# De-extinctify a species **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 13, 2019, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-extinctify-a-species/835480 "2019-06-13T15:58:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2019, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-extinctify-a-species/835480/101 "2019-06-17T23:23:48Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Anomalocaris > > Because weird They would need a warmer climate and less oxygen, anything back too far would die off in hours, imho. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2019, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-extinctify-a-species/835480/102 "2019-06-17T23:50:58Z")
> [@Jet\_Jaguar](#): > > Yes, sea scorpions! Then I’ll finally be able to figure out if they are edible. Try a giant _land_ scorpion, _Pulmonoscorpius_: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JK2IEM4zzk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JK2IEM4zzk) 0:21 Even if they couldn’t survive in the wild, evil overlords would pay top dollar to stock their scorpion pits. Kim Jong-Un alone would buy 1,000. ETA: video also features several other creatures mentioned in this thread. Worth a look! ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2019, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-extinctify-a-species/835480/103 "2019-06-18T12:13:21Z")
T. Rex. Because \*hell \*yeah! ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2019, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-extinctify-a-species/835480/104 "2019-06-18T15:43:52Z")
Neanderthals. Not least because it would shut the creationists up once and for all. But also because I think they might actually thrive today. There is reason to believe they were both smarter and stronger (relative to size) than we are. And I read somewhere (just googled, can’t find it to verify) that the genetic mutations which make some people less susceptible to HIV tend to be found in people with higher levels of Neanderthal genes. Someone above asked about how we know their language skills were less than ours - it has to do with the area of the brain that provides language ability. The skull fragments we’ve found indicate that that brain area is smaller and less developed in Neanderthalis. But we know they were creative, and painted. We know they made tools, and traded. I think they’d do OK, at least in the second generation. If I could have two, I’d add the Irish Elk. Because shame on us; that’s why. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2019, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-extinctify-a-species/835480/105 "2019-06-18T17:23:20Z")
[Maraapunisaurus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maraapunisaurus), _nee_ Amphicoelias fragillimus. Go big or go home. > [@](#): > > Based on surviving descriptions of a single fossil bone, scientists have produced numerous size estimates over the years; the largest estimate M. fragillimus to have been the longest known animal at 58 metres (190 ft) in length and with a mass of 122.4 tonnes (120.5 long tons; 134.9 short tons) . ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2019, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-extinctify-a-species/835480/106 "2019-06-20T01:53:45Z")
I know they wouldn’t survive in the current atmosphere and oxygen levels. But ever since this thread started, I keep thinking about those gigantic prehistoric dragonflies. “… Meganeuropsis had a body roughly 47 centimeters long, with a wingspan of 75 centimeters across.” So almost 30 inches wide, wingtip to wingtip. Man, I’d love to see one of those. > **[The biggest insect ever was a huge "dragonfly"](https://eartharchives.org/articles/the-biggest-insect-ever-was-a-huge-dragonfly/)** > > The largest known insect of all time was a predator resembling a dragonfly but was only distantly related to them. Its name is Meganeuropsis, and it ruled the skies before pterosaurs, birds and bats had even evolved. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2019, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-extinctify-a-species/835480/107 "2019-06-20T02:13:31Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > I know they wouldn’t survive in the current atmosphere and oxygen levels. But ever since this thread started, I keep thinking about those gigantic prehistoric dragonflies. > > “… Meganeuropsishad a body roughly 47 centimeters long, with a wingspan of 75 centimeters across.” So almost 30 inches wide, wingtip to wingtip. Man, I’d love to see one of those. > > [The biggest insect ever was a huge dragonfly | Earth Archives](http://www.eartharchives.org/articles/the-biggest-insect-ever-was-a-huge-dragonfly/) Something like [this](https://youtu.be/0ROVgXDR544?t=57)? ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2019, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-extinctify-a-species/835480/108 "2019-06-20T02:21:41Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > I know they wouldn’t survive in the current atmosphere and oxygen levels. But ever since this thread started, I keep thinking about those gigantic prehistoric dragonflies. > > “… Meganeuropsishad a body roughly 47 centimeters long, with a wingspan of 75 centimeters across.” So almost 30 inches wide, wingtip to wingtip. Man, I’d love to see one of those. > > [The biggest insect ever was a huge dragonfly | Earth Archives](http://www.eartharchives.org/articles/the-biggest-insect-ever-was-a-huge-dragonfly/) You can just call me Megan. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2019, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-extinctify-a-species/835480/109 "2019-06-20T02:57:21Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > I know they wouldn’t survive in the current atmosphere and oxygen levels. But ever since this thread started, I keep thinking about those gigantic prehistoric dragonflies. > > “… Meganeuropsishad a body roughly 47 centimeters long, with a wingspan of 75 centimeters across.” So almost 30 inches wide, wingtip to wingtip. Man, I’d love to see one of those. > > [The biggest insect ever was a huge dragonfly | Earth Archives](http://www.eartharchives.org/articles/the-biggest-insect-ever-was-a-huge-dragonfly/) Those would be sooo cool to se. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2019, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-extinctify-a-species/835480/110 "2019-06-21T16:38:26Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > I know they wouldn’t survive in the current atmosphere and oxygen levels. But ever since this thread started, I keep thinking about those gigantic prehistoric dragonflies. > > “… Meganeuropsishad a body roughly 47 centimeters long, with a wingspan of 75 centimeters across.” So almost 30 inches wide, wingtip to wingtip. Man, I’d love to see one of those. > > [The biggest insect ever was a huge dragonfly | Earth Archives](http://www.eartharchives.org/articles/the-biggest-insect-ever-was-a-huge-dragonfly/) I would not. No, I am definitely quite sure that I would NOT enjoy seeing one of those. I’m betting you would not either, unless it was behind glass, or, you know, maybe weighed down somehow. In fact, I can’t think of a better way to view one of those than if you could somehow be provided with a particularly detailed statue or a life-mold of some sort. . . ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2019, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-extinctify-a-species/835480/111 "2019-06-21T19:23:40Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > I would not. No, I am definitely quite sure that I would NOT enjoy seeing one of those. > > I’m betting you would not either, unless it was behind glass, or, you know, maybe weighed down somehow. In fact, I can’t think of a better way to view one of those than if you could somehow be provided with a particularly detailed statue or a life-mold of some sort. . . They’d be harmless. Now, the giant spiders and scorpions :eek:…but all those things would die in a short time. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2019, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-extinctify-a-species/835480/112 "2019-06-22T13:55:12Z")
I don’t know about that. Dragonflies are pretty fierce predators. They don’t eat things larger than they are, so I don’t think they’d attack people. But I could see them eating small pets. Actually, even ignoring the issues with the atmosphere not supporting them today, I think they’d quickly go extinct. They would naturally pretty on birds. But birds are much smarter than normal dragonfly prey. And those wings are fragile, and don’t heal. My guess is that just as small birds mob crows and raptors to drive them away, they would mob giant dragonflies and break their wings. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2019, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-extinctify-a-species/835480/113 "2019-06-22T18:22:59Z")
In fact we can probably thank birds for the absence of giant arthropods in general. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2019, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-extinctify-a-species/835480/114 "2019-06-22T18:35:11Z")
“Prey” on birds, not pretty. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2019, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-extinctify-a-species/835480/115 "2019-06-22T20:41:49Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > In fact we can probably thank birds for the absence of giant arthropods in general. That and the atmosphere wont support them anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2019, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-extinctify-a-species/835480/116 "2019-06-22T21:20:08Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > That and the atmosphere wont support them anymore. ♪♫ _It’s raining Meganeuropsishads, hallelujah_… ♪♫ Hm, doesn’t quite scan. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2019, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-extinctify-a-species/835480/117 "2019-06-24T05:21:39Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > They’d be harmless. Now, the giant spiders and scorpions :eek:…but all those things would die in a short time. Even the current dragonflies are not harmless. I take it you’ve never been bitten by one? They absolutely deserve their name. Now, I will grant you that I was a child at the time, and was probably trying to play with the dragonfly, who demonstrably did NOT want to play with me, so I don’t argue that they are aggressive toward humans. But they hurt. They hurt quite a lot. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2019, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-extinctify-a-species/835480/118 "2019-06-24T06:07:22Z")
I had no idea dragonflies could bite a human. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2019, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-extinctify-a-species/835480/119 "2019-06-24T12:30:44Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > I had no idea dragonflies could bite a human. Well, first you have to [try hard to get bitten](https://worlddragonfly.org/resources/do-dragonflies-bite-or-sting/). And then most species can’t even manage to bite you. And then it’s only an minor thing. Nothing more. Horse flies are nastier bitters. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2019, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-extinctify-a-species/835480/120 "2019-06-24T12:46:10Z")
I played a lot with dragonflies as a kid. I often held them. I might have gotten nipped once or twice. Or not. That sounds vaguely familiar. I’m going with “dragonflies are harmless”. No, the giant ones wouldn’t be, but ours? Harmless. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-extinctify-a-species/835480.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-extinctify-a-species/835480.md?page=7)