. |
| rykor |
A headless, humanoid creature used by the kaldanes
as a riding beast. Millions of years ago, they were a simple
burrowing creature, domesticated by the kaldanes and used as
a hunting steed. The kaldanes guided their evolution and eventually
took over their higher brain functions, even forcing it to walk
erect. The rykor needed only its sense of taste to survive, so
the head atrophied until it became little more than a mouth.
The kaldane rode upon its neck, controlling the beast by tentacles
that attached to the rykor's spinal column. The kaldanes bred
rykors with red Barsoomian captives to improve its physical structure,
producing a powerful and beautiful beast of burden which could
be abandoned when killed or captured.
- Size: 5 to 6 feet tall
- Attributes: INT -15, PER -10, STR +2, DEX +2
- Levels: 1 - 4+
- Attacks/Damage: By weapon carried, typically Sword
- Special Abilities: None
- Armor: None
- Hit Points: 12+2/level
|
| silian |
A slimy reptile found in the Lost Sea of Korus.
The therns believe that, when one of their race dies before his
allotted thousand years, his soul passes into the body of a plant
man. If the plant man is killed before the remainder of the thousand
years (they do not tell us how they know), then his soul passes
to a white ape. If the ape dies before the remainder of his allotted
time, the soul is consumed by a silian. |
| sith |
A nearly-extinct, giant hornet-like insect found in the Kaolian
Forest. It resembles a hornet, but about the size of an ox. It
has powerful jaws, a mighty, scorpionlike sting, multifaceted
eyes, and can move with lightning speed in nearly any direction.
Its venom has numerous commercial uses and is the most effective
weapon against the sith itself.
- Size: medium
- Society: unknown (possibly hive)
- Ferocity: deadly
- Attacks: grapple, sting (deadly poison)
- Defenses: wide vision, flight
|
| snakes |
Carter once encounters a pit filled with loathsome,
horrid, venomous creatures in the passageways beneath the Otz
Mountains (WoM, 3). |
| sorak |
A small, six-legged, catlike creature often kept as a pet
by red Barsoomian women. It is not clear if it is a fur-bearing
animal or a smooth-skinned one like a calot.
- Size: small
- Society: solitary
- Ferocity: timid
- Attacks: claws, bite
- Defenses: cuteness
|
| spiders |
Barsoomian spiders are large creatures with twelve legs that
grow upward from the spine. They travel by clinging to overhead
strands of silk. If dislodged, they are helpless. They are very
likely venomous. Their webs are often woven into strong cords
and light, durable fabric that is almost impossible to tear.
- Size: small
- Society: family
- Ferocity: aggressive
- Attacks: webs, poison
- Defenses: webs
|
| thoat |
The Barsoomian steed. Two breeds are known; a giant thoat
used by green Barsoomians, and a smaller, more docile variety
bred by red men. The only difference between the two is the size.
The 'green' thoats
"towered ten feet at the shoulder,
had four legs on either side; a broad flat tail, larger at the
tip than at the root, and which it held straight out behind while
running; a gaping mouth, which split its neck from its snout
to its long, massive neck . . . it was entirely devoid of hair,
but was of a dark slate color and was exceeding smooth and glossy.
Its belly was white, and its legs shaded from the slate of its
shoulders to a vivid yellow at the feet. The feet themselves
were heavily padded and nailless . . ." (PoM, 3).
The rider of a thoat guides the beast exclusively by telepathic
means; reins and bridle are not used on Barsoom. The green breed
is notoriously bad-tempered; the red breed is more docile and
controllable.
Some nations raise thoats for food as well as for riding.
Albino thoats are rare, and are only kept by jeddaks.
Green Thoat
- Size: 10 to 12 feet tall, 2200 to 3000 lbs
- Attributes: INT -8, PER +2, STR +8, DEX -1
- Levels: 2 - 8
- Attacks/Damage: Bite d8, Trample 2d10
- Special Abilities: None
- Armor: None
- Hit Points: 20+6/level
Red Thoat
- Size: 8 to 10 feet tall, 1200 to 1800 lbs
- Attributes: INT -7, PER +2, STR +7, DEX -1
- Levels: 2 - 8
- Attacks/Damage: Bite d6, Trample 2d10
- Special Abilities: None
- Armor: None
- Hit Points: 18+4/level
|
| ulsio |
The Barsoomian rat is "a fierce and unlovely thing. It
is many-legged and hairless, its hide resembling that of a newborn
mouse in repulsiveness. In size and weight it is comparable to
a large Airedale terrier. Its eyes are small and close-set, and
almost hidden in deep, fleshy apertures. But its most ferocious
and repulsive feature is its jaws, the entire bony structure
of which protrudes several inches beyond the flesh, revealing
five sharp, spadelike teeth in the upper jaw and the same number
of similar teeth in the lower, the whole suggesting the appearance
of a rotting face from which much of the flesh has sloughed away"
(CoM, 12). It lives in burrows in the tunnels and dungeons beneath
every city upon Barsoom. Kaldanes love to eat ulsios.
- Size: small
- Society: pack
- Ferocity: ferocious
- Attacks: bite, claws
- Defenses: thick skin
|
| zitidar |
A huge mastadonian beast of burden used by green
Barsoomians. Like the thoat, it is guided by telepathic means.
Some red nations, particulary Ptarth, breed them for meat and
as beasts of burden. They are herbivorous and hairless, with
padded feet. No clear description is given. |
|