HOME | DD

Birvan — Hexapod's Evolutionary Chart

Published: 2012-04-01 02:11:59 +0000 UTC; Views: 43543; Favourites: 826; Downloads: 592
Redirect to original
Description Please Download to full view
----------

This is something I've been working for quite some time now, ever since I came up with the idea for this in 2009
And eventually it became tied to my world concept

Anyway this whole thing started with a cousin of the lobe-finned fish. Instead of using only 2 pairs of limbs for locomotion it used 3, which led to the prehistoric 6 limbed reptile that birthed the entire hexapod family tree

One of the family lines grew a colorful interdigital membrane to intimidate opponents and attract partners. Eventually that membrane gained a new function, which led to the development of wings
One particular sub-family developed a feather coat, initially to survive better in colder climates. Eventually it replaced the membrane, since it was more efficient
While one of the species retained the claws and hunting habits, the other favored speed on land and a more varied diet

The other main family line is the mammalian, which focused more on using all 6 limbs for locomotion. Over time those limbs led to particularly nimble and dextrous fingers
One of the sub-families managed to grow quite huge, valuing strength and size over speed. That also meant they needed large quantities of food, so the 1st set of limbs grew longer and pushed the body into a vertical position and put more pressure on the 3rd set. Eventually the 2nd vanished completely
The other sub-family valued speed, using the 1st set of limbs to grab and carry food, while the other 2 took care of the locomotion. The 2 descending species are still closely related, though one of them learned how to use fire and doesn't need such a large jaw as its cousin
Related content
Comments: 198

LeeDassin [2021-09-03 08:34:21 +0000 UTC]

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

dragoboi123 In reply to LeeDassin [2022-02-04 08:56:45 +0000 UTC]

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

tyyrson [2020-07-22 16:05:24 +0000 UTC]

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

1234560mis [2012-04-02 21:36:21 +0000 UTC]

Overall

Vision

Originality

Technique

Impact


To start: Scientifically accurate. It used really biological creatures and was carefully organized based on Evolution vs. Advancing.

Anyway, an item this detailed could and might change someone's opinion on the subject completely.

What I see is mostly just the art, but what you brought was more indepth than a fancy painting. Kudos.

Perhaps you could've done a better job with the art but, based on the size, I can't say for sure. Though, each portion was distinct and was easily definable.

All in all, very satisfying. Do keep up with it, art or not. Maybe someone else will try their hand and grade you.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Birvan In reply to 1234560mis [2012-04-03 20:28:49 +0000 UTC]

To be honest I was focusing more on the concept than on the art itselfI wanted the transitions to visually make sense

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

RobotNinjaHero [2018-10-01 05:39:38 +0000 UTC]

Must faved!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Burke23 [2018-08-11 04:29:39 +0000 UTC]

this is amazing, there should be more charts like this.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

ozyo3n [2018-03-24 18:29:13 +0000 UTC]

What about angels and flying monkeys?

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Trendorman [2017-08-25 01:10:27 +0000 UTC]

That's it!! I've been watching an anime called a Centaurs life who basically uses the same thing.

Then randomly a ghost anomalocaris walking past a cat person during a scary episode.

Which is cool that dragons, horse people and snake people exist then there's All of out worlds awesome extinct animals.  

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Dank-Smirk In reply to Trendorman [2017-09-01 22:02:36 +0000 UTC]

That's what I thought to! Because in Centaur no Nayami all tetrapod life evolves from six-limed animals (hexapods), which is why things like centaurs, angels, and imps exist, very similar to this. Here's a link to a portion of chapter 5.5 which explains it in further detail: ibb.co/iPsZmv

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Deli-Sammich [2017-06-30 20:22:47 +0000 UTC]

Where would creatures like manticores or spinxes fall on this family tree?

👍: 1 ⏩: 0

Zgerken [2017-01-16 14:08:49 +0000 UTC]

I really like how you outlined how they could evolve, it's very interesting.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

CrepitusX [2016-04-23 00:53:06 +0000 UTC]

I like it.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Birvan In reply to CrepitusX [2016-05-13 01:29:13 +0000 UTC]

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

BlackDragon117 [2016-04-21 23:44:52 +0000 UTC]

This is the best thing I've ever seen I love it

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Birvan In reply to BlackDragon117 [2016-05-13 01:34:53 +0000 UTC]

Thank you. I fully intend to expand it one of these days

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

PotentiaCreatura [2015-09-26 00:22:29 +0000 UTC]

In that universe the Tharks from Princess of Mars would take the place of humans.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Birvan In reply to PotentiaCreatura [2015-09-26 19:56:14 +0000 UTC]

Don't know any of it

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Draconic-Imagineer [2015-08-05 21:57:06 +0000 UTC]

Very plausible!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Birvan In reply to Draconic-Imagineer [2015-08-14 23:34:47 +0000 UTC]

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Draconic-Imagineer In reply to Birvan [2015-08-15 00:10:02 +0000 UTC]

               

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Birvan In reply to Draconic-Imagineer [2015-08-15 00:57:54 +0000 UTC]

LOL

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Draconic-Imagineer In reply to Birvan [2015-08-15 02:33:23 +0000 UTC]

His name is Rainbow Frog and here's Springtrap!  

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Birvan In reply to Draconic-Imagineer [2015-08-15 23:25:01 +0000 UTC]

That one I know *hard not to*

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Draconic-Imagineer In reply to Birvan [2015-08-15 23:39:12 +0000 UTC]

Yep!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

AntFingers [2015-05-06 08:18:03 +0000 UTC]

The giant would have no reason to lose its limbs. It's not aquatic. No hate but really it seems a little strange.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Birvan In reply to AntFingers [2015-05-14 10:16:46 +0000 UTC]

Losing limbs in favor of a more hydrodynamic body isn't the only reason that may occur
The reason the giant lost the 2nd pair of limbs was because as the top pair of arms were favored over the 2nd pair, first for their wider movement range (they're better positioned to reach over the head or towards the back) and later for their power (the increased agility made them more suited for close combat motions). So over time the 2nd pair became smaller and less in the way of the growing muscles of the other pair, until they vanished completely

👍: 1 ⏩: 1

AntFingers In reply to Birvan [2015-05-14 10:58:50 +0000 UTC]

Ah, got it. But is it considered a xenarthran? Being descended from hexapedal giant sloths?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Birvan In reply to AntFingers [2015-05-27 14:29:54 +0000 UTC]

Err no. I took heavy inspiration on the existing evolutionary tree, but they're completely apart

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

AntFingers In reply to Birvan [2015-05-28 05:49:53 +0000 UTC]

Ahhh...I get it! So the sloth is a sloth and a primate or/and isn't truly connected to the giant in any way right?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Birvan In reply to AntFingers [2015-05-28 13:50:32 +0000 UTC]

It's just an animal of its own right that shares superficial resemblance to the sloths and primates (I actually based a good chunk of its anatomy on extinct prehistoric animals). But no, the relationship to the giants still remains

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

AntFingers In reply to Birvan [2015-05-30 01:10:25 +0000 UTC]

Ok, (sorry for making such a long conversation) so it's like a mix of megatherium, gigantopithecus and chalicotherium!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Birvan In reply to AntFingers [2015-06-13 23:53:36 +0000 UTC]

Pretty much, yes

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Guyverman [2015-01-30 00:04:32 +0000 UTC]

Interesting concept. BTW, how does a humanoid giant fit in?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Birvan In reply to Guyverman [2015-01-30 09:30:35 +0000 UTC]

The same way whales and dolphins lost their legs

There legends of giants with 4 arms, so some may have kept them

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

CrossDevice [2014-08-24 17:21:34 +0000 UTC]

Quite interesting, Quite interesting indeed

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Birvan In reply to CrossDevice [2014-08-24 17:40:47 +0000 UTC]

I need to expand and refine it

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

CrossDevice In reply to Birvan [2014-08-24 17:53:58 +0000 UTC]

Well that would be pretty cool

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Birvan In reply to CrossDevice [2014-08-24 19:23:43 +0000 UTC]

XD

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

ZaubererbruderASP [2014-08-19 11:39:26 +0000 UTC]

Why did you include the Giant (or is it a Troll?), even if it hasn't got 6 limbs? Could have been an ordinary hominid ape, too

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Birvan In reply to ZaubererbruderASP [2014-08-19 13:24:42 +0000 UTC]

Because they lost them over time, much like whales and dolphins did with their legs. There are myths of smaller giants with 4 arms, so they're a smaller branch of the family

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

ZaubererbruderASP In reply to Birvan [2014-08-21 20:21:25 +0000 UTC]

I just wanted to know what gave you the idea to include them, but your last sentence answers my question

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Birvan In reply to ZaubererbruderASP [2014-08-21 21:07:29 +0000 UTC]

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Matthew-Travelmaster [2014-06-11 22:28:56 +0000 UTC]

Oh my gosh. This came out so amazingly cool.

It is just lovely how much effort and research and own thought you put into the entire concept. I can not really see any flaws here in your line of thoughts, it all seems totally plausible here to me.

Keep up your amazing work. ^^

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Birvan In reply to Matthew-Travelmaster [2014-06-11 23:02:06 +0000 UTC]

I need to update and expand it

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Chimera-gui [2014-05-12 04:21:54 +0000 UTC]

Could the bird critter on the left also have humanoid descendants like Tengu, Garuda, etc?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Birvan In reply to Chimera-gui [2014-05-24 12:03:48 +0000 UTC]

That's a strong possibility. I need to check into that

Thanks

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Chimera-gui In reply to Birvan [2014-05-24 16:30:25 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome. And what about an aquatic descendant from the mammal becoming Merfolk?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Birvan In reply to Chimera-gui [2014-05-24 16:32:34 +0000 UTC]

I have that idea on the table too

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Chimera-gui In reply to Birvan [2014-05-24 16:34:54 +0000 UTC]

Hooray!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0


| Next =>