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Current Planet Status: 10,000,000 Yh

The most apparent geographical change since the last visit at 2 Myh is the widening of the gap between West and East halves of the old Catland supercontinent. It further isolates flora and fauna between them. Now, aside from occasional rafting events, only aquatic animals and birds that can last for great lengths on the wing out at sea are able to make regular crossings. For all other life, species have become unique to each half.

The equator remains a dead zone for most advanced life, but microscopic thermophilic bacteria, archaea, and simpler eukaryotes such as simple fungi, lichens and algae continue to form crusts on the red, iron-rich surface, developing increasing levels of organisation and cooperation in order to deal with the extremes and enrich the subsurface where most life thrives. Here, where rains fall more frequently than in the arid regions to either side of the equator, simpler life is taking the opportunity to diversify without competition from more complex lifeforms who can't cope with the temperature extremes.

Meanwhile the first cats to set foot outside of one of the Catland halves continue to survive on a small island South of Cardiva, spreading slowly on the lizard-dominated island. On and around Cardiva, and up on Duopolarica, lizards remain king.