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fandomhigh2018-06-05 01:25 am
livingartifact) wrote in fandomhigh2018-06-05 01:25 am
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Earth Zoology -- Pre-History Edition, Tuesday, Period 2
Walking into the Danger Shop might be a bit of a shock for the students today, as they would find themselves at the bottom of a shallow ocean filled with strange, bug-like creatures. They were perfectly able to breathe, thanks to the nature of this particular hologram, and would find themselves perfectly dry when they left, though for all other intents and purposes, they would all look and feel as though they were completely submerged. Jenkins stood in the middle of an open, sandy area not far from the Danger Shop door, admiring the early reef-building creatures that lined the underwater field.
"Welcome back, students," he greeted, offering them a smile. "Today we're going to explore one of the earliest periods of complex life on Earth, the Cambrian. The Cambrian period started about 541 million years ago, and in the course of about 55 and a half million years added a stunning amount of biodiversity to the planet in what's known as the Cambrian explosion. As yet, scientists are uncertain what may have caused this sudden divergence in the evolutionary timeline, but it resulted in some truly marvelous creatures, a few of which we will meet today.
"Perhaps the best known animal of this period is the trilobite, this adorable little segmented creature here. Trilobites are the early ancestors of many well known extant sea creatures, such as crabs and lobsters, and are thought to be the very first Earth animals to evolve eyes. So those of you hailing from Earth have them to thank for your ability to perceive the electromagnetic radiation known as 'visible light'.
"You may notice as you look around that, despite the explosion of diversity I mentioned, Cambrian creatures had a particular fondness for segmented bodies, such as the trilobites and Opabinia, that little one with the long, trunk-like proboscis, or long spines, such as those on Hallucigenia over here, or Wixwaxia. In fact many of the animals of the Cambrian period can be classified as early examples of Arthropods, a category of animal that includes modern insects, arachnids, and crustaceans — bees, spiders, and crabs, to name a few better known examples. So the next time you consider squashing a bug, perhaps it would behoove you to remember: they were here first.
"As you can see, most life on this period was, in comparison to modern life, extremely small. The Hurdia victoria, for instance — that would be that one swimming by over there that looks like a cross between a whale and a lobster — is known as the 'Tyrannosaurus rex of the Cambrian' for its unusually large size, and yet is only about 8 inches long. If Hurdia is the t-rex, then our last creature for today is the local equivalent of the Brachiosaurus of the early seas: Anomalocaridids." An enormous — comparatively — four-foot long, flat creature swam into view, uncurling a pair of spined appendages on its front end to reach for the smaller creatures swimming by. "I admit, I'm a little partial to this creature, myself. Specimens from China have been found to be as much as seven feet long, absolutely mammoth by the Cambrian's standards. It's a marvelous and strange creature, and I imagine quite terrifying for its neighbors in the sea — presuming, of course, that they have developed the capacity to feel fear.
"Scientists are still discovering more about the odd creatures that sit at the base of Earth's evolutionary ladder every day. Some of these creatures may not seem too far removed from modern sea life, but it's not merely the lobsters, crabs, and giant isopods that can list the Anomalocaridid or the Opabinia as its ancestor. Some of these creatures will go on to evolve internal vertebrae, more sophisticated eyes, and eventually lungs, allowing them to venture out onto dry land. There are details of the human eye that can be traced all the way back to trilobite. And frankly, if you don't find that at least a little bit fascinating, I'm not sure I want to know you."
"Welcome back, students," he greeted, offering them a smile. "Today we're going to explore one of the earliest periods of complex life on Earth, the Cambrian. The Cambrian period started about 541 million years ago, and in the course of about 55 and a half million years added a stunning amount of biodiversity to the planet in what's known as the Cambrian explosion. As yet, scientists are uncertain what may have caused this sudden divergence in the evolutionary timeline, but it resulted in some truly marvelous creatures, a few of which we will meet today.
"Perhaps the best known animal of this period is the trilobite, this adorable little segmented creature here. Trilobites are the early ancestors of many well known extant sea creatures, such as crabs and lobsters, and are thought to be the very first Earth animals to evolve eyes. So those of you hailing from Earth have them to thank for your ability to perceive the electromagnetic radiation known as 'visible light'.
"You may notice as you look around that, despite the explosion of diversity I mentioned, Cambrian creatures had a particular fondness for segmented bodies, such as the trilobites and Opabinia, that little one with the long, trunk-like proboscis, or long spines, such as those on Hallucigenia over here, or Wixwaxia. In fact many of the animals of the Cambrian period can be classified as early examples of Arthropods, a category of animal that includes modern insects, arachnids, and crustaceans — bees, spiders, and crabs, to name a few better known examples. So the next time you consider squashing a bug, perhaps it would behoove you to remember: they were here first.
"As you can see, most life on this period was, in comparison to modern life, extremely small. The Hurdia victoria, for instance — that would be that one swimming by over there that looks like a cross between a whale and a lobster — is known as the 'Tyrannosaurus rex of the Cambrian' for its unusually large size, and yet is only about 8 inches long. If Hurdia is the t-rex, then our last creature for today is the local equivalent of the Brachiosaurus of the early seas: Anomalocaridids." An enormous — comparatively — four-foot long, flat creature swam into view, uncurling a pair of spined appendages on its front end to reach for the smaller creatures swimming by. "I admit, I'm a little partial to this creature, myself. Specimens from China have been found to be as much as seven feet long, absolutely mammoth by the Cambrian's standards. It's a marvelous and strange creature, and I imagine quite terrifying for its neighbors in the sea — presuming, of course, that they have developed the capacity to feel fear.
"Scientists are still discovering more about the odd creatures that sit at the base of Earth's evolutionary ladder every day. Some of these creatures may not seem too far removed from modern sea life, but it's not merely the lobsters, crabs, and giant isopods that can list the Anomalocaridid or the Opabinia as its ancestor. Some of these creatures will go on to evolve internal vertebrae, more sophisticated eyes, and eventually lungs, allowing them to venture out onto dry land. There are details of the human eye that can be traced all the way back to trilobite. And frankly, if you don't find that at least a little bit fascinating, I'm not sure I want to know you."
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It was maybe even cooler than ducks.
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And maybe she had a slight curiosity about if Jenkins would say anything if she just showed up, barely even listened, and just spent the whole time sketching. She didn't know yet what she would do or say if he did, so she was kind of just hoping he wouldn't, but a certain smugness in her made her feel a bit like Icarus, trying to fly as close to the sun despite knowing she'd just end up scorched.
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