Joshua Tree: Homo Sapiens Exhibit

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On February 2, 2016, we stopped at the Joshua Tree National Park Visitor's Center in Joshua Tree, California. After watching the park video, we came across the following exhibit prepared by Rebecca Lowry with photos by Brad Sutton and Amanada Marsalis. We loved the exhibit so much, we bought the post cards!

Homo Sapiens Hikerius - common family groups such as this can be seen in many parts of the park. They are easily identified by their predominately two-legged locomotion and often bright colors. Keep any eye out, however, as some individuals blend right into the landscape and can be very hard to spot!

Commonly known as "hikers," this sub-species of Homo sapiens is found throughout Joshua Tree National Park. Hikerius occurs most densely in the Northwestern portion of the park.

Unlike many desert species, Homo sapiens is dependent on large quantities of water for survival in this harsh climate. A typical human requires at least three liters of water per day. Without it the human many dry up and die. Due to the extreme hazards of dehydration, hikerius must always carry extra water on its back when it knows it cannot rely on sources in its environment.

A highly social species, hikers sometimes make efforts to interact with other desert creatures. However, they do so only at great risk to themselves and their young. Sometimes such encounters are accidental. A hand placed in a crevice often provokes adverse reactions from less friendly desert dwellers hiding within.

Homo Sapiens Campericus - Campericus has been observed to have a wide range of behavior patterns. These can lead to conflicts in large sleeping groups. The most successful camper societies have been shown to be those where individuals are respectful of others. One subspecies frequently leaves behind debris as it moves from place to place. Even the smallest fragments of this detritus are a blight on the park and harmful to other wildlife.

This sub-species of Homo sapiens is distinctive for its two unique shelter strategies. "Campers" as they are commonly known, inhabit ground-nests that they carry with them as they move from place to place. This itinerant species usually resides in one place no more than two nights, though stays lasting a week or longer have been observed.

One type of campericus nest takes the form of a hard-sided box, often white. Unlike the nests of most other creatures, these stand out in the landscape and are very easy to spot. The other type of nest is a lightweight structure that campers re-construct at every new location. These are typically much smaller and often brightly colored. This species usually congregates in large common sleeping areas, though individuals and small groups can be found in even the most remote areas of the park.

Homo Sapiens and Canis Lupus Familiaris - Chances are you will never see Canis lupus familiaris without its Homo sapiens companion very close by. In fact, when in the park dogs should always be attached to their friends by a special cord, called a "leash." A dog who has been lost or abandoned will rarely survive for long in the harsh desert climate. Dogs tied to inanimate objects, or left behind in the empty shells of motorists and campers, can die in 15 minutes or less!

When two biologically different species exist together in a mutually beneficial way, their relationship is called "symbiotic." One form of symbiosis commonly seen at Joshua Tree National Park is that between Homo sapiens and Canis lupus familiaris. This relationship is such a strong one, that these two species are often referred to as "Best Friends."

"Humans" and "Dogs" as they are commonly known, form life-long pair bonds or small, mixed family groups. While Canis lupus familiaris is the friend of Homo sapiens, most other species in the park are disturbed by the presence of dogs. Even the days-old scent of a passing dog affects other wildlife. For this reason, campgrounds, picnic areas, and dirt roads - not park trails - are the best places to observe and enjoy this unique interspecies relationship.

Homo Sapiens Climberius - If you are lucky enough to spot climbers high on a rock, look carefully. You should always be able to spot another individual or two nearby as this species ventures out alone only at great risk to itself. With a sharp eye you should be able to see the hard shell that adorns the head of this often colorful subspecies. You may even be able to spot the long filaments that usually trail from them and attach to rock surfaces or to companions hidden among the boulders!

While not unique to Joshua Tree, Homo sapiens climberius is nevertheless one of the park's most distinctive species. "Climbers" are found almost exclusively on the Quartz Monzonite boulders and rock outcroppings common in the Northwestern porton of the park.

Climberius is a diurnal species, meaning it is active primarily during the day. This is important as many of the park's shy nocturnal species are deterred from accessing important water sources if they encounter Homo sapiens at night.

One subspecies no longer found in the park is Homo sapiens painterus. Early human painters left special marks behind on rock outcrops throughout the park. Tracks left by climberius have been known to damage these ancestral traces.

Homo Sapiens Motorista - Similar to beetles, Homo sapiens motorista can be identified by its hard, shiny carapace. These come in a variety of colors, some very bright, and some with stripes or other markings. This animal periodically emerges from its shell to explore its environment. If you see an empty shell, look carefully, chances are its inhabitants are somewhere nearby!

This sub-species of Homo sapiens, commonly known as "motorists," is typically found on Park Road and various side roads. Its preferred habitat is distinguished by smooth, often paved, surfaces. Groups often gather in designated areas called "lots." Certain hardy individuals can also be spotted on the park's less-travelled dirt roads. Motorists put themselves in mortal danger when they leave established roadways, often getting themselves trapped in deep sand and hazardous washes from which they cannot escape.

Unlike most wild creatures, who only kill for food, motorists often kills other species simply by accident. In their shells, motorists are capable of moving at speeds faster than any other animal in the park and even moderate speeds can result in deadly collisions with other wildlife. Sometimes this species can be seen stopped along the side of the road where, unprotected, they too, can run the risk of harmful interactions with others of their own kind.

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We hope you enjoyed this exhibit as must as we did. If you find yourself in Joshua Tree National Park, make sure you stop in the Visitor's Center in Joshua Tree and pick up some post cards for your friends and family!