Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Speculative biology is simultaneously a science and form of art in which one speculates on the possibilities of life and evolution. What could the world look like if dinosaurs had never gone extinct? What could alien lifeforms look like? What kinds of plants and animals might exist in the far future? These questions and more are tackled by speculative biologists, and the Speculative Evolution welcomes all relevant ideas, inquiries, and world-building projects alike. With a member base comprising users from across the world, our community is the largest and longest-running place of gathering for speculative biologists on the web.

While unregistered users are able to browse the forum on a basic level, registering an account provides additional forum access not visible to guests as well as the ability to join in discussions and contribute yourself! Registration is free and instantaneous.

Join our community today!

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
Organic Wheels
Topic Started: Aug 22 2008, 11:03 PM (2,507 Views)
Marty Party
Member Avatar
Fithp Herdmaster
 *  *  *
I remember those interesting sketches in Nemo's resume, the ones with animals that have evolved wheels, and I would like to discuss the possibilities of sch organisms. I think that the wheels are probably pushed by tiny legs, or perhaps like a tattoo pen. Said creatures could achieve speeds that would shame earth creatures.
Posted Image
My deviantArt
Posted Image
I support the tree octopus
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
mnidjm
Member Avatar
King of Mars
 *  *  *  *  *
Maybe if the limbs fuse in the middle, it could form an axel.


Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Carlos
Member Avatar
Adveho in me Lucifero
 *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
I think it would be hard for animals to develop wheels; blood wouldn't be able to reach the wheel. Of course, nobody said a wheel can't be made of dead cells, but they still need to be attached somewhere.

So far, the most credible concept of a wheeled animal is the mulefa from His Dark Materials. They have a symbiotic relationship with a tree that produces huge "nuts", with an opening in the middle; therefore, the mulefa can place its claw (they have one in the front and back feets; unlike our world's tetrapods, those in the mulefa's world have a foot at the front, two in the middle and one in the back) and therefore the seed is attached to the foot and can be used as a wheel.
Lemuria:
http://s1.zetaboards.com/Conceptual_Evolution/topic/5724950/

Terra Alternativa:
http://s1.zetaboards.com/Conceptual_Evolution/forum/460637/

My Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/Carliro

Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
system32
Fetus
 *  *
I'll have to link to this first.

Now, there, in that link, are three good ways to make an organic wheel. The plant/animal symbolic bond is another and I'll give you a few others.

First: Earth lifeforms that roll.
Now, if animals like these can do it, why not aliens? this kind of movement is quite common on earth, so why not other planets?

Second: Sorry, no link.

This one is hard to explain. Take a few hundred ants. They live on a hill. They want to move away. What should they do?

I know! Form a ball. Now, the ants form a solid ball, and roll down the hill. After that, they break up and begin the new colony. Yay!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
mnidjm
Member Avatar
King of Mars
 *  *  *  *  *
I want to see those ants!


Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
system32
Fetus
 *  *
They don't exist, it's an idea of how a swam of ants could move nests faster.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
lamna
Member Avatar


It sounds like something that might happen. South American army ants build nests and bridges out of workers.

The only way I can think of it evolving though is living nests getting better and better at falling down hills.

If it did evolve though, that would be a scary prospect. A ball of stinging ants rolling at you.
Living Fossils

Fósseis Vibos: Reserva Natural


34 MYH, 4 tonne dinosaur.
T.Neo
 
Are nipples or genitals necessary, lamna?
[flash=500,450] Video Magic! [/flash]
Online Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
system32
Fetus
 *  *
Indiana june(bug)!!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Ànraich
Member Avatar
L'évolution Spéculative est moi

Ever heard of a Rat King? Look it up on Wikipedia, it's both sick and interesting at the same time. Not to mention terrifying.
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
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
lamna
Member Avatar


Ratters have too much time on there hands. Even if rat kings where real it can't really roll can it?
Living Fossils

Fósseis Vibos: Reserva Natural


34 MYH, 4 tonne dinosaur.
T.Neo
 
Are nipples or genitals necessary, lamna?
[flash=500,450] Video Magic! [/flash]
Online Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Sliver Slave
Member Avatar
I'm going back to basics.

I can't really see rats conjoining at the tail after birth, or why they wouldn't just try to chew their own tails off rather than be stuck together,

Also, I had an idea for something that would use an inorganic wheel with a series of depressions arranged in a circle, and the body would have about half that as many pegs compared to depression in the wheel.

The pegs would be attached to muscled appendages, and would turn the wheel by inserting a peg, turning the appendage, removing the appendage, and inserting the pegs, over and over, and it would have four such wheels, thus making the wheel, and the body move.

it could work, but it would be tremendously energy inefficient, and I can't see how it would evolve naturally.
Edited by Sliver Slave, Aug 23 2008, 01:41 PM.
Something is upsetting the ostriches.

Spoiler: click to toggle

Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Saxophlutist
Member Avatar
Adult
 *  *  *  *  *  *
The His Dark Materials creature/Dead cells/matter idea is probably the most credible. It's just a matter of evolving the right behaviors to do so.
Posted Image Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Reedstilt
Infant
 *  *  *  *
I was hoping someone would mention the mulefa; can't believe I forgot about them until now
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Rodlox
Superhuman
 *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
JohnFaa
Aug 23 2008, 04:00 AM
I think it would be hard for animals to develop wheels; blood wouldn't be able to reach the wheel. Of course, nobody said a wheel can't be made of dead cells, but they still need to be attached somewhere.

So far, the most credible concept of a wheeled animal is the mulefa from His Dark Materials.

what about the g'kek from the Uplift Saga by Dr Brin?
.---------------------------------------------.
Parts of the Cluster Worlds:
"Marsupialless Australia" (what-if) & "Out on a Branch" (future evolution) & "The Earth under a still sun" (WIP)
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Carlos
Member Avatar
Adveho in me Lucifero
 *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
Sorry, I haven't read that book
Lemuria:
http://s1.zetaboards.com/Conceptual_Evolution/topic/5724950/

Terra Alternativa:
http://s1.zetaboards.com/Conceptual_Evolution/forum/460637/

My Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/Carliro

Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
Go to Next Page
« Previous Topic · Alternative Evolution · Next Topic »
Add Reply