Serious question:
How difficult is it for octopus to change via evolution so it becomes more like a primate?
They can already breathe on land for up to an hour.
I think they just need a few key mutations to live longer and nurture their young.
Fun fact: octopuses* respond to MDMA, and become social and cuddly. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/scientists-gave-octopuses-some-molly-heres-what-happened
I seem to recall a similar story where drug exposure reversed the octopus's usual behavior of simply waiting for death after mating, but I couldn't find a reference from a quick search so perhaps I am misremembering this story, about the biological mechanisms behind that behavior: https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-close-in-on-why-octopuses-tragically-destroy-themselves-after-mating
He's been saying that since before The Future is Wild and his Squibbons.
It will be dolphin people!
Why would even be a next "dominant single species", like humans?
Out of the billions of alive organisms that had ever been on earth only humans have human intelligence. It doesn't seem like a common trait for any organism.
I think that humans are just some weird anomaly. Once we are gone there will probably not be any other intelligent species for a while, if forever.
Humans II
I think they could become dominant if they acquired language. Maybe do some crazy sign language with their 8 tentacles. Also their short lifespan could be overcome if they worked together as a group or a hivemind, like the way ants do.
None? We have millions of years head start. No creature will replace us unless we obliterate ourselves.
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2024-11-11