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| The Polycene; Age of new diversity | |
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| Topic Started: Sep 14 2016, 08:46 PM (2,084 Views) | |
| Blakedog | Sep 14 2016, 08:46 PM Post #1 |
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Before I start, I would like to introduce myself. I am Blakedog. I've always had an interest in Speculative biology, future evolution especially, and I always create new creatures that I think do or will exist. I hope to please you all with my ideas. Without further adieu, I present the Polycene. The Polycene Introduction Species come and go. It's an age old rule and process that has been around for the 3.8 billion years of the existence of life. Animals and plants either adapt or become extinct due to the environmental pressures around. It is survival of the fittest. Six mass extinctions have managed to wipe out 99% of all life on planet Earth, whether it be gamma rays, meteors, volcanic activity, etc. But the sixth mass extinction in particular was an interesting one. It was the first mass extinction to be cause by a complex species called Homo sapiens, also known as Humans. Humans originated in Africa and then spread out to colonize other continents, leaving their mark everywhere they went. Humans have had impacts on the environments around them. They destroyed habitats, threw ecosystems into peril, introduced non-native species into new continents, used fossil fuels which poisoned the atmosphere, bred beyond their carrying capacity, overhunted and overfished. Things were so bad that more than 75% of species went extinct in a few hundred years, which is no time in a geologic time scale. Due to the loss of biodiversity, humans themselves went extinct earlier on in the 6th mass extinction. The earth was inherited by the survivors. No terrestrial animal (with the exception of feral donkeys, camels, goats, pythons, deer, and pigs due to their extreme flexibility) above 100 pounds survived. This was the test of adaptability. For 10 million years the earth was plunged in an on and off cycle of ice age with the longest lasting 2 million years. After that, habitats and life begin to bounce back and diversify, marking the start of the Polycene (Many age), 49 million years after today. Chapters 1.) Geology/Shifting continents 2.) Survivors and Casualties 3.) Biomes/Habitats 4.) New species Edited by Blakedog, Sep 16 2016, 05:28 PM.
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| My deviantart: http://futureofnature.deviantart.com/ | |
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| CaledonianWarrior96 | Sep 19 2016, 12:12 PM Post #31 |
An Awesome Reptile
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I never get unamused when people speculate a return of giant sea lizards in the future. I really do like your depiction of monitors taking to the oceans. However I do want to point out some things you may find useful for Thalasaurus. 1) Monitors actually have a heart that, while it has three chambers like most reptiles, can at times act as a four chamber heart during systole which gives it a similar cardio and respiratory rate to that of mammals; meaning they can be warm blooded momentarily. It wouldn't be a great stretch for it to fully evolve endothermism. This also means they aren't just restricted to warm waters (though how prepared it is for cold waters can vary). 2) Some snakes and lizards are capable of giving birth since their eggs are soft shelled and can be retained in the body when they hatch. So very much like how marine mammals can give birth underwater, so can marine reptiles like Thalasaurus, especially considering extinct reptiles like Mosasaurs were viviparious. 3) It might also be worth noting that it wouldn't take too long to grow to super sizes. Maybe Thalasaurus faces some stiff competition (and you even mentioned it is preyed on by giant whale-like seals) which prevents it from growing too large but it would only take maybe 10 million years for it to reach a giant size, and it might grow to the 15 metre lengths the giant mosasaurs reached once they found a niche they could exploit and further evolve with. Maybe given time they would prey on the seals! There's nothing wrong with your creature at all and you can choose to ignore this post, I just thought you might like to know some facts is all 
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Come check out and subscribe to my projects on the following subforums; Future Planet (V.2): the Future Evolution of Life on Earth (Evolutionary Continuum) The Meuse Legacy: An Alternative Outcome of the Mosasaur (Alternative Evolution) Terra Cascus: The Last Refuge of the Dinosaurs (Alternative Evolution) - Official Project - Foundation The Beryoni Galaxy: The Biologically Rich and Politically Complex State of our Galaxy (Habitational Zone) - Beryoni Critique Thread (formerly: Aliens of Beryoni) The Ecology of Skull Island: An Open Project for the Home of King Kong (Alternative Universe) The Ecology of Wakanda: An Open Project for the Home of Marvel's Black Panther (Alternative Universe) (Click bold titles to go to page. To subscribe click on a project, scroll to the bottom of the page and click "track topic" on the bottom right corner) And now, for something completely different
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| Blakedog | Sep 19 2016, 04:28 PM Post #32 |
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Newborn
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Thanks. |
| My deviantart: http://futureofnature.deviantart.com/ | |
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| Blakedog | Sep 19 2016, 07:18 PM Post #33 |
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 Species: Common wingfin (Pteropinna vulgaris) Weight: 4 lbs Length: 1.3 feet Habitat: Atlantic ocean Ancestor: Red gurnard -Descended from the red gurnard -Incredibly fast, swimming at speeds of 50mph - Wing-like pectoral fins push water downward in a diagonal line, allowing the fish to propel itself forward - It can launch it self 8 feet in a single push - When enough momentum is built up, the fish can also soar through the ocean (It only takes 5 pushes to reach this) like a bird in the sky |
| My deviantart: http://futureofnature.deviantart.com/ | |
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| Blakedog | Sep 19 2016, 07:18 PM Post #34 |
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 Species: Spotted Jet shark (Velosqualus maculatus) (Aka Cheetah shark) Weight: 51 lbs Length: 5 feet (Female) 3 feet (Male) Habitat: Atlantic ocean Ancestor: Shortfin mako shark -Shortfin mako sharks are already fast, but took speed to the next level, evolving into a new species of shark called the Jet sharks - Jet sharks hunt wingfins, the fastest non-predatory fishes in the ocean - The evolved specialized gills behind their pectoral fins in which the gills in front of the pectoral fins suck in water and the gills behind the pectoral fins push out the water, similar to a jet engine sucking in and pushing out air -This special adaptation makes them the fastest fish in the ocean, capable of reaching speeds of 70 mph, and helps them escape predators Edited by Blakedog, Sep 19 2016, 07:21 PM.
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| Blakedog | Sep 20 2016, 05:39 PM Post #35 |
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 Species: Wide-nose Turpirostrum or Wide-nose Turpi (Pleurodonta iratus) Weight: 2 1/4 tons Height: 4-6 feet Length: 10 ft Habitat: Forests Continent: Afroeurasia (Africa) Ancestor: Warthog Gestation period: 10-11 months Lifespan:35-50 years -Turpirostrum are the only members part of the Hoplodermids (Armored skin) -Live in the rainforests of Africa -Analogue of extinct rhinos -Eats leaves, fallen fruit, etc. -Adults have no predators, but young do -The name "Turpirostrum" means Ugly face -They use their side facing tusks to scar trees and fight by swinging their heads from side to side -Solitary -Bad eyesight; relies of smell and hearing |
| My deviantart: http://futureofnature.deviantart.com/ | |
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| Blakedog | Sep 21 2016, 10:27 PM Post #36 |
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 Weight: 250 lbs Height: 7-8 ft Length: 5 ft Habitat: Hawaiian forests and beaches Ancestor: Domestic chicken -Evolved from the feral chickens of hawaii -Has very few predators due to its size and aggressiveness -Males are yellow and orange with two crests; Females are yellowish white with one crest -As stated before, it is very aggressive, especially when defending its young -An egg is 1.8 feet tall and weighs 7 pounds -Males and females spend their lives together; males guard the eggs from predators while the females are away |
| My deviantart: http://futureofnature.deviantart.com/ | |
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| Blakedog | Sep 22 2016, 07:42 PM Post #37 |
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 Species: Deinolania horribilis Weight: 1,345 to 1,384 lbs Height: 3-4 ft Length: 12-15 ft Habitat: Tropical grasslands Continent: South America Ancestor: Cuvier's dwarf caiman Lifespan: 52-70 years -Evolved a terrestrial lifestyle due to dwarf caimans spending more time on land than any other crocodilian -Shorter and more compact head for crushing bone -Defends itself with hard armor-like scales, its jaws, and its trashing tail -Deinolania is an ambush predator hiding in long grass and leaping out to snatch its prey; dispatches its victim be shaking it in its jaws like a dog -Instead of a greenish color, Deinolania has brownish gold scales to blend in with its surroundings -Runs at speeds of 30 mph and can run uphill faster than a human can run downhill |
| My deviantart: http://futureofnature.deviantart.com/ | |
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| Blakedog | Sep 22 2016, 07:43 PM Post #38 |
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 Species: Cool pigeon (Columba cryos) Weight: 2 lbs Height: 9 in. Length: 11 in. Habitat: Deciduous and coniferous forests Continent: North America Ancestor: Feral pigeons Lifespan:4-6 years -Has a broad range across Polycene North america -Cool pigeons are monogamous -Like most birds, males are more colorful than females; Males have a sky blue belly, royal blue wings, and an indigo or purple back while females are just grayish blue -A nest can contain up to 5 eggs -Though they live in both types of forests, Cool pigeons are more common in deciduous forests as they prefer it for food and nesting |
| My deviantart: http://futureofnature.deviantart.com/ | |
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| Blakedog | Sep 26 2016, 04:44 PM Post #39 |
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 Species: Pygognathus thylacos (Meaning Pouched bottom jaw) Weight: 1,567 lbs Height: 5-6 ft Length: 7-8 ft Habitat: Marshes, grasslands, and some rainforests Continent: South America Ancestor: Collared peccary Lifespan: 40-50 years Gestation period: 10-12 months - Can go weeks or even a month without water - Stores water and food in its pouch-like bottom jaw for later use - Has only one calf every 2-4 years - Long downward facing tusks for fighting and stripping bark from trees and two bony knobs for defense - Has a bulky body and thick skin |
| My deviantart: http://futureofnature.deviantart.com/ | |
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| Blakedog | Sep 26 2016, 04:44 PM Post #40 |
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 Species: Speothos lycos Weight: 75-96 lbs Height: 2.7 ft Length: 5 ft Habitat: Grasslands and mountains (Andes) Continent: South America Ancestor: Bush dog Lifespan: 13-15 years Gestation period: 63-76 days -One of the most successful hunters on the planet, due to teamwork and stamina -Packs consist of an average of 15 members -Lead by an alpha male and female -Males and females mate during the last month of the dry season so the pups can be born during the wet season when food is plentiful -Does not bark or howl but instead makes a yelping noise -4 pups in one litter; 12 pups in a year |
| My deviantart: http://futureofnature.deviantart.com/ | |
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| Blakedog | Sep 26 2016, 04:45 PM Post #41 |
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 Species: Striped Spike-deer (Xenorthos cirratus) Weight: 257 lbs Height: 5 ft Length: 6 ft Habitat: Rainforests Continent: Afroeurasia (Africa) Ancestor: Chevrotains Lifespan: 12-14 years -Live in the African rain forests (Rain forests are the predominant habitat in Polycene Africa) -Despite its' size, navigates really efficiently through the rain forests -Feeds on leaves, fruits, etc. -One calf every 3 months -Lives in herds on 15 |
| My deviantart: http://futureofnature.deviantart.com/ | |
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| Blakedog | Oct 1 2016, 03:55 PM Post #42 |
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 Species: Cuvier's flying cat bat (Pterogata carpodontis) Weight: 8 oz Wingspan: 1 ft Habitat: Rainforests/jungles Continent: South America Ancestor: Andersen's fruit-eating bat - Developed a face of a cat to trick other animals and potential predators into thinking it is a cat - It also uses mimicry by snarling and hissing like a cat to ward off animal predators in the area - Eats mainly fruit, but will also eat insects - Like all bats, the flying cat bat lives in large colonies |
| My deviantart: http://futureofnature.deviantart.com/ | |
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| Blakedog | Oct 1 2016, 03:58 PM Post #43 |
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 Species: Lowland Beeli (Beeli geopycus orientalis) Weight: 350-400 lbs Height: 4 ft (Male on palms) 3.6 ft (Female on palms) Length: 5 ft Habitat: Rainforest/jungles Continent: Afroeurasia (Africa) Ancestor: Olive baboon Lifespan: 40-50 years -When rainforests took over Africa, baboons were adaptable enough to survive -The Eastern lowland beeli is the future analogue of the gorillas that once inhabited Africa in the Holocene -They eat fruit, bamboo, insects, birds' eggs, fish, and sometimes small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians -Unlike their predecessors, they support their weight on their palms, walking with their fingers curled inwards -Like gorillas however, males do beat their chest to ward off other males and predators -They can swim -They live in troops of 25, usually consisting of two dominant males called black faces -Female and younger male's faces are tan -Grooming and sharing food helps form bonds between individuals in the troop |
| My deviantart: http://futureofnature.deviantart.com/ | |
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| Blakedog | Oct 1 2016, 03:59 PM Post #44 |
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 Species: Voar (Neobos voarus) Weight: 2,200 Height: 5.5-5.8 ft Length: 10 ft Habitat: Jungles and grasslands Continent: Afroeurasia (Asia) Ancestor: Chinkara Lifespan: 20-22 years -Voar is part of the genus Neobos, which replaces the extinct cattle of the Holocene such as the gaur -Lives in herds of 25 to 40 individuals -Main predator is the Baagh -Calves live with their mother for 2 1/2 years -Can run 35 mph -Females have upward pointing horns while males have horns on the side that point forward -Herds are led by 3 dominant males -Males often form a circle around females and calves when roaming to protect them from predators |
| My deviantart: http://futureofnature.deviantart.com/ | |
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| Blakedog | Oct 1 2016, 03:59 PM Post #45 |
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 Species: Cephalophus scandens Weight: 1.4 lbs Length: 10 in. Habitat: Mediterranean salt flats Continent: Afroeurasia (Mediterranean) Ancestor: Common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis) -Whitish-tan in color to camouflage with the salt flats -Gets its moisture and protein from brine flies that use the salty lakes in the Mediterranean -To catch the flies, it developed a caved in frill which it then covers with sticky saliva using its long tongue -It finds a large horde of flies, runs through the hoard, gathers the flies in its sticky frill, and then uses its long tongue to eat the insects -Walks on its heels to prevent itself from burning its toes on the hot surface |
| My deviantart: http://futureofnature.deviantart.com/ | |
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