| 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! |
| The Xenocene project ( the foreign age ); 55 million years in the future | |
|---|---|
| Topic Started: Aug 3 2016, 02:08 PM (3,164 Views) | |
| AlphaX9 | Aug 3 2016, 02:08 PM Post #1 |
Primitive theropod
|
Currently we're living in a time period known as the anthropocene. Aka the age of man. We're in the middle of the 6th mass extinction, in which 30 to 50 percent of plants and animals are at risk of going extinct. In the next few centuries, many groups of plants and animals will become extinct due to pollution, habitat destruction, climate change, overfishing, over hunting, invasive species, and other factors. And they'll have no future descendants. Fortunately humans weren't lucky either. As the human population sky rocketed, resources become hard to subtain 12 billion people, and eventually disease kills off most of the population. A pandemic greater than that of the Bubonic plague during the dark ages. The origins of the disease is unknown, but it's probably an evolved disease/virus that is around today. ( you can use your imagination ). The remaining population that does survive leaves earth and colonize another earth-like planet ( possibly Alpha X ). After the extinction of man, the planet returns to its natural state and life starts to fill ecological niches that were empty at the time. Even the life that did survive the 6th mass extinction were unable to adapt to another incoming threat. Around 800,000 to 15 million years in the future, an ice age occurred. Planet becomes colder and drier and some of the remaining animals and plants began to die out because of climate change and competition. Although this event didn't kill off too many animals and plants. We fast forward to the time period that our scenario takes place during the Xenocene epoch. 55 million years in the future, the climate is pretty stable. The main difference is that the continents have shifted, broke apart, and collided with each other, and the animals and plants that are around in this time period are the survivors of the 6th mass extinction and the ice age. Many of the creatures during the Xenocene look similar to the animals that we have today, while others look and act differently than their modern ancestors. Animals that will survive and evolve * pigs * Peccaries * Most mustelids ( weasels, ferrets, otters, badgers, etc ) * Small cats * Mongooses and civets * Most rodents * Lagomorphs * Deer ( Eurasia and North America ) * A portion of bats * Shrews, moles & hedgehogs * Certain bovines ( buffalo, bison, antelope ) * Raccoons * Some marsupials ( kangaroos, wallabies, possums, opossums, wombats, quoll ) * Most old world monkeys ( baboons, macaques, etc ) * Many new world monkeys * Armadillos * Some anteaters * Aardvarks * New world vultures * Some parrots * Hummingbirds * Swifts * Most storks, herons, bitterns, ibises, spoonbills, and flamingos * Most flightless birds ( ostriches, emus, etc ) * Gulls * Waders * Ducks, geese, and swans * Loons and grebes * Game birds ( partridge, quail, pheasants, grouses, and peacocks ) * Most pigeons and doves * Birds of prey( Owls, most Eagles, Hawks, Falcons, etc ) * Most perching birds * Some crocodilians * Adaptable reptiles * Hardy fish Animals that'll go extinct * big cats ( lions, tigers, jaguars, leopards, cheetahs, etc ) * Hyenas * Bears * Rhinos * Possibly hippopotamuses * Elephants * Whales & Dolphins * Most seals and sea lions * Most canids * Apes * Most lemurs * Specialized mammals in general ( pandas, koalas, etc ) * Horses ( domestic, zebras, etc ) * Tapirs * Monotremes * Domestic animals ( cattle, sheeps, goats ) * Camels and possibly llamas * Okapi and giraffes * Pangolins * Sloths * Some anteaters * Old world vultures * Most tropical birds * Majority of penguins * Specialized birds in general * Tuatara * Most turtles * A large number of lizards and snake * Most amphibians * Most Large fish * Fish that are too sensitive to change If you like my ideas or if you want to give me your imput Put a comment down in the section below. Edited by AlphaX9, Aug 24 2016, 01:52 PM.
|
| The strongest of species never survive the longest nor the smartest. But the ones who're able to adapt~ Charles Darwin | |
 |
 
|
| DroidSyber | Aug 3 2016, 03:48 PM Post #2 |
I'll cut ya swear on me mum
|
Looking forward to this |
|
Non Enim Cadunt! No idea how to actually hold down a project. | |
|
|
|
| AlphaX9 | Aug 3 2016, 04:31 PM Post #3 |
|
Primitive theropod
|
|
| The strongest of species never survive the longest nor the smartest. But the ones who're able to adapt~ Charles Darwin | |
|
|
|
| DroidSyber | Aug 3 2016, 06:12 PM Post #4 |
|
I'll cut ya swear on me mum
|
Fairly well thought out, I feel the backstory is a little unprepared, otherwise it's fine, there's not enough information for me to really make a decision |
|
Non Enim Cadunt! No idea how to actually hold down a project. | |
|
|
|
| peashyjah | Aug 4 2016, 12:22 PM Post #5 |
Bydo
|
Can't wait for more of this in the future. |
|
Discontinued projects: The New Ostracoderms (i might continue with this project again someday) The Americas (where in 58 million years from now in the future North and South America has both become isolated island continents) All Expansions (my attempt at expanding the universe of All Tomorrows by Nemo Ramjet aka C.M. Kosemen, started June 6, 2018) Anthropozoic (my attempt at expanding the universe of Man After Man and also a re-imagining of it, coming 2019 or 2020) New Cenozoica (my attempt at expanding the universe of The New Dinosaurs and also a re-imagining of it, also coming 2019 or 2020) All Alternatives or All Changes (a re-telling of All Tomorrows but with some minor and major "changes", coming June 10, 2018) | |
|
|
|
| AlphaX9 | Aug 22 2016, 04:56 PM Post #6 |
|
Primitive theropod
|
so what i'm going to do is that i'll do each continent at a time and talk about every species from that specific continent. many of the creatures don't have names and/or scientific names, so if anyone could provide both, that would be highly appreciated. the following regions are north america, south america, Africa, Eurasia, south eastern Asia, & Oceania. the first one who picks out a random continent/region will be the one that i'll do first. note that the map isn't mine, i found it on the internet. this map is an accurate depiction of the xenocene epoch. except that the north and south poles exists and the northern part of south america is grassland instead of desert.
|
| The strongest of species never survive the longest nor the smartest. But the ones who're able to adapt~ Charles Darwin | |
|
|
|
| Giant Blue Anteater | Aug 22 2016, 11:16 PM Post #7 |
Prime Specimen
|
Mediterranean Mountain Range. Edited by Giant Blue Anteater, Aug 22 2016, 11:16 PM.
|
Ichthyostega
| |
|
|
|
| AlphaX9 | Aug 23 2016, 12:40 AM Post #8 |
|
Primitive theropod
|
Fork horn Scientific name: ... Height: 4'9 ( not counting the horns ) Weight: 300 to 400 ibs Habitat: mountains Native region: mountains of euroafrica Evolved from: alpine ibex Lifespan: 20 years - looks similar to their ancestors except they're slightly taller, heavier, and possess branching horns. ( similar to deer ) - they live in small harems which consists of one dominant male and several females and offspring. Typically 7 to 10 individuals. - males will fight eachother for the right to mate. Fights are usually not fatal. Female fork horns prefer strong males with larger branching horns. - fork horns have a few predators ( due to living in a harsh environment). When a predator does pop up, The alpha male will fight off the predator which gives the females and young a chance to escape. - fur color is a dark gray. An image is not available because I don't know how to put the photo in here. |
| The strongest of species never survive the longest nor the smartest. But the ones who're able to adapt~ Charles Darwin | |
|
|
|
| AlphaX9 | Aug 23 2016, 01:08 AM Post #9 |
|
Primitive theropod
|
Lagotherium Scientific name(s): ... Height: 6'7 to 7 Weight: 800 to 1000 ibs Habitat: open grassland Native region: North America, Africa, and Eurasia Evolved from: rabbits and hares Lifespan: 25 to 30 years - 4 different species of lagotherium. The North American, the African, the Central Asian, and the pygmy lagotherium. - name means ( hare beast ) - they fill the grazer niche that horses and zebras once filled. - when horses, donkeys, and zebras went extinct, ( zebras and wild asses went extinct during the anthropocene while domestic and feral horses; or atleast their descendants went extinct during the future ice age ) rabbits grew much bigger than they are now. They're legs became adept for long distance running rather than hopping, their necks are longer, their skulls are longer and retain the same trait that their ancestors had ( teeth that Continues to grow throughout their entire lives and they wear down when they eat grass ) - they live in large herds consisting of 25 to 45 individuals. - top speed is 50 mph If anyone could come up with scientific names for all four would be highly appreciated. Edited by AlphaX9, Aug 24 2016, 11:42 PM.
|
| The strongest of species never survive the longest nor the smartest. But the ones who're able to adapt~ Charles Darwin | |
|
|
|
| AlphaX9 | Aug 23 2016, 12:28 PM Post #10 |
|
Primitive theropod
|
Scrofatherium Scientific name: .... Height: 6'5 Weight: 1 ton Habitat: deciduous and conifer forests Native region: Eurasia Evolved from: wild boar Lifespan: 25 to 30 years - scrofatheriums are omnivorous. They feed on tubers, mushrooms, fruit, grass, insects, and carrion. - their ancestors developed thick shaggy hair, layers of fat, and pillar-like legs to adapt to the frozen north. They have 6 inch tusks that they use for fighting against rivals or predators. - scrofatheriums aren't very intelligent. Their brains are about the size of an orange and most of it is dedicated to smelling. However what they lack in intelligence, they gain in strength and endurance. - due to their massive size and strength, scrofatheriums only have a few predators as an adult. However younger individuals are easy targets for predatory rats and the devil bear ( wolverine descendant ) - they often live alone or in small harems. |
| The strongest of species never survive the longest nor the smartest. But the ones who're able to adapt~ Charles Darwin | |
|
|
|
| AlphaX9 | Aug 23 2016, 12:54 PM Post #11 |
|
Primitive theropod
|
Hairy mouth swift Scientific name: ... Height: size of a human hand Weight: 50 grams Habitat: deciduous forest, coniferous forests, grasslands, and deserts Native region: Eurasia and euroafrica Evolved from: common swift Lifespan: 20 years - this migratory bird migrates from Eurasia to Africa every year in order to find food and breeding spots - as their name implies, they have mouth bristles which acts like a funnel when they hunt for flying insects - they have a short but strong beak that the use to crush hard shelled beetles - just like their ancestors, their legs are tiny compared to the rest of the body. Because of this; hairy mouth swifts are poor walkers. - they create nests on rock faces and cliffs to avoid predators like Hawks and snakes. Their nests are made out of feces and twigs. They lay 2 earth colored eggs. |
| The strongest of species never survive the longest nor the smartest. But the ones who're able to adapt~ Charles Darwin | |
|
|
|
| AlphaX9 | Aug 23 2016, 01:20 PM Post #12 |
|
Primitive theropod
|
Rock hog Scientific name: .... Length : 9 inches Weight: 6 ibs Habitats: deciduous forests Native region: Eurasia Evolved from: European hedgehog Lifespan: 5 to 7 years - over several million years of the hedgehogs evolution, their quills condensed and formed armored bands similar to that of armadillos. Even its head is armored. - just like its ancestors, it's able to curl up into a ball when it feels threatened. - they live in burrows under trees and feed on insects and worms |
| The strongest of species never survive the longest nor the smartest. But the ones who're able to adapt~ Charles Darwin | |
|
|
|
| AlphaX9 | Aug 23 2016, 02:35 PM Post #13 |
|
Primitive theropod
|
European Dagger tooth mole Scientific name: ... Length: 10 inches Weight: 5 ibs Habitat: deciduous forests Native region: Eurasia Evolved from: European mole Lifespan: 10 years - they're 3 known species of dagger tooth moles. The European, the trunk nose, and the American dagger tooth mole. All of which get their names because the moles elongated canines. - unlike their ancestors, dagger tooth moles are ambush predators. Preying on insects and small mammals. - these animals are completely blind. However their sense of smell makes up for it. - when a small mammal walks near its hole, the mole feels the vibrations of the ground by using its entire body. Once its prey is close enough; it will jump out of the hole, bite its preys neck or face, and drag the victim into its den. - dagger tooth moles are aggressive and will fight back against any predator. It produces a nasty shriek to scare off would be predators. |
| The strongest of species never survive the longest nor the smartest. But the ones who're able to adapt~ Charles Darwin | |
|
|
|
| AlphaX9 | Aug 23 2016, 04:45 PM Post #14 |
|
Primitive theropod
|
False panda Scientific name: ... Height: 4'3 at the shoulder Weight: 350 ibs Habitat: mountains and deciduous forests Native region: Central Asia Evolved from: cat ( either Asian leopard cat or Asian golden cat ) Lifespan: 20 yrs - the false panda's ancestors evolved to become omnivores in order to avoid competition with predatory rodents, mustelids, mongooses, and civets. 80% of their diet is fruit and leaves. The other 20% consists of carrion, fish, and small animals. - the false panda are one of the few true cats that are still around in the Xenocene. - although they're omnivores, their stomachs are not like traditional multi chambered stomachs that most herbivores possess. They can't break down cellulose as easily as hoofed animals; which means that they don't get a lot of nutrients from the plants they eat. - they have retractable claws which they use to climb trees and as a weapon. - the false pandas molars are strong enough to smash bamboo shoots and is able to crush bones as well. They're typically shy animals. |
| The strongest of species never survive the longest nor the smartest. But the ones who're able to adapt~ Charles Darwin | |
|
|
|
| AlphaX9 | Aug 23 2016, 05:40 PM Post #15 |
|
Primitive theropod
|
Eurasian mountain fowl Scientific name: ... Height: 1'2 tall Weight: 7 ibs Habitat: mountains Native region: Central Asia Evolved from: chicken Lifespan: 5 to 6 years - their ancestors developed several traits in order to adapt to their mountainous habitat. Their feathers can change color depending on the season. a grayish black during the summer and a grayish white during the winter. They reduced their combs, they're completely flightless , and their feathers have a undercoat that traps heat in and a water proof top coat. - their main predator is the grim reaper hawk. A species of hawk that primarily hunts mountain fowls - their feathers allow them to camouflage with their surroundings - males are territorial and will often produce multiple calls in order to intimidate rivals. |
| The strongest of species never survive the longest nor the smartest. But the ones who're able to adapt~ Charles Darwin | |
|
|
|
| 1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous) | |
main_qimg_6f6ef169ff7025fb80c16344d1231d13.jpg (82.67 KB)
 Join the millions that use us for their forum communities. Create your own forum today. Learn More · Register for Free |
|
| Go to Next Page | |
| « Previous Topic · Evolutionary Continuum · Next Topic » |
11:59 AM Jul 13