Ancestors depicted by the artist, Mark Hester.
Ancestors are an artificially created species of synapsid that appear in Scott Sigler's novel Ancestor. They were created by a team of scientists attempting to reconstruct the common ancestor of all mammals in order to use their organs for transplants. However, the ancestors proved to be extremely dangerous predators unable to be reliably tamed or contained.
Description[]
Ancestors are never given a formal taxonomic ranking, but they appear to be very basal mammals, with traits of both modern mammals and pre-mammalian synapsids such as cynodonts and pelycosaurs. Their genome was created by working backward from every available mammal genome to find common elements. The modified genome was then placed into cow eggs.
Appearance[]
Ancestors are large carnivorous quadrupeds, around six feet tall at the shoulder and weighing at least 500 pounds. They vaguely resemble hyenas in general shape, but their forelimbs are longer than their hindlimbs and they have no tails. Ancestors have massive, wedge-shaped heads with three-foot-long jaws. Their dental structure is primitive compared to that of modern mammals - their teeth are not as differentiated as those of true mammals and mostly resemble canines. In order to survive the immune systems of the cows they were implanted into, ancestors have some cow genes coding for their outer layers, so their fur has the black-and-white spotted pattern of Holstein cows. Ancestors' strangest and most non-mammalian feature is their crest, a sail-like flap of multicolored, hairless skin that can be raised and lowered like a flag. The crest is about two feet high when fully extended.
Diet[]
Ancestors are voracious carnivores. Their rapid growth gives them an incredible appetite, and they will eat every part of any creature they kill. Nothing is left behind, not even bones or teeth.
Growth[]
Due partly to their genetic modifications, ancestors grow far faster than any other type of mammal. When implanted into cow uteruses, they grow to about 200 pounds in the span of three weeks, a growth spurt fueled partially by eating each other in the womb. An ancestor pregnancy in a cow invariably results in the cow's death when the ancestor tears its way out. It is unknown how or if a female ancestor could carry a fetal ancestor to term.
Following birth, ancestors grow to their adult size of 500 pounds within a few days, reaching sexual maturity at around the same time. The ancestors shown in the novel fuel this growth by feeding on their cow "mothers," and might not have grown as fast if they did not have this option. Their accelerated growth also seems to result in rapid healing of injuries, with wounds scarring over in a day or so.
Behavior[]
Because of their accelerated growth, ancestors must regularly eat large amounts of meat, making them extraordinarily aggressive and violent predators. They will viciously attack and eat almost any other creature they encounter, sparing only other healthy ancestors. They have no fear of humans and will readily kill and eat them. Ancestors are relentless in hunting down prey, readily charging into gunfire if necessary.
Ancestors are fairly intelligent animals, similar to dogs or wolves. They hunt in packs, signaling to each other with their crests. Larger individuals usually take on leadership roles.