Future+Seal+by+Beccy+Tait


 * FUTURE ANIMAL**
 * Future Leopard Seal** (latin name: //Hydrurga Cornimagnimutaregues//) [[image:futureleopardseal:Picture_12.jpg align="right"]]
 * Hydrurga meaning:** //Water Worker//
 * Cornimagnimutaregues meaning:** //Disguised, large clawed, horned//


 * Kingdom:** Animalia
 * Phylum:** Chordata
 * Class:** Mammalia
 * Order:** Carnivora
 * Suborder:** Pinnipedia
 * Family:** Phocidae
 * Subfamily:** Monachinae
 * Tribe:** Lobodontini


 * Genus:** Hydrurga.
 * Species:** H. Bumeliagues.

__http://designeranimals2011.wikispaces.com/Puijila+Darwini+-+Beccy+Tait__ __http://designeranimals2011.wikispaces.com/Leopard+Seal+-+Beccy+Tait__
 * Past Seal:**
 * Modern Seal:**

The future Leopard seal is relatively like the Leopard Seal, with a few exceptions. It’s new Latin name (Cornimagnimutaregues**)** is a combination of four Latin words: ‘Corniger” meaning ‘horned’. “Magnis” meaning ‘large’, “Mutare” meaning ‘to change’ and “Ungues” meaning ‘clawed’. The evolution of the seal that we have today has taken almost 30 million years to complete, and it is still going. This possible future seal will only start to appear in several millions of years. It has stayed in the relative environment as the modern day Leopard Seal. They mainly have the same diet of penguins, fish and other seals. They would take the place of current Leopard Seals as the largest and most ferocious seal of the Antarctic, by killing all it’s predecessors. It can grow to be over 5 meters and 840 kg, larger than the normal Leopard Seal. Because of their size, their diet has enhanced, causing them to have to eat more penguins and other animals each day.

//-Adaption 1 - Elongated Flippers and Claws.// The Hydrurga Bumeliagues, or simply the Future Leopard Seal, will have evolved to move almost as well on land as it does in the water. Assuming that penguins become better adapted to surviving in the water, Future Leopard Seals will need to adapt as well. Claws may be adapted by the Seal gene. Not only would this enable the seal to grab onto it’s prey with it’s longer flippers and claws, but enable it to move faster on land. Moving an 850 kilogram body on slippery ice would be quite a challenge. Whilst having claws would enable for extra grip, allowing the seals to ‘slide’ themselves forward, rather than try to lift their entire body. This will allow the Future Leopard Seal to be a more formidable predator on land, as it is in the water. Although it is already quite a fast predator on land, the added grip will allow it to save energy until the final attack of the prey, rather than moving it’s entire body. Without this ability, it’s feeding range would be severely limited, possibly causing it to die out.

//-Adaption 2 - Dark Spots// The main predators for the Future Leopard Seal are whales, sharks and possibly other seals. The only main defense it possesses is its speed and intimidating jaws. With the adaption of large, dark spots near it’s tail, the Future Leopard Seal will confuse it’s predators. Much like how the butterfly scares off birds with dark spots on it’s wings, this adaption will make it look as if large eyes are staring at it’s predators. This will allow for a higher survival rate. Without this adaption, predators would have no reason to not attack it, causing it to be unable to reproduce and die out.

//-Adaption 3 - Whiskers on tail// The prey of the Future Leopard Seal will ultimately remain the same, fast and small. While the whiskers on the modern Leopard Seal’s face allow it to detect animals in front of it, it doesn’t help it sense what is behind it. Animals that are able to escape this fast predator will get away by going behind it. Predators, such as the Killer Whale, can also approach from behind. With the added long whiskers on the Future Leopard Seals tail, along with the whiskers on its snout, it will have a 360 degree “view”. It will allow for the Future Leopard Seal to have a better idea as to where it’s prey is, and to see if any predators are sneakily approaching. Without this adaption, it would remain as vulnerable as it is now to surprise attacks and die out.

//-Adaption 4 - Skin Colour// The current Leopard Seal has a dark grey to black top coat, a grey side and white underbelly. Whilst this is a successful camouflage underneath the water, on land it is not. The black stands out amongst the pure white ice and snow. Although the Leopard Seal has very few land predators, occasionally another seal, the change in skin colour will allow it to sneak up on Penguins not only in the water, but on land as well. Cells called ‘//chromatophores’// in their skin will redistribute the colour pigment to cause the color change. This colour change is present in animals such as Chameleons. The change can occur with sudden changes in the environment, such as temperature. The darker colors absorb heat, whilst the lighter colors reflect heat. The Future Leopard Seal’s skin will change to a grey to black colour in the water, whilst when on the white lands of the Antarctic, it will change to a light grey or even white. The skin colour will not be as dark as the 2 large spots on its back, allowing them to be seen in the water. Without this adaption, it would be easily spotted by predators and its prey, therefore making it an easier target.

//-Adaption 5 - Diamond Crown// This adaption is quite pronounced and obvious. The Future Leopard Seal will have a medium sized diamond shaped bone on it’s head. This bone will be apart of it’s skull that has breached the surface. It will be the strongest bone in it’s body. This skull extension will allow the Future Leopard Seal to break through thin ice platforms to attack [| Penguins] from beneath. This can also be used as a strong defense mechanism against predators. With this enhancement, and some of the others listed, the Future Leopard Seal will be able to attack creatures on land. Without this adaption, it would not be able to catch prey as easily on land, possibly causing it to not have enough food and die out, causing it to not be able to reproduce.



**//Environment://**

This possible Future Leopard Seal will live in the same environmental region as the modern day Leopard Seal, with a few exceptions. Because of the current threat of Global Warming only getting worse, it is assumed that parts of Antarctica will break off and disappear completely. Many Leopard Seals live on the edges of Antarctica. This will result in the Future Leopard Seals imminent relocation. The Future Leopard Seals will move north, as their predecessors, the modern Leopard Seal, had done in the winter months. Whilst some will stay in the Antarctic regions, some will move to the coasts of Tasmania, New Zealand, South America and South Africa.

This pressure may even force the Future Leopard Seals to become more Aquatic Based, rather then the current semi aquatic life-style that they currently have. They may have to stay out at sea for weeks on end. This could give rise to many more adaptions such as gills, larger flippers and stronger muscles to help them survive until they reach the coasts.

In the future, many more animals may pass through the Antarctic, because of the large continental disappearances. This would involve more predators passing through the area. The many physical adaptions, such as the black spots, colour change and sensory whiskers on their tail would have all evolved due to a large amount of predators entering the area. Possible future descendants of other seals, or whales or sharks may move into the area and take over as the top predators of Antarctica.

This pressure to move will also force the Future Leopard Seal’s diet to change. With the relocation to other parts of the world, it will come into contact with many different animals. The adaptions listed above will be a necessity if the Future Leopard Seal hopes to survive.



Selection Pressure
Because of the rapid changes the world is seeing, and likely to keep seeing, due to Global Warming, Antarctica may come under even worse threat. So much so, that it may disappear completely. Although the Future Leopard Seals will have spread north to the coasts of many countries, it is assumed the some will stay. With the fast diminish of Icy surfaces, the Future Leopard Seal will be forced to move. Whether the Future Leopard Seal decides to migrate or not may be the choice between life or death. Many Future Leopard Seals may even be forced to make the journey to other countries even further north than those listed above. The Future Leopard Seal is a very capable swimmer, but not for such extreme periods of time. Without a constant intake of food, and the constant threat of larger predators such as Killer Whales, crocodiles and sharks the Future Leopard Seal population may become a threatened, or even extinct.

The Future Leopard Seal will be a very formidable predator, more so than it’s current descendant, the Leopard Seal. They even cause the extinction of their predecessors. It’s adaptions will make it a faster and more successful hunter. The only cause for concern would be the environment around it. With the melting Icebergs, the Future Leopard Seals, or even the modern Leopard Seals may have no where to go, therefore becoming extinct.

Bibliography
 * -**"Leopard Seal." //The Animal Files - Disadvantages of the Leopard Seal//. Web. 24 June 2011. < [|__http://www.theanimalfiles.com/mammals/seals_sea_lions/leopard_seal.html__] >.


 * -**"Leopard Seal - Evolution." //Leopard Seal Evolution//. Web. 24 June 2011. < [|__http://www.squidoo.com/LeopardSeal-facts__] >.


 * -**//Seal Facts and Information//. Web. 24 June 2011. < [|__http://www.seals-world.com/__] >.