Lungfish+(future+-+Katsuladon)

Lungfish (fossil - Dipterus) Lungfish (modern)

Latin name: Metriorhynchus Hybodus
 * __Katsuladon (Future)__**


 * __Scientific Classification__**
 * ** Kingdom: ** || Animalia ||
 * ** Phylum: ** || Chordata ||
 * ** Subphylum: ** || Vertebrata ||
 * ** Class: ** || Sarcopterygii ||
 * ** Subclass: ** || Dipnoi ||
 * ** Family: ** || Metriorhyncae ||
 * ** Genus: ** || Metriorhynchus ||
 * ** Species: ** || Metriorhynchus Hybodus ||

Around 250 million years later, the Earth has incredibly changed since. Many scientist including those from NASA had predicted after 250 million years later, the Earth would join the continents together again forming Pangaea Ultima, which consists of present continents; Africa, South America, North America and Eurasia. With Australia and Antarctica joined together forming a separate continent. Many marine species had evolved into fierce animals. The modern lungfish which originated from Australia had evolved into a carnivorous predator called the Katsuladon. Their habitat is near the northern part of Australia and regions of India and South America.
 * __Habitat__**
 * [[image:Snapshot_4_(6-6-2011_7-20_PM).png]] ||

The Katsuladon is a fierce hunter; it enjoys deep oceans with much marine life so that it can hunt on. The Katsuladon enjoys cool waters similar to those in the Pacific oceans of temperature between 10 degrees Celsius to 20 degrees Celsius. Unlike its ancestors the lungfish, the Katsuladon loves deep water with a depth of 20 metres or more. It also likes to live on land aswell, very uncommon compared to its ancestors. With lungs, the fish is able to breathe on land. However, they do share similar characteristics; the Katsuladon had poor eyesight but has a high sensitivity. Similarly, they hunt their prey at night aswell. The Katsuladon is very self defensive and which their adaptations help contribute to its defence against other predators. The Katsuladon usually laid their eggs on land, under huge vegetation and trees. Very much similar to their ancestors who likes to spawn on vegetation in water, but in the case of Katsuladon they spawn on land. The vegetation helps protect the eggs from land predators. The Katsuladon will swim deeper if necessary in search for a more suitable place for living.
 * [[image:Snapshot_5_(6-6-2011_7-25_PM).png]] ||


 * __Adaptation__**




 * __Structural__**

An environmental pressure that caused this adaptation was the consistent threat from predators and that they felt like they needed more defence.
 * __Sharper Teeth –__** the Katsuladon developed sharp teeth to help it tear their preys into pieces. The Katsuladon is very aggressive; they give no chance of survival to their prey once the ‘chase and run’ begins. Since marine animals had also evolved, the Katsuladon would have to have sharper teeth to suit the environment and the flesh of the new preys. The ancestors of Katsuladon were also preys aswell, this is why the Katsuladon developed sharper teeth to defend and help fight back predators. They have no fear. With the help of their swimming speed, they can launch a vicious attack on preys and tear them up into pieces in a matter of seconds. Their sharp teeth are also used on land, the Katsuladon's favourite meal on land is the Teriyaki Turkey and when they spot one, the Katsuladon jumps straight onto the animal and tear it into pieces with its sharp teeth.

An environmental pressure that caused this adaptation was the constant threat from predators. The horn developed on top of the head so that the Katsuladon can protect itself.
 * __Horn –__** the Katsuladon developed a hope on top of its head. This horn has many uses. One use is that it helps to detect any form of movement using electroreception at the tip of the horn. This electroreceptor was formally developed by their ancestors. The second use for these horns was that it adds on to their self defence. It helps to attack any predator coming towards the Katsuladon.


 * __Behavioural__**

An environmental pressure that might have led to this adaptation is because of their poor eyesight and vulnerability to them swimming and hunting in daytime.
 * __Hunting at night –__** very much similar to their ancestors, the Katsuladon normally hunts at night. This is because they have poor eyesight and are more vulnerable to predators at daytime. However, they have very high sensitivity to any form of movement, similar to their ancestors. Their pectoral and pelvic fins is where they sense movement aswell as the electroreceptor at the tip of their horn. When most preys are resting at night, the Katsuladon swims and strikes a prey with their sharp teeth.

An environmental pressure that might have lead to this adaptation was that their eggs are being the food source of most small predators on land, and so the Katsuladon would have to look after their eggs and live on the land for a period of time.
 * __Living on land –__** the Katsuladon developed an interesting characteristic that none of its ancestors had, and that is living on the land for a period of time. The Katsuladon usually rest during daytime under vegetation on land to keep them protected from predators either on land or in water. With their ability to breathe atmospheric air passed on by their ancestors, the Katsuladon are able to live on land like a salamander over a long period of time. Especially when they had just laid their eggs, they do not usually hunt in water. They love to stay on land to protect and watch over their eggs from predators. They do not fear predators of themselves while living on land because they usually do not go anywhere further than the banks and edge of nearby water since going further inland is where most larger predators will be. Living on the side of waters, the Katsuladon is pretty much a predator instead of being a prey.


 * __Physiological__**

An environmental pressure that caused them to have this adaptation was that they needed to live on land, and living on land the first requirement is to be able to breathe. Without lungs the Katsuladon cannot breathe and therefore could not live on land.
 * __Lungs/ability to breathe air__** – passed on by their ancestors, the Katsuladon has primitive lungs inside them which give them the ability to breathe atmospheric air when they live on land. Similar to their ancestors, when they breathe air, they can choose to make a noise or not. If they do, this noise similar to a ringing of a bell acts as a mating call or a shout to scare away predators.

The Earth changed since now; many animals had evolved into new species to cope with the environment that had changed aswell. Many forms of marine animals developed into fierce hunters that fight for survival. The lungfish cannot be as friendly as it had been so it had evolved into a fearsome predator that also has strong self defensiveness. The lungfish and their descendent share similar characteristics in terms of hunting but their descendents definitely are more skilled and equipped. The defense of the Katsuladon is similar to the ancestor of its ancestor, the Dipterus, which had a strong bone to protect its head while the Katsuladon developed a horn to add on to protection.
 * __Why did they evolve from their ancestors?__**


 * __Bibliography __**

- Swampnew. (2007).  //R// //egarding the future of the Australian lungfish. ////Retrieved on the 25th of June 2011. // [] - Wikipedia. (2011). //Pangaea Ultima.// Retrieved on the 25th of June 2011. []

- Annkempslungfish. (2010). //Future Habitat of Lungfish.// Retrieved on the 25th of June 2011. [] 