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Fauna and Flora of Borneo and nearby islands
JOrnitho: Some time ago, I talked with Автор 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]
Биолог: JOrnitho Great work!
JOrnitho: I had been thinking about endemic species for Sulawesi and had these ideas: A larger deer as the largest herbivore of the island. It's a descendant of the Javan rusa (Rusa timorensis). A descendant of the Sulawesi bear cuscus (Ailurops ursinus), with the appearance of a ground sloth, but smaller. A larger and flightless descendant of the Philippine megapode (Megapodius cumingii). Do you think that these species could be plausible? Any idea for a predator?
Автор: JOrnitho пишет: A larger and flightless descendant of the Philippine megapode (Megapodius cumingii). JOrnitho пишет: Any idea for a predator? I think these two ideas at once are improbable, and the probability of the existance of ground-dwelling predators at the island is at least 100%. So, I think there will be no flightless megapodes, or they will have any super-weapon to repel the predator of any size living nearby.
Биолог: Автор at least 100% I don't quite understand - probability cannot exceed 100%, so why "at least"? Maybe you were meaning just "almost"?
JOrnitho: Автор пишет: So, I think there will be no flightless megapodes, or they will have any super-weapon to repel the predator of any size living nearby. I understand. But would not be possible for it to develop a sharp claw on their feet to defend against predators? Maybe even a sharp spur. The emu, rhea, ostrich and the casowary evolved in habitats with terrestrial predators, so I thought that it could happen with the megapode. Anyway, about the predator, I was thinking that it could be a descendant of the domestic dog. Do you have other suggestions?
Биолог: JOrnitho The emu, rhea, ostrich and the casowary evolved in habitats with terrestrial predators Wow, I just forgot that! Right you are, and note how dangerous a cassowary can be even for humans! So, we can make just a large (the size of a cassowary) megapode with deadly claws on their feet! And such claws can also be used to dig pits in the ground to make their incubator-type nests.
Биолог: JOrnitho The ideas are great, but I agree with the Author about the combination he mentioned.
JOrnitho: I'm still in doubt about which animal could be the ancestor of the predator of Sulawesi. While I think that dogs could have a good chance, I was remembered that the Sulawesi palm civet (Macrogalidia musschenbroekii) also is a potential survivor. Another option is a large descendant of the Asian water monitor (Varanus salvator). What do you think? Who could be the predator in the island?
Биолог: JOrnitho The palm civet looks more interesting. And the water monitor can evolve even more aquatic, a predator, like a crocodile.
JOrnitho: Биолог пишет: The palm civet looks more interesting. Yes. I thought that it could be a wolf/hyena-like animal adapted to live in forests and to run after prey for long distances. What do you think?
wovoka: JOrnitho пишет: What do you think? I think that is interesting
Биолог: JOrnitho wolf/hyena-like animal adapted to live in forests and to run after prey for long distances I would rather think of a feline-like animal, resembling a jaguar or a leopard. Given the tigers and clouded leopards are extinct in neocene, it is possible. Wolf/hyena-like animal is more plausible for open lands or woodlands, but not jungle of South-East Asia.
JOrnitho: Биолог пишет: I would rather think of a feline-like animal, resembling a jaguar or a leopard. Maybe a jaguar-like viverrid with long upper canines like that of a clouded leopard? They would hunt the large prey of the island. I also thought that the domestic dog could evolve in an small omnivorous fox-like animal.
Биолог: JOrnitho Yes, possible!
JOrnitho: I made the description for the viverrid. One of possible preys of this animal would be a descendant of the Javan rusa, a large deer that is also the largest herbivore of Sulawesi. Their main characteristic would be leaf shaped antlers of the males. However, I have problems in finding a good name. Do you have a sugestion? Macan tutul, the false leopard (Viverratherium mortifer) The human actions during the Holocene caused the decline of many species. However some species survived and in the Neocene they gave rise to new species. One of these new species is the Macan tutul, a descendant of the Sulawesi palm civet (Macrogalidia musschenbroekii). Macan tutul mean leopard in the Indonesian language, this viverrid shares the same lifestyle of this feline. This animal lives in the tropical forests of Sulawesi, being its apex predator. The male macan tutul is larger than the female, he has 190 cm from head to tail, while females have 160 cm. Their fur is greyish yellow and is marked with solid black marks. The spots on head and limbs are small, but markings on the back, cheeks and flanks are open or closed bands and stripes. A few dark stripes run straight from the back of the neck up to the tip of the tail. Its neck and undersides are white, the insides of the legs are marked less. It has round ears and has a strong skull. The main characteristic of this species are their long canine teeth. However, it remains hidden, only being revealed when the animal opens the mouth. Macan tutuls will eat medium to large sized animals. Birds, turtles and large mammals are common prey for them. Their bite is powerful, capable of crushing the throat of the prey and also of penetrating skulls and shells. To kill larger mammals, they bite directly through the skull between the ears to deliver a fatal bite to the brain. This hunting technique is similar to that used by the jaguar (Panthera onca) of the Americas in the Holocene. These animals use their fur to camouflage in the environment to ambush the prey. These viverrids are solitary, only meeting during the mating season. Inside a male territory there is 2 to 3 females. Macan tutul smate at any time of the year. Oestrus lasts four to five days, and recurs every 25 days in a non-pregnant female. A litter of one to three is born after a gestational period of 79 to 83 days. Females give birth in dens, usually located in caves and other alcoves. Born blind, cubs are completely dependent on their mother at first, and begin to be weaned at around 3 months of age. As they grow, they begin to go out on forays with their mother, first visiting kill sites, and after six months beginning to hunt small prey on their own. Macan tutuls reach sexual maturity with 5 months and have a lifespan of 18 years.
Биолог: JOrnitho Good but the name already exists: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_palm_civet It is known as musang today.
JOrnitho: Биолог пишет: It is known as musang today. I'll replace for another one. There is the Luwak, from the Kopi Luwak, the coffee civet. Luwak is a common name for the civet too. Another one that crossed my mind was Viverratherium/ Saber toothed civet, but I wanted to use something local. Anyone know a better name? I'm having problems to decide names for this animal and for the deer too.
Биолог: JOrnitho Yeah, I know about kopi-luwak. The name for your Viverratherium could be from Indonesian or Malayan language, or some other local.
JOrnitho: Биолог пишет: The name for your Viverratherium could be from Indonesian or Malayan language, or some other local. What do you think of macan tutul? It's the name used for the leopard in the Indonesian language. Since the Viverratherium will fill a similar niche and have a similar morphology, maybe it could work.
Биолог: JOrnitho macan tutul name used for the leopard in the Indonesian language Good idea!
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