See how 11 animals have changed over time

Whether as a result of domestication or the work of nature itself, the animal kingdom is in constant transformation. And although some current animals are very similar to their ancestors, others have had their appearance so altered that they could hardly be recognized as relatives of those animals from which they originated.

O awesome.club prepared a list of 11 animals that went through very particular processes of change over time. Get ready to be amazed!

The mouflon is considered to be the ancestor of today’s sheep. As a result of this evolution, the sheep we know today are much more domesticated than their ancestors. And although mouflons are brown, domestic sheep have a coat that varies between white and dark brown. The white color of sheep is the result of selective breeding.as it can be dyed more easily.

Most domestic pig breeds descend from boars🇧🇷 Archaeological evidence indicates that wild boars began to be domesticated between 13,000 and 12,700 BC. The animals were mainly used as food, but the first civilizations also used the animal’s skin to make shields, while the fur was used in brushes. The bones, on the other hand, turned into tools and weapons. During the evolution resulting from domestication, these animals lost their thick fur and large tusks.

Experts consider that the bos primigenius, an extinct species of wild cattle that inhabited Europe, Asia and North Africa, is the ancestor of domestic cattle. For scholars, he is also an ancestor of the current European bison. The animals we know today can be divided into dairy cattle (those raised for the production of milk) and beef cattle (raised for the supply of meat).

The closest known relative of giraffes is the Samotherium🇧🇷 today extinct. The anatomy of this animal shows a transition to a neck similar to that of today’s giraffes. Samotherium, which lived in the forests of Eurasia 7 million years ago, had a neck approximately one meter long, about half that exhibited by modern-day giraffes🇧🇷 It is believed that the increase in the neck occurred due to the scarcity of food on the ground, which meant that the animals needed to reach higher vegetation.

The most accepted hypothesis is that the horse came from the extinct eurohippus🇧🇷 Such creatures were small, weighing only about 10 kilograms.🇧🇷 Evolution occurred when animals stopped eating leaves to feed on grass. In addition, the ancestors of the horse were forced to reach higher speeds to escape predators.

Experts believe that the Moeritherium, an extinct animal that lived in swampy areas and resembled a hippopotamus, is the ancestor of the elephant. Except he wasn’t that big: he was 74 cm to 1.07 m tall at the shoulder.

The ancestors of rabbits had nothing to do with the animals we know today. You Nuralagus they were about 6 times heavier than today’s rabbits. Also, they weren’t as agile or able to jump. of the ancients Nuralagus to today’s rabbits, a long way has come. Its evolution was the result of numerous crossings, which generated a series of very different races.

Reverse genetic engineering and study of the fossil record indicate that today’s birds are feathered dinosaurs that evolved during the late Jurassic period. It is very curious to know that the closest living relatives of birds may be crocodiles.

Dolphins are connected to the indohyus, an extinct animal that inhabited the mainland. The evolutionary split occurred about 48 million years ago. About the size of a raccoon or a house cat, this omnivorous pig-like creature showed signs of adapting to aquatic life: it gained a thick and heavy outer body layer, in addition to bones that reduced buoyancy. All this allowed them to spend more time under water.

O indohyus it is also closely linked to whales.

Sharks are mysterious creatures, and experts still know little about their evolutionary process. However, in many scientific circles, it is considered that the Helicoprion is your ancestor. However, the dental spiral is a controversial topic. While some believe it was on the upper jaw, others claim it was on the lower jaw. There are also discussions to define whether the spiral of teeth was curved inwards or outwards.

Owls are examples of how climate change affects evolution. In the past, gray owls were found in greater numbers than brown ones.🇧🇷 However, as temperatures rise and snow layers melt, the number of brown owls grows🇧🇷 It is probably the way that nature has found to maintain the ability of these animals to camouflage themselves in regions that are experiencing changes in climate.

Were you surprised by any of these animals? Do you think that human bodies will also change as a result of evolution? In your opinion, which current human characteristics will change in the future? Comment!