2006-09-04 20:40:46 · 12 answers · asked by Lutfor 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
I think than an octopus, given another couple million years of evolution, would be able to adopt to land (other mollusks have done so). Their tentacles would become more "leg" like and the might move on land like spiders.
Octopuses are the most intelligent (and we are talking VERY) invertebrae. They might even be able to manipulate natural tools on land.
Of course this would have to happen in the absence of humans.
2006-09-05 01:52:03 · answer #1 · answered by DrSean 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's not easy to do, as predicting the evolutionary pressures that may arise in the future depends on the hazards that exist, about which we cannot do much more than speculate. One thing that we can predict is that human evolution is done for the foreseeable future -- at least in the sort of differential style which produced what we now call races. The reason for this is that differential evolution requires separation of gene pools, and with the ease of travel today there ain't much separation any more. Also, the evolutionary pressures on humanity have been much abated: in the old days, being smart was a significant survival asset, but that is no longer true: today, even an idiot can survive and produce offspring.
2006-09-05 03:47:10 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Humans comprise an increasing fraction of the biomass on the planet and thus provide an opportunity to any species that can evolve to take advantage of the abundant food supply. I think that a golden age for parasites is coming. Take the humble mosquito for example. The mosquito could evolve a stealthier attack (less buzz and perhaps less visible). The mosquito could develop tolerance for drier conditions, which would improve its opportunities to be active near humans. The mosquito could evolve cooperative hunting strategies. All this could happen much faster than humans can adapt.... OK maybe the more intelligent humans will adapt faster than the dumb ones.
2006-09-05 04:19:16 · answer #3 · answered by d/dx+d/dy+d/dz 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As speculated in "The Botany of Desire" by Michael Pollan, some species are already "evolving" to take advantage of humans, and humans are so convinced of their "specialness" they have hardly noticed. Do you really think that the grasses & grains would have spread across the whole globe and become so ubiquitous if they had not "learned" to take advantage of humans?
2006-09-12 21:15:38 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Natural biological evolution fails at all levels except for those species numbering more than about one quadrillion individuals with generation times less than three months and body sizes smaller than one centimeter.
Check out:
http://www.reasons.org/
2006-09-10 03:15:09 · answer #5 · answered by mrpink 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually evolution is an ongoing process that involves every living thing on this planet, including homo sapiens. I takes a long time for it to happen and we will not be able to measure it.
2006-09-12 18:38:21 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think that when the great wars come and absolutely everything is destroyed, WORMS will come up throught the ground and eat all the surviving wreckage and twisted metal and spacecraft or whatever it is thast we will be driving or flying then. ;)
2006-09-10 11:44:05 · answer #7 · answered by MaX 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
After the nuclear war, the cockroaches will become huge and eat everything.
2006-09-05 03:43:07 · answer #8 · answered by shardf 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Discovery Channel has a series on this.
2006-09-09 04:12:48 · answer #9 · answered by michaelamanuba 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I see squirrels flying little airplanes.
2006-09-05 03:43:08 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋