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Fauna and Flora of Borneo and nearby islands
JOrnitho: Some time ago, I talked with Àâòîð about Borneo and I learned that there wasn’t many species described for this area. Then I proposed the lembu, a large descendant of the goat. The description of this species was approved. Since then, I had ideas for other animals living here and decided to create this thread. We could discuss ideas for this island here and if someone else have suggestions of creatures to Borneo, they can post here too. I'll start with a carnivore and a herbivore: [more]Borneo wild dog (Canis borneensis) Order: Carnivora Family: Canidae Habitat: Forests of Borneo A descendant of the domestic dog (Canis domesticus), the Borneo wild dog forms clans, rather than packs, to attack large preys. The Borneo wild dog is similar to the modern gray wolf but is distinguished by its smaller size, lighter weight, more elongated torso, less-prominent forehead, shorter legs and a muzzle that is narrower and more pointed. An adult female have 46 cm of length, while the slightly larger male have 54 cm. Their fur is reddish-brown. The throat, chest, flanks, and belly and the upper parts of the limbs are less brightly colored, and are more dark brown in tone. The lower parts of the limbs are black. The muzzle and forehead are greyish-brown. The tail is very fluffy, and is mainly of a reddish-brown color, with a black tip. Bornean wild dogs’ clans frequently break into small packs of 3–5 animals, particularly during the spring season, this way they can disperse to catch more young herbivores. The dominant dogs do not engage in dominance displays as modern wolves, though other clan members will show submissive behaviour toward them. Fights between members of the same group are rare. Their clans can have 6-30 individuals and urinate to mark their territory and travel routes. This canid digs simple dens and avoids killing prey close to them. Bornean wild dogs are primarily diurnal hunters, hunting in the early hours of the morning. They rarely hunt nocturnally, except on moonlit nights, indicating they greatly rely on sight when hunting. Although not a much fast animal, they can chase their prey for many hours. During a pursuit, one or more dog may take over chasing their prey, while the rest of the pack keeps up at a steadier pace behind, taking over once the other group tires. Most chases are short, lasting only 500 m. The Bornean wild dog frequently drives their prey into water bodies, where the targeted animal's movements are hindered. The dominant pair is generally monogamous, they usually remain together for life. The gestation period lasts 59 to 63 days, with litter sizes averaging 4–6 pups. Pups are suckled for at least one month. During this time, the pack feeds the mother at the den site. Once weaning begins, the adults of the clan will regurgitate food for the pups until they are old enough to join in hunting. They remain at the den site 70–80 days. By the age of six months, pups accompany the adults on hunts, and will assist in killing large prey by the age of eight months. Maximum longevity is of 16 years. Elegant deer (Gracilicervus insularis) Order: Artiodactyla Family: Cervidae Habitat: Forests of Borneo A descendant of the barking deer (Muntjac), the Elegant deer have this name because of their elegant build. They have a slim body and long neck and legs and lives in the forests of Borneo. The elegant deer coat is golden tan on the dorsal side and white on the ventral side of the body, the limbs are dark brown to reddish brown, and the face is dark brown. The fawn is spotted. Like their ancestors, the males of the species have tusk-like upper canine teeth. Their typical head-and-body length is about 103 to 115 cm. They stand up to about 70 to 80 cm. The male also have two-tined antlers. This species is an omnivore, eating grass, fruits, shoots, seeds, and birds' eggs, as well as small invertebrates. It can reach higher branches and twigs by standing erect on its hindlegs and elongating its neck; this helps it reach over for leaves and fruits. When in danger, it will do an alert sound similar to the barking sound of their ancestors. The elegant deer forms harems, comprising a dominant male, three adult females and their offspring of the previous and the present year, the young males form “bachelor herds” until they reach maturity. The gestation period is seven to eight months and they usually bear one offspring at a time, but sometimes produce twins. Females usually give birth in dense growth so that they are hidden from the rest of the herd and predators. Weaning is completed at around 7 months and at around 12 months the fawn is independent, the young males are banished from its mother herd after one year. Adult males often fight between one another for possession of a harem of females, using their antlers or their tusk-like upper canine teeth. Elegant deer show no evidence of a specific breeding season within the species. Reaching sexual maturity with 3 years, the elegant deer have a lifespan of 17 to 20 years.[/more]
JOrnitho: Àâòîð ïèøåò: Would the descendants of tree shrews be able to win the competition with numerous and diverse bats? Good point. Maybe they would become more carnivorous, by eating more animals like rodents, amphibs, birds and the bats and less fruits and invertebrates. Perhaps in the end the treeshrews are limited to stay like how they are in the Holocene and not evolve in new forms. Do you think that they could be capable of winning this competition?
Áèîëîã: JOrnitho Do you think that they could be capable of winning this competition? I think the treeshrews can win it just like today's holocenic nocturnal primates outcompete bats. Some lemurids, lorisids, tarsiers, and owl monkeys (Aotus) somehow share the treetops with bats at night, don't they.
JOrnitho: Áèîëîã ïèøåò: I think the treeshrews can win it just like today's holocenic nocturnal primates outcompete bats. True. In South America there is also the olingos and kinkajous that are able to compete with bats in the trees. Maybe the treeshrews could evolve into analogous to the American Procyonids.
Àâòîð: Nocturnal way of life is a good way to avoid the competition with monkeys (I think, macaques are the best candidates to fill all possible niches of primates). So, any creatures like fossil plesiadapids may be possible: large-eared, cat-sized ones with specialized dentition consuming different kinds of food. Are there any trends in specialization of teeth in these animals?
JOrnitho: Àâòîð ïèøåò: Are there any trends in specialization of teeth in these animals? According to my search, the treeshrews have upper incisors that tend to be canine-like, but the upper canines are molar-like. Their canines are considered poorly developed. The molars are broad and resemble insectivores in having a dilambodont cusp pattern. Their canine-like incisors reminds me of how the extinct Thylacoleo had specialized incisors to hunt prey. Perhaps these treeshrews could have incisors that evolved to work as canines, so they vould also eat some small vertebrates occasionally.
Àâòîð: JOrnitho ïèøåò: so they vould also eat some small vertebrates occasionally A nocturnal bird-hunter?
JOrnitho: Àâòîð ïèøåò: A nocturnal bird-hunter? Maybe. They could hunt birds that are resting during the night, maybe even catch some occasional bat. Would they still eat fruits? Or becoming full carnivore is a more plausible route?
JOrnitho: I finished the description of the descendant of the treeshrew. Bornean paralemuroid, or Bornean neoadapis (Neoadapis agilis) Order: Scandentia Family: Neoadapidae Habitat: Forests of Borneo, tree canopy The Neocene gave new opportunities for species to evolve into new ones. During the Holocene, the treeshrews were small insectivorous that inhabited the tropical regions of Asia. They were one of the species that took advantage of the opportunities that the Neocene brought and generated a new family, the Neoadapidae. These animals are morphologically similar to the fossilized Plesiadapis. A representative of this group is the Bornean paralemuroid, which inhabits the tropical forests of Borneo. The Bornean paralemuroids have 54 cm of body length and a tail of 47 cm, with males being slightly larger than females. They have long, bushy black tails and soft reddish-brown fur, with pale gray bellies. The hindlegs are slightly longer than the forelegs. They are highly agile, and regularly leap several metres between trees. Being nocturnal, these animals have large ears and eyes, which are covered by tapetum lucidum. This species is omnivorous, but they have a preference for meat. The Neoadapidae developed sharp incisor teeth that are similar to canines. They use these teeth to kill small birds, amphibs, rodents and lizards with a powerful bite. They will ambush the prey and hold them with their hands. When the trees start to produce fruits, these animals will also eat it. However, they will also use the trees full of fruit to hunt bats that came to eat. Their auditory sensitivity is highly developed and their olfactory perception allowing them to find food that can be hidden. The Bornean paralemuroid forms monogamous pairs, with males fighting against each other for the females. Once the pair is formed, they can tolerate conspecifics without engaging in territorial disputes. However, when the food becomes scarce they become aggressive against each other. The female gives birth in nests made of many dry leaves and sometimes in tree holes. They leave the young unattended while returning occasionally to give them milk. The young remain in the nest for 33 days. They leave the nest to follow their parents in search of food in the trees. Parental care lasts for 97 days, which is the time that they become independent. The sexual maturity is reached with 5 months and their lifespan is if 12 years. Another representative of the Genus Neoadapis is the Dwarf paralemuroid (Neoadapis minor). This species inhabits the tropical forests of the Philippines. They have 38 cm of length and a tail of 27 cm. They have dark brown fur with chestnut tails.
Áèîëîã: JOrnitho Good one! Thanks!
JOrnitho: I made this description of a medium sized bird of prey for Borneo and Southeastern Asia, with a related form for Hindustan. Fork-tailed helang (Helang borneensis) The human actions in the Holocene caused many impacts in the ecosystems. Because of these actions, many species went extinct in the Neocene. However some species survived and gave rise to descendants. One of these descendants is the genus Helang, the fork-tailed eagles. Rather than being a true eagle, these birds evolved from the kites (subfamily Elaninae). The type species of this group is the Fork-tailed helang. Helang is a word in Malay that means eagle. This species lives on the tropical regions of Southeastern Asia and nearby islands, such as Borneo, Sulawesi and the Philippines. A small population also occurs in Northern and Central Meganesia. These birds have a body length of 58 cm and a wingspan of 180 cm. The males of this genus appear to be larger than the females due to their long forked tail, which can reach 60 cm. The tail on the females is half the size of the males, but they are slightly larger than the males in body length. The plumage of both sexes is similar, they are predominantly white. The nape, rump and wings are black. The tail is dark grey. The beak is black with a yellow base and the legs are also yellow. These birds feed on birds, mammals and reptiles. When hunting in open areas, they will hover over lowland scrubs and grassland in search of their prey. When the prey is found, the bird swoops down and takes it. Bats are also eaten, the bird will wait near the entrance of caves to attack these mammals when they leave during the sunset. Fork-tailed helags are monogamous, mating for life. The couple will defend their territory from other members of the species fiercely, engaging in aerial combats. The nesting season occurs at the end of the dry season. The female lays 2 to 3 eggs on a platform nest high in the tree branches. The female spends more effort in the construction of the nest than the male. The eggs are creamy with brown spots. Both parents incubate but when the chicks hatch, the male spends more time foraging for food. The incubation lasts for 32 days. The young will fledge 37 days after hatching, but they will be dependent on food brought by the parents until they reach 80 days of age. This species reaches sexual maturity with 4 years and have a lifespan of 22 years. Other species in the genus Helang Lesser fork-tailed helang (Helang minor) Living in the tropical areas of the Hindustan, this species have 55 cm of length and a wingspan of 176 cm. The males have a tail that can reach 57 cm, while that of the females have half of this size. The females are also slightly larger than the males in body length. Its plumage is mainly white, with pale grey nape, rump, back and tail. The wings are grey and the shoulders black.
Áèîëîã: JOrnitho Good helangs! All your species are added to the catalogue (both your own and the general lists of proposed mammals, birds, etc., respectively).
JOrnitho: I finished a description for the otter-like mongoose. While I was making it, I had an idea for another Bornean animal. This time a semi-aquatic descendant of the pig that is similar in appearance to the extinct moeritherium. Would something like that be plausible? They would have alifestyle simar to that of the hippopotamus. Sunda memerang (Memerang sundaica) The human actions during the Holocene caused the decline of many species. The otters were among the animals that suffered the most with it. In the Neocene, all the representatives of this group went extinct. With their niche being left vacant, some species took this opportunity and evolved to fill them. In Southeastern Asia, the Genus Memerang appeared. The word memerang means otter in Malay. This group originated from the Asian Mongooses that evolved by living and hunting near mangroves and marshes. With time, they fully became a semi-aquatic species. The type species of this genus is the Sunda memerang, which lives in mangroves, estuaries and marshes of Sunda land, Borneo, Sulawesi and Philippines. A small population can also be found in Northern Meganesia. The Sunda memerang has 52 cm of length, with a tail measuring 45 cm. Usually the male are slightly larger than the females. They have long, slim bodies and relatively short limbs. During their evolution, these animals developed powerful webbed feet that are used to swim, and an incredible ability for holding breath underwater. They have sharp claws on their feet and a muscular tail. Their fur is shorter than that of their mongoose ancestors, with a very soft and insulated underfur, which is protected by an outer layer of long guard hairs. Their fur is tawny grey. The head is elongated with a pointed snout with numerous long whiskers that help the animal detect food underwater. As a result of their aquatic lifestyle, this species developed transparent nictitating membranes to protect their eyes while swimming and nostrils and ears capable of being closed. They rest in dens excavated in shores and sandbanks above the tide level. Their diet contains fishes, mollusks and crustaceans. They capture fish with a quick lunge from ambush, or more rarely, after a brief chase. The memerangs can remain underwater for nearly 8 minutes, swim at speeds approaching 10 km/h, dive to depths nearing 20 m, and travel up to 300 m while underwater. Small fish are eaten at the surface, but larger ones are taken to the shore to be consumed. Live fish are typically eaten from the head, being held by the animal’s forepaws. Mollusks are captured and taken to rocks, where, using their forepaws, they hit the shell until it breaks. Crabs are captured and their claws removed before being consumed. This species is solitary and highly territorial with members of the same sex, this way territories of males and females overlap. Pairs are only formed during the mating, which can happen at any time of the year. Unlike the true otters, the mating of the memerangs happens in the land. The Gestation lasts for 53 days and the female usually gives birth to one or five pups, which remain dependent on the mother for about 13 months. The male plays no direct role in parental care, but the territory of a female with her pups is usually entirely within that of the male, this way they remain protected against other males that can kill the litter. The sexual maturity is reached with 18 months, but the females usually have their first litter with 2 years. Their lifespan is 16 years. Other species is of the Genus Memerang: Lesser memerang (Memerang minor) Living in the tropical and temperate areas of China, this is the smallest representative of the genus, with a body length of 44 cm and a tail with 41 cm. Their fur is ferruginous, with a rich tawny brown on the back. Indian memerang (Memerang indica) Living across mostly mangroves and marshes of the Hindustan, this species has a body length of 49 cm and a tail of 46 cm. Their fur is dark brown with a pale gray belly.
Áèîëîã: JOrnitho Good description! Would something like that be plausible? Sounds interesting, but which species is the ancestor? Domestic pig? Bearded pig?
JOrnitho: Áèîëîã ïèøåò: Sounds interesting, but which species is the ancestor? Domestic pig? bearded pig? I was thinking about the domestic pig. They seem to be the ones with more chances of surviving the anthropogenic changes in Borneo.
Áèîëîã: JOrnitho domestic pig. They seem to be the ones with more chances of surviving the anthropogenic changes OK, so it'll be domestic pig.
JOrnitho: I don’t know how it could be named, though. I wanted to use the name Badak air, which is hippopotanus in Malay. However, I don’t know how the genus could be named. Does anyone have a suggestion?
Àâòîð: JOrnitho ïèøåò: I wanted to use the name Badak air, which is hippopotanus in Malay. pig = khinzir in Malayan https://en.glosbe.com/en/ms/pig
JOrnitho: Àâòîð ïèøåò: khinzir This one is good! I'll use it for the species.
Áèîëîã: Àâòîð Oh, good naming!
JOrnitho: I finished the description for the semi-aquatic descendant of the pig. Khinzir (Khinzir amphibius) During the Holocene, man introduced species in other continents. Some of these introduced species were capable of surviving in their new habitats and giving rise to descendants. The khinzir is one of these species. This animal is a descendant of the domestic pig (Sus domesticus). Different from their ancestors, this species evolved to have a semi-aquatic lifestyle, more similar to that of the extinct pygmy hippopotamus of the Holocene. Having originated in the Sundaland, this species spread to Borneo, Sulawesi and the Philippines. Now, it inhabits estuaries, rivers and marshes in all these areas. The khinzir are sexually dysmorphic, with males being larger than the females. They have 96 cm of height and 163 cm of length, while females have 75 cm of height and 150 cm of length. The males also have large canine teeth, which protrude from their mouth. These teeth continue to grow throughout their lives, curving strongly as they age. Both sexes have a broad flexible upper lip like a tapir's for grasping their food. These animals have very little fur, with their skin being mostly dark grey, while the belly has a more pale shade. They have a graviportal skeleton, adapted to carry their weight, and their dense bones and low centre of gravity allows them to sink and move along the bottom of the water. Their feet are webbed, which turns them into good swimmers, with the adults reaching 5 km/h. While they are heavy animals, the large males can weigh 197 kg, the khinzir can be fast on land, reaching 35 km/h. Like the hippopotamus of the Holocene, the khinzir developed muscular closing valves in the nostrils and nictitating membranes that cover the eyes. This can be considered a case of convergent evolution to a similar lifestyle. This mammal is capable of using their trunk to breath, while their body remains underwater. Like their ancestors, the khinzir are omnivorous. However, they consume more plants than the domestic pig used to do. These animals have preference for soft aquatic plants, leaves and grasses that grow near the water. They also consume fungi, bulbs, fruits, nuts and seeds. Occasionally they will eat insects, bird eggs, lizards, snakes and frogs. Usually, this diet is adopted during dry periods, when the vegetation is scarce. Khinzirs are typically social animals, living in female-dominated groups consisting of barren ones and mothers with young led by an old matriarch. These groups are usually small, with 8 to 17 individuals. The males leave their group at the age of 3 years, while females either remain with their mothers or establish new territories nearby. Subadult males may live in loosely knit groups, while adult and elderly males tend to be solitary outside the breeding season. The breeding period starts at the beginning of the dry season. The males will travel long distances in search of a group of females, eating little on the way. Once a group has been located, the male drives off all young animals and persistently chases the females. At this point, the male fiercely fights potential rivals, using their tusks to inflict damage. A single male can mate with 5 females. By the end of the rut, males are often badly mauled and have lost 20% of their body weight. The gestation period lasts for 165 days. The size depends on the age and nutrition of the mother. The average litter consists of 4 young, with the maximum being 7. The birth happens out of the water, in a nest constructed from twigs, grasses and leaves. Such nests are built in a hidden place, close to the water. Should the mother die prematurely, the young are adopted by the other females in the group. The young do not leave the lair for their first week of life. Should the mother be absent, they lie closely pressed to each other. By two weeks of age, they will follow her in the water for the first time. The lactation period lasts 8 months, but the young begin displaying adult feeding behaviours at the age of 3 months. Females attain sexual maturity at the age of two years, with males attaining it a year later. However, estrus usually first occurs after three years in females, while males begin participating in the rut after 5 years, as they are not permitted to mate by the older males. The maximum lifespan of this species is 30 years.
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