Without opposable thumbs, the species of ape never really developed much.
However, a creature born 20 million years previously - known as a Cephologale DID produce Ursus Minimus which eventually branched out into Ursus Etruscus which would eventually produce several branches. ALL of whom had opposable thumb/claws. Ursus Spaelus would be the toweringly huge specimens like the cave bear. Ursus Americanus would also split off, and then two more lines would develop after that. One of which was a tree-climbing variety of unusually strong mental development. During this time, that species of bear DID begin development. Smaller than some of the more particularly brawny specimens, this variety utilized a higher than average brain-to-mass ratio than many of the other varieties.
The Villafranchian Age saw the Ursus Cromagnus begin to dominate its environment instead of the other way around.
Then there were the wars in the Tiglian (1,500,000 BCE) - as Ursus Cromagnus and Ursus Camolopardis and Ursus Savini and Ursus Orcus all began competing for resources. Only one would stand at the end of the Cromerian Period (700,000 BCE).
Ursus Cromagnus continued on, developing still greater brain-to-mass ratio. Fur became more sparse during one of the warm periods, then clothing was developed as the species continued to adapt to a sometimes rapidly shifting environment.
The Sailor Senshi, still human-looking at the Gates, stared at the scene they were viewing.
"The time," explained Pluto, frowning, "is the Holsteinian Era - roughly 300,000 years ago. Earth is between ice ages and these are the new sapients on the block."
"They hibernate?" asked Venus, watching a father make cave paintings as his family prepared for a long sleep.
"Looks that way," said Pluto, "omnivores. Interesting that in this reality the Ainu really are descended from bears."
"How nice for them," said Mars, looking peeved.
"What about now?" asked Sailor Moon, eyeing Saturn and getting ready to throw her efforts into keeping the glaive-wielder from attacking the Gatekeeper.
"Now?" asked Pluto, shifting the view from the primitive cave-dwellers to the society of their present. "It looks as if-"
(Posted Sun, 11 Jun 2006 18:42)
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