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The Great Divide
Darwin Council
Character Profiles
Evolution
Space Exploration
Explorer Class Starship
Sleuth Class Starship
Hurricane R12
Sample
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Tetrapods (395 - 0 million years ago)
Tetrapods started to evolve in the late Silurian period to have four legs and a set of lungs and were the first animals to leave the oceans. Tetrapods ancestors where lobe-finned fishes, one of which was Sarcopterygii. Some Tetrapods even eventually returned to the oceans leaving the land behind entirely such as the Blue Whale. Anapsids, Synapsids and Diapsids can all be traced back to Tetrapods.
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Anapsids (360 - 0 million years ago)
Anapsids evolved around 360 million years ago and are believed to be an early evolution of reptiles. The only Anapsids alive today are the Testudines (Turtles). Most Anapsids became extinct during the Permian–Triassic extinction event that occurred 251 million years ago where 96% of marine species and 70% of terrestrial vertebrae died. An Anapsid has no openings in its skull for jaw muscles to pass through.
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Turtle skeleton
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Turtle skull
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Synapsids (320 - 0 million years ago)
Synapsids are different from Anapsids in that they have a single opening in their skulls just behind their eye socket which started to develop around 324 million years ago whereas Anapsids have no openings. They also have differentiating teeth including incisors, molars and canines. Arguably one of the Synapsids most import changes over time was the ability to self-regulate body temperature by means of a high metabolic rate. Modern-day Synapsids include Kangaroos, Koalas, Lions and Human Beings. Extinct species of Synapsids include the colloquially named Saber Tooth Tiger otherwise known as Smilodon.
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Kangaroo skeleton
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Koala skeleton
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Lion skeleton
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Lion skull
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Diapsids (302 - 0 million years ago)
Diapsids are a group of reptiles that developed two openings in their skulls just behind their eye socket which developed around 300 million years ago. Whilst Tyrannosaurus Rex was a Diapsids, so too are modern day crocodiles, snakes and lizards. The two openings just behind the eye socket allows for a much larger jaw muscle, allowing the jaw to open wider and giving it a greater bite force which has served predators well for millions of years.
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Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton
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Tyrannosaurus Rex skull
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Crocodile skeleton
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Crocodile skull
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Human Evolution (7 - 0 million years ago)
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1st Evolution
2nd Evolution
3rd Evolution
4th Evolution
5th Evolution
6th Evolution
7th Evolution
8th Evolution
9th Evolution
10th Evolution
11th Evolution
12th Evolution
13th Evolution
14th Evolution
15th Evolution
16th Evolution
17th Evolution
18th Evolution
19th Evolution
20th Evolution
21st Evolution
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Sahelanthropus Tchadensis
Orrorin Tugenesis
Ardipthecus Ramidus
Australopithecus Anamensis
Australopithecus Afarensis
Australopithecus Africanus
Kenyanthropus Platyops
Australopithecus Garhi
Australopithecus Aethiopicus
Australopithecus Boisei
Australopithecus Robustus
Homo Habilis
Homo Georgicus
Homo Ergaster
Homo Erectus
Homo Antecessor
Homo Heielbergensis
Homo Neanderthalensis
Homo Floreniensis
Homo Sapiens
Homo Magis Sapiens (Darwin's)
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