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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]
Àâòîð: JOrnitho ïèøåò: that is mentioned in the Bestiary Oops! The Bestiary is really big now, and I forgot it. Really. Talking about Philippines, do not miss owl-mimicking pigeons.
JOrnitho: Áèîëîã ïèøåò: But it does not inhabit Philippines today (Wikipedia states it as "uncertain"). How would it get there? Oh, I didn’t noticed that it had an uncertain presence in the Philippines. While it could be solved by them drift rafting from Borneo, I wanted to have a local species being the one to evolve here. Perhaps this medium-sized predator could be the descendant of a shrew or moonrat. A recently evolved animal that hunts faster prey that these nearly flightless eagles can't take. Possible ancestors are the Mindanao moonrat and the introduced Asian house shrew. If it wasn’t good, this predator could be a descendant of the domestic dog or of some feline. Àâòîð ïèøåò: Talking about Philippines, do not miss owl-mimicking pigeons. I like how they mimic the barn owls, it’s an interesting strategy to avoid predation.
Áèîëîã: JOrnitho ancestors are the Mindanao moonrat and the introduced Asian house shrew Great! Both are interesting! Although not carnivores - these are insectivores.
JOrnitho: Áèîëîã ïèøåò: Great! Both are interesting! Although not carnivores - these are insectivores. Yes, but their descendants could be carnivore, like how in the Neocene the hedgehogs now have carnivore descendants in Europe.
Áèîëîã: JOrnitho OK, sure.
Áèîëîã: Àâòîð owl-mimicking pigeons What's that? I failed to find anything using Google.
wovoka: Áèîëîã ïèøåò: What's that? I failed to find anything using Google. http://www.sivatherium.narod.ru/enbirds.htm#tytomimus_strigops_en In Russian here: http://www.sivatherium.narod.ru/avies.htm#tytomimus_strigops_ru
Áèîëîã: wovoka Oh, thank you! Shame on me... I still do not know all neocenic species after so many years in the project...
wovoka: Áèîëîã ïèøåò: I still do not know all neocenic species after so many years in the project... So do I
Áèîëîã: JOrnitho a descendant of the collared mongoose But it does not inhabit Philippines today (Wikipedia states it as "uncertain"). How would it get there?
JOrnitho: I was thinking that perhaps the ancestor of this medium-sized predator could be the Asian house shrew. Because of that, they maintained a venomous saliva that helps them kill larger prey.
Áèîëîã: JOrnitho Venomous saliva is a good idea! It could remain small but deadly venomous. Kind of this: biting, then waiting for the venom to take effect, then eating dead prey. Just like snakes do, only not swallowing entire prey, of course.
JOrnitho: Áèîëîã ïèøåò: It could remain small but deadly venomous. Kind of this: biting, then waiting for the venom to take effect, then eating dead prey. Yes! I was thinking that they would have the size of a medium-sized dog and would hunt larger prey by biting some times to put the venom on their bodies.
Áèîëîã: JOrnitho The size looks doubtful: too large. The size of a raccoon or a domestic cat seems much more plausible.
JOrnitho: Áèîëîã ïèøåò: The size of a raccoon or a domestic cat seems much more plausible. Makes sense, they could have 50 to 70 cm of length. I was thinking that their main prey could be a descendant of the mouse deer, which could have 40 cm of shoulder height. Their venom would play an important factor to bring down larger animals. What could be the largest herbivore of the Philippines? I was thinking that the herbivores of the islands could see some effects of insular dwarfism.
Áèîëîã: JOrnitho What could be the largest herbivore of the Philippines? If you mean hoofed herbivores, the list can include Philippine deer and wild boar. These seem to have a good chance to survive and be present in neocene (in their descendant forms, surely).
JOrnitho: Áèîëîã ïèøåò: If you mean hoofed herbivores, the list can include Philippine deer and wild boar. Yes, they are also possible survivors. Another one is the carabaoclick here, the local domestic water buffalo. Does it seems plausible? With these three species and the mouse deer in mind, I thought on these four possible hoofed herbivores: Wild boar's descendant: a robust and omnivorous animal with 140 cm of length, males would have large tusks. Perhaps they have a trunk? Philippine deer's descendant: a robust species of deer that looks more like a bovid than a cervid. It filled the niche of the tamarawclick here. In the case of the buffalo's survival, this species could be endemic to Mindoro, where the bovid would not exist. Carabao's descendant: if this buffalo could survive, I was thinking that it could replace the Philippine deer as the Neocene analogue to the tamaraw. With 70-90 cm of height at the shoulder, it's an example of insular dwarfism. Mouse deer's descendant: they would have 30 cm of shoulder height and 60 cm of length. Maybe the males could have developed some horn like structure on their skulls?
Áèîëîã: JOrnitho Seems interesting. I think it is reasonable to ask the Author about who can survive - the deer or the buffalos. Because I do not really know.
JOrnitho: While we wait for Àâòîð's opinion, I'm working in the descriptions of the shrew and of the mouse deer. Do you have a sugestion of name for this predatory shrew? I think that their appearance would be similar to that of the Deinogalerix from Miocene Gargano, although larger than it.
Áèîëîã: JOrnitho Do you have a sugestion of name for this predatory shrew? Oh, I do not.
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