okay, but seriously, why did they evolve so differently than modern-day fish?
and if we magically reintroduced them, would they be more fit or less fit than modern-day fish?
Less, one of the major genetic innovations of the late Cambrian was development of jaws. The vast majority of these species would get wrecked by modern fish in moments.
It’s so cool to think we are living in an era of modern superfish, which would absolutely destroy any other fish that ever lived, since fish were upgraded over millions of years to where they are.
It is wild to remember we’re all descended from fish. I mostly refer to our primate tendencies (listen to a kid scream and tell me we’re not descended from apes) but a lot of our parts, like our skeletons, are highly modified fish parts. It’s crazy.
I am not a biologist or really anyone with any authority on the matter. Just some guy who likes to read and think about all manner of subjects, so I cannot adequately explain anything here, but if you’re interested in the why, it really boils down to the simplicity of morphological structures early in the development of life on earth, to more complex as evolution did its thing. That’s not to say that evolution has a goal, just that added complexity often means greater advantages. Also, it isn’t as though nothing similar to these creatures exist at all today. These basal forms were a prerequisite to the life we see in the oceans (and on land) today.
Definitely stay interested and read more about morphology and evolution in general! Fascinating stuff.
One of the big advances around then was being able to be an effective predator at all. It’s likely one of the big causes for the Cambrian explosion was the arms race to not be eaten vs being able to eat your neighbors effectively.
okay, but seriously, why did they evolve so differently than modern-day fish? and if we magically reintroduced them, would they be more fit or less fit than modern-day fish?
Less, one of the major genetic innovations of the late Cambrian was development of jaws. The vast majority of these species would get wrecked by modern fish in moments.
It’s so cool to think we are living in an era of modern superfish, which would absolutely destroy any other fish that ever lived, since fish were upgraded over millions of years to where they are.
Imagine the future with megafishs, having evolved… fish nets ?.. and lasers!.. and and barbecues…
Lasers and barbecues not so much yet, but Blue Whales, Humback Whales, and Whale Sharks have effectively turned their teeth into fishing nets.
It is wild to remember we’re all descended from fish. I mostly refer to our primate tendencies (listen to a kid scream and tell me we’re not descended from apes) but a lot of our parts, like our skeletons, are highly modified fish parts. It’s crazy.
Removed by mod
I mean, it follows that eventually evolution would produce fauna that would take apart a nuclear submarine in seconds.
I am not a biologist or really anyone with any authority on the matter. Just some guy who likes to read and think about all manner of subjects, so I cannot adequately explain anything here, but if you’re interested in the why, it really boils down to the simplicity of morphological structures early in the development of life on earth, to more complex as evolution did its thing. That’s not to say that evolution has a goal, just that added complexity often means greater advantages. Also, it isn’t as though nothing similar to these creatures exist at all today. These basal forms were a prerequisite to the life we see in the oceans (and on land) today.
Definitely stay interested and read more about morphology and evolution in general! Fascinating stuff.
One of the big advances around then was being able to be an effective predator at all. It’s likely one of the big causes for the Cambrian explosion was the arms race to not be eaten vs being able to eat your neighbors effectively.