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Description

Follow-up of www.deviantart.com/dimetropus/…

For the last part of the alien design experiment, here is an alien with the same bodyplan as the aquatic alien predator, but with a much different evolutionary history. It is small and almost planktonic, living just above well-lit seafloors. Its eyes are still atop the breathing channels, which have not grown large as they have in the aquatic alien predator, since this organism has no need for a high-activity lifestyle. The multiple simple eyes have clustered together into two organs not unlike the compound eyes of arthropods. It uses the first cephalic limbs and the last truncal limbs to capture prey, forming a loose cage around the prey by flexing its body into a c-shape. Sensory hairs surround its small mouthparts, which are hidden beneath the head. It propels itself with six large fins, like gossamers waving in the water.

I created this second lineage of creatures to show how non-linear evolution is, for a bodyplan can be modified to fit a vast array of needs. However, this still doesn't capture the spirit of evolution very well, simply because I didn't take into account the changing status of the planet and the other organisms that inhabit it. Competition is a major part of evolution, so who knows if some other lineage of organisms could have displaced this lineage, sort of how jawed fishes displaced the eurypterids (sea scorpions) in Earth's seas long ago. All I did was assume a certain bodyplan existed on an Earth-like planet so I could take a look at some possibilities. As such, I don't recommend making aliens this way, as if they are alone in a vacuum; instead, a breadth-first approach would be better, taking into account the general state of the planet to make decisions on what strange directions evolution could take the inhabitants. Regardless, it was fun.

Any feedback at all is greatly appreciated!

Description

Follow-up of www.deviantart.com/dimetropus/…

For the last part of the alien design experiment, here is an alien with the same bodyplan as the aquatic alien predator, but with a much different evolutionary history. It is small and almost planktonic, living just above well-lit seafloors. Its eyes are still atop the breathing channels, which have not grown large as they have in the aquatic alien predator, since this organism has no need for a high-activity lifestyle. The multiple simple eyes have clustered together into two organs not unlike the compound eyes of arthropods. It uses the first cephalic limbs and the last truncal limbs to capture prey, forming a loose cage around the prey by flexing its body into a c-shape. Sensory hairs surround its small mouthparts, which are hidden beneath the head. It propels itself with six large fins, like gossamers waving in the water.

I created this second lineage of creatures to show how non-linear evolution is, for a bodyplan can be modified to fit a vast array of needs. However, this still doesn't capture the spirit of evolution very well, simply because I didn't take into account the changing status of the planet and the other organisms that inhabit it. Competition is a major part of evolution, so who knows if some other lineage of organisms could have displaced this lineage, sort of how jawed fishes displaced the eurypterids (sea scorpions) in Earth's seas long ago. All I did was assume a certain bodyplan existed on an Earth-like planet so I could take a look at some possibilities. As such, I don't recommend making aliens this way, as if they are alone in a vacuum; instead, a breadth-first approach would be better, taking into account the general state of the planet to make decisions on what strange directions evolution could take the inhabitants. Regardless, it was fun.

Any feedback at all is greatly appreciated!