Pinnacle Species

A Pinnacle Species is a planet's "top" species. A pinnacle species is the species with a physical apparatus capable of managing, controlling, and protecting a planet's resources. The single requirement of a pinnacle species is that it must have an opposable thumb, or some other physical apparatus that makes fine-grained manipulation of physical matter possible.

Related Terms

Evolutionary Theory >

Notes

Dolphins, though highly intelligent and empathic, are not a pinnacle species because they cannot manipulate physical matter.

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