If homo sapiens and all their near relatives, such as chimpanzees,

[raccoon]

all went the way of the dinosaurs, what species do you think would become dominant?

[boolean]

1. Dolphins

Once they evolve feet.

[Igel]

22. Shouldn't that be, "re-evolve" feet? n/t

[Ganja Ninja]

2. Rodents.

[davhill]

3. Probably Dogs

They have learned a lot from us and can form social groups (packs) to achieve ends.

[soothsayer]

8. LOL, I think we learned from them!

[hobbit709]

4. Cockroaches

[atommom]

5. According to my 5-y.o., the dinosaurs would come back.

I think the insects have an edge on them, though.

[eallen]

6. What makes you think any species would dominate, as man does?

There are plenty of ecologies you can observe, where we have tried to sequester our own effects. What species is "dominant" in a central American or south American rain forest? The ecologist might point out that termite mounds account for more of the biomass than just about any other single species.

Which raises the question: what do you mean by "dominant"? We are exceptional for having evolved intelligence enough to create civilization and mechanization. Because that happened once, why do you assume it necessarily would happen again? Maybe it would just be forests and savannahs without end, until the sun novas.

:hippie:

[raccoon]

13. I was thinking of one that would evolve some more intelligence

than it has now.

You're right, it might not ever happen again.

And why did it happen in the first place? If anyone can recommend a link/book, I'd appreciate it.

[xchrom]

7. meercats.

they have the varied diet to grow a bigger brain.

[MuseRider]

9. Insects

because we won't be here to spray the shit out of everything we come in contact with or send bait out to destroy their communities that aren't even bothersome but they are there and ewwwwww, we must do something about that!

BTW, I am not a big insect fan but I try to learn to coexist.

[yellowcanine]

10. Actually beetles are dominant. There are more species of beetles

than any other kind of animal. Beetles make up one fourth of the entire animal kingdom, an estimated 350,000 species.

http://hypertextbook.com/facts/2001/KeithSingh.shtml

[unpossibles]

11. I would say dolphins, octopi, and/or some birds

not sure they would "dominate" but all of those are very intelligent and successful in their own niches.

[sarge43]

12. Rabbits

Prolific breeders and not being specialized to any particular habitat, very adaptive.

[bowens43]

14. Primates are not dominant now.

Bacteria is the dominant life form on this planet.

[rock]

16. Yup

[dipsydoodle]

15. Cats

if they can play a uke they'll evolve to being able to play a 5 string.

[eppur_se_muova]

17. Raccoons, of course.

We know you were just baiting us.:evilgrin:

[Ready4Change]

18. Functional hands. I agree.

And according to a recent commercial, they can drive cars.

[eppur_se_muova]

19. "Like cats with hands"...I heard this as a reason not to keep raccoons

as pets. There's nothing they won't get into.

(Of course, if they get the chance, they should remember that was what was wrong with the previous dominant species.)

[raccoon]

24. Yeah, I of all posters should've thought of that. :-) nt

[NNadir]

20. Thermophilic bacteria.

These are the species that I think have the best chance right now.

[mainegreen]

21. *snort* I just shot coffee on my screen!

I don't know why I found that funny.

Perhaps its your unbridled optimism!

:rofl:

[mccoyn]

23. Are those the ones living in the sea vents?

With no dependance on energy from the sun?

[NNadir]

25. Yes, some thermophilic bacteria live in the sea vents. Others live in

places like the thermal pools at Yellowstone.

I have heard it suggested that these organisms may be the closest of all surviving species to the original forms of life that appeared on earth. I have no real insight to this question, but it seems believable.

[tocqueville]

26. freepers, they are not homo sapiens by definition

and can hardly be considered as a near relative

what a sad perspective

of course they wouldn't survive very long after destroying the WHOLE planet...