I am tired of explaining evolution to people. This is in response to the "missing link" you are talking about.

Sometimes during meiosis (cell division that creates gametes- the sperm and egg) mistakes occur. Maybe just during DNA transcription, perhaps due to radiation, a mutagen or some other factor. When they happen in body cells, they usually die or turn cancerous, but in the gametes they can be passed on the the next generation. These are mutations.

If the mutation happens in the active DNA (genes which actually do something) it usually only occurs in one gene. They create a new allele (a version of a gene). Genes are codes for proteins and enzymes that make other substances, thus creating living cells. The mutation will change the shape of the protein it makes, either changing it's function, making it inert, or just something benign like colour.

The mutation is either advantageous, disadvantageous, or neutral. Usually it is disadvantageous and the organism dies. Neutral mutations have no effect in it's current environment. But if the gene gives it an edge over the other individuals in the population, it is more likely to survive and pass on its genes to the next generation. Eventually the gene will be present in most of the population. It is still the same species, but it has evolved.

A succession of mutations like this, or a change in environment so that other, older genes become useful and more prevalent, will change the species even further. Eventually it will no longer be able to breed with the original species (If any even remain, in an isolated area). Either because its genetics are too different, its ecological niche differs too much, or maybe their courtship displays are no longer recognised by one another. A new species has been created.

The upshot of all this is that "missing links" are a bit of a misnomer. I can only assume that they refer to the common ancestor that two modern species are descended from, but they would have died out, since as the new species gradually emerged they would outcompete the old one, or the old one would have changed gradually into the new ones in the way described. I can only assume that buy "missing link" they mean a third modern species descended from the common ancestor that has changed very little over the millions of years. Of course, now there are two missing links, and all the in between states which probably were not recorded in the fossil record.

So it is unlikely that meeches are the missing link between scrabs and paramites, but they share a common ancestor, as do all living things on a planet if you go back far enough.

Scrabs and paramites are very different. Scrabs, Scrabanicus tyranni, are Scrabanidae, and paramites, Paramitus paramitus, are Phalangipodae. I do not know enough about meeches, Tretramandibi mudosus, to classify them into a family, but they seem very different.

Paramites and Scrabs were designed so that they had the same torso, for combining into Shrykull, even the veins on their necks are the smae. Meeches were not designed that way.

A side note: it is very easy to wipe out a species without meaning to, but Odd damn hard to wipe out a species intentionally. They may be hidden meech colonies out there, like it is suspected of Tasmanian Tigers. We just have to wait and see.

Phew! That was a long post!

In my theory, Meeches are not related to Paramites, but to Fleeches. And not because of the "eeches". Mainly because the Fleeches and Meeches both have two set of jaws and similar teeth in the art. And prehaps the Fleeches, before they were altered by Vykkers, there were more similarities. They seem so much like Meeches are more related to Scrabs and Fleeches, than they are of Paramites.

Back on topic, Meeches helped explain how far glukkons had gone to get their moolah, like someone said before. And OWI could only put so much in AO, so they would have to add maybe 2 more years inro their count of making the game with Meeches. So, no, Meeches shouldn't be in AO, but maybe in a future game.

But OWI never intended to have the meeches in AO. They were designed from the start to be extinct.

Which is why they should remain that way.

From my understanding, Vykkers created Fleeches as "the perfect Glukkon pet" but it backfired. Thus Gluks flush them into Necrum and such places. So I thought Fleeches were created creatures, not a natural species.

Alf says they're natural, and Earth-scientifically speaking, the Vykkers couldn't have just created a species out of nothing.

The fleeches we met were genetically modified. I'm not sure if they added the tongue or chose fleeches for it, but the idea was to use them to clean those 'hard to reach" places. Yeah, that worked.

Meeches should stay dead. The best thing about AO was its "pure evil" theme. Their skeletons might be found some day however... or they might be living on another planet and must be rescued

Here a thought why did lorne make the food as they where.

Meech munches is a meat product right? Seeing that it is a meat product.
Scrab cakes. I would consider that is a sweet thing. More of a biscuit. Cause there no enough meat. Harder to catch a scrab maybe so less accessible to a scrab.

Finally Paramite pies. Yet again a savory product.

Back to the point is that where the meeches like the DoDo? They have no fear of Glukkons cause they havent seen them as a threat.

But they could be like that fishy - I forgot its name, ended in "canth" - they were thought to be extinct for a million years, then they catch one. But I don't think there should be a game about that, there already was the "saving a species" theme in MO.

Coelacanth.

Fish Cakes- savoury. Scrab cakes-savoury.

Perhaps they should be in a flashback or prequel. Or we might see a close relative of the meech in the future.

A flashback's not a bad idea. I hear OWI are producing a movie, they could stick it in there.

in any game
just not after AO in the timeline

There could be some in a zoo

No, if Meeches are extinct, that means there aren't any left on the planet. No one single Meech, not even in a zoo. But who knows.

Well, you know, they said the coelocanth was extinct, and, whaddya know! Look in any decent animal encyclopedia and you'll see a nice colorful picture of the ugly bugger...
So, just because they say the meech is dead doesn't mean it is...besides, wouldn't it be awesome symbolism if there were sightings of a Meech in the Oddworld storyline? Y'know, Nature triumphing over Industry and all that shit.

No, because as we've been saying all along; even if it's plausible that there may be a few meeches wandering about, it would destroy the symbolism of their extinction in the first place.

yep the creature was designed to be extinct, leave it this way

Extinct usually means extinct in the wild- there are quite a few Earthly animals that live only in captivity. So there could be some in a zoo- but the Glukkons probably don't have zoos since they hate native animals. There might be Vykker zoos though

No, for the last time, extinct means there aren't any left. No zoos, no pets, nothing, they are gone.

Used, you're full of it, I saw a T-rex in the zoo just yesterday!

I know they think meeches are extinct, but their could be meeches that they never found.

Go look up some conservation site used

Vykkers could have kept some indeed:
http://www.oddworldlibrary.net/togg/...=CAMO0054.jpg2

but I'm not sure they are still alive
plus Vykkers don't respect nearly extinct spiecies , look what they did to Munch

w-wow Xav! it could be a possible that they are clonning them. Remember Vykkers tend to auction things. Moolah!!!

More moolah, I think they are more alive than dead. If something is left extinct and they have it stored. vykkers are clever enough to know to keep it alive. The real question is: Alive or dead why dont the Glukkons (especially mullock) know about it?

Maby it's a secret agency like area 51, but in Oddworld. And Mullock just runs a meat factory. He wouldn't be informed anyway.

Or maybe not.

Lol, that's exactly what I was thinking.

Why? Because, once they buy them, you kill them. Besides, I doubt it's possible to clone a clone. Meeches will die eventually, completely fully, because all they have are unreproducable, cloned by fossils, Meeches. Meeches have no future.

Plus, I think the Meech thing in the tank looks a little more like Scrab, in my opinion.

Yeah the Vykkers don't really give a damn about Glukkons and they might want as many as possible ASAP so they could make some kind of medicine or use them for something.

Or maybe not. I am pretty sure they would sell the remaining Meeches in a heart beat, classic products are always valuable, look at Gabiar.