60 million years hence
Stop four – 60 Million Years Hence – Mid Lactozoic era
The world continues as if mankind never were. The climate is mild, slightly warmer than today, and sea levels are a little higher. Geographically, the earth is noticeably different, for one the Mediterranean has closed completely, now forming a huge mountain range alongside the Alps. As a result of this, Africa, Europe and Asia now form one huge macro continent, Eurafrica. Northern Australia has joined with the southern tip of Asia, collecting many Indonesian islands as it went. Most notably, Antarctica has moved North East, allowing a vegetated temperate zone to form, though a large part of it is still frozen.
Vegetation resembles the modern day in many respects, except for many of the trees and shrubs being of different ancestry. Antarctica has temperate grasslands and forests, rivers have formed from thawing glaciers.
As the Lactozoic continues unabated, the mammals and birds show no signs of faltering. Large predatory mustelids and mongooses have usurped the cats as the dominant Eurafrican predators, these forms convergently resemble pantherine cats in many ways. Some very large herbivores are evident here too, hyraxes have given rise to large elephant-like beasts, and the adaptable rhesus macaque has become much like the long-gone gorillas. Australia plays host to competition between the dominant marsupial predators and migrant placental carnivores from the north, among their prey are multi-ton kangaroos. Temperate Antarctica plays host to a fauna devoid of land mammals, where flightless descendants of ravens and wood-ducks take the roles of megafauna. The oceans are now dominated almost solely by the fishes, huge 50 foot bony fish and sharks are the supreme hunters of the sea, and squid remain in abundance as a common prey.
Any resemblance between this time and the modern day is illusory; the players are different, though some now resemble familiar fauna.
The world continues as if mankind never were. The climate is mild, slightly warmer than today, and sea levels are a little higher. Geographically, the earth is noticeably different, for one the Mediterranean has closed completely, now forming a huge mountain range alongside the Alps. As a result of this, Africa, Europe and Asia now form one huge macro continent, Eurafrica. Northern Australia has joined with the southern tip of Asia, collecting many Indonesian islands as it went. Most notably, Antarctica has moved North East, allowing a vegetated temperate zone to form, though a large part of it is still frozen.
Vegetation resembles the modern day in many respects, except for many of the trees and shrubs being of different ancestry. Antarctica has temperate grasslands and forests, rivers have formed from thawing glaciers.
As the Lactozoic continues unabated, the mammals and birds show no signs of faltering. Large predatory mustelids and mongooses have usurped the cats as the dominant Eurafrican predators, these forms convergently resemble pantherine cats in many ways. Some very large herbivores are evident here too, hyraxes have given rise to large elephant-like beasts, and the adaptable rhesus macaque has become much like the long-gone gorillas. Australia plays host to competition between the dominant marsupial predators and migrant placental carnivores from the north, among their prey are multi-ton kangaroos. Temperate Antarctica plays host to a fauna devoid of land mammals, where flightless descendants of ravens and wood-ducks take the roles of megafauna. The oceans are now dominated almost solely by the fishes, huge 50 foot bony fish and sharks are the supreme hunters of the sea, and squid remain in abundance as a common prey.
Any resemblance between this time and the modern day is illusory; the players are different, though some now resemble familiar fauna.
Fauna
Dire Warrigal (Dasymegalocyon dirus)
Ancestor: Brown Antechinus (Antechinus stuarti)
One of the largest predatory marsupials ever, the dire warrigal roams much of Australasia, preferring open habitats with some cover. It weighs as much as 220 kilograms, and generally attacks prey from ambush after a short chase, much like a lion. Prey is grappled to the ground and killed with a crippling bite to the nape, back of the skull, or throat. When consuming a carcass, they are able to crush and eat bone, as well as flesh. Females nurse 2 joeys per breeding season; the male takes to part in raising the young, and departs soon after successfully mating.
Ancestor: Brown Antechinus (Antechinus stuarti)
One of the largest predatory marsupials ever, the dire warrigal roams much of Australasia, preferring open habitats with some cover. It weighs as much as 220 kilograms, and generally attacks prey from ambush after a short chase, much like a lion. Prey is grappled to the ground and killed with a crippling bite to the nape, back of the skull, or throat. When consuming a carcass, they are able to crush and eat bone, as well as flesh. Females nurse 2 joeys per breeding season; the male takes to part in raising the young, and departs soon after successfully mating.
Goliath Roo (Northromacropus colossaeus)
Ancestor: Eastern Grey Kangaroo (Macropus giganteus)
Goliath roos are huge browsing marsupials that are commonly found in forests and scrubland throughout Australia. Reaching 4 meters tall and weighing 3.5 tonnes it is one of the largest marsupials to ever live, and is unable to hop. They prefer to feed on the treetops, pulling down branches and feasting on leaves, but in more open country they will settle for uprooting and feeding on low trees and shrubs. At adult size they have no predators, but younger individuals out of the pouch are common prey for the dire warrigal.
Ancestor: Eastern Grey Kangaroo (Macropus giganteus)
Goliath roos are huge browsing marsupials that are commonly found in forests and scrubland throughout Australia. Reaching 4 meters tall and weighing 3.5 tonnes it is one of the largest marsupials to ever live, and is unable to hop. They prefer to feed on the treetops, pulling down branches and feasting on leaves, but in more open country they will settle for uprooting and feeding on low trees and shrubs. At adult size they have no predators, but younger individuals out of the pouch are common prey for the dire warrigal.
Gargantuan Goose (Megalopseudochen antarctica)
Ancestor: Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta jubata)
At this time, Antarctica is now partly free of ice, and has a temperate zone in the north. This land has no native land mammals and no reptiles, being dominated by flightless birds. The gargantuan goose is one of the biggest, weighing up to half a ton and being 3 meters in height. Feeding mainly by browsing trees and shrubs with its thick, crenulated beak, it is most often found in woodland, scrub and open forest. These geese travel in small loose groups, females lay a clutch of 2 or 3 big eggs in the spring.
Ancestor: Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta jubata)
At this time, Antarctica is now partly free of ice, and has a temperate zone in the north. This land has no native land mammals and no reptiles, being dominated by flightless birds. The gargantuan goose is one of the biggest, weighing up to half a ton and being 3 meters in height. Feeding mainly by browsing trees and shrubs with its thick, crenulated beak, it is most often found in woodland, scrub and open forest. These geese travel in small loose groups, females lay a clutch of 2 or 3 big eggs in the spring.
Terror Raven (Phobocorvus apteryx)
Ancestor: Little Raven (Corvus mellori)
The plains and forests of temperate Antartica are not free of predators. The terror raven is a nightmarish predatory bird which is flightless but able to chase prey on foot. Reaching 1.9 meters tall and weighing up to 100 kilograms, they are the apex predators of the Antarctic temperate zone. Prey is pursued over some distance, and is usually tripped up and dispatched with heavy lacerating blows from the hooked hatchet-like beak.
Ancestor: Little Raven (Corvus mellori)
The plains and forests of temperate Antartica are not free of predators. The terror raven is a nightmarish predatory bird which is flightless but able to chase prey on foot. Reaching 1.9 meters tall and weighing up to 100 kilograms, they are the apex predators of the Antarctic temperate zone. Prey is pursued over some distance, and is usually tripped up and dispatched with heavy lacerating blows from the hooked hatchet-like beak.
False Gorilla (Megalopithecus sylvanus)
Ancestor: Rhesus Macaque (Macaca mulatta)
Though primates suffered heavily under mankind, some were too robust and hardy to be fully extinguished. Macaques have given rise to baboon and ape-like forms, including the false gorilla. Regularly reaching 100 kilograms in males, this large south-Asian primate is found mostly in tropical rainforest. They consume large quantities of soft leaves, stems and fruit, but will also eat bird’s eggs and small, slower moving vertebrates such as lizards. Alpha males preside over large troops which contain some young subordinate males and a harem of females with young.
Ancestor: Rhesus Macaque (Macaca mulatta)
Though primates suffered heavily under mankind, some were too robust and hardy to be fully extinguished. Macaques have given rise to baboon and ape-like forms, including the false gorilla. Regularly reaching 100 kilograms in males, this large south-Asian primate is found mostly in tropical rainforest. They consume large quantities of soft leaves, stems and fruit, but will also eat bird’s eggs and small, slower moving vertebrates such as lizards. Alpha males preside over large troops which contain some young subordinate males and a harem of females with young.
Horse Rat (Hippomys cursor)
Ancestor: Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus)
Descended from the same pig-sized ancestor as the cowrat, this 450kg rodent is shaped much like a horse, but with taller hindquarters. The legs are long and athletic, ending in 4 hoof-like toes and its tail is medium length, ending in a brush like that of a donkey. Horse rats are mostly grazers, but will occasionally crop leaves from bushes and small trees. Its vaguely equine face is made longer by the presence of large cropping incisors. They can gallop at about 60 kilometres per hour to escape predators.
Ancestor: Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus)
Descended from the same pig-sized ancestor as the cowrat, this 450kg rodent is shaped much like a horse, but with taller hindquarters. The legs are long and athletic, ending in 4 hoof-like toes and its tail is medium length, ending in a brush like that of a donkey. Horse rats are mostly grazers, but will occasionally crop leaves from bushes and small trees. Its vaguely equine face is made longer by the presence of large cropping incisors. They can gallop at about 60 kilometres per hour to escape predators.
Dassiephant (Proboscihyrax pachyderma)
Ancestor: Cape Hyrax (Procavia capensis)
In the open forests, woodland and scrub of the African sub-continent, one descendant of the hyrax has come to resemble its distant extinct relative, the elephant. This beast is the dassiephant, reaching 2.7 meters at the shoulder and up to 6 tons in males. It is a browser, gathering leaves and twigs with its dexterous trunk. Unlike elephants, they travel in small groups generally led by an adult male. Females have smaller tusks that do not protrude past the lip, and males will fight by biting each other with their tusks.
Ancestor: Cape Hyrax (Procavia capensis)
In the open forests, woodland and scrub of the African sub-continent, one descendant of the hyrax has come to resemble its distant extinct relative, the elephant. This beast is the dassiephant, reaching 2.7 meters at the shoulder and up to 6 tons in males. It is a browser, gathering leaves and twigs with its dexterous trunk. Unlike elephants, they travel in small groups generally led by an adult male. Females have smaller tusks that do not protrude past the lip, and males will fight by biting each other with their tusks.
Ketos (Ketoichthys atrox)
Ancestor: Walleye (Sander vitreus)
The oceans of this time are ruled by the fishes. Ketos are a huge, predatory fish which reaches 14 meters long, and has massive toothy jaws which measure over 2 meters in length. Found across the world’s oceans, it has a high metabolism much like that of a tuna and is even able to tolerate polar waters. Ketos feed on all kinds of sharks, squid and fishes of various sizes, even quite large ones.
Ancestor: Walleye (Sander vitreus)
The oceans of this time are ruled by the fishes. Ketos are a huge, predatory fish which reaches 14 meters long, and has massive toothy jaws which measure over 2 meters in length. Found across the world’s oceans, it has a high metabolism much like that of a tuna and is even able to tolerate polar waters. Ketos feed on all kinds of sharks, squid and fishes of various sizes, even quite large ones.
Herringwhale (Clupeocetus maxima)
Ancestor: Atlantic Herring (Clupea harengus)
Herring were one of the few commercially important fish to survive the ravages of man, by dint of their sheer numbers and reliance on coastal waters. Reaching 8 meters long, they are found in tropical and temperate waters globally, with some variation. They pursue and engulf huge shoals of tiny baitfish and planktonic crustaceans, filtering them with their large gill-rakers. Spawning occurs in the tropics, far out to sea.
Ancestor: Atlantic Herring (Clupea harengus)
Herring were one of the few commercially important fish to survive the ravages of man, by dint of their sheer numbers and reliance on coastal waters. Reaching 8 meters long, they are found in tropical and temperate waters globally, with some variation. They pursue and engulf huge shoals of tiny baitfish and planktonic crustaceans, filtering them with their large gill-rakers. Spawning occurs in the tropics, far out to sea.