Like, I’m aware of there being exceptions like Penguins, Ostriches, and Bats. But in general, why is there such a distinct land/air split between mammals and birds? Why don’t mammals share the ground with ecosystems of plant- and meat-eating walking birds? Why didn’t we get birds that evolved to slither like snakes, or tunnel like rodents? Why isn’t it (land+sky) all just mammals, where we’d have parrot- and vulture-like bats that don’t lay eggs? If we started the simulation again, might things like this evolve?

  • phantomwise@lemmy.mlEnglish
    3·
    2 days ago

    At the same time, it was also not mammals that ruled the ground, it was, as many an eight year-old can attest, dinosaurs.

    Arthropods who’ve been ruling the world for 500 million years: Why do dinosaurs get all the hype? 😭 😭 😭

    • Zagorath@aussie.zoneEnglish
      2·
      2 days ago

      I think it comes down to the fuzzy definition of “ruling”. The physical size and position in the food chain are among the factors that make dinosaurs rule the mesozoic, in my mind.