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Description
Pliocene Kenya
3.5 million years ago (Piacenzian)
Turkana Basin

After their rise to significance in the Miocene, the great apes had continued to evolve. Although nowhere near as powerful or dominant as the ungulates that ruled the African landscape, these primates did have something very useful: intelligence. Due to their highly developed brains, they were able to use tools, communicate with each other on a daily basis, and even form small gangs. Very soon, the line of evolution that those primates undertook would soon lead to a very notable genus: man.

Originally, Next of Kin took place in Ethiopia; I was going to use this setting as well, but due to the addition of an extra character that would only be present in Kenya, I switched it to that country. Anyways, this episode focuses on a (slightly unstable) tribe of Australopithecus who, after getting forced out of their home by another tribe, have to search for another land; as well as this, they would have to find food and stay away from dangerous animals such as the highly aggressive Deinotherium and the man-eating Megantereon. Fortunately, there were very few actual errors in the original episode, so the only changes this episode has are a change in location, cast, and plot.

Australopithecus afarensis: One of the most important animals in the history of the earth, this 1.1 meter tall great ape is part of an evolutionary line that will soon give rise to man. It is an omnivore, feeding on fruits, leaves, nuts, tubers, and animal carcasses. A slightly unstable tribe of those primates will be the main characters of this episode; the oldest males will fight for dominance of the tribe, and after the whole group gets repelled from their homeland by another, bigger tribe, they have to search for a new home, as well as food and safety (as well as this, there will be names such as "Blue", "Babble", "Hercules", and "Grey"). Pose based on the skeletal to the left of this picture: cogweb.ucla.edu/ep/images/Aust…

Phacochoerus africanus (Common warthog): This 1.5 meter long pig is quite unique, as it has two pairs of tusks protruding from its head (one pair is smaller than the other). It is an omnivore, feeding on grasses, roots, fruits, bark, fungi, insects, eggs and carrion. In this episode, it will be nothing more than an ambient animal (boooooorriiiiiiiiing). Pose based on the side view of this animal.

Ceratotherium simum (White rhinoceros): This 4 meter long rhinoceros has an unknown name origin, with many people trying to guess where the word "white" came from. It is an herbivore, feeding on grass. In this episode, it will just serve to improve the atmosphere a bit (PC, how could you do this?). Pose based on the side view of this animal.

Megantereon whitei: Since Dinofelis had more of a taste for ungulates than it did for primates, this 1.2 meter long cat will be here to take its role. It is a predator, preying on horses, baby rhinos, baby elephants, and even great apes. In this episode, it will harass the shrinking Australopithecus tribe at any given moment; only time will tell whether it will help to fully destroy the gang or not. Pose based on 's skeletal.

Deinotherium bozasi: This 3.7 meter tall deinothere is unique, as instead of having a pair of long tusks protrude from the sides of its head, it has a pair of short tusks protruding from the bottom of its lower jaw. It is an herbivore, feeding on plant tubers and leaves. In this episode, one male individual, triggered by hormones, will descend into a blinding rage and attempt to mow down the Australopithecus; only time will tell if the primates escape the proboscidean's fury. Pose based on 's reconstruction.

Ancylotherium henningi: This 2 meter tall chalicothere could be considered a weirdo in a family of weirdos, as instead of having a gorilla-like build, it had a horse-like build that still wasn't horizontal to the ground. It is an herbivore, feeding on leaves. In this episode, it will serve as a more peaceful inhabitant of the Great Rift Valley, not willing to attack anything on spot, and even acting a bit timid at times. Pose based on a modified version of 's reconstruction.

Crocodylus thorbjarnarsoni (Thorbjarnarson's crocodile): This 8.2 meter long crocodile is very unique, as unlike other species in the genus Crocodylus, it has a broad snout. It is a predator, preying on anything that's not too big for it. In this episode, it will make a cameo as a mighty lake-dwelling predator that can be a danger to the nearby Australopithecus and Ancylotherium if they stay in extreme proximity to the lake. Pose based on the side view of a crocodile.

Canis mesomelas (Black-backed jackal): This 81 centimeter long dog is the most basal animal in the canine subfamily, sharing its position with the side-striped jackal (Canis adustus). It is an omnivore, preying on small animals and feeding on plants and animal carcasses. In this episode, it will just serve to add a nice atmosphere to the episode (OK, PC, you're annoying me). Pose based on the side view of this animal.

Gyps africanus (White-backed vulture): This large (2.3 meter wingspan) accipitrid lives in the trees of the wide African savannahs, only laying one egg. It is a scavenger, feeding on carrion. In this episode, a whole flock of these raptors will fly in to feed on a zebra carcass, right before Hercules (another dominant Australopithecus male and the rival to Grey) comes in to scare them off. Pose based on the side view of this animal.

Any thoughts?

Description
Pliocene Kenya
3.5 million years ago (Piacenzian)
Turkana Basin

After their rise to significance in the Miocene, the great apes had continued to evolve. Although nowhere near as powerful or dominant as the ungulates that ruled the African landscape, these primates did have something very useful: intelligence. Due to their highly developed brains, they were able to use tools, communicate with each other on a daily basis, and even form small gangs. Very soon, the line of evolution that those primates undertook would soon lead to a very notable genus: man.

Originally, Next of Kin took place in Ethiopia; I was going to use this setting as well, but due to the addition of an extra character that would only be present in Kenya, I switched it to that country. Anyways, this episode focuses on a (slightly unstable) tribe of Australopithecus who, after getting forced out of their home by another tribe, have to search for another land; as well as this, they would have to find food and stay away from dangerous animals such as the highly aggressive Deinotherium and the man-eating Megantereon. Fortunately, there were very few actual errors in the original episode, so the only changes this episode has are a change in location, cast, and plot.

Australopithecus afarensis: One of the most important animals in the history of the earth, this 1.1 meter tall great ape is part of an evolutionary line that will soon give rise to man. It is an omnivore, feeding on fruits, leaves, nuts, tubers, and animal carcasses. A slightly unstable tribe of those primates will be the main characters of this episode; the oldest males will fight for dominance of the tribe, and after the whole group gets repelled from their homeland by another, bigger tribe, they have to search for a new home, as well as food and safety (as well as this, there will be names such as "Blue", "Babble", "Hercules", and "Grey"). Pose based on the skeletal to the left of this picture: cogweb.ucla.edu/ep/images/Aust…

Phacochoerus africanus (Common warthog): This 1.5 meter long pig is quite unique, as it has two pairs of tusks protruding from its head (one pair is smaller than the other). It is an omnivore, feeding on grasses, roots, fruits, bark, fungi, insects, eggs and carrion. In this episode, it will be nothing more than an ambient animal (boooooorriiiiiiiiing). Pose based on the side view of this animal.

Ceratotherium simum (White rhinoceros): This 4 meter long rhinoceros has an unknown name origin, with many people trying to guess where the word "white" came from. It is an herbivore, feeding on grass. In this episode, it will just serve to improve the atmosphere a bit (PC, how could you do this?). Pose based on the side view of this animal.

Megantereon whitei: Since Dinofelis had more of a taste for ungulates than it did for primates, this 1.2 meter long cat will be here to take its role. It is a predator, preying on horses, baby rhinos, baby elephants, and even great apes. In this episode, it will harass the shrinking Australopithecus tribe at any given moment; only time will tell whether it will help to fully destroy the gang or not. Pose based on 's skeletal.

Deinotherium bozasi: This 3.7 meter tall deinothere is unique, as instead of having a pair of long tusks protrude from the sides of its head, it has a pair of short tusks protruding from the bottom of its lower jaw. It is an herbivore, feeding on plant tubers and leaves. In this episode, one male individual, triggered by hormones, will descend into a blinding rage and attempt to mow down the Australopithecus; only time will tell if the primates escape the proboscidean's fury. Pose based on 's reconstruction.

Ancylotherium henningi: This 2 meter tall chalicothere could be considered a weirdo in a family of weirdos, as instead of having a gorilla-like build, it had a horse-like build that still wasn't horizontal to the ground. It is an herbivore, feeding on leaves. In this episode, it will serve as a more peaceful inhabitant of the Great Rift Valley, not willing to attack anything on spot, and even acting a bit timid at times. Pose based on a modified version of 's reconstruction.

Crocodylus thorbjarnarsoni (Thorbjarnarson's crocodile): This 8.2 meter long crocodile is very unique, as unlike other species in the genus Crocodylus, it has a broad snout. It is a predator, preying on anything that's not too big for it. In this episode, it will make a cameo as a mighty lake-dwelling predator that can be a danger to the nearby Australopithecus and Ancylotherium if they stay in extreme proximity to the lake. Pose based on the side view of a crocodile.

Canis mesomelas (Black-backed jackal): This 81 centimeter long dog is the most basal animal in the canine subfamily, sharing its position with the side-striped jackal (Canis adustus). It is an omnivore, preying on small animals and feeding on plants and animal carcasses. In this episode, it will just serve to add a nice atmosphere to the episode (OK, PC, you're annoying me). Pose based on the side view of this animal.

Gyps africanus (White-backed vulture): This large (2.3 meter wingspan) accipitrid lives in the trees of the wide African savannahs, only laying one egg. It is a scavenger, feeding on carrion. In this episode, a whole flock of these raptors will fly in to feed on a zebra carcass, right before Hercules (another dominant Australopithecus male and the rival to Grey) comes in to scare them off. Pose based on the side view of this animal.

Any thoughts?