Almea & The AAH

[Death of Ophelia]

I was reading an article on Wiki, about the Aquatic Ape Hypothesis, and not only did it strike me as interesting and plausible, but I remembered that Mark had stated the origin of Humans on his world to be aquatic, so I was wondering if it had any influence on you, that is the Aquatic Ape Hypothesis?

And, I'm not trying to infringe on copyrights or steal ideas, but I was thinking about parodying Humans, and giving them aquatic orgins, but I'd base it more on AAH than I would on Almean Human Beings.

Oh and one last aditional question, what is the scientific name of Almean Humans? Is it merely Homo sapiens?

[Herra Ratatoskr]

Oh and one last aditional question, what is the scientific name of Almean Humans? Is it merely Homo sapiens?

According to Zomp's page on Almean Intelligent life, the closest analogues to humans are "Urestu Planitiei."

BTW Zomp, what does "Planitiei" Mean? I can't seem to find it in the lexicon?

[zompist]

The Aquatic Ape Hypothesis was a definite influence on Almea. My best understanding is that it's discounted as a theory of terrestrial human origins; but I liked it for Almea. (Nonetheless, the near ancestors of Almean hominids were, like our own, savannah hunters.)

Almean life has no relation to terrestrial life, so it has its own biological tree. The species names on the biology page are Latin, except for the word urestu which is of course Cadhinor. Planitiei means 'of the plains'. The Verdurians have their own classification system-- I know I've posted it once, but I can't find it online. I have it at home; post again if you really want to know.

[Drydic]

I believe it was on the old board somwhere.

[brandrinn]

I did a little reading on the AAH, and found something interesting. It seems that among aquatic mammal species, there are five features that they almost always adopt as convergent evolution, even if they are unrelated.
1) small or non-existent external ears
2) shorter legs
3) highly developed young at birth
4) milk high in fat and protein
5) enlarged kidneys to handle salt excretion

If Uesti come from aquatic ancestors, and you want those ancestors to be recent enough to bequeath some aquatic adaptations, then you might want to have a look at the list. Uesti already have small ears, and longer legs are useful for running and hunting on land, but what about the others? Presumably they could all have reverted back to terrestrial norms by modern times. But if you wanted, you could (for example) make Uesti milk richer in fat and protein than human milk or extend Uesti gestation to 10 or even 11 months. Don't know if that would really make much difference... but it's a thought.

[Mornche Geddick]

I have often thought that there is no need for Almean women to suffer menstruation either, since no terrestrial mammal does, except the great apes. The redel might refer instead to some bodily change taking place at puberty, i.e. darkening of the nipples.

[So Haleza Grise]

I have often thought that there is no need for Almean women to suffer menstruation either, since no terrestrial mammal does, except the great apes. The redel might refer instead to some bodily change taking place at puberty, i.e. darkening of the nipples.

If they didn't menstruate, they'd probably have an oestrus cycle; with serious behavioural consequences. Almean society would look very different then, I think.

[Mornche Geddick]

I have often thought that there is no need for Almean women to suffer menstruation either, since no terrestrial mammal does, except the great apes. The redel might refer instead to some bodily change taking place at puberty, i.e. darkening of the nipples.

If they didn't menstruate, they'd probably have an oestrus cycle; with serious behavioural consequences. Almean society would look very different then, I think.

Not necessarily. Chimps come into heat (see "In the Shadow of Man"), and it has been suggested ever since Marie Stopes wrote "Married Love" that women have an increased sex drive around the time of ovulation.

[So Haleza Grise]

I have often thought that there is no need for Almean women to suffer menstruation either, since no terrestrial mammal does, except the great apes. The redel might refer instead to some bodily change taking place at puberty, i.e. darkening of the nipples.

If they didn't menstruate, they'd probably have an oestrus cycle; with serious behavioural consequences. Almean society would look very different then, I think.

Not necessarily. Chimps come into heat (see "In the Shadow of Man"), and it has been suggested ever since Marie Stopes wrote "Married Love" that women have an increased sex drive around the time of ovulation.

But women would not be sexually receptive at all outside of oestrus.

[Tsiasuk-Pron]

Interestingly, the Itlani are a specie with aquatic origins.

Itlani:

Chipizhe, ta Itlantanú dozhvanit meyleyna onyaren.

[WeepingElf]

Interestingly, the Itlani are a specie with aquatic origins.

Itlani:

Chipizhe, ta Itlantanú dozhvanit meyleyna onyaren.

What is the origin of the Itlani? I remember that they migrated to their present planet when Atlantis sank, but from whence did they come there?

[Mornche Geddick]

I have often thought that there is no need for Almean women to suffer menstruation either, since no terrestrial mammal does, except the great apes. The redel might refer instead to some bodily change taking place at puberty, i.e. darkening of the nipples.

If they didn't menstruate, they'd probably have an oestrus cycle; with serious behavioural consequences. Almean society would look very different then, I think.

Not necessarily. Chimps come into heat (see "In the Shadow of Man"), and it has been suggested ever since Marie Stopes wrote "Married Love" that women have an increased sex drive around the time of ovulation.

But women would not be sexually receptive at all outside of oestrus.

Wouldn't they? How about the bonobos?

[brandrinn]

How about the bonobos?

Bonobos are Great Apes. All Great Apes (i.e. Pan, Homo, Gorilla, and Pongo) have a menstrual rather than estrous cycle. The main differences are that in an estrous cycle, the unused endometrium is reabsorbed rather than expelled, and females with a menstrual cycle can be sexually active at any time.

[Mornche Geddick]

Great apes have a menstrual cycle AND an oestrus cycle. The menstrual cycle relates to the state of the endothelium, the oestrus cycle to ovulation. Nor is there any reason why any female mammal should not be physically able to have sex outside oestrus whether the endothelium is shed or reabsorbed, provided that she has another reason besides reproduction.

[Fruithat]

I was reading an article on Wiki, about the Aquatic Ape Hypothesis

Whoa, our KneeQuickie wiki has an article on the aquatic ape hypothesis? Where can I find it?

[Aurora Rossa]

I was reading an article on Wiki, about the Aquatic Ape Hypothesis

Whoa, our KneeQuickie wiki has an article on the aquatic ape hypothesis? Where can I find it?

I think they mean the regular wikipedia. And in any case the Kneequickie is currently down anyway.

[Drydic]

dear holy fuck necropost


edit:

I was reading an article on Wiki, about the Aquatic Ape Hypothesis

Whoa, our KneeQuickie wiki has an article on the aquatic ape hypothesis? Where can I find it?

the KQ didn't EXIST in 2005. Neither did the Almeopedia.

[Izambri]

Yeah, it has an interesting curriculum:

Died on July 7th, 2005.
Resurrected on June 26th, 2007.
Died again on July 7th, 2007.
Re-resurrected on October 15th, 2011

This thread likes to die on July 7th.

[Thry]

This thread likes to die on July 7th.

Maybe it just can't stand the Sanfermines?

[bulbaquil]

Yeah, it has an interesting curriculum:

Died on July 7th, 2005.
Resurrected on June 26th, 2007.
Died again on July 7th, 2007.
Re-resurrected on October 15th, 2011

This thread likes to die on July 7th.

How the heck are we supposed to keep it alive for nine more months?!

[Lyhoko Leaci]

Keep on bumping it?

[Izambri]

Easy: talking about what we are supposed to talk here, Almea and the Aquatic Ape Hypothesis. Off-topic discusions will arise easily, as always happens, until we flood the thread with nonsenseries. In July 7th, 2012 we stop posting here. XD

[Timmytiptoe]

Anyone up for throwing monkeys into the sea and seeing if they evolve into telepathic blue people?

[SilentMember]

Did zomp ever actually post the Verdurian classification system?

[zompist]

Did zomp ever actually post the Verdurian classification system?

I haven't worked out the entire biology, but the classification system is described here.