Dolphin-Future

Modern Animal: Dolphin

__ Future Animal: Flat Dolphin __ ** Introduction: **

The future animal of the dolphin is the Flat Dolphin (Latin name: Delphinus Tenvis) Several features of the modern dolphin has changed to adapt to the environment that the Flat Dolphin will be living in.


 * Habitat: **

250 million years in the future, there will be a possible supercontinent called the Pangaea Ultima. (Refer to Figure 1) It is similar to the previous Pangaea supercontinent, where plates have moved back together. The climate on Pangaea Ultima will be very dry due to the temperature extremes. There will be huge weather systems, such as hurricanes.

Tropical areas in Ultima Pangaea, the temperature will go up to about 44 degrees Celsius. And in the winters, the weather will range from -20 to -30 degrees Celsius with heavy snowfall.

The Atlantic and Indian oceans will be closed, and enclosed within the land of Pangaea Ultima will be the remaining of the Indian Ocean.

Small marine animals will start to die out because the water will become anoxic. In reef-fringed coastal areas, that are close to the equator will be full of life. However, animals will have to compete with each other. Dolphins will be found in the tropical waters close to the equator, where they can find food. (Refer to Figure 2)



There will also be dense forests and tall trees in the southern part of Pangaea.


 * Adaptations 1: Skin **

Since the temperature in Ultima Pangaea is very high, the Flat Dolphins will develop hair around its body. This will help them survive so they don’t get sunburn easily. The environmental factor that caused this could have been the weather conditions. The weather conditions will be so extreme, that the dolphin itself has to be able to protect itself from the sun and the cold.


 * Adaptations 2: Teeth **

250 million years in the future, most small marine animals would have died out, because the water has become so anoxic. The Flat Dolphin will adapt to not only eating the remaining marine animals, but also land animals that live close to the water. It will develop strong sharp teeth in order to grab the land animals by the neck and pull them to the water. This will provide more food source for the dolphin therefore it won’t starve to death. The environmental factor that could have caused this is the declining food source-marine animals in the sea.


 * Adaptations 3: Eyes **

The Flat Dolphin will have much bigger eyes. The main purpose of its original small eyes was to produce tears to remove salt from the eyes in the water. The salinity will be much lower, therefore that function will no longer be useful. Their eyes will also let them have a wider vision, so they can locate their prey much easier, so they won’t starve. The environmental factor that could have caused this is the declining salinity level in the sea water.


 * Adaptations 4: Beak **

The Flat Dolphin will have a wider and bigger beak, which will allow them to feed on bigger land animals, not just marine animals. This will help them survive so they won’t starve. The environmental factor that could have caused this is the declining food source-marine animals in the sea.


 * Adaptations 5: Wider Flippers **

The Flat Dolphin will have to be able to adapt to the extreme hot weather, and also be able to swim much quicker. Wider and bigger flippers will not only allow them to swim faster but it will also help cool them down in the hot weather. They will flap their flippers continuously under water to cool themselves down during the hot weather. This will prevent them from dying in the heat. The environmental factor that could have caused this is the extreme hot and cold weather conditions.


 * Bibiography: **

1) Discovery Enterprise (2011) Pangaea Ultima. Retrieved 26th June, 2011, from []

2) Paleomap Project (2003) Future World. Retrieved 26th June, 2011, from []

3) Wikipedia (2011) Pangaea Ultima. Retrieved 26th June, 2011, from []


 * Picture Sources: **

Figure 1: []

Figure 2: []

Figure 3: Myself