Our understanding of the world has changed drastically in the last few centuries. Darwin’s theory of evolution is more recent than it seems, since it has only been with us for a couple of centuries. However, we have since come to understand how we came to be the dominant species and why other species have not yet evolved like us.
These are processes that take millions of years and that do not happen in the same way with everyone. For example, crocodiles have been the same for about eight million years, while we have lived for about two million years without major changes. However, there are other animals that are a point apart, because their rapid evolution has not gone unnoticed by scientists.
green lizard
About 15 years ago, brown lizards invaded the green lizard ecosystem in Florida, so the green lizards had to start moving up into the treetops. Just 15 years and 20 generations later, green lizards are much more comfortable at high altitudes thanks to how quickly their fingers are longer and thinner and their scales are stickier.
Of coyotes, wolves and dogs
Packs and packs of wolves lived in the northern United States and were killed by the first Europeans to arrive to set up their homes. Faced with this change, the wolves, with a scattered population, began to mate with the coyotes of the region, so that in a few centuries the “coyolobo” has become a characteristic animal of the region. In addition, this hybrid has also begun to cross with dogs, so crossbreeding is expected to be even greater.
radioactive fish
In the Hudson River, fish have been dying for decades, because it is now more of a toxic dumping ground than a beautiful river. When exposed to the chemicals, the fish increased their heart rate and died, but not before suffering enough. However, a variety of cod that lives there and that measures around 10 centimeters, has modified its DNA to withstand the products that humans leave in their home.
blind shrimp
According to Dr. Martin Stenger of Rockstock University in Germany, 200 million years for the brain to transform like that of various crustaceans living in the deep ocean is a very short time. These animals live in the dark zone, where light is not able to reach, so they have lost their vision and have developed the sense of smell and touch to guide themselves in what seems like an infinite void.
colored owls
The tawny owl, which can be found in many parts of Asia, has started an unexpected evolutionary process due to global warming. Its original colors, brown and pale gray, are beginning to see competition, because due to the cold, its plumage is increasingly whiter. In just 50 years, gray owls are disappearing and more and more are brown birds. However, these also show a whiter plumage than normal.
Global warming, migration, ecosystem damage. Most of these animals are evolving because of man, which means that our passage through the Earth not only irreversibly affects us, but also forces other species to adapt or disappear, is it really fair for them? ?
And you do you think? Leave us your comments!
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