The common ancestor that links whales and deer existed millions of years ago and exhibited features shared by both groups. This ancestor likely possessed basic artiodactyl characteristics, such as an even number of toes on each foot and a certain bone structure within the ear. Over time, as these creatures diverged to inhabit distinct environments, their physical traits adapted accordingly. Despite these differences, the underlying genetic similarities persist, revealing their deep-rooted connection.
Almost all herbivores are opportunistic carnivores; deer eat birds. Presumably some great swimmers thought the krill (or some other sea life) represented a great opportunity
Eh, the giant panda isn’t the best example. It’s digestive system is still optimized for meat, which is why the need to eat a lot of bamboo and eat very specific parts of it that have a similar nutritional makeup as meat. They wouldn’t be able to survive eating other plants, but they could survive (and thrive) eating meat.
It’s interesting because it’s very obvious, biologically, that the panda has a digestive system that has a carnivore past, and yet, the very plentiful biomass in bamboo forests just waiting to be eaten rewards the animals that can make use of it. So the giant panda may or may not be “optimized” for meat, but has generations that came out of the free food that is bamboo, so that their very survival depends on a herbivore diet.
Context for this:
Was the common ancestor carnivorous or herbivorous?
Omnivorous most likely, then many animals became herbivores or carnivirous
Almost all herbivores are opportunistic carnivores; deer eat birds. Presumably some great swimmers thought the krill (or some other sea life) represented a great opportunity
It ate krill
Just krill me now.
🍤
Weird to think that deer descended from krill eaters. Maybe that’s why they love salt licks so much.
I remember reading that the common ancestors of all birds was carnivorous. Basically every herbivore bird descended from carnivores.
See also the giant panda and the red panda.
Eh, the giant panda isn’t the best example. It’s digestive system is still optimized for meat, which is why the need to eat a lot of bamboo and eat very specific parts of it that have a similar nutritional makeup as meat. They wouldn’t be able to survive eating other plants, but they could survive (and thrive) eating meat.
It’s interesting because it’s very obvious, biologically, that the panda has a digestive system that has a carnivore past, and yet, the very plentiful biomass in bamboo forests just waiting to be eaten rewards the animals that can make use of it. So the giant panda may or may not be “optimized” for meat, but has generations that came out of the free food that is bamboo, so that their very survival depends on a herbivore diet.
Swim away!