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Description
Eocene Germany
47 million years ago (Lutetian)
Messel Pits

19 million years after the non-avian dinosaurs went extinct, everything started to change. The mammals started to diversify; some evolved long legs for swift movement, some evolved hooves for protecting their feet from the rough ground, some took to living in the trees, and some even started to return to an aquatic lifestyle. However, there were still a few similarities to the days of the Mesozoic; one example is that the landscape that those mammals lived in was covered in warm, tropical forests. A greater example of this is that those mammals were still relatively small, as they were still overshadowed by their archosaur overlords.

The Messel Pits are a truly interesting formation, as they serve as one of the prime examples of the archosaur-dominated forests of the Eocene. Like last time, I decided to make this episode focus on 3 major protagonists: a family of Leptictidium, a female Gastornis, and a male Ambulocetus. Again, there will be some changes; for example, Gastornis won't be a carnivore, and Ambulocetus will be more of a mammal and less of a crocodilian.

Propalaeotherium hassiacum: This 60 centimeter tall horse is one of the earliest in the history of the planet, only coming after Hyracotherium and Eohippus. It is an herbivore, feeding on fallen leaves and berries. In this episode, it will be a wary herbivore, ready to bolt at the slightest rustle in the forest. Pose based on 's reconstruction.

Leptictidium auderiense: This 60 centimeter long pseudorhynchocyonid is a unique mammal, as it has the nose of an elephant shrew and the hopping locomotion of a kangaroo rat. It is an omnivore, feeding on insects, lizards, amphibians, and smaller mammals. A whole family of those little guys will be among the main characters of this episode, with the mother going out to hunt (in order to feed herself and provide for the family) while also trying to avoid archosaurs such as Boverisuchus and Gastornis. Pose based on 's reconstruction.

Gastornis geiselensis: This 1.8 meter tall gastornithid is one of the biggest birds in the history of the planet, only dwarfed by 3 phorusrhacids and 2 dromornithids. It used to be known as a carnivore, preying on early horses; however, anatomical studies and isotope analyses confirmed that it was an herbivore, snacking on nuts and leaves. A female individual will be one of the main characters of the episode, fiercely protecting her nest from whatever comes by, whether it be a marauding Boverisuchus or simply an unsuspecting Leptictidium or Propalaeotherium; however, she won't attempt to snack on the latter two. Pose based on this skeletal: upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia…

Darwinius masillae: Originally, this was going to be Godinotia neglecta; however, the search results on Google Images were plagued with untrustable WWB reconstructions, and so, I was forced to use the 58 centimeter long Darwinius (besides, the two are very similar). It is an herbivore, feeding on leaves and seeds. In this episode, a band of them will jump around in the trees, socialize with each other, and even... well, you know what. Pose based on one of 's many reconstructions.

Ambulocetus natans: Hailing from further lands, this 3 meter long ambulocetid is just swimming its way into the Messel lagoons to see how well of an ambush predator it is; only time will tell whether he succeeds or not. Pose based on 's reconstruction.

Titanomyrma gigantea: This 5 centimeter long ant is the biggest ever discovered, and is similar in size to army ants today. It is a predator, preying on whatever doesn't get out of its way whenever it swarms the forest floor. In this episode, an entire swarm of them will sweep the forest floor; as well as this, they will possibly get their mandibles on an animal that many could consider precious. Pose based on this reconstruction , as well as the top view of a driver ant.

Boverisuchus magnifrons: This 3 meter long planocraniid is a unique crocodilian, as it had hoof-like toes and a body more heavily armored than modern crocodiles. It is a predator, feeding on anything smaller than it, whether it be Propalaeotherium, Leptictidium, or even Gastornis. It will be the main antagonist of this episode, causing trouble for any smaller land animal; however, only time will tell if it continues to do so. Pose based on this skeletal: www.paleofile.com/imges/Crocod…

Kopidodon macrognathus: This 1.2 meter long paroxyclaenid is a unique cimolestan, as it looks and lives like a modern squirrel. It is an herbivore, feeding on leaves and nuts. In this episode, one individual will come down from the trees to look for food during the nighttime, only to get eaten by one of the predators in this ecosystem. Pose based on 's reconstruction.

Any thoughts?

Description
Eocene Germany
47 million years ago (Lutetian)
Messel Pits

19 million years after the non-avian dinosaurs went extinct, everything started to change. The mammals started to diversify; some evolved long legs for swift movement, some evolved hooves for protecting their feet from the rough ground, some took to living in the trees, and some even started to return to an aquatic lifestyle. However, there were still a few similarities to the days of the Mesozoic; one example is that the landscape that those mammals lived in was covered in warm, tropical forests. A greater example of this is that those mammals were still relatively small, as they were still overshadowed by their archosaur overlords.

The Messel Pits are a truly interesting formation, as they serve as one of the prime examples of the archosaur-dominated forests of the Eocene. Like last time, I decided to make this episode focus on 3 major protagonists: a family of Leptictidium, a female Gastornis, and a male Ambulocetus. Again, there will be some changes; for example, Gastornis won't be a carnivore, and Ambulocetus will be more of a mammal and less of a crocodilian.

Propalaeotherium hassiacum: This 60 centimeter tall horse is one of the earliest in the history of the planet, only coming after Hyracotherium and Eohippus. It is an herbivore, feeding on fallen leaves and berries. In this episode, it will be a wary herbivore, ready to bolt at the slightest rustle in the forest. Pose based on 's reconstruction.

Leptictidium auderiense: This 60 centimeter long pseudorhynchocyonid is a unique mammal, as it has the nose of an elephant shrew and the hopping locomotion of a kangaroo rat. It is an omnivore, feeding on insects, lizards, amphibians, and smaller mammals. A whole family of those little guys will be among the main characters of this episode, with the mother going out to hunt (in order to feed herself and provide for the family) while also trying to avoid archosaurs such as Boverisuchus and Gastornis. Pose based on 's reconstruction.

Gastornis geiselensis: This 1.8 meter tall gastornithid is one of the biggest birds in the history of the planet, only dwarfed by 3 phorusrhacids and 2 dromornithids. It used to be known as a carnivore, preying on early horses; however, anatomical studies and isotope analyses confirmed that it was an herbivore, snacking on nuts and leaves. A female individual will be one of the main characters of the episode, fiercely protecting her nest from whatever comes by, whether it be a marauding Boverisuchus or simply an unsuspecting Leptictidium or Propalaeotherium; however, she won't attempt to snack on the latter two. Pose based on this skeletal: upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia…

Darwinius masillae: Originally, this was going to be Godinotia neglecta; however, the search results on Google Images were plagued with untrustable WWB reconstructions, and so, I was forced to use the 58 centimeter long Darwinius (besides, the two are very similar). It is an herbivore, feeding on leaves and seeds. In this episode, a band of them will jump around in the trees, socialize with each other, and even... well, you know what. Pose based on one of 's many reconstructions.

Ambulocetus natans: Hailing from further lands, this 3 meter long ambulocetid is just swimming its way into the Messel lagoons to see how well of an ambush predator it is; only time will tell whether he succeeds or not. Pose based on 's reconstruction.

Titanomyrma gigantea: This 5 centimeter long ant is the biggest ever discovered, and is similar in size to army ants today. It is a predator, preying on whatever doesn't get out of its way whenever it swarms the forest floor. In this episode, an entire swarm of them will sweep the forest floor; as well as this, they will possibly get their mandibles on an animal that many could consider precious. Pose based on this reconstruction , as well as the top view of a driver ant.

Boverisuchus magnifrons: This 3 meter long planocraniid is a unique crocodilian, as it had hoof-like toes and a body more heavily armored than modern crocodiles. It is a predator, feeding on anything smaller than it, whether it be Propalaeotherium, Leptictidium, or even Gastornis. It will be the main antagonist of this episode, causing trouble for any smaller land animal; however, only time will tell if it continues to do so. Pose based on this skeletal: www.paleofile.com/imges/Crocod…

Kopidodon macrognathus: This 1.2 meter long paroxyclaenid is a unique cimolestan, as it looks and lives like a modern squirrel. It is an herbivore, feeding on leaves and nuts. In this episode, one individual will come down from the trees to look for food during the nighttime, only to get eaten by one of the predators in this ecosystem. Pose based on 's reconstruction.

Any thoughts?