Poll: I ask you..

[War Penguin]

Maybe vampires become a reality but only maybe. The only possibility I can think of is cannibalism's effect on some humans evolution. But I can't think of anyone who is a cannibal. That's the only explanation I can think of.

I highly doubt that werewolves will become a reality. I can't see any natural effect on evolution that could result in that.

 

[johnzaku]

First off, it depends on which kind of which you are referring to.

For vampires... Honestly no. All the things that really set them apart from humans is a result of magic. So no. Except for maybe the need for a high-protein high-sodium diet and a system unable to process solids. But there's plenty things other than blood to sate that.

As for werewolves, if you mean the man-turns-into-a-wolfman-every-full-moon-that-can-only-be-killed-with-a-silver-weapon werewolf, then no. The silver thing could be because of a distinct cell biology, an extremely unique metabolism and lack of a decentralized nervous system. But the moon and transformation stuff is a no.
If you mean a creature descended from wolves that has obtained human-level intelligence, bipedality and thumbs, then mayyyyyyyyybe.

Dragons are a possibility, but only the kind that have wings instead of forelimbs. As they would have evolved from reptiles, they would have the common skeletal structure. There is no skeletally based creature on the planet that has more than 4 limbs.
Fire breathing wouldn't be very hard to obtain. Just that the chemicals needed to produce fire (say the components of napalm) would require so much energy it would not be an ideal ability to have. However, evolutionarily speaking, would the dragon be able to survive doing it in the first place, and if so why would it need that ability other than too look cool?
(attract mates ;D )

Things that are just normal creatures with stuck-on parts of other creatures (i.e. manticore, pegasus, etc...) are pretty much a no.

any disagreements or additional animals you'd like to have analyzed, please let me know. I love a good discussion. No flamers though please.


EDIT:

Sir, I will point you to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turritopsis_nutricula

So immortality is evolutionarily possible (albeit extremely rare, as only this species is known to posses the trait).

Thanks for the link. That would make werewolf transformation kind of possible. But it would still take so much energy that it wouldn't be able to store enough to do it. Or of it did do it so rapidly it would be extremely painful.

 

[Souplex]

Would creatures that were killed by sunlight be evolutionarily possible? Think about that statement.

 

[Vrex360]

Vampirism could be a behavioural altering disease or something that rapidly effects natural pattern and instinct (I read the book I am Legend so I have some idea of how a scientific version of Vampirism could work.) Also I find myself thinking that Werewolf, while extreme by all means could still be possible as a complete genetic reconstruction that occurs at a trigger... yeah it's possible.

Out of all of them though, zombie is the most believable because all you need is some way to keep the main funtions of the body active even while the heart and lungs no longer function. The brain would be the logical point of control.

 

[A random person]

Vampires might be able to exist (vampire bats do), but I don't think werewolves could. Of course, I don't think selective pressure would exactly favor such mutations.

 

[matrix3509]

Honestly, though, it also seems like something like a vampire could never exist because it's immortal. How do you adapt that? Werewolves are slightly more practical, simply because they have no weird stuff like that, but still don't seem like a possible evolution branch.

Sir, I will point you to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turritopsis_nutricula

So immortality is evolutionarily possible (albeit extremely rare, as only this species is known to posses the trait).

 

[Sven und EIN HUND]

I'm pretty sure natural selection would make it very hard to happen; as to whether or not it's possible... I don't know

 

[jojoemon]

No. Chimps evolved into humans, because they developed an oposed thumb, which allowed them to solve problems useing their hands. The need to use their hands let to walking upright, and it also help develop higher mentel functions. Wolves don't have opposed thumbs, and they honestly don't need them, becuase they do fine as wolves. Bats (the vampire link) I honestly don't know about, but I guess they'd already found their eveolutionary nitch by the time primordial humans started poping up.

 

[Akai Shizuku]

I think so, because I think evolution and creationism co-exist.

 

[Pingieking]

Vampires have a very interesting problem of size and calorie intake ratio. Carnivores have a maximum body size cap, while herbivores have a minimum size floor. Vampires would have a huge calorie intake problem, because they consume a very small amount of their prey's total body mass. To overcome that problem (assuming they have someone overcome all the other problems), they must be able to attack and consume a large number of prey in a short amount of time. Even then, a human sized vampire would have a lot of trouble consuming the necessary amount of food in one night. But I don't think it's completely out of the question to have a small, vampiric primates.

As for Werewolves, obviously it can't pull transformations. Bipedal wolves are a possibility; or you could have large, humanoid predators that would resemble werewolves.

 

[Mister Eff]

Vampires - something evolving into something that's allergic to sunlight and only survives on blood? That's devolution if anything.

 

[Necrofudge]

Well I suppose there could be a group of people with genetic damage or something that causes photosensitivity and a need to ingest blood, but I doubt werewolves would exist.

 

[johnzaku]

Oops... Didn't mean to post again lol =/

 

[-=Spy=-]

Here's my theory on Vampirism.

The sun has changed. Or maybe the atmosphere, I dunno. In any case, the suns rays are much more harmful than normal, causing intense discomfort to all exposed to direct light. But there's hope, for BioTec has engineered a compound that increases humans resistantse to the rays. However, it is in precious little quantity. So much that getting a dose is reserved for those of power, riches, or the lucky. So when the lucky few walk the surface in daylight, the majority remain hiding in the shadows and night. However, it soon becomes apparent that consuption of "treated" blood will grant temporary respite from the sun. Soon, the desperate begin to prey on the "lucky" of socity. Even as the spread of the compound extends, the untreated continue to hunt at night, if only for a few days of life in the sun at a time.

 

[johnzaku]

Here's my theory on Vampirism.
*snip

Very creative 0_0

I'm gonna write a book about that.

 

[martin's a madman]

Being dead isn't an evolutionary trait. Neither is being a dog on its hind legs.

 

[Generator]

Honestly, though, it also seems like something like a vampire could never exist because it's immortal. How do you adapt that? Werewolves are slightly more practical, simply because they have no weird stuff like that, but still don't seem like a possible evolution branch.

Sir, I will point you to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turritopsis_nutricula

So immortality is evolutionarily possible (albeit extremely rare, as only this species is known to posses the trait).

Um... well, uh... damn! Still, though, think of the other traits of vampires: how would you be able to adapt those? Besides, (even though this is getting a little overly technical), if I read right, it is immortal through constantly reverting back to a state before it reached sexual maturity, and vampires simply stay the same age throughout their entire lifespan (which is forever, unless intervened in some way).

 

[crimson sickle2]

If you mean all of the powers of a mythical creature, no. Some of the traits may, or could have, become apart of evolution. Seeing in the dark, adopting other animals' abilities, snake-like parasites that might attach to the skull, etc. Drinking blood and transforming under a full moon are probably impossible. Just remember, any trait that may increase the chance for survival, may become an evolutionary trait

 

[Macgyvercas]

I don't care if they ever evolve, just as long as I'm able to kill the motherf*ckers along with the zombies.

 

[FalloutJack]

Would you believe I took a college class on vampires? Okay, let's get started.

Yes, I think our classic monstrosities can exist in this world. Allow me to illuminate the theories of their existence based on the notion of them existing today, here, and now. (And not, say, as a result of the events that gave us Morlocks or something.)

VAMPIRES - So, like I said, I took a class on this. And why not? It was fun! Your basic vampire boils down to some very basic traits to be considered as such. Namely...the vampire drinks blood and is alergic to sunlight. Most any other thing you've heard a vampire doing is a bonus, but not necessary. If you know anyone who also possesses supernatural abilities, RUN!! But in the meantime, the very basics of vampirism can be created by certain defects or hereditary oddities in the person's biology. Your craving for food is based on what your body tells you what you need. If your stomach says "WE NEED BLOOD!" you'd better be drinking blood or you're in trouble. Alergy to sunlight doesn't have to mean you turn instantly into a pyre. You could just be very susceptible to sun-related skin diseases, something which may be triggered by whatever biology makes you need blood. Can a person who needs blood to live and can't be out in the sun very much at all survive? Yes! They go out nights and visit hospitals regularly. Such people already EXIST.

WEREWOLVES - Of course, many people say that Lycanthropy is the werewolf disease, but we're looking for the I-change-into-a-freakin'-animal-here-folks disease. To which, the only way I can see a person become a werewolf in THIS WORLD is in a specific and permanent manner. That is, not a shape-shifting monster, but a dehumanization into a beast. Basing theories upon the notion of an ailment which produces appearances akin to a hairy beast (Lycanthropy), we take the idea further to an advanced stage of Lycanthropy. That is, one that affects the mucle development, the curvature of the spine, and other things. The man is made to find that four legs are better than two, and that developments have made him more adept to it. Suddenly, you have a hairy man on all fours. Provided said disease messes with things like his adrenaline and other brain chemicals, you can have him acting like a mad animal in no time. Can he survive? Only as a loner, unfortunately. Wolves have, legendarily, never accepted werewolves as truly their own, but as unnatural beasts. A man made into a beast cannot work in a pack.

ZOMBIES - See Max Brooks' Zombie Survival Guide on the realistic possible existence of the walking dead. I could make no better argument. And World War Z is an excellent support to their survival skills, such as they are.