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Which animal will replace humans as Earth's dominant species? This scientist has an idea (www.earth.com)

submitted 3 months ago by MelonYellow@lemmy.ca to c/science@lemmy.world

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His answer is the octopus. What say you?

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[-] mipadaitu@lemmy.world 27 points 3 months ago

It's unlikely an aquatic species can achieve technological breakthroughs needed to spread like humans can. It would be very difficult for them to build fires, smelt metal, and create the advances based off of those tools.

While they can be extremely smart and adaptable, it's difficult to imagine how a species like that could develop machines.

Sure, there's possible ways around it, like natural vents and geothermal power, but why would they utilize these resources without a benefit like cooking?

[-] Neuromancer49@midwest.social 21 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Shells or coral could serve as early tools, but (just my opinion) I feel it's a little human-centric to assume fire and metallurgy are required to progress. Just because we did it that way, doesn't mean another species would have to.

[-] spankmonkey@lemmy.world 17 points 3 months ago

Fire and tools were what we needed to become the dominant species, as they gave us power to take down the larger megafauna.

[-] reksas@sopuli.xyz 8 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

whatever comes after us will have to make due with whatever crap we leave behind. There wont be enough natural resources left for them to use if they want to do anything larger scale or advanced