Insects and arachnids are my biggest passion in life, and the fear and revulsion people have for them baffles and angers me to no end. Only the tiniest fraction of them are dangerous or even capable of
bothering people, and their beauty brings me near to tears every time I study the natural world. Spiders, especially, are nothing to logically fear. They're tiny, they're timid, only three species in the world have a deadly bite, and they're as gorgeously structured as a flower or a snowflake:
http://www.windependent.com/LJ/july_06/spider_fxglv.jpghttp://www.richard-seaman.com/Insects/V ... Spider.jpghttp://www.nature.org/wherewework/north ... spider.jpgSaying that you dislike an animal because it's filthy
does quite clearly imply that it's supposed to be "especially" filthy, which is a nonsensical statement to make about spiders. They carry no disease and they do not go out of their way to lurk in germ-ridden places. They only care about hunting insects (or other spiders), so the only time they might get dirty is chasing a fly into a dungheap. It doesn't mean they
like dung, or naturally carry any filthiness. You can't get sick at all from eating one (it's also not true that you eat them in your sleep, before anyone brings up this popular myth. They are smart enough not to walk into a giant mouth!)
I just don't understand what makes an animal scary simply because it has a different shape. The same person who fears spiders might not fear mice, squirrels or geckos, but they all move pretty fast and are equally likely to bite if cornered or sat upon.
....But on the subject of neopets, we absolutely do need at least one more arthropod. Something inexplicably bothers me about things that only come in twos, and having only two insectoid pets - the buzz and ruki - simply will not do when we have so many reptiles, mammals, birds and at least three fish (I do recall that the Kiko is supposed to be a fish pet). I think a caterpillar-like pet would be the most fun, and have the most universal appeal. Robot could look like a little subway train, and mutant could be the butterfly version for irony's sake...although a slimy maggotlike mutant would probably be my instant favorite neopet EVER.
Barring a new "bug", I think it's shocking and outrageous that the only turtle neopet is a Redrawn Shoyru. Turtles are a basic element of the cartoon animal universe! A squid or octopus would also be awesome, and I still wish they went through with the "adult slorg" idea mentioned in an old poll. Far as mammals go, I'm very fond of moles, especially star-nosed moles, and Echidnas. We could really use something thickly covered in spines.
Sadly, with all the clothing they would feel obligated to re-code, I'm sure TNT dreads the thought of a new species anytime soon.
One thing I'd love to see are some lab-ray only species, simply because they aren't afraid to get silly when it comes to the lab. If it can zap your pet into a devilish stuffed poogle, a tasty dessert or a snot sculpture, why not a giant meepit or slorg? Retired old species like the tatsu? Maybe even some Neoquest monsters? Nobody would need them to wear clothes or even come in more than one color, really.
People have also clamored for a plant pet since the earliest days of the site. All I know is, if they do a plant, they might make Halloween a
mini brain tree.