Shorebuggle Evolution 45MY
Shorebuggles (bottom left and right) are the culmination of 45 million years of evolution in the herbivorous macro-tardigrade Hexapiggle lineage.
Beginning with basal Hexapiggles (top left) that were little more than enlarged copies of their microscopic ancestors using their stylet mouthparts to pierce seaweeds and suck out the intracellular fluids, the Hexapiggle lineage adapted its first pair of limbs into a pair of chewing mandibles in the Mastix (middle) grade of hexapiggles, arising at around the 20MY mark.
Shorebuggles like the Painted Shorebuggle (Cimarctos pictus; bottom right) fill a role similar to beach springtails and sand fleas, eating washed-up and decaying seaweed at the strandline. A few Shorebuggles, such as the Coastal Spoodigrade (Gnathoraptor binocularis; bottom left) are also scavengers of beach carcasses and opportunistically take live prey as well.
Shorebuggle Evolution 45MY
Shorebuggles (bottom left and right) are the culmination of 45 million years of evolution in the herbivorous macro-tardigrade Hexapiggle lineage.
Beginning with basal Hexapiggles (top left) that were little more than enlarged copies of their microscopic ancestors using their stylet mouthparts to pierce seaweeds and suck out the intracellular fluids, the Hexapiggle lineage adapted its first pair of limbs into a pair of chewing mandibles in the Mastix (middle) grade of hexapiggles, arising at around the 20MY mark.
Shorebuggles like the Painted Shorebuggle (Cimarctos pictus; bottom right) fill a role similar to beach springtails and sand fleas, eating washed-up and decaying seaweed at the strandline. A few Shorebuggles, such as the Coastal Spoodigrade (Gnathoraptor binocularis; bottom left) are also scavengers of beach carcasses and opportunistically take live prey as well.