Question of the Day, July 21, 2010
- Thread starter The Escapist Staff
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The poll is flawed because there is no options to say some are possible but not others.
For example, a unicorn is quite possible, perhaps even plausible.
A griffin is possible but it's very unlikely that evolution would follow that path.
And the standard idea of a dragon is physically impossible.
For example, a unicorn is quite possible, perhaps even plausible.
A griffin is possible but it's very unlikely that evolution would follow that path.
And the standard idea of a dragon is physically impossible.
I think Discovery Channel had a show about finding a Dragon frozen in a mountain. It was fake of course but done in a style similar to Walking with Dinosaurs. The science behind it seemed solid so Dragons could have defiantly existed.
Unicorns could have existed too. White horses with horns very similar to a Narwhal's Horn. I have no idea what the horn would be used for though...probably to establish dominance or something.
Griffins are a bit different...They would need to have a light skeletal structure but a powerful muscle system if they want to stay airborne. They would probably be unable to support the weight of a rider if they existed.
Unicorns could have existed too. White horses with horns very similar to a Narwhal's Horn. I have no idea what the horn would be used for though...probably to establish dominance or something.
Griffins are a bit different...They would need to have a light skeletal structure but a powerful muscle system if they want to stay airborne. They would probably be unable to support the weight of a rider if they existed.
By their current definitions? No, not at all. Science doesn't work like that. By appearance alone? Sure. But there is no way they could be the fire-breathing, magical creatures that we think of when those words are mentioned.
horse-like creatures with horns?? ridiculous! especially This kind [http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&biw=1659&bih=851&gbv=2&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=moose&aq=f&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=]
flying lizards? impossible; never happened.
i can see griffins as plausable.
flying lizards? impossible; never happened.
i can see griffins as plausable.
No dragons, because living tissue can never be fire proof. You'd need evolution to take an entirely different route with non-carbon based life.
Griffins are too big, the wrong shape and the wings too small to ever be able to fly.
Unicorns however are easy. Just glue a horn to a horse.
Griffins are too big, the wrong shape and the wings too small to ever be able to fly.
Unicorns however are easy. Just glue a horn to a horse.
The griffin isn't remotely plausible, it's portrayed as half eagle and half lion which means that it is half mammal and half avian (bird), two completely separate forms of life (there are four; Mammals, birds, reptiles and Amphibians, however amphibians are often lumped in with reptiles, so opinion on whether are three or four groups is still argued). Aside from the obvious problem of mating (disregarding size there is the use of the cloaca for bird and the penis/vagina for mammals/lions) there is the issue of how the creature would regulate heat (mammals and birds need vastly different temperatures to survive, especially when young.Maze1125 said:
I could go on, but the details would become very fine and troublesome, however I do agree that there should have been an option to say yay or nay on specific ideas instead of lumping everything into one category.
Dragons? Maybe. They would look more like winged Komodo Dragons or Iguanas, though and would likely not breathe fire. They would have poisonous bites or claws in order to subdue prey. Like a snake would.
Unicorns? More likely to naturally evolve. They would probably be a species of deer or something.
Griffins? Probably, but not likely.
Unicorns? More likely to naturally evolve. They would probably be a species of deer or something.
Griffins? Probably, but not likely.
Dragons? No; Terry Pratchett already discussed how a flying chemical flamethrower is biologically impossible... the flame is more likely to come out the other end, if the thing doesn't just explode.
Unicorns, on the other hand, I can see happening if horses had larger natural enemies. There are all kinds of advantages for a head-horn to use against your enemies.
Unicorns, on the other hand, I can see happening if horses had larger natural enemies. There are all kinds of advantages for a head-horn to use against your enemies.
The question is a little lacking, I voted no.
Unicorn: If it's a horse with a horn on it's forehead, sure, not very weird.
Dragons: On firebreathing, not seen in the animal kingdom, so no, also because it's a bit ridiculous. On flying, slightly plausible, but with the bodyshape dragons are depicted with, physics don't add up. Way too heavy, and flimsy wings can't save that. Other than that, maybe, but then it's just a big-ass lizard.
Griffon: Well it's a mix between known species, and since educated people know that evolution isn't 2 completely different species making a combination, I'd say no to that as well. You could get something resembling, but stapling together various animal parts isn't how it works.
The game Impossible Creatures had that, and while fun, it's wasn't evolution.
Unicorn: If it's a horse with a horn on it's forehead, sure, not very weird.
Dragons: On firebreathing, not seen in the animal kingdom, so no, also because it's a bit ridiculous. On flying, slightly plausible, but with the bodyshape dragons are depicted with, physics don't add up. Way too heavy, and flimsy wings can't save that. Other than that, maybe, but then it's just a big-ass lizard.
Griffon: Well it's a mix between known species, and since educated people know that evolution isn't 2 completely different species making a combination, I'd say no to that as well. You could get something resembling, but stapling together various animal parts isn't how it works.
The game Impossible Creatures had that, and while fun, it's wasn't evolution.
Yes, but not dragons. Winged reptiles are more likely, but the whole Fire thing is out of the question.
Unicorns are totally plausible as are Griffins, and to those of you who think that Griffins are not possible, I would like to remind you of the Platypus.
Calumon: HAHAHAHAHA! That thing looks silly! XD
Unicorns are totally plausible as are Griffins, and to those of you who think that Griffins are not possible, I would like to remind you of the Platypus.
Calumon: HAHAHAHAHA! That thing looks silly! XD
Dragons - yes, except the fire breathing and wings. So more wyrms than drakes. I can see a possible evolution for cold wyrms or acid spitting dragons.
Unicorns - yes, why not. A horn could have evolved there for some reason.
Griffins - no. A bird/mammal hybrid? Impossible. At most there'd be a kind of bigger bat, but at one point you run into the issue that it'd need very brittle bones in order to keep flying ability, which'd lessen their survival chances a lot.
Unicorns - yes, why not. A horn could have evolved there for some reason.
Griffins - no. A bird/mammal hybrid? Impossible. At most there'd be a kind of bigger bat, but at one point you run into the issue that it'd need very brittle bones in order to keep flying ability, which'd lessen their survival chances a lot.
