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| Insectoids! | |
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| Topic Started: Oct 21 2009, 03:58 PM (1,185 Views) | |
| Ànraich | Oct 21 2009, 03:58 PM Post #1 |
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L'évolution Spéculative est moi
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All of us here know that insects are some of the simplest, most versatile, and most widespread types of organisms on the planet. They were some of the first things to even evolve, let along come onto land. Before the dinosaurs, the insects ruled the world, growing to enormous sizes due to higher oxygen content in Earth's early atmosphere (there were dragonflies and millipedes longer than city buses). Unfortunately that oxygen content decreased and the insects, with their limited size, simply could not compete with the new amphibians and reptiles sporting such evolutionary luxuries as "skin" and "lungs" and the like. But what if they hadn't? What if insects had remained dominant and had gone through hundreds of millions of years of evolution with no other kind of organism competing with them? I place this here in the Habitable Zone because I intend to have a scenario to go along with it. The insectoid body, being so simple, is surely to develop on other life-bearing worlds; if not all of them. In this thread come up with a world with an ecosystem build entirely (or at least mostly) by insect-like creatures; or their descendants. Though the world I thought up is not named, it is rich in variety. From a simple crab-like creature living in the surf of a sea filled with molluscoids, three major groups of organisms have come to dominate the planet. First are the Exoderms, they are the smaller, more insect like beings found on the planet (the largest known Exoderm is no larger than a human being, and the smallest known is no larger than a gnat). They are characterized by their hard, metal-like exoskeletons which both support and protect their body. They are not insects, they are far more complex and advanced, but they have retained the insectoid look. They are mostly all predators, with a few omnivores and an awkward herbivore here and there. They can be solitary or social, though most of them live in small hunting packs like wolves. Most of them are very cricket like, having powerful hind legs used to jump onto prey, and all predators are liquivores, like a spider. There are also Exoderms resembling large spiders (though they only have four legs), ants, and scorpions, though those aren't the only types. The second group is the Endoderms, and they're very different from anything we've ever seen before. They have no exoskeleton, instead they have developed a spongy flesh not unlike rubber. The skin protects their body from drying out, as well as allowing them to grow to larger size and regulate their temperature better. To support their body they have developed a kind of internal skeleton made of a kind of hardened foam; it's much more flexible and easier to repair than our bones, and much easier for them to produce than elements of solid calcium. Most Endoderms are herbivores, with a few scavengers; no direct predators. Most Endoderm species are herd grazers that live on the vast plains that cover the planet. The third group is the Fliers, and as the name implies they're the ones that fly. They don't get much larger than Earth birds and are usually very wasp-like or mosquito-like. Not much to say about them, there's a good mix of herbivores and carnivores in there, both hunters and "grazers." What can you all come up with? Also, I can draw a picture of two of these things to give you an idea as to what they look like, if you want. |
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We should all aspire to die surrounded by our dearest friends. Just like Julius Caesar. "The Lord Universe said: 'The same fate I have given to all things from stones to stars, that one day they shall become naught but memories aloft upon the winds of time. From dust all was born, and to dust all shall return.' He then looked upon His greatest creation, life, and pitied them, for unlike stars and stones they would soon learn of this fate and despair in the futility of their own existence. And so the Lord Universe decided to give life two gifts to save them from this despair. The first of these gifts was the soul, that life might more readily accept their fate, and the second was fear, that they might in time learn to avoid it altogether." - Excerpt from a Chanagwan creation myth, Legends and Folklore of the Planet Ghar, collected and published by Yieju Bai'an, explorer from the Celestial Commonwealth of Qonming Tree That Owns Itself
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| Iowanic | Oct 21 2009, 04:05 PM Post #2 |
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Adult
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Have these insectoids taken over the seas? Or do fish-types still hold this domain? Basically; I'm wondering : A; why didn't the atmosphere change the way earth's did? B; why didn't fish come onto land on this planet? Were there ever fish or did insects get the upper hand in the seas? |
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| Ànraich | Oct 21 2009, 04:11 PM Post #3 |
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L'évolution Spéculative est moi
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Unlike on Earth, where are fishy ancestors managed to avoid extinction long enough to escape onto land where the insects had limited size, on this planet the insectoids managed to very easily overcome the icthyoids and dominate all life, though mainly mollusk-like creatures dwell in the seas (not exactly an insect, but most people don't exactly tell their children snails and slugs aren't bugs). And Earth's atmosphere changed via volcanic activity, I believe, not by any biological means (though that's how oxygen first developed), so this, being a different planet, had less volcanic activity and the atmosphere retained a high level of oxygen. |
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We should all aspire to die surrounded by our dearest friends. Just like Julius Caesar. "The Lord Universe said: 'The same fate I have given to all things from stones to stars, that one day they shall become naught but memories aloft upon the winds of time. From dust all was born, and to dust all shall return.' He then looked upon His greatest creation, life, and pitied them, for unlike stars and stones they would soon learn of this fate and despair in the futility of their own existence. And so the Lord Universe decided to give life two gifts to save them from this despair. The first of these gifts was the soul, that life might more readily accept their fate, and the second was fear, that they might in time learn to avoid it altogether." - Excerpt from a Chanagwan creation myth, Legends and Folklore of the Planet Ghar, collected and published by Yieju Bai'an, explorer from the Celestial Commonwealth of Qonming Tree That Owns Itself
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| Empyreon | Oct 21 2009, 04:19 PM Post #4 |
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Are you plausible?
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Yeah, there can be lots of factors in maintaining an oxygen-rich atmosphere. Volcanism (as Parasky mentioned), tectonic activity, temperature, and even biology itself can help maintain an oxygen rich environment. |
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Take a look at my exobiology subforum of the planet Nereus! COM Contributions food for thought
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| ATEK Azul | Dec 1 2009, 06:32 PM Post #5 |
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Transhuman
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I think water diverting life like some Rodents could maintain continental swamps in my opinion. By creating water ways and blocking them eventually life might adapt to keep the extra water stuck on the continents with trees that lock in water underneath the canopies. the water would promote plant and animal growth along with help raise methane levels which would cause warming on the planet creating temperatures suited to tropical life. Eventually this "artifficial" climate and habitat will erode enough land that continents will be low altitude and permantly flooded as long as the diverting species are alive. The last effect would be rich CO2 and Oxygen levels across the planet. That would be the perfect arthropod habitat. |
| I am dyslexic, please ignore the typo's! | |
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| lamna | Dec 2 2009, 11:51 AM Post #6 |
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Ah so you are suggesting some kind of insect beaver that would unwittingly macroengineer it's world to be more suitable? Well it sounds plausible, but I don't know if they could have the global impact needed, plus they are buggered if the continents all join. I suppose if this planet was less volcanically active then then the system would work better. |
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Living Fossils Fósseis Vibos: Reserva Natural 34 MYH, 4 tonne dinosaur. [flash=500,450] Video Magic! [/flash] | |
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| ATEK Azul | Dec 2 2009, 04:15 PM Post #7 |
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Transhuman
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Yep that is what I am suggesting. Also Mountains grow slowly so even if continents were joining the mountains might be warn away faster then they can grow if those Insects are "Macroengineering" as you said through and on the rising Mountains. Plus inorder for this scenario to be effective Plants would have to adapt to keep water under them which would speed up plant growth and erosion of soil. So After these creatures evolve I doubt the mountains will last long let alone create more. As for how plants keep water under them I think a velcro leaved canopy would work descently. |
| I am dyslexic, please ignore the typo's! | |
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| lamna | Dec 2 2009, 04:37 PM Post #8 |
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The point is not what I meant. When you have a super continent the climate gets dryer and you get a huge Inland Desert. |
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Living Fossils Fósseis Vibos: Reserva Natural 34 MYH, 4 tonne dinosaur. [flash=500,450] Video Magic! [/flash] | |
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| ATEK Azul | Dec 2 2009, 04:52 PM Post #9 |
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Transhuman
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Oh I see what you mean. Maybe the creatures would start to dig and divert the water and soil differently perhaps causing the middle of the continent to be lower than the outer continent forcing water inland and forming lakes. As the lakes form they might change their behavior a little more and start building islands and walls in the lakes preventing the fromation of an inland sea. Infact this could lead to intelligence as they constantly build and change water and ground levels to keep the continent from becomming a desert or a sea. They might even develope agriculture early as they control where plants grow inorder to either let water escape or let water stay. |
| I am dyslexic, please ignore the typo's! | |
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| lamna | Dec 2 2009, 05:27 PM Post #10 |
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Hmm, I think they would need the intelligence to start with otherwise they could not figure out how to keep their land moist. |
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Living Fossils Fósseis Vibos: Reserva Natural 34 MYH, 4 tonne dinosaur. [flash=500,450] Video Magic! [/flash] | |
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| ATEK Azul | Dec 2 2009, 05:49 PM Post #11 |
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Transhuman
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True I was thinking they might have average Mammal like intellegence that grew as the continents joined and their tasks got harder as they dealt with climate change and their own construction methods. |
| I am dyslexic, please ignore the typo's! | |
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| lamna | Dec 2 2009, 06:36 PM Post #12 |
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Sounds plausible. Depends how these things brains work. |
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Living Fossils Fósseis Vibos: Reserva Natural 34 MYH, 4 tonne dinosaur. [flash=500,450] Video Magic! [/flash] | |
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| ATEK Azul | Dec 2 2009, 07:20 PM Post #13 |
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Transhuman
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Brain structure and function would determine alot. Also for the topic starter Might I suggest an inbetween group with metal based foam bones and rubber flesh intermingled into a creature with a fused endo-exoskeleton? I see the skeleton being like the Iffel(spelling?) tower in paris or the structure of Birds bones with flesh going in and out completely intermingled. The rubber flesh could be simular to shock absorbers while the skeleton is support structures. Just some ideas. |
| I am dyslexic, please ignore the typo's! | |
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| Kingpin | Dec 2 2009, 11:46 PM Post #14 |
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Prime Specimen
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It's the Eifle Tower. I like the 'shock absorber' skin and bones concept. Though I do have a question. What do the Exoderms feed on? I assume the Fliers, because you said that the Endotherms lacked direct preditors. Actually, the powerful jumping makes sense if they were hunting animals that were above them. |
-Last Olympian, Rick Riordan.
-Nick | |
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| ATEK Azul | Dec 2 2009, 11:59 PM Post #15 |
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Transhuman
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Thanks for the spelling. And the food chain does need some clarification, so I hope Parasky will come post soon. |
| I am dyslexic, please ignore the typo's! | |
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