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Description
In this series, I'm hoping to re-imagine what Earth would have looked like if Mass Extinctions or certain key events never happened. In this installment, what if the worst extinction event to ever plague our planet never occurred? What if the weird and wonderful animals lived on? Welcome to the Post-Permian Jurassic, 160 million years ago. (sorry this might be a long one)

1. The Pareisaurs diverged into two seperate genera, the Massophysans and the Scelidophysans. Massophysans like this grew to impressive sizes, reaching almost 15 ft (4.5 m) at the shoulder. This Asian species has long "tusks" protruding from its head that it uses for both defense and establishing dominance.
2.The Therocephalian clade has advanced so far that they are now an entirely new group, the Dryptotheres. These killers have become specialized killers in all the areas they inhabit around the world. This specific Dryptothere is a specialist in rushing down its targets. Being able to run at almost 50 mph (80 kph), they can run down any animal on the African plain. They hunt in small packs to quickly surround, separate, and take down the numerous animals that inhabit these lands.
3. Hunted by Dryptotheres, the Dicynodonts left their sprawling, slow lifestyle to keep up with the competition. These nimble and lean Hypselosaltids are the most numerous herbivore on the plains and travel in large numbers to follow the rains. Their tusks, beaks, and skull have merged into a single helmet-horn unit that they use for mating and defense. They usually don't have to use their horns since they can run at 55 mph (88 kph).
4. Being slowly out competed in Laurasia and completely disappearing from Gondwana, the last of the Gorgonopsids, now Ursoids, go out with a bang, being the most terrifying and humongous predators the Earth has ever seen, This Asian specimen uses its sheer size and brute force to its advantage. Tracking down other forest creatures, it comes at full speed stunning and knocking out its victim, and then grabbing the poor creature to the ground to finish it off.
5. Dicynodonts truly diversified during the Triassic Period and all of the largest ones belonged under the Allomacrodonts. This African species resembles an elephant with its massive tusks used for defense and digging for underground plants/water. After reaching a certain size, not even the most confident Dryptothere would think about tackling one of these behemoths, fearing a risk of injury.
6. Another Massophysan, this North American species differs from its Asian cousin greatly. it's much more lanky and has a long neck to reach the heights of the trees. After reaching full size, only truly hungry Ursoids would risk attacking them. Their powerful legs can deliver life-altering blows to the body.
7. These Dicynodont descendants, the Compsonuestids, are one of the two most derived Dicynodonts. These agile swimmers inhabit the European Archipelago and use their enormous tusks to sift through the seafloor mud for crustaceans, mollusks, and fish. They also use their tusks like swordfish, flicking out fish from a school to eat. Their only real competition comes from the Dracosuchids, who are terrifying predators of the deep.
8. These flying synapsids are curious creatures because not only are they the first flying vertebrates, they also hail from the same line as the Allomacrodonts and Compneuestids. They are called the Aeroxenids. Two of their fingers help support the wing membrane while their highly advanced back toes hold together a tail fan that allows them to more easily maneuver through the air. This species in particular is on the smaller side and likes to hang around the large animals of the Asian and North American plains to catch any bugs they might stir up walking around. They still retain a back claw and two fingers so they can latch onto trees and semi-crawl on the ground.
9. Just because the Aeroxenids live in the air, doesn't mean they are safe from attack. This Laurasian Dryptothere is highly specialized for an arboreal lifestyle. They can descend onto the forest floor or climb up into the trees to hunt a menagerie of prey. To take down such small prey like the flying Dicynodonts, they either sneak up on them or chase them through the tress until they find the right opportunity to semi-glide from tree to tree to catch their prey mid-air.
10. The Dracosuchids descended from the Tangasaur stock on the Southern Continent but after adapting to Marine life, quickly expanded to new territories and out competing the previously apex fish and shark predators. These fast and agile predators are master fish hunters and the larger ones can even take down a Componuestid if its careful of their dangerous tusks.
11. Unlike their cousins, the Massophysans, the Scelidophysans decided to stick close to the ground. Resembling the pareisaurs of the past, the Scelidophysans had only slight adaptations to make like size and of course the large amount of armor their body provides. Their impenetrable scales and deadly spikes make it a hard target to breach so for the most part, many predators leave them alone.
12. Another Allomacrodont, except this time hailing from even further south than Africa, they inhabit the seasonal forests of Antarctica and Australia. They also use their tusks for defense like their cousins to the North, but since they don't need to dig around hard packed earth for food and water, males have upward curved tusks for battling. Their skirmishes can be heard throughout the forest and it isn't something to be taken lightly.
13. Another Aeroxenid, this one also inhabits the European Archipelago and skims the water for fish. Highly opprotunistic, these creatures will eat any scrap of meat that comes their way. They are extremely common around the coasts worldwide.
14. The most primitive of the Dryptothere stock, this creature most closely resembles the Therapsids of old. It does hide a deadly secret. Venom. Although slow acting, this hemorrhagic toxin can wreak havoc across any creature bitten.
15. Another strange Dryptothere, this one inhabits the rivers and lakes that Africa. They are mainly piscivorous but can go after small land animals during the dry season. Usually it would be more beneficial to be more adapted to life in the water, but the seasons are so drastic in this part of Africa that staying comfortable in land and water is much more viable. Its conical canines help it catch fish and its claw on its forelimbs helps tear it apart and defend against other Dryptotheres.
16. Another of the Ursoids, this terrifying predator's recurve teeth can deal a substantial amount of damage. The teeth plus its jaws means once it grabs a hold of something, it doesn't let go. Though not as advanced as other predators, its simple design and physique suits it just fine in its current environment.

Hey you made it to the bottom, thanks for reading my 500 page novel

Description
In this series, I'm hoping to re-imagine what Earth would have looked like if Mass Extinctions or certain key events never happened. In this installment, what if the worst extinction event to ever plague our planet never occurred? What if the weird and wonderful animals lived on? Welcome to the Post-Permian Jurassic, 160 million years ago. (sorry this might be a long one)

1. The Pareisaurs diverged into two seperate genera, the Massophysans and the Scelidophysans. Massophysans like this grew to impressive sizes, reaching almost 15 ft (4.5 m) at the shoulder. This Asian species has long "tusks" protruding from its head that it uses for both defense and establishing dominance.
2.The Therocephalian clade has advanced so far that they are now an entirely new group, the Dryptotheres. These killers have become specialized killers in all the areas they inhabit around the world. This specific Dryptothere is a specialist in rushing down its targets. Being able to run at almost 50 mph (80 kph), they can run down any animal on the African plain. They hunt in small packs to quickly surround, separate, and take down the numerous animals that inhabit these lands.
3. Hunted by Dryptotheres, the Dicynodonts left their sprawling, slow lifestyle to keep up with the competition. These nimble and lean Hypselosaltids are the most numerous herbivore on the plains and travel in large numbers to follow the rains. Their tusks, beaks, and skull have merged into a single helmet-horn unit that they use for mating and defense. They usually don't have to use their horns since they can run at 55 mph (88 kph).
4. Being slowly out competed in Laurasia and completely disappearing from Gondwana, the last of the Gorgonopsids, now Ursoids, go out with a bang, being the most terrifying and humongous predators the Earth has ever seen, This Asian specimen uses its sheer size and brute force to its advantage. Tracking down other forest creatures, it comes at full speed stunning and knocking out its victim, and then grabbing the poor creature to the ground to finish it off.
5. Dicynodonts truly diversified during the Triassic Period and all of the largest ones belonged under the Allomacrodonts. This African species resembles an elephant with its massive tusks used for defense and digging for underground plants/water. After reaching a certain size, not even the most confident Dryptothere would think about tackling one of these behemoths, fearing a risk of injury.
6. Another Massophysan, this North American species differs from its Asian cousin greatly. it's much more lanky and has a long neck to reach the heights of the trees. After reaching full size, only truly hungry Ursoids would risk attacking them. Their powerful legs can deliver life-altering blows to the body.
7. These Dicynodont descendants, the Compsonuestids, are one of the two most derived Dicynodonts. These agile swimmers inhabit the European Archipelago and use their enormous tusks to sift through the seafloor mud for crustaceans, mollusks, and fish. They also use their tusks like swordfish, flicking out fish from a school to eat. Their only real competition comes from the Dracosuchids, who are terrifying predators of the deep.
8. These flying synapsids are curious creatures because not only are they the first flying vertebrates, they also hail from the same line as the Allomacrodonts and Compneuestids. They are called the Aeroxenids. Two of their fingers help support the wing membrane while their highly advanced back toes hold together a tail fan that allows them to more easily maneuver through the air. This species in particular is on the smaller side and likes to hang around the large animals of the Asian and North American plains to catch any bugs they might stir up walking around. They still retain a back claw and two fingers so they can latch onto trees and semi-crawl on the ground.
9. Just because the Aeroxenids live in the air, doesn't mean they are safe from attack. This Laurasian Dryptothere is highly specialized for an arboreal lifestyle. They can descend onto the forest floor or climb up into the trees to hunt a menagerie of prey. To take down such small prey like the flying Dicynodonts, they either sneak up on them or chase them through the tress until they find the right opportunity to semi-glide from tree to tree to catch their prey mid-air.
10. The Dracosuchids descended from the Tangasaur stock on the Southern Continent but after adapting to Marine life, quickly expanded to new territories and out competing the previously apex fish and shark predators. These fast and agile predators are master fish hunters and the larger ones can even take down a Componuestid if its careful of their dangerous tusks.
11. Unlike their cousins, the Massophysans, the Scelidophysans decided to stick close to the ground. Resembling the pareisaurs of the past, the Scelidophysans had only slight adaptations to make like size and of course the large amount of armor their body provides. Their impenetrable scales and deadly spikes make it a hard target to breach so for the most part, many predators leave them alone.
12. Another Allomacrodont, except this time hailing from even further south than Africa, they inhabit the seasonal forests of Antarctica and Australia. They also use their tusks for defense like their cousins to the North, but since they don't need to dig around hard packed earth for food and water, males have upward curved tusks for battling. Their skirmishes can be heard throughout the forest and it isn't something to be taken lightly.
13. Another Aeroxenid, this one also inhabits the European Archipelago and skims the water for fish. Highly opprotunistic, these creatures will eat any scrap of meat that comes their way. They are extremely common around the coasts worldwide.
14. The most primitive of the Dryptothere stock, this creature most closely resembles the Therapsids of old. It does hide a deadly secret. Venom. Although slow acting, this hemorrhagic toxin can wreak havoc across any creature bitten.
15. Another strange Dryptothere, this one inhabits the rivers and lakes that Africa. They are mainly piscivorous but can go after small land animals during the dry season. Usually it would be more beneficial to be more adapted to life in the water, but the seasons are so drastic in this part of Africa that staying comfortable in land and water is much more viable. Its conical canines help it catch fish and its claw on its forelimbs helps tear it apart and defend against other Dryptotheres.
16. Another of the Ursoids, this terrifying predator's recurve teeth can deal a substantial amount of damage. The teeth plus its jaws means once it grabs a hold of something, it doesn't let go. Though not as advanced as other predators, its simple design and physique suits it just fine in its current environment.

Hey you made it to the bottom, thanks for reading my 500 page novel