1. Kentauros miribilis (miraculous centaur)
2. Camptospondylus numenius (bent-back, crescent moon)
3. Cryptovulpes ferox (ferocious hidden fox )
4. Allasomorphotherium speluncae (cavedwelling strange-bodied beast)
5. Strenunyx phobetor (vigorous-clawed fearsome one)
6. Arquatus actitis (bow-shaped coast dweller)
7. Desmospondylus megalotis (big-eared ribbon-spine)

Although centaurs appear to be a stitched together hybrid of human and horse, this is a result of convergant evolution. In fact, hexapods and tetrapods have been distinct since they first crawled from the water.

Desmospondylus used its forward fins (the 'big ears' of its scientific name) to sweep prey into its mouth and dig mud nests.

Amphibian Arquatus benefited from having six sturdy limbs to grip the slippery rocks it clambered about on.

Lively little reptilian Strenunyx raised its fore-torso off the ground and used its grasping forelimbs to catch insects.

During the reign of the terrible reptiles, Allosomorphotherium specialized their forelimbs for digging tunnels to escape being trampled. They also expanded their diet, gnawing roots and tubers as well as bugs.

After the great extinction, their descendants ventured aboveg round and grew larger in body, switching to a diet of fruit and small animals and becoming Cryptovulpes. Their limbs lengthened, giving them greater speed and agility, and the flexible forelimbs were now used to catch prey and pluck fruit. The raised forebody gave the arms a wider range of movement.

As the land dried out and the forests retreated, clever Camptospondylus was forced out onto the plains where it used its new speed and cunning to hunt lesser beasts and compete with larger predators.

The modern centaur, Kentauros, is the logical end result of millions of years of change and adaptation.