Evolution
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Look carefully at the display case in front of you. There you will see animals that lived in Twente a long time ago. That was during an ice age.
This ice age is called the Weichselian. It started 116,000 years ago. And ended 12,000 years ago.
It was much colder here then than it is now. There were no glaciers, but it often froze. There was a lot of snow.
Animals had to be smart to survive.
We call that evolution. Evolution means: changing slowly. Animals with useful qualities survive better. They also have babies. Those babies often have the same characteristics.
Look bottom left. There you will see the Arctic fox and the Arctic hare. Their fur is white. This means they don’t stand out in the snow.
At the top you see the musk ox. He has a thick coat. This way he stays warm.
In the back you can see the saiga antelope. It is on the first floor. He has a long snout. It warms cold air before it breathes.
Do you see the large antlers at the top of the display case? That’s from a giant deer. The antlers could be up to three and a half meters wide! Not so useful perhaps… But it showed that the deer was strong and healthy. Females liked that. Their calves also grew large antlers. So the antlers survived.
Not all animals live in the cold. In warm countries, animals use different tricks. Some butterflies and frogs have bright colors. They say: ‘Don’t eat it, I’m poisonous!’ Other animals hide well. Geckos and chameleons can change color. Predators don’t see them that way.
Aquatic animals also adapt. The sperm whale can dive deep. He is not bothered by the pressure under water. The polar bear has webbed feet between its toes. This way he swims faster. And he can catch seals.
Some animals are very smart. Crows use twigs as tools. Smart animals can survive better.
And us humans? We too are still changing. Long ago we walked stooping. Now we walk upright. We talk to each other. We make things and use tools. Our body and mind continue to change slowly.
Take a good look around you. Then you see: animals always adapt. Thanks to evolution they can live in their own world.
Do you want to know how you fit into evolution? Then continue to the model of the prehistoric farm!