“The result of natural selection will not be a species
ever more powerful and prolific, but rather a continual adaptation to the
changing conditions of life.” Page 97
Evolution takes many forms and affects
different species in different ways. Every species is subjected to a number of
constraints such as the change in climate or vegetation, or the migration of
prey animals. Each of these factors affects every creature in some form,
whether it is the change in their size, behaviour or even their diet. A Creature’s
main goal within their lives is to reproduce and survive; in difficult
situations this can cause an animal to take actions in which is not regular to
them. Such as with the sudden early migration of prey animals because of
extreme drought in Africa, left the Lions desperate for food. Resulting in them
hunting and killing young elephants. This is not typical behaviour as it is
extremely dangerous to separate a calf from the herd.
The delegate balance of routine in nature
can be incorporated into creature design. The introduction to the main
characters could have a dramatic affect on a creature’s behaviour, out of fear
it could create aggression towards the characters.
Parasitism is a behaviour developed by some
animals, the definition of a parasitism animal, is an association of two
species in which one exploits the other. For example, the Cuckoo bird lays its
eggs within another bird’s nest. This other bird takes care of it until the
cuckoo egg hatches. The chick then begins to push the other eggs out of the
nest, leaving itself for the mother bird to give it undivided care. The host
bird never notices the difference in eggs or even chicks as it raises another
bird’s offspring. The benefit for the mother Cuckoo is that it does not have
the responsibility of parenthood and can focus on its own survival as another
bird raises its young.
The Skua is a sea bird that is also
parasitic; they attack other sea birds when they have made a catch. Behaviour
such as this is a survival tactic; it harasses other birds for their prey. By
doing this, the Skua is saving energy by not hunting for its own food; the
other bird has to work twice as hard to survive.
Alien creatures could show parasitism
behaviour towards humans. Human characters within a film could be the host for
the creature to reproduce or to protect them. If characters are busy killing an
alien species that is the enemy of another alien, they will become docile for
the time being towards humans. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Once humans
have stopped being useful, the creatures could become hostile to them.
“For biologists, the word ‘evolved’ does not carry
exactly the same meaning as in ordinary language. Evolution is not necessarily
an improvement but simply a transformation.” Page 55
The mandrill’s skull has large fags, bigger
than the average omnivores teeth. These massive fangs are not for killing or
taking down prey, which is what you would first expect, but for more social
reasons. Mandrills use their fangs for scaring off predators and establishing
themselves within their social group. An animal may develop specific traits for
not the obvious reason, such as these fangs. A creature that looks a certain
way is not necessarily because of the obvious reason. A creature with a large
collection of tusks and teeth is more likely for fighting each other, rather
than taking down prey. For example, the Babirusa is a type of pig that grows
two sets of tusks; one set from the mouth and the other on the bridge of the
nose. The tusks are used for fighting each other and protecting their face,
however if these tusks grow long enough, it will grow through the skull and
into the brain, killing them.
The larger the animal, the more difficult it
is surviving, that is the problem with giants. They need large territories for
their huge feeding needs and they tend to have structural problems due to their
large frame. Large animals live longer but their reproduction rate is slower,
and with the large territories, mates tend to be difficult to find. Elephants
combat the weight of their huge skull by having many air filled cavities, which
reduces its weight without diminishing its strength. This makes it easier to be
the size they are by having its weight reduced.
A creature cannot be huge without have
multiple structural problems, a large creature are not as agile or fast as one
half its size. Even an Elephant cannot jump, at least tweet feet firmly on the
ground to support itself.
All images and quotes in this blog post I have scanned/quoted myself from the referenced book below:
Jean-Baptiste de Panafieu. And Gries P.
2011. Evolution in Action: Natural
History through Spectacular Skeletons. Thames & Hudson.
