View source for Interplanetary species

{{Status|Canon}}
{{Title|Interplanetary species}}
{{Conjectural title}}
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To determine if an organism belongs in "Invasive ecology" or "Earth-like ecology" (when not specified in the source), consider these factors:
- Is the organism observed in wilderness or around inhabited areas (for example, the wilds of Arcadia vs developed regions)? If it is a type of plant observed in wilderness, it is likely native, not introduced/invasive (the same may not apply for animals).
- How long has the world been colonized and what is the organism's average maturation rate/lifespan?
- What population sizes are observed? If large population sizes are observed (for example, expansive forests) and the colony has not existed long enough for the organism to spread widely, it is likely native to the planet.
- If an animal, would there be any conceivable ecological/agricultural reason for humanity to introduce said species?
Going through these factors will usually help determine which category it belongs in.
-->

[[File:HR Spadehorn Exploration Concept 3.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Concept art for multiple varieties of [[Spadehorn]], an exotic creature native to [[Reach]] that resembles the [[Wikipedia:Bighorn sheep|bighorn sheep]] of Earth.]]
As [[Slipstream space|space-faring]] [[Sentience|sentient]] species began colonizing star systems throughout the [[Milky Way]], many planets were discovered with thriving populations of identical or near-identical plant and animal species, some recognizable from the colonists' respective homeworlds. In many cases, this was a result of the [[Forerunner]] [[Conservation Measure]] and manipulation by the [[Lifeworker]] [[Rate]]. In other cases, the cause was not as clear.

On planets where native species were not identical, they largely tended to follow standard morphological baselines to those observed on Earth. [[Fish]] looked like fish, [[Butterfly|insects]] looked like insects. Amphibians, reptiles, avians, and mammals could all largely be grouped into the same class as their Earth counterparts, even if local environmental pressures caused them to evolve along [[Ice shark|alternative]] [[Sardans cat|biological]] [[Spadehorn|paths]]. For example, the [[Jiralhanae]] homeworld [[Doisac]] had a species of cattle which were used by the Jiralhanae similarly to Earth cattle,{{Ref/Novel|Id=ET32|ET|Chapter=32}} and the [[Kig-Yar]] homeworld [[Eayn]] had species of hawks and vultures.{{Ref/Novel|Id=MorDi|MorDi|Chapter=6}} Some of the more exotic life forms could also be found distributed across multiple worlds.

==Invasive ecology==
{{Quote|Atmospheric processors could nudge a generally suitable planet toward sustainability, but they couldn’t remake worlds.|''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''}}{{Ref/Novel|CH|Chapter=1}}
[[File:HR Kiva Concept 5.jpg|thumb| left |300px|Agricultural livestock in a kiva on Reach.]] In the process of [[terraforming]] worlds, [[Human|humanity]] employed various methods to nudge local environments towards Earth-normal and sustain a growing population of colonists. Many of these involved the introduction of human agriculture and livestock, as well as forms of wild plant and animal life to balance ecosystems and atmospheric levels for human habitability.{{Ref/Novel|Id=CH15|CH|Chapter=15}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=GOO10|GoO|Chapter=10}} [[Rodent|Some species]] were also likely introduced by accident after they stowed away aboard ships.

The following is a list of known Earth species that made their way onto alien planets through human action.
{{Clear}}

{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
===Flora===
{| class="wikitable sortable" border="1"
|-
!Plant
!Locations introduced

|-
|Agricultural crop
|[[Boundary]], [[Harvest]], [[Mamore]], [[Reach]]

|-
|Magnolias
|Harvest
|}
{{col-2}}
==Fauna==
{| class="wikitable sortable" border="1"
|-
!Animal
!Locations introduced

|-
|Agricultural livestock
|[[Boundary]], [[Harvest]], [[Reach]], [[Highpower|unidentified human colony]]

|-
|Bats
|Harvest

|-
|Crows
|[[Bliss]]

|-
|Gophers
|Harvest

|-
|Honeybees
|Harvest

|-
|Mourning warblers
|[[Sedra]]

|-
|Owls
|Reach

|-
|Starlings
|Harvest

|-
|White sturgeon
|Sedra

|-
|Wolves
|Reach, [[Launchsite 2A|unidentified human colony]]
|}
{{Col-end}}

==Earth-like ecology==
[[File:CirciniusIVMountainValley.png|thumb|right|300px|The Earth-like forests of Circinius IV.]] On other worlds, Earth-native species (or species which appeared visually identical) were discovered prior to [[Ancestors|modern]] human interference.{{Ref/Novel|Id=FOR4|FoR|Chapter=4}} On many planets, it was common to find terrestrial grasses, ferns, lichen, and algae. On others, more notable species were observed, sometimes dwelling alongside exotic, alien flora, other times part of ecosystems nearly identical to those of Earth.{{Ref/Film|Id=H4FuD|FuD}}{{Ref/Film|Id=HN|HN}}

The following is a list of known Earth species that exist on alien planets '''''not''''' as a result of modern human action.
{{Clear}}

{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
===Flora===
{| class="wikitable sortable" border="1"
|-
!Plant
!Locations found

|-
|[[Acacia tree|Acacias]]
|[[Onyx]]

|-
|Ash tree
|[[Sedra]]

|-
|Banana plant
|[[Arcadia]]

|-
|[[Banyan tree]]s
|[[Meridian]], [[Onyx]]

|-
|Beech tree
|Sedra

|-
|Birch tree
|Sedra

|-
|Blackberry
|Sedra

|-
|Black cottonwood
|[[Circinius IV]]

|-
|[[Cedar|Cedar tree]]
|[[Alpha Halo]], [[Ark|The Ark]], [[H2:Delta Halo|Delta Halo]], Harvest, [[Reach]], Sedra

|-
|Conifer trees
|Alpha Halo, Ark|The Ark, Delta Halo, [[Eridanus II]], [[Heian]], [[Nysa]], Reach, Sedra, [[Trove]], [[Warial]], [[Zeta Halo]]

|-
|Date palm
|Arcadia

|-
|Dandelion
|Sedra

|-
|[[Douglas fir]]
|[[Reach]], Sedra

|-
|Eastern white pine
|Trove

|-
|Elderberry
|Sedra

|-
|Elephant ear
|Arcadia

|-
|Hawthorn
|Circinius IV

|-
|Hazelnut
|Circinius IV

|-
|Huckleberry
|Circinius IV

|-
|Juniper
|[[Concord]]

|-
|Lamb's ear
|Arcadia, Trove

|-
|Larch tree
|Sedra

|-
|Maple tree
|Sedra

|-
|[[Oak tree]]
|Harvest, Sedra

|-
|Pacific dogwood
|Circinius IV

|-
|Peppermint
|[[High Charity]]

|-
|Red alder
|Circinius IV

|-
|Rhododendron
|Sedra

|-
|Sage
|Concord

|-
|Spruce tree
|Circinius IV, Sedra

|-
|Tobacco plant
|High Charity

|-
|Vine maple
|Circinius IV

|-
|Water lillies
|High Charity

|-
|Western hemlock
|Circinius IV

|-
|Western red cedar
|Circinius IV

|-
|Willow tree
|Sedra

|-
|Yew tree
|Sedra
|}
{{col-2}}

==Fauna==

{| class="wikitable sortable" border="1"
|-
!Animal
!Locations found
|-
|Bluegill
|[[Alpha Halo]]
|-
|[[Butterflies]]
----
Monarch butterfly
|[[Ark|The Ark]], [[Reach]], [[Trove]], [[Installation 07|Zeta Halo]]
----
Alpha Halo

|-
|Fireflies
|Alpha Halo, Reach
|-
|Seagulls
|Alpha Halo
|}
{{col-end}}

{{Clear}}

==Exotic ecology==
{{Quote|There were these big damn plants, like tentacles. I swear, it was like the planet was fighting us, too.|Lieutenant [[Caitlin de Sauveterre]]}}{{Ref/Game|Id=SA|Halo: Spartan Assault}}
[[File:HSA-AlienForest.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Exotic plant life on [[Draetheus V]].]] Some forms of life were distinct from those found in Earth ecosystems, despite sharing (in most cases) morphological similarities. A number of these exotic organisms had similar ubiquity across multiple star systems. In some cases, life forms were discovered which resembled prehistoric fauna from Earth's [[Wikipedia:Pleistocene|Pleistocene epoch]], and some may have actually been transplanted as a result of the Forerunner [[Conservation Measure]], continuing to evolve long after they went extinct on Earth.{{Ref/Novel|Sil|Chapter=String 2}}{{Ref/Reuse|HS37}} Some exotic species, while first discovered on alien worlds, were transplanted to other planets as a result of interstellar trade.{{Ref/Twitter|Id=TwitterMoa|Halo|1169984800175919104|Halo|Y=2019|M=9|D=6|Quote=Indigenous to the planet Reach, Moas are large flightless birds with feathered bodies and a swift gait. They are widely exported as pets and for food to other human worlds like Casbah and Earth. #FictionFriday}}

The following is a list of known exotic species that existed on multiple planets and installations.
{{Clear}}

===Flora===
{| class="wikitable sortable" border="1"
|-
!Plant
!Name
!Description
!Locations found

|-
|[[File:CE SwampTree.png|200px]]
|[[Swamp fungus]]
|A large bioluminescent fungus found around [[Flood containment facility|Flood containment facilities]] on Halo rings{{Ref/Level|CE|343 Guilty Spark}}{{Ref/Map|H2|Backwash}} and on the Covenant Holy City, High Charity.{{Ref/Level|H2|Gravemind}}
|[[Alpha Halo]], [[H2:Delta Halo|Delta Halo]], [[High Charity]]
{{col-end}}

===Fauna===
{| class="wikitable sortable" border="1"
|-
!Animal
!Name
!Description
!Locations found

|-
|[[File:Enc22-Morolaath.png|200px]]
|[[Morolaath|Blind wolf]]
|Predatory [[Wikipedia:pack hunter|pack hunter]]s found on various Forerunner installations that primarily rely on sound to direct their attacks.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HHITD9|HitD|Chapter=9}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=HHITD12|HitD|Chapter=12}}{{Ref/Game|Id=HODTRE|Halo: Outpost Discovery|The Ring Experience}}
|[[Ark|The Ark]], [[The Ring Experience|unidentified Halo ring]]

|-
|[[File:HINF-Spacerhinoconcept.jpg|200px]]
|[[Brontothere]]
|Originally found in east [[Africa]] in [[97,445 BCE]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=HS37|HSil|Chapter=String 37}} Following their [[Conservation Measure|indexing]] by the Forerunners, brontotheres in the modern era can be found in a variety of biomes on Forerunners installations.{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22p326|Enc22|Page=362}}{{Ref/Reuse|HODTRE}}
|[[Earth|Prehistoric Earth]], unidentified Halo ring

|-
|[[File:Skirmisher - Closeup.png|200px|A heavily-plumed [[T'vaoan]] Kig-Yar.]]
|[[Kig-Yar]] parasites
|The Kig-Yar occasionally suffered parasitism from feather mites, tapeworms, and fleas, which were common nuisances across their colonies.{{Ref/Book|Halo: Mortal Dictata|Chapter=6}}{{Ref/Book|Id=MorDi7|Halo: Mortal Dictata|Chapter=7}}
|Kig-Yar colonies

|-
|[[File:H5G-Lumenon.jpg|200px]]
|[[Lumenon]]
|A species of "sky-ray" capable of sustained flight. Originally from the Forerunner world of [[Rhotero]], later introduced to numerous [[Builder]] facilities due to their appreciation for the creature.{{Ref/Site|Id=CFFauna|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-fauna-getaway|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Fauna Getaway|D=25|M=05|Y=2019}}
|[[Rhotero]], [[Genesis]], [[Coliseum|Warrior-Servant base]]

|-
|[[File:H5G Qothal High Poly.jpg|200px]]
|[[Qothal|"Nightmare eel"]]
|A large sea creature found in the [[Eridanus system|Eridanus]] and [[Bhaakto system|Bhaakto]] systems in deep oceans where it hunts seafloor-dwelling organisms alongside the [[Paelosur]].{{Ref/Site|Id=CFFG|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-fauna-getaway|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Fauna Getaway|D=25|M=05|Y=2019}}
|[[Beta Gabriel]], [[Alluvion]]

|-
|[[File:Enc22 Quadwing.jpg|200px]]
|[[Quadwing]]
|A [[Wikipedia:Pterosaur|pterosaur-like]] creature with dual sets of wings that is ubiquitous across many Forerunner installations.{{Ref/Site|Id=CF38|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-jurassic-ark|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Cannon Fodder - Jurassic Ark|D=13|M=12|Y=2019}}{{Ref/Site|Id=OD|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/outpost-discoveries|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Outpost Discoveries|D=05|M=11|Y=2019}}
|The Ark, [[H2:Delta Halo|Delta Halo]], unidentified Halo ring

|-
|
|[[Merse]]
|Territorial aquatic creatures that resembled giant lily pads, they were placed on many worlds by Forerunner [[Lifeshaper]]s, particularly the [[Librarian]].
|[[Bastion]], prehistoric Earth, [[Nomdagro]]

|-
|[[File:HR MoreMoa.png|200px]]
|[[Moa]]
|Large, flightless birds named after and resembling the extinct [[Wikipedia:Moa|moa]] of Earth. They were domesticated by humans for use as pets and cuisine, and as a result are found on several other worlds.{{Ref/Twitter|Id=TwitterMoa|Halo|1169984800175919104|Halo|Y=2019|M=9|D=6|Quote=Indigenous to the planet Reach, Moas are large flightless birds with feathered bodies and a swift gait. They are widely exported as pets and for food to other human worlds like Casbah and Earth. #FictionFriday}} They are close to extinction on their native homeworld of Reach after the ecological catastrophe caused by the [[Fall of Reach]].{{Ref/Site|Id=HWNCF12|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-have-s-moa|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Have S'Moa|D=16|M=1|Y=2021|LocalArchive=https://archives.halopedia.org/waypoint/www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-have-s-moa.html}}
|[[Casbah]],{{Ref/Reuse|TwitterMoa}}, Earth,{{Ref/Reuse|TwitterMoa}} [[Gannick 22]],{{Ref/Reuse|HWNCF12}} [[Reach]]

|-
|[[File:HOD SkyLeviathan Render Left.png|200px]]
|[[Olfmeri]]
|Airborne [[Wikipedia:Cetacea|cetacean-like]] creatures that can be found on many Forerunner installations, known for their enigmatic grace and beauty.{{Ref/Reuse|CF38}}
|The Ark, unidentified Halo ring

|-
|[[File:H5G-Paelosur.jpg|200px]]
|[[Paelosur]]
|A sightless [[Wikipedia:Cetacea|cetacean]] found in the oceans of multiple worlds across the [[Inner Colonies|Inner]] and [[Outer Colonies]], alongside the [[Qothal]].{{Ref/Reuse|CFFG}}
|Beta Gabriel, Alluvion

|-
|
|[[Pheru]]
|Originating from [[Faun Hakkor]], these friendly creatures were domesticated by [[Ancestors|ancient humans]] and [[Forerunners]] and spread across many of their worlds as pets, ultimately becoming a vector for the first [[Flood|Flood infection]] in the [[Milky Way]].{{Ref/Novel|Cry|Halo: Cryptum|Chapter=34}}
|[[Faun Hakkor]], [[Ecumene|Forerunner ecumene]]

|-
|[[File:H4-Erosion FlyingCreature.png|200px]]
|"[[Space bird]]"
|A flying species found on multiple human and Forerunner worlds.{{Ref/File|Id=H4EK|H4EK|tags\levels\multi\ca_blood_cavern\fx\ca_bird_02a.bitmap}}
|[[Erebus VII]], [[Eudemon]], [[Requiem]], [[Partition]], [[Talitsa]], [[Terceira]]

|-
|[[File:Enc22 ThornBeast.jpg|200px]]
|[[Thorn beast]]
|A docile herd herbivore used for food and other resources by the [[Covenant]] and the [[Jiralhanae]] in particular.{{Ref/Book|Id=EN|Enc22|Page=363}}
|[[Doisac]], [[Covenant worlds]]
{{col-end}}

==Production notes==
*The oxyaena was a creature [[Cut Halo Wars ambient life#Oxyaena|fully modelled and textured]] for inclusion in ''Halo Wars''.{{Ref/Site|Id=E32008|D=01|M=6|Y=2020|URL=https://www.gamespot.com/videos/halo-wars-e3-2008-stage-show-demo/2300-6194807/|Site=Gamespot|Page=Halo Wars E3 2008 Stage Show Demo}} The [[Wikipedia:Oxyaena|Oxyaena]] was a prehistoric Earth mammal that lived during the [[Wikipedia:Eocene|Eocene]].
*''[[Halo: Reach]]'' featured [[Cut Halo: Reach ambient life|a number of cut lifeforms]] which resemble highly [[Wikipedia:Speciation|speciated]] Earth organisms.

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}