Question of the Day, July 21, 2010

[LTK_70]

And in an alternate universe, the Escapist asks the question: "If evolution had gone differently, could elephants, platypus and penguins have existed?"

Judging by just the physical characteristics;

Griffins? Well, mammals evolved from birds to begin with. However, given that the wingspan the creature is typically depicted with wouldn't provide anything near flight capacity, it's highly unlikely that the thing would have any more than vestigial wings. That said.. a lion with a beak? Somewhat possible. I doubt it'd be anywhere near as stately as we see in books, but...

Whoa, whoa, hold on. Mammals never evolved from birds. They share a common reptillian ancestor. Humans didn't evolve from chimpanzees either, did they?

 

[secretsantaone]

This question's just stupid.

Evolution is down to adaptation to the natural environment. Those with features better suited to the environment survive while those that don't, die.

It's not a question of 'What if evolution had gone differently' and more of 'What if our environment was different'.

 

[CultistRat]

In an infinite Universe with infinite possibilities for evolution they do exist somewhere... probably.

 

[Che Marlee]

How do you mean 'if evolution had gone differently'? That's pretty damn vague. As far as I can see, no creature would ever be able to produce fire from their mouths without having to swallow something first, and I don't believe that a creature could naturally grow wings that could allow flight for a creature that is as large and, presumably, as heavy as a dragon. Also, isn't a unicorn just a horse with a horn growing out of its head? Of course that's possible.

 

[Maze1125]

The griffin isn't remotely plausible,

I know, that's why I said possible, not plausible.

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).

I think you mean there are five types of vertebrates, mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish.
When it comes to life as a whole, there are far far more types than that, insect, arachnids, crustaceans, ect.
Not to mentions all the plant life that exists.

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.

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.

You're assuming that because it's portrayed as a lion-eagle hybrid that such a creature would be forced to be biologically so.
There's no reason for that. A creature could have the required characteristics while remaining biologically reasonable. Just look at the duck-billed platypus.

 

[coldfrog]

Unicorns are a definite. Griffins - Most likely not, simply due to the unnecessary conglomeration of things involved, though I hesitate to give it a definite no due to the duck-billed platypus. Dragons - well, that's a tricky one. How big are they? If they're tiny, then that's likely, but giant ones simply can't happen for the laws of physics. Do they breathe fire? That's... probably impossible, but maybe if all the conditions were exactly right... I mean, there's fish with rocks in them, why couldn't a dragon have a flint organ attached to their methane pouch? Heck, then the only place they'd need actual protection would be in the mouth region, they'd need skin tough enough to protect them from burning it out completely. It could also be something like a flint gizzard, but a whole tube of fire seems unlikely.

 

[nelsonr100]

I think they would all be possible, other than perhaps the dragons breathing fire. Maybe venom or something but I doubt fire.

 

[Deadlock Radium]

But Unicorns do exist!
[SUB]In my heart.[/SUB]

 

[Blue Musician]

Probably, but still needs more research in this.

 

[ProtoChimp]

Oh god I wish they did, I really, really fucking wish they existed. Think how awesome griffins would be at the grand national. And dragons, fwoar, they'd fuck up the whole track. Maybe they exist on an island forgotten by time like the one in King Kong.

 

[The Night Shade]

Absolutely it is posible

 

[spartandude]

ofcourse! DNA is a strange thing!. chimpansees and humans only differ about 3 % of DNA, so..
if a horse would be somewhat differrent, it could be a unicorn.

humans and cabbage have about 50% identicle DNA

 

[Blue Musician]

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

Calumon, that's a platypus, it's supposed to be silly, but it's cute at the same time. I find it as silly as your digimon friends. Which means it's awesome.

 

[Dyp100]

Of course. Dragons could have been dinosaurs, and Unicorns are very possibly, at least I think. IDK about Griffins, since they are a mix of two creatures, so it makes no sense.

 

[Zhukov]

Griffins and unicorns, possibly.

Dragons, no. At least not how they are commonly depicted.

 

[sammi43055]

Sure. Why not. I have seen weirder that already exist because of evolution...

 

[Generic_Dave]

Well...except for the fire breathing...burning acid breath maybe?

There are insects that spew acid...

 

[soapyshooter]

Unicorns Yes, the rest NO. A horse with a horn isnt too far out but the others are scientifically impossible.

 

[vapidaphid]

I can see a unicorn within the realm possibility for evolution. After all it is just a horse with a horn. Which would probably not be used to fight, more likely for attracting a mate. However, dragons on the other hand...no. Not for any impossiblity of genetic code or anything. It is simply because a dragon is a carnivore, and a very large one. A carnivore that would outsize every creature on the planet today. There would be no way it could eat enough to sustain itself. However, if you were to scale them down to about the size of a bear or so, then yes they'd be possible. Well, possible if you were to take away their ability to fly. A creature that big (and heavy) just simply couldn't fly. Griffins are just a combination of two existing creatures so, if evolution followed a different path than I'd say yes it would be possible.

 

[EightGaugeHippo]

Unicorns: Yes, but without the magical powers

I doubt Dragons as we know them could exist, but a huge flying lizard could. Not sure about fire though.

I dont know about griffens. Eagal with four legs?