LYSTROSAURUS: The Ultimate Survivor

During the Great Dying (at the end of the Permian Period (about 300 million years ago)), nearly 95 percent of life on earth died out.  One animal that did survive this terrible time, and latter populated the earth was Lystrosaurus.  This remarkable Therapsid (Mammal-Reptile) dominated the earth for about ten million years (approximately 230 million years ago) during the early Triassic Period.  Referred to the “Noah” of the Great Dying, Lystrosaurus was considered to be “disaster taxa”.  While the world was recovering from this near-total mass extinction, She took advantage of the hot and dry environment, and thrived.  However, this primitive animal eventually became unable to compete with the species who emerged during the later Triassic Period.

            Lystrosaurus was the size of a modern Pig, and possessed two tusks for teeth.  In addition, She had a horny beak like a Turtle.  Since her jaws are structured for shearing not chewing, Lystrosaurus ground her food instead.  Also, this heavy-set Therapsid walked like a Reptile, using a semi-sprawling gait.

            Since She lived on nearly every continent (except South America), fossils of Lystrosaurus have been found everywhere.  Because her bones were discovered in both southern Africa and Antarctica, Lystrosaurus proved that these continents were once joined together as a single landmass.  Moreover, these fossils demonstrated that the theory of continental drift was indeed a fact.

            A remarkable animal, Lystrosaurus survived the Great Dying to populate the earth.  At one time, She accounted for 95 percent of all of the land animals in the world.  This was the only time that a single species (except for modern Humans) utterly dominated the landscape.

            A lot can be learned from Lystrosaurus.  For starters, She is a survivor who lived through extremely tough times.  In fact, She thrived in terrible conditions.  By being Herself, Lystrosaurus proved a major scientific theory – Continental Drift.  Throughout it all, Lystrosaurus, a plant eater, dominated life at a time of needed recovery.  Let Lystrosaurus teach you survival skills for your difficult times.

HYAENODON: Ideas of Success

            The most successful member of the Creodont Family (early predatory Mammals) was Hyaenodon.  Resembling a modern Wolf, Hyaenodon ran on her toes like modern Dogs.  Using her powerful jaws and sharp teeth, She also tore off meat and broke bones.

            Smaller Hyaenodons hunted in packs at night, while the larger ones hunted alone.  However, Hyaenodons of all sizes ground their teeth to intimidate other animals.  Also, They pooped on their prey after eating their fill.  By covering the smell, Hyaenodons kept scavengers away from their kill.

            Hyaenodon gigas, who was the size of a Rhino, hunted the largest Mammals that had ever roamed on the land.  This Hyaenodon lived at the same time that modern Carnivores were emerging, and competed with Them.  Although, Hyaenodon gigas did go extinct, She was successful in her day.

            Hyaenodon challenges our modern ideas of success and superiority.  She asks us to accept her success and skill as much as we do modern Carnivores.  Hyaenodon took down the giants of Mammal kind, and brags to us about her success.  Measuring success is not done by one yardstick but many.  Hyaenodon challenges us to step outside our notions of success, and find new ways of judging.

CREODONT FAMILY: The Paradox of Time

Before the rise of the modern family of Carnivora, Creodonts (the dominant predators amongst early Mammals) first appeared during the time of Dinosaurs in the Cretaceous Era.  At this time, Creodonts were only the size of Rats.  However by the Oligocene epoch, Creodonts became the size of modern Rhinos.  During the Eocene epoch, Creodonts flourished the greatest in numbers and variety.  In all, They lived from 41 million years ago to 25 million years ago.

            Creodonts were divided into two groups – Oxyaenids and Hyaenodons.  Both groups had teeth designed to slice meat but no grinding teeth.  (Modern Carnivores have both.)  Similar to Cats and Weasels, Oxyaenids had long bodies, short legs, and long tails.  Meanwhile, Hyaenodons, similar to Dogs and Wolves, had longer legs and ran on their toes like dogs.

            Although one species of Hyaenodons existed until the Pliocene epoch, most Creodonts went extinct during the Oligocene epoch.  As the more specialized Predators of the Carnivora evolved, Creodonts died off.  Although scientists tried to connect the two groups, they could not prove that Creodonts were ancestors of Carnivora.  The two groups had evolved separately achieving the same ends as predators.

            Creodonts teach that life is not linear.  One thing does not necessarily flows from another one.  Life is like the springs that feed both lakes and seas, both different but both support life.  Creodonts and Carnivores are similar in that aspect since they were not linear in time but existed together.

            Creodonts guide us through the paradoxes of time.  They lead us through the eddies and whirlpools in the river that is time.  Sometimes Creodonts demonstrate parallel time, at other times breaks in the time-stream.  Let Creodonts hold you in time, and experience their fluid wisdom.