Editing Aurelian (section)

==The Biological Evolution of the Skorr and Aurelian Species==

Among all of the various species of the galaxy, hidden away behind a class G star named [[Alakaram System|Alakaram]] is a world named [[Skoria]]. It is on this world over 1 billion years ago that life emerged. And while we are now aware that the proliferation of life is not a singular event, it is apparently a very precious event.

On the world of [[Skoria]], life began as it did elsewhere throughout the universe; as sludge comprised of simple proteins and single-celled organisms. For millions of years these proteins mutated and composed more and more complex symphonies of life. Eventually communities of similar proteins formed, establishing the first pseudomulti-celled organisms on the planet. These bizarre creatures further specialized to carry on differing functions within the colonies, creating the complex strands that would later become Deoxyribonucleic Acid or DNA.

[[File:Erothrope.jpg|thumb|300px|left|An Erothrope]]

After almost 200 million years, the first exothermic creatures crawled out of the sludge and stared at the stars and the skies for the first time. These early creatures called Erothropes were incapable of long-term survival away from the pools that spawned them. They were blind, deaf and could only locate food through an acute sense of vibration. The Earliest recorded fossils of Erothropes suggest that the creatures were hardly capable of movement outside of the liquid medium that they were born into. These fossils are not widespread, and so many of the fossils vary within only a few kilometers that Paleontologists believe the Erothrope to be specifically adapted to their particular pool of sludge and slime. These odd creatures were so specialized that the slightest contact with a sludge pool other than their own would be fatal to them. It seemed the interaction between pools was limited to an occasional mixing among pools caused by changes in weather and water patterns. During the formative period that the Erothropes flourished massive changes in the chemical compositions of their pools nearly destroyed them in their entirety. In fact, the species was so nearly destroyed by the primal conditions that the population is believed to have numbered only a few hundred thousand worldwide.

Despite the difficulties Erothropes encountered, they managed to survive and mutate into an organism similar to that of the [[Earth|Terran]] jellyfish. While still an incredibly simple organism, these new creatures proved more readily able to adapt to the rapid changes of Skoria. The creatures could mingle freely between pools, now beginning to form into large shallow seas and lakes, without worry of poisoning. The new species, named Tetharopes, were quickly the kings of the world that they inhabited. They fed solely on each other, and competition for life in the squalid seas of Skoria was vicious. Tetharopes proved quick to adapt to their surroundings. Clever camouflage techniques, hunting methods and defense mechanisms were developed. It is believed that as many as 300 distinct species of Tetharopes became extinct each day, until finally only the strongest, hardiest animals survived.

[[File:Tetharopes.jpg|thumb|300px|left|A Tetharope]]

While the Tetharopes were struggling for survival, a new type of organism developed from the complex nucleotides remaining from the previous era. These organisms termed Gargots were the first plant Structures to appear on the planet of Skoria. Gargots were slender, poisonous plants. They are the earliest known species to use photosynthesis on that planet. Gargots were primarily found along the edges of pools, where they siphoned off the precious minerals that they needed for their survival. The hardiest of Gargots eventually developed advanced root systems that allowed them to anchor themselves into the soil and extract the minerals directly from the soil. This relatively new evolutionary advantage allowed the surface of Skoria to be covered by an unheard of number of living species. As the Gargots spread across the face of the world, they mutated to meet the challenging demands of their new environment. After only 50 million years, the Gargot had spread to nearly every comer of the [[planet|globe]] and was composed of thousands of distinct subspecies. The table had been set for the rapid spread of life to take place.

[[File:Gargot.jpg|thumb|300px|right|A Gargot]]

While paleontologists have been unable to completely follow the evolutionary progress of the Tetharopes and the Gargots as completely as they'd like, one thing is certain. Over a period of approximately 100 to 150 million years, Tetharopes developed the ability to breathe air. Along with this remarkable biochemical adjustment they also developed a reliable means of locomotion. Fossils dating from this age are very rare, but almost every fossil from this era shows the distinct development of the flipper. This powerful appendage allowed unparalleled mobility and speed. The design of the flipper was so radical, in fact, that nearly every non-flippered species became extinct within the span of a few millennia. While the Tetharopes were becoming better suited to their environment, the Gargots were doing the same. Roughly 10 million years after their initial appearance on the edges of the sludge pools, Gargots held the undisputed title for the most prolific species of their time. Gargot fossils from this era are the most numerous from any period of [[Skorr]] Natural History. These fossils clearly demonstrate the immense diversity that the early Gargot possessed. To date over 300 billion different mutations and subspecies have been positively identified, and it is suspected that this encompasses only 15% of the total likely species that were present during this era.

Historically, somewhere around the period of 600 million years ago, the first truly amphibious creatures emerged from the shallow seas and claimed the solid ground as their birthright. These first creatures were called Aphiopods. The earliest Aphiopods could only remain free from the needed moisture of the seas for a few hours. This was long enough, however, to allow these pioneers to develop a taste for early Gargots. And ironically enough the Gargot would also develop a taste for them.

[[File:Aphiopod.jpg|thumb|300px|left|An Aphiopod]]

As the Aphiopods became better accustomed to prolonged departure from the seas, they began to develop better defenses against the few Gargots that fed on them. This in tum stimulated the Gargots to develop defenses of their own.

By around 550 million years ago, the first Firapods appeared. These small clumsy animals were the direct descendants of the earliest amphibious creatures. They had disposed of the need to return to the seas and instead began to live their entire life spans on dry land. They primarily ate the course leaves of the early Gargots although a distinct subspecies of Firapods made its first appearance within a matter of millennia. This subspecies was called the Garthropods and were the first effective carnivores on Skoria.

Not long after the appearance of the Garthropods and the Firapods severe changes in climate began to take place. The first of these changes was a direct result of the cooling of the [[planet]]ary core. The seawaters receded as more of the available water began to be locked up in the arctic ice packs. As the seas receded, the climate and ecosystems that they affected changed as well. New niches were created by this event, and life took full advantage of these alterations. Tectonic activity increased as the continental shelves expanded as they cooled. Massive ranges of mountains and deep gorges divided the continents into various regions. Plant and animal life became more specialized to the ecosystem that they lived in. Life bloomed and grabbed a firm foothold. Life was here to stay.

[[File:Firapod.jpg|thumb|300px|right|A Firapod]]

The species known as the [[Skorr]]/[[Aurelian]] can trace their genetic ancestry back to a small flightless bird known as Pithonarium Psionisium or the "Starget." The Starget was a small bird weighing roughly 5 kilograms. This bird was an excellent hunter, possessing sharp grasping claws and powerful legs. The beaks of this bird were powerful and serrated, allowing the creature to crush bone as effectively as tearing meat. The strong legs of the bird allowed it to climb trees and other natural features quickly, and thus escape predators. But the physical prowess of the bird was not its most amazing feature that distinction belonged to the brain of the animal.

The brain of the Starget was a very complex mass of neurogenic tissue. The animal possessed keen eyesight and probably was reasonably intelligent. The most amazing aspect of the bird was its forebrain, however. The bird possessed a highly developed occipital lobe. While this is not uncommon in sentient beings, the presence in a lower animal life form is rare indeed. The association of the Starget's occipital lobe to the remainder of the forebrain was unique as well. The unique configuration points to the possibility that the small flightless bird actually possessed limited telepathy. While this is supposed, it has never been confirmed, as no living member of the species exist to this present day.

What is well documented, however, is that the Starget evolved into larger and larger flightless birds, until eventually it culminated in the Shargrith or Pitonarium Garithulae. This large bird weighed over 300 kilograms and stood as tall as the average [[human]]. Its powerful; beak could slit small trees, and it was every bit a predatory bird. While other Birds took to the sky, the Shargrith hunted larger land animals.

But size had its disadvantages; the Shargrith was nearly driven to extinction as the environment it roamed slowly changed. The Shargrith gave way to a smaller more compact mutation of itself. This mutation was capable of breeding with other avian species, and adopting the various habits and benefits that their diversity allowed for. This species of Bird, the Hartrill, or Pitonarium Garithulae Minimus would soon die out as an independent species, but not before passing its own genetic composition to several competing species.

[[File:Pithonarium Psionisium.jpg|thumb|300px|left|A model of a Pithonarium Psionisium]]

The winner of the evolutionary race on Skoria would be a little known avian species called a Manumit, or Catheria Mamulain, a direct descendant of the Hartrill. This small creature would prove to be the correct mix of genetics, intelligence and mobility needed to rise to dominance on the Skorr home world.

The Manumit was by far the most unlikely creature to rise to the pinnacle of evolutionary perfection. A strange mix of Avian, mammal and reptile, the unusual beast possessed a pair of arms, legs and wings. This unique hexipedal creature would be the forerunner to the [[Skorr]] and [[Aurelian]] Species. Students of Paleontology argue over the evolutionary pressures that caused this unique creature to undertake such a radical diversion from the generally accepted path of evolution.

In the entire known [[Alpha Quadrant]] Only the Skorr and the Aurelians actually evolved wings, arms and legs. The small creature that they originated from used the primitive limbs to climb high into trees. From his newly acquired lofty perch the Manumit would glide down to the ground or to other nearby trees. The creature originally was covered by thick fur, and possessed the warm-blooded aspects of an avian. Only after several hundred years of evolution did the creature eventually develop the strength in its wings to allow for flight. At first, even this was difficult to accomplish, as the skeleton of the Manumit was still quite heavy. As the struggle for survival, brought about by global ecological disaster, became more desperate, the Manumit developed primitive tool using ability. These newly acquired skills would prove to be the decisive edge needed to survive the test of time.

The Manumit evolved over a series of millennia. Each successive generation got smarter and cleverer. The arms and legs lengthened, and the wings compensated for the difference in size. Eventually the body adapted itself towards flight. The bones of the Manumit grew honeycombed and hollow, reducing weight and allowing the creatures to grow bigger. The Manumit also shed its hair-like structures in favor of feathers for aerodynamic reasons. The reptilian ridge that formed the mouth of the beast became extended and hardened. Eventually this structure would become the powerful beak that dominates the [[Skorr]] and [[Aurelian]] facial features. All of these changes took place over the course of approximately 100 million years; the end result was something completely different.
[[Category: Skorr Hierarchy]]|Category: Species]]