Evolution of Animals

In the current state of Mars, animals would not be able to survive without any adjustment to the atmosphere. We as humans would have to thicken the atmosphere of Mars in order to create the correct conditions.

Although, once we created the right conditions how would animals react to things like the gravity difference? NASA performed an experiment to evaluate how mice would react to the decreased gravity on Mars and Surprisingly, they were quick to adapt. Yes, they were floating around like flying mice, but within 5 minutes they were grooming themselves and eating, just as they would on Earth" (Lewis par. 9).

In addition, the small amount of water on Mars is consists of perchlorate salt, making it toxic to humans and most life forms. Although, there is a special type of bacteria called "chemotropic organisms." These tiny organisms absorb the toxic chemical and use enzymes to convert it to chloride and oxygen! In fact, their little guys move towards areas with a high concentration of perchlorate (Pappalardo par. 5).

Cold Temperatures?

The enzymes of a species DNA determine their niche or environmental habitat condition. An animal with "flexible" enzymes can live in colder climates. This is because cool temperatures cause atoms/enzymes to become tightly compacted. When these enzymes are too tight, the animal is unable to move or perform life essential activities. So, if the enzymes of animals are loose from the start, the colder climate it can live in. If an animal has "ridged" or tightly compacted enzymes, cold conditions will cause the enzymes to compact even more. On the other hand, hot temperatures make atoms/enzymes to loosen. Simply put, a species with loose enzymes live in cold climates and species with ridged enzymes live in hot climates.

On Mars, it can become insanely cold. It is possible animals evolve extremely loose enzymes that allow them to survive. In fact, a team of experimenters found that "In such cold temperatures, the packing of atoms in proteins must be loosened slightly, allowing them to be more flexible and functional when ordinary proteins would be locked into inactive conformations" ("How Could Life").

(Section By Jacob Lewis)

Hot Temperatures?

For animals in hot temperatures, they would most likely lose hair if they already have too much or evolve to find a method to dig under the ground to stay cool. Some of these adaptations might be either sharp claws or live underground completely or be nocturnal.

What Will They Look Like?

As for what evolved animals here on Mars will look like, they will appear the same as here on Earth, but with evolutions for the different pressure and temperature. Their lifespan may change as well because of the new environment. Some animals might change their appearance to blend in with the environment. 

(Section By: Juan Orduno)

References 

Lewis, Laura. "Animals in Space." NASA, https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/9-12/features/F_Animals_in_Space_9-12.html. Accessed 1 May 2020.

"How could life adapt to Mars?" TG Daily, 13 Mar. 2013, https://www.tgdaily.com/science/space/70132-how-could-life-adapt-to-mars/. Accessed 1 May 2020.

Pappalardo, Joe. "What Would Life on Mars Be Like?" Popular Mechanics, 25 July 2018, https://www.popularmechanics.com/space/moon-mars/a22550689/life-on-mars-like/. Accessed 30 Apr. 2020.

(Formatting and Images By: Jacob Lewis)