“The Hitchhikers Guide to the Last

p DON 'T PANIC

THE HITCHHIKER 'S TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE LAST 20-520 MILLION YEARS

Exploring The Early Miocene Epoch

Today is an ordinary day . In fact , it is so ordinary that you 've decided to board your Cybernetics Time Machine Mark III headed for the Miocene epoch . Disembarking from your cozy Mark III den , you realize you 've landed right in the middle of the ocean . Through the glass bottom of the machine , you see a gigantic fish and realize that it looks very much like a sperm whale . That 's

because it is , the Orycterocetus to be exact .1 As the Mark III heads for land , you spot another marine creature . It is important to note , at this time , the interlocking set of outward-jutting teeth found on this seven foot whale . Adventurer , meet the Prosqualodon .2

Consider yourself lucky to have spotted two of the most interesting whales in this epoch , now steer your time-machine-turned-boat to shore As you near the beach , you see an assortment of animals whose scare-factor range from no sweat ' to good thing I 'm in the Mark III . You spot a Hemipristis serra and two Carcharhinus which you simply noted down as shark . In your notes , you also jot down sightings of a crocodile , Crocodylidae , a crab , Portunus oblongus , and a turtle , Podocnemis .4 Quickly clear the beach to avoid any crocodiles that might be lurking nearby . Walking through a dense forest of Gingko trees , you hear an unfamiliar sound . 5 Directly in front of you , you see a horse with three toes , a small dwarf-like horse covered with a short brown spotted pelt . You are looking now , traveler , at an Archaeohippus blackbergi .5 Don 't panic . It is harmless . Be careful of the low-hanging branches as you continue on your tour . These are the territories of the marsupial lions , especially of the most specialized carnivore to have roamed the Miocene epoch , the Thylacoleo carnifex and its fearsome set of carnassial teeth .6

A Tour of the Barremian

On a sight-seeing mission in the Barremian , a novice time-traveller such as yourself should be very careful . This is one of the most dangerous eras to have visited dangerous but well worth the risk . Fish around in your pocket for the checklist the time travel agent made for you Remember , whatever happens , don 't panic

On land

Couperites , Anacostia , Appomattoxia : angiosperms . Make sure to pick a good number of fruit . These make good jam according to the residents of the Barremian period

Prokennalestes abramovi : a small mammal with a skull size of about 35 mm . It isn 't threatening but is a definite must- see in your stop . It is the oldest known eutherian mammal .7

Valdoraptor , Acrocanthosaurus . Predatory . Keep away if you want to live

Neovenator : a popular Saurischian that has earned it 's own place in the checklist . 7 .5 meters in length , pray it spots an Iguanadon to feast on before it spots you

Carcharodontosaurus : Ever hear of the T-Rex ? Well , the Carcharodontosaurus...