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Fauna of Africa
JOrnitho: I'm making this new topic after Áèîëîã mentioned some interesting ideas for descendants of the tree hyraxes with more adaptations for an arboreal lifestyle. I was also thinking that they could be adapted to jump between branches and even trees. Áèîëîã, do you have more ideas about these animals?
Àâòîð: JOrnitho ïèøåò: adapted to jump between branches and even trees To make it, they must have gripping hands with opposable thumb or thumb-like finger.
Áèîëîã: Àâòîð I agree.
Áèîëîã: JOrnitho I've already described my ideas briefly. Deeper development of sticky "glue" and sucking force on the soles seems the most interesting.
JOrnitho: Áèîëîã ïèøåò: Deeper development of sticky "glue" and sucking force on the soles seems the most interesting. Ok. Do you have ideas for how they would look morphologically? You mentioned that they could be like a squirrel or a weasel. I like the idea of them being slender and tailess animals that move through the trees.
Áèîëîã: JOrnitho slender and tailess animals that move through the trees Yes, would be great! But it could still retain its dorsal gland and feed on tough plant material using its ruminant-like multichambered stomach.
Àâòîð: Áèîëîã ïèøåò: it could still retain its dorsal gland and feed on tough plant material using its ruminant-like multichambered stomach Plant matter is hard to digest and contains a low amount of nutrients. So, the excusive plant-eater using fermentation for digesting of cellulose will be rather sluggish and large animal - it must have long intestines to digest plant matter. It means that this one will be large, and the ability of making long jumps means the great need in nutrients. Plants only will not cover this need. So, IMHO, specialized tree-climbing plant-eating hyraxes will look more like orangutan - with big belly and rather short hind legs. Their mental abilities will be predictably low. We have galagos, by the way. Maybe, they will evolve to anything interesting?
JOrnitho: Àâòîð ïèøåò: So, IMHO, specialized tree-climbing plant-eating hyraxes will look more like orangutan - with big belly and rather short hind legs. Their mental abilities will be predictably low. This gives me another idea. Maybe these hyraxes could be koala like animals, sleeping long periods of time to diggest the leaves. Also, would be possible for quadrupedal descendants of the hyrax to exist in the forests of Africa and Europe? In appearance, they could look like a tapir or of one of the extinct primitive ungulates, like the hyracotherium. They could be a sister group to the flathorns. Àâòîð ïèøåò: We have galagos, by the way. Maybe, they will evolve to anything interesting? Maybe some forms adapted to more insectivorous lifestyle could appear. Even one adapted to take larvae from trunks, like the aye‐aye.
Àâòîð: JOrnitho ïèøåò: Maybe these hyraxes could be koala like animals, sleeping long periods of time to diggest the leaves. Like koala eats gum leaves inedible for other mammals, these arboreal hyraxes may eat leaves of trees of plant families tend to experiments with poisons in their greenery - Solanaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Apocynaceae and so on. Talking about tree-climbing hyraxes, I must note: all described species inhabit Zinj Land. Largest of them for now is ngoloko (description is not translated into English), a small bear-sized beast. In African mainland, cercopithecoid monkeys still exist. They may be important competitors for hyraxes in their adaptation to arboreal lifestyle. So, I think, in African mainland, we may expect for the appearing of specialized monkey species having any strange adaptations to their ways of life to avoid competition.
JOrnitho: Àâòîð ïèøåò: They may be important competitors for hyraxes in their adaptation to arboreal lifestyle. Some tree hyraxes are nocturnal, maybe these descendants of leaf eating hyraxes could also be nocturnal. They would feed of leaves during the night, avoiding the competition with monkeys. By the way, I have a description for a monkey. Golden agile guenon (Eucinetopithecus chryseus) Order: Primates Family: Cercopithecidae Habitat: Tropical forests of the Congo Bassin During the Holocene, the destruction of many habitats by the humans caused the extinction of many species. In the Neocene, the fortunate species that survived give rise to new ones. The guenons (genus Cercopithecus) were one of the survivors and in the Neocene it gives rise to the genus Eucinetopithecus, the agile guenons. The type species of this genus is the golden agile guenon, which lives in the tropical forests of the Congo Bassin. The golden agile guenon has 47 cm of body length and a 60 cm long tail. It has a bright reddish orange pelage in the head, arms and upper back while their lower back, tail and legs are dark brown. The face is black and the underbelly is white. The body of the monkeys of this genus is slim with long arms, which gives them the agility when moving on trees. The male's scrotum is blue. These animals are predominantly frugivore, eating sometimes seeds and insects. It has no adaptation for leaf eating, consuming only young and easily digestible leaves. These monkeys find food on all areas of the canopy, rarely coming to the ground. All monkeys in the genus Eucinetopithecus lives in groups lead by a dominant male which mate with all the females of the group. These groups can have 25 individuals. The gestation of a female golden agile guenon is of 6 months, ending when the rainy season starts, this way they have more fruits available. The males will fight fiercely for the position of dominant. When another male drive the dominant of the group, he will kill all infants of the previous male. When the young reach sexual maturity with 5 years, the males will be expelled from the group while the females will stay. The young males form bachelor groups to survive until they are strong enough to fight for the dominance of a group. The lifespan of this species is of 14 years. Other species in the genus Eucinetopithecus: Grey agile guenon (Eucinetopithecus griseus) Living in the tropical forests of the western coast of Africa, this animal have 43 cm of body length and a tail with 57 cm. The fur of this species is mostly grey, with exception of the head which is reddish orange and the lower members and tail that are brown. Their throat and belly are white. The face is black. The male’s scrotum is blue. Brown agile guenon (Eucinetopithecus fuscus) Living in the forests of the eastern coast of Africa near the Tanganyika Strait, this animal have 45 cm of body length and a tail with 58 cm. The fur of this species is mostly brown, with a patch of reddish orange in the back. The tail and lower members are light brown. The throat and belly are white. The face is black and the males have a blue scrotum.
Áèîëîã: JOrnitho hyraxes could be koala like animals, sleeping long periods of time to diggest the leaves But they can easily feed on tough, may be even shelled fruit, not leaves exclusively. This will again decline the contradiction between my idea and what the Author said. By the way, I have a description for a monkey. Good one!
Áèîëîã: Àâòîð I agree, although I did not think of making them able to jump long gaps - it was JOrnitho's idea. I really thought they could be slow-moving and probably with big belly. So my idea does not contradict what you said. small bear-sized beast Sorry, but maybe "bear-like", but not "-sized"? Because the smallest bears are about 1,5 m long (I cut it down to minimum), which can hardly be called "small".
JOrnitho: Áèîëîã ïèøåò: But they can easily feed on tough, may be even shelled fruit, not leaves exclusively. really thought they could be slow-moving and probably with big belly. Àâòîð said that they would face competition with monkeys, so I thought that they could be nocturnal to avoid it. What do you think? Also, this conversation gave the idea of a descendant of the colobine monkeys with the size and lifestyle of the orangutans living in Congo.
Áèîëîã: JOrnitho competition with monkeys, so I thought that they could be nocturnal to avoid it. What do you think? Surely, they can be nocturnal. Just because tree hyraxes are already nocturnal in holocene! Wikipedia states that and describes their territory calls: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_hyrax The call records can be found here: https://www.wildsolutions.nl/vocal-profiles/hyrax-vocalizations/ And finally: One of the commonest night noises was caused by an animal which I think was a tree hyrax. Gerald Durrell, The Overloaded Ark
JOrnitho: Áèîëîã ïèøåò: Just because tree hyraxes are already nocturnal in holocene! I know, I mentioned this fact in one of my previous posts. I only meant if you wanted this detail to be added to the description of the species. After all it's your idea.
Áèîëîã: JOrnitho Thanks, but you will be the author of the description (as will be mentioned beneath the text when it appears on the site page), so it is up to you to decide. But I think yes, it should be added.
JOrnitho: Áèîëîã ïèøåò: Thanks, but you will be the author of the description (as will be mentioned beneath the text when it appears on the site page), so it is up to you to decide. Ok! I'm working on it and will be finished soon.
Áèîëîã: JOrnitho OK. Waiting for it!
JOrnitho: I finished the description of the descendants of the hyraxes Slow dassy (Segnohyrax robustus) Order: Hyracoidea Family: Hiracidae Habitat: Rainforests of Western and Central Africa, including those in the Congo Basin 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. They took advantage of the niches that were left behind by the extinctions of the anthropogenic era. One of these species was the slow dassy, a descendant of the Hyraxes (Hyracoidea). They inhabit the rainforests of Western and Central Africa, including those in the Congo Basin. The slow dassy is a stocky animal with a large head and vestigial or non-existent tail. It has a body length of 75 cm and a weight of 15 kg. The males are larger than the females. The pelage is thick and coarse, with a few yellowish hairs scattered among the dark brown and blackish ones. Both the males and females have long tusk-like upper incisors. These animals are far more arboreal than their ancestors, rarely climbing down. To fit this lifestyle, the sole of their feet have more developed sucking force to climb. They also have large eyes, covered by tapetum lucidum. The slow dassy are herbivorous, with leaves being 90% of their diet. They became resistant to the toxins of some species. These mammals will also consume soft fruits, but more rarely. Since the leaves that they eat have a low level of energy, these animals are adapted to a low energy lifestyle, having slow movements and sleeping for 20 hours in a day. This species is solitary and nocturnal, spending the day sleeping in tree holes. Each individual has an established territory, with those of the females being found near that of a dominant male. They are territorial and aggressive, dominating others with their larger body size. The younger males are subordinate until they mature and reach full size. Among the males displays of dominance is a series of blood-curdling shrieks building up to a crescendo that they produce every night. Besides scent marks, these sounds are used to mark territory. The slow dassy does not have a fixed mating season, being able to mate during the entire year. Because of his much larger size, a male can usually force himself on a female, mounting her from behind, and in extreme cases, the male may pull the female out of the tree. A female may scream and vigorously fight off her suitors, but will submit to one that is dominant or is more familiar. The sounds that she emits can attract other males to the scene, obliging the incumbent to delay mating and fight off the intruders. These fights allow the female to assess which is dominant. Older males have deep scars of these events. Their gestation lasts for five months, with the female giving birth to one or two cubs inside a tree hole. They will remain here until after their second week of life, when they start to follow the female to forage. The young begin to take solid food after their fourth week. They reach sexual maturity with 3 years and have a lifespan of 18 years Western false tapir (Paratapirus occidentalis) Order: Hyracoidea Family: Paratapiroideae Habitat: Rainforests of Western and Central Africa, including those that are part of the Congo Basin. The human actions during the Holocene caused the decline of many species. However some species survived. The hyraxes (Hyracoidea) were among the animals that were able to survive. In the Neocene several new families descending from them appeared. One of these groups was the Paratapiroideae, a sister family to the Flathorns (Platyceratheriidae). The Genus Paratapirus is the one with the largest number of representatives, with four species. The type species is the Western false tapir, a species that inhabits the rainforests of Western and Central Africa, including those that are part of the Congo Basin. The Western false tapir has 190 m of length and 95 cm of height at the shoulder, with a 7 cm short stubby tail. The body of this animal resembles their South American name saker. They have dark brown short fur, which is paler in the face. Their ears are round and dark. What makes them different from the tapir is that they lack the trunk, which is present on them. Their upper lip is flexible, but isn’t broad enough to form such an extructure. The males have large, tusk-like upper incisors that are used in fights between them. They are fast, having long and slender limbs to help them flee from predators. False tapirs are also good swimmers, being able to dive in rivers when danger approaches. They are able to stay underwater for 5 minutes. This animal is an herbivore, feeding on leaves, buds, shoots, fruit, grasses, aquatic plants, and small branches it tears from trees by standing on its hind legs. They also feed on the vast majority of seeds found in the rainforest. Western false tapirs are shy and solitary animals, only being seen together when they visit clearings with mineral licks. At these moments, the animals interact with each other through several different whistles and grunts. Female false tapirs have a 30-day estrous cycle, and typically breed only once every other year. During courtship, the male chases the female and uses soft bites, grunts, and whistles to get her attention, while the female responds with frequent squealing. During this period, the once shy males become violent. They will fight against each other for the right to mate with a female. Their incisors are used to inflict deep wounds on their rivals. After a gestation period of 392 days, the female gives birth to a single young and occasionally two. They are born with pale fur, if compared with that of adults. Weaning begins at around three months of age. The immature coloration becomes darker after about a year, but the mother continues to care for her young for around 18 months. Western false tapirs reach sexual maturity with 2 years and can live up to 24 years. Other species in the genus Paratapirus are: Eastern false-tapir (Paratapirus orientalis) Living in the forests and woodlands of Eastern Africa, this species has 170 cm of body length and 80 cm of shoulder height. Their fur is similar to that of the western species, but lacks the pale in the face. Nile false tapir (Paratapirus niloticus) This species inhabits Northern Africa, mainly in the region of the Nile and close to other freshwater reservoirs. They have 175 cm of body length and 87 cm of shoulder height. Their fur is dark brown, with pale markings on the face below and around the eyes. They can stay more time underwater than other relatives, having an appreciation for aquatic plants. Dwarf false tapir, or Zinj false tapir (Paratapirus minor) Living in the forests and savannas of Zinj Land, this species is the smallest representative of the Genus. They have 140 cm of length and 60 cm of shoulder height. Their fur is reddish-brown, with a dark brown face. This species is more nocturnal than the others, being more active after dusk. European false tapir (Paratapirus europaeus) Living in the forests and woodlands of Western and Central Europe, this species has 190 cm of length and 90 cm of shoulder height. They are the northernmost representative of the Genus. This species has a long and wholly fur when compared to its African relatives. It’s dark brown, with a white stripping pattern in the back. The belly is pale brown.
Áèîëîã: JOrnitho Very good! Added them to the catalogue!
JOrnitho: Would be plausible for a genus of generuk-like harelopes to exist? They could reach higher branches and twigs that other harelopes couldn’t by standing erect on its hindlegs and elongating its neck, like the gerenuk.
Áèîëîã: JOrnitho generuk-like harelopes I think yes, but in which region? It must be a region free of harelopes or other large descendants of hares or other herbivores, in other words, the niche must be all free to allow hares in.
JOrnitho: Áèîëîã ïèøåò: I think yes, but in which region? This is a dificult one. At first I thought about Africa and Europe, but I think that most the regions in the project already have herbivores. I didn't know if would be possible for this species to avoid competition by feeding in the high branches of trees and bushes.
Áèîëîã: JOrnitho I didn't know if would be possible for this species to avoid competition by feeding in the high branches of trees and bushes. Difficult question. I would rather ask the Author.
JOrnitho: Does the flamingos mentioned in the Zinj Land part of the Neocene: the Portrait of the Earth have a description? I could make it if they don't have.
wovoka: JOrnitho ïèøåò: Does the flamingos mentioned in the Zinj Land part of the Neocene: the Portrait of the Earth have a description? I could make it if they don't have. Flamingos of the Zinj Land haven't a description. If you make it, it will be wonderfull! The portrait of the Earth also states that: Flamingo of Madagascar represents the species common with Zinj Land, formed stable populations at the reservoirs near the western coast of island. So when describing the flamingos of the Zinj Land, it is worth pointing out that they also live in Madagascar.
JOrnitho: wovoka ïèøåò: Flamingos of the Zinj Land haven't a description. If you make it, it will be wonderfull! Nice! I'll start to work on it. By the way, which one should be their ancestor? The lesser or the great flamingo?
Áèîëîã: JOrnitho Yes, flamingos are interesting birds - and interesting for neocene! Thanks again for your work.
wovoka: JOrnitho ïèøåò: The lesser or the great flamingo? The great flamingos, they have more chance to survive.
JOrnitho: wovoka ïèøåò: The great flamingos, they have more chance to survive. Ok! Would they have some difference if compared to their ancestors? Since they would not live in the same salt lakes, but in the Victoria marshes, perhaps their diet suffered some changes.
JOrnitho: I finished the description of the flamingos. Zinj scarlet flamingo (Phoenicopuniceus magnificens) Order: Phoenicopteriformes Family: Phoenicopteridae Habitat: Victoria marshes in Zinj Land, coastal lagoons and estuaries in Eastern Africa 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 Zinj red flamingo, a descendant of the Great flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus). The largest population of this species inhabits and nests in the Victoria marshes in the Zinj Land, but smaller groups also occur in the coastal lagoons and estuaries of Eastern Africa. During the wet season, the population that inhabits the Victoria marshes migrate to coastal areas with brackish water of Zinj Land. The Zinj scarlet flamingo is a large wading bird, with 143 cm tall and a wingspan of 130 cm. Differently from their ancestors that were covered by a mostly white plumage, these birds are scarlet. Only the bright pink wing converts and the black primary and secondary deviate from its scarlet appearance. The bill is pink with a restricted black tip, and the legs and webbed feet are entirely pink. The call is a goose-like honking. Their bill is equipped with comb-like structures that enable them to filter food, which is crustaceans, molluscs and algae. Their vivid red coloration is the result of their ability to extract carotenoids present in their food. The breeding season starts at the beginning of the dry season, when the water level is low enough for them to make their cone-shaped nests made from mud and sticks. The Zinj scarlet flamingo forms monogamous pairs when selecting a nest site, and incubating and raising young. The entire colony participate in mating rituals at the same time. The males put on a show by vocalizing and sticking their necks and heads straight up in the air and turning their heads back and forth. The females initiate mating by walking away from the group and a male follows. The female then spreads her wings and the male mounts her. Long-term pairs do not frequently engage in courtship behaviors or in-group display. Pairs often stand, sleep, and eat in close proximity. The female lays one egg that is incubated by her and the male for 32 days. When newly hatched, the chick's bill is straight and black, but later develops a downward curve and the adult colors of beak. The feathers are white and grey and the legs are pale pink. The parents are able to distinguish their chick from others in the colony by appearance and vocalization. Both the male and the female feed their chicks with a kind of crop milk, produced in glands lining the whole of the upper digestive tract. For the first 5 days after the chicks hatch, the adults and chicks stay in the nesting sites. At around 10 days old, the chicks begin to move out of their nests and explore their surroundings. When they are two weeks old, the chicks congregate in groups, called "microcrèches", and their parents leave them alone, only returning during the dusk. After a while, the microcrèches merge into "crèches" containing thousands of chicks. Chicks that do not stay in their crèches are vulnerable to predators. After 2 months, the chicks are already fledged. The white flamingo reaches sexual maturity with 4 years and they have a lifespan of 33 years, but many chicks are killed by predators. The Malagasy scarlet flamingo (Phoenicopuniceus magnificens malagasianus) is a subespecies that inhabits brackish coastal lagoons of Madagascar. On the other hand, the Indian scarlet flaming (Phoenicopuniceus indicus) is another species of the genus. They inhabit the coastal regions of Southern Asia. Their plumage is very similar to that of the Zinj species, but their necks and heads are bright pink, contrasting with the scarlet of the rest of the body. They have 115 cm of height and 123 cm of wingspan.
wovoka: JOrnitho ïèøåò: I finished the description of the flamingos. Very good
Áèîëîã: JOrnitho Good one!
ìåäâåäü: It was said in Portrait of the Earth that the flamingos of Madagascar are the same species as the one from Zinj Land.
JOrnitho: ìåäâåäü ïèøåò: It was said in Portrait of the Earth that the flamingos of Madagascar are t5he same species as the one from Zinj Land. In this case I can edit the species to be only one living in both Zinj and Madagascar. The other species that I did could be modified to live in the coastal lagoons areas of India.
JOrnitho: Still about Zinj Land, the Neocene: the Portrait of the Earth mentions canids living in its open areas. Do they already have descriptions? I also have an idea about a descendant of the galago adapted to extract larvae from inside trees living in the microcontinent. Another idea, now about the forests of Central Africa, is the existence of a orangutan-like descendant of the colobus monkeys.
wovoka: JOrnitho ïèøåò: Still about Zinj Land, the Neocene: the Portrait of the Earth mentions canids living in its open areas. Do they already have descriptions? Yes. In russian version. Paralupus afrorientalis
wovoka: JOrnitho ïèøåò: I also have an idea about a descendant of the galago adapted to extract larvae from inside trees living in the microcontinent. We have such a descendant of the galago on Zinj Land. http://www.sivatherium.narod.ru/mammals.htm#tardigalago_tenax_ru Before describing your galago, compare it with the description of the existing one.
Áèîëîã: JOrnitho Galagos are interesting! Do you mean they'll have elongated thin digits to extract the larvae just like aye-aye do?
wovoka: JOrnitho ïèøåò: Another idea, now about the forests of Central Africa, is the existence of a orangutan-like descendant of the colobus monkeys. Good idea!
JOrnitho: Áèîëîã ïèøåò: Do you mean they'll have elongated thin digits to extract the larvae just like aye-aye do? Yes, but another idea was that they developed strong incisors and claw-like nails to remove the bark.
Áèîëîã: JOrnitho Oh, this is interesting, too.
Àâòîð: JOrnitho ïèøåò: strong incisors and claw-like nails to remove the bark You must remember that aye-aye from Madagaskar evolved in conditions of the abscence of woodpeckers. In Africa (and Zinj Land) woodpeckers are present. So, to evolve a similarity of aye-aye, galagos must have a considerable ecological difference from woodpeckers, that allows them evolving in such direction with avoiding the competition.
JOrnitho: Àâòîð ïèøåò: So, to evolve a similarity of aye-aye, galagos must have a considerable ecological difference from woodpeckers, that allows them evolving in such direction with avoiding the competition. I was thinking that they could evolve to be strictly nocturnal. While the woodpeckers feed during the day, the galagos eat during the night. They could also feed of hard fruits.
Áèîëîã: JOrnitho they could evolve to be strictly nocturnal. While the woodpeckers feed during the day, the galagos eat during the night Yes! That's true.
JOrnitho: Could the scientific name Pongoides be good for the genus of orangutan-like colobus? Or Pseudopongo? Since Parapongo already exists in the project, I try to create other names that reflect what this animal looks like.
Áèîëîã: JOrnitho Pseudopongo, because "pongoides" is an adjective, not noun.
JOrnitho: I finished the description of the false-orangutan. Western false-orangutan (Pseudopongo occidentalis) Order: Primates Family: Cercopithecidae Habitat: Tropical forests of Western and Central Africa, tree canopy 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 Western false-orangutan. This species is a descendant of Colobinae monkeys from Africa that survived the anthropogenic onslaught during the Holocene. They inhabit the tropical forests of Western and Central Africa. In this species, the male is larger than a female. While he can be 120 to 170 cm long, she is 100 to 120 cm. The male is also heavier, with 50 to 100 kg, while the female has 30 to 50 kg. Beyond their size, a male can be identified by his long white fringes of silky hair, which form a mantle along the sides of its body, and relatively larger canines. Both males and females are mostly black, with a reddish-brown face, arms and legs. Their underparts are dark brown. Differently from their ancestors, this species lacks a long tail, having only a vestigial, short and stumpy one. They have arms longer than the rest of their body, which is used to move through the canopy of the trees. The western false-orangutan has a preference for leaves, but isn’t an obligate folivore. This species can also eat fruits, bark, wood, seeds, flowers, petioles, lianas and arthropods. Leaves usually make up over half of its diet, although fruits are occasionally eaten more depending on the season. When foraging for leaves, they prefer young ones over old. With fleshy fruits, the false-orangutan prefers to eat them unripe, which may serve to reduce competition with primates that eat ripe fruits. Like their colobi ancestors, they are able to digest leaves and other plant fibers with a large, multi-chambered stomach that contains bacteria in certain areas. These primates are mostly arboreal, rarely descending to the ground. This species is active during the day, sleeping at night in nests made of leaves high in the trees. They live in groups formed by a dominant male and four to eight females. Males that are not leading groups either live solitarily or with other outside males in bachelor groups. The females keep the groups cohesive and they are matrilineally related. They rarely disperse from their natal groups, except possibly when they break apart. Males on the other hand, usually leave when they become subadults or adults. They may start out being solitary or in bachelor groups. They gain entry into a social group either by displacing a group male. Aggressive encounters between groups usually involve chases, displays and vocalizations rather than physical contact. Females mature at 8-10 years and males at 9–11 years. They mate year-round and the female gives birth after a gestation of 8 months. Females will purse their lips and slowly approach a male while making eye contact. This serves to urge the male to mount her. If the male does not respond, then she will try to attract his attention by reaching towards him or shaking tree branches. False-orangutan infants are vulnerable and dependent of their mothers, who are their primary caregivers. The males are not active in caring for the young, but they do play a role in socialising them to other youngsters. The male has a largely supportive relationship with the infants in his group and shields them from aggression within the group. Infants remain in contact with their mothers for the first five months and mothers stay near the male for protection. Infants suckle at least once per hour and sleep with their mothers in the same nest. After 30 months, the young are weaned and they start to sleep on their own nests. The males are expelled from the group after they reach sexual maturity. Their lifespan is of 48 years. Another species of the Genus Pseudopongo is the Eastern false-orangutan (Pseudopongo orientalis). This animal inhabits the tropical forests of Eastern Africa. Their are similar to their Western relative, with the exception of their underparts being pale brown and the males having a shorter mantle. They are also smaller, with males being 100 to 150 cm long, while females are 80 to 90 cm long. Their groups are also more numerous and they can venture in forest ground more commonly than the Western false-orangutan. Together, these two species are part of the Family Pseudopongidae.
Áèîëîã: JOrnitho Good primate!
JOrnitho: I looked at the map of the Neocene for more islands and noticed that São Tomé e Príncipe and other of the Gulf of Guiné still exisit. Since they are away from the continent, which species you think that could appear here with this isolation? Maybe some continental ones could reach it.
Áèîëîã: JOrnitho Interesting location! You said they are remote from continents, so continental land fauna has little chance. But birds do have a chance.
JOrnitho: Áèîëîã ïèøåò: You said they are remote from continents, so continental land fauna has little chance. But birds do have a chance. Yes, I think that most land fauna would be descendants of those introduced by the humans.
Áèîëîã: JOrnitho So be it!
JOrnitho: Let's start with São Tomé. The largest predator could be a descendant of the African civet, which was introduced by humans. Their main prey could be a descendant of the goat. Another mammal living here could be a descendant of the mona monkey. While I have an idea of how the civet could be, I was thinking if you have suggestions to for the bovid and primates. Maybe something different, such as complex dysmorphic structures in the case of the goat.
Áèîëîã: JOrnitho suggestions to for the bovid Depends on the size of the predator, the civet in our case. Varies from the size of a mara (if the civet's descendant is the size of an ocelot) to the size of a deer (if the "civet" is the size of a jaguar). a descendant of the mona monkey Good idea, it can be small, the size of a marmoset, beautifully colored.
JOrnitho: Áèîëîã ïèøåò: Depends on the size of the predator, the civet in our case. Varies from the size of a mara (if the civet's descendant is the size of an ocelot) to the size of a deer (if the "civet" is the size of a jaguar). I was thinking that the civet could have the size of a small leopard, with a maximun lenght of 180 cm. Their tail would be short. it can be small, the size of a marmoset, beautifully colored. I like that idea! Their predators could be birds of prey and a descendant of the domestic cat that evolved to live in trees.
ëÿãóøêà: Interesting. But Sao Tome rift is stil active - may it be new island? It can be colonised by flightless birds.
Áèîëîã: ëÿãóøêà More probably an archipelago. Flightless birds? From which ancestor?
Àâòîð: Áèîëîã ïèøåò: Flightless birds? From which ancestor? The presence of predators excludes the probability of flightless altricial birds like New Zealand "wrens". So, passerines, cuckoos and parrots do nit fit this idea. Then, let's check precocial birds. The ancestor must be able to cross ocean, so Galliformes are also doubtful (except for quails?). Anseriformes and rails can do it - so, we may expect for a kind of large rail, moorhen or large goose/duck.
JOrnitho: Áèîëîã ïèøåò: More probably an archipelago. While I like this idea, would it be possible to other islands to appear around São Tomé and Príncipe? Àâòîð ïèøåò: so Galliformes are also doubtful (except for quails?). Would be possible for the chickens introduced by the humans in São Tomé and Principe to evolve this way? I'm usure if they would be able to reach the hypothetical islands that could appear during the Neocene. Besides the quails, maybe francolins could also arrive here from continent.
Áèîëîã: JOrnitho would it be possible to other islands to appear around São Tomé and Príncipe? I don't think so.
ëÿãóøêà: I agree with Áèîëîã.
JOrnitho: I made the description of the African civet. Algalia (Paracrocuta ferox) Order: Carnivora Family: Viverridae Habitat: Forests of São Tomé Island During the Holocene, the humans had introduced many species in new locations. In the island of São Tomé, they introduced the African civet (Civettictis civetta). There, this species survived the transition into the Neocene and their descendant is the algalia, the largest predator of the island. Algalia is a word of Portuguese origin that was used to name both its ancestor and the civetone that it produced. The algalia have 180 cm of length and 70 cm of shoulder height. The tail is short and thick, with 30 cm. The females are slightly smaller than the males. This species has strong muscles in the skull, giving them a powerful bite capable of breaking bones. Their fur is creamy yellow to reddish on the back, with black stripes, spots, and blotches. Horizontal lines are prominent on the hind limbs, spots are normally present on its midsection and fade into vertical stripes above the forelimbs. Its muzzle is pointed, ears small and rounded. A black band stretches across its small eyes, and two black bands are around its short broad neck. Following the spine of the animal extending from the neck to the base of the tail is an erectile dorsal crest. This species is mostly carnivorous, hunting large terrestrial prey that they will kill with a powerful bite in the skull. However, the algalia will occasionally visit the beaches after shellfish and beached animals. They can also consume soft fruits, but to a lesser extent than their ancestors. The algalia is a solitary species, with males and females only being seen together during the mating season. Usually three females share their territory with that of a male. They deposit their feces in large piles called latrines and use their perineal gland secretion to mark their territories around their latrines. When they feel threatened, algalias raise their dorsal crest to make themselves look larger and thus more formidable and dangerous to attack. The mating season starts during the end of the dry season, with the male entering the territory of the females. Females create a nest which is normally in dense vegetation and commonly in a rock crevice. They normally give birth to one to four young. The young are born in advanced stages compared to most carnivores. They are covered in dark, short fur and can crawl at birth. The young leave the nest after 18 days but are still dependent on the mother for milk and protection for another two months. The algalia have a lifespan of 18 years.
Áèîëîã: JOrnitho Good one!
ëÿãóøêà: Good animal, interesting.
ìåäâåäü: Interesting animal, thanks!
JOrnitho: Thanks, everyone! I'll work in the description of the descendant of the domestic goat and of the mona monkey. Any of you have an idea for an interesting descendant of the domestic rat? Maybe by filling a different niche.
ëÿãóøêà: Interesting, I'm waiting for it!
JOrnitho: Would be possible for rats and least weasels (they were also introduced) to more between the islands by floating in debris? It would allow each island to have their own species.
Áèîëîã: JOrnitho I agree about floating, although mammals are least likely to arrive this way: two (one male + one female) must arrive, not one, or else a pregnant female.
JOrnitho: Áèîëîã ïèøåò: I agree about floating, although mammals are least likely to arrive this way: two (one male + one female) must arrive, not one, or else a pregnant female. But they would not be originated from the continent. I thought that the least weasel and the rodents would be descendants of the ones introduced by the humans in São Tomé, then they would float in rafts to the others. By the way, my idea for one of the rodents was that it could be a porcupine-like animal living in trees.
Áèîëîã: JOrnitho descendants of the ones introduced by the humans Ah, that really solves the problem! By the way, my idea for one of the rodents was that it could be a porcupine-like animal living in trees. Quite plausible, if they have enough treetops to live, feed and reproduce.
ëÿãóøêà: Yes, they can move across the sea in driftwood, because why not?
JOrnitho: I read more about the islands of the Gulf of Guinea and noticed that Bioko Island could have more representatives of continental fauna, due to it being close to the continent. It is large, so there is the possibility that more speciels could survive there, for example the drill (Mandrillus leucophaeus), guenons, Ogilby's duiker (Cephalophus ogilbyi), turacos. All these species already live here in the Holocene. By the way, more two animals for São Tomé. Next will be the rodents and the least weasel's descendant. Solitary goat-antelope (Solitaricapra tomei) Order: Artiodactyla Family: Bovidae Habitat: Forests of São Tomé Island During the Holocene, the humans had introduced many species in new locations. In the island of São Tomé, they introduced the domestic goat. There, this species survived the transition into the Neocene and their descendant is the solitary goat-antelope. While it shares the name with the bovids of Zinj Land, the solitary goat-antelope is only distantly related to them. This species has 150 cm of length and stands at 70 cm in the shoulder. The males are slightly larger than females and have 40 cm long horns, with a black fur and chestnut brown underparts. The females are hornless and their fur is totally chestnut. The young of both sexes have a coloration similar to that of the females. Their tails are 15 cm long and have a white tuff. The solitary goat-antelope is a grazer, feeding on grasses and young shoots. They are naturally diurnal, feeding during the daytime hours. Fallen fruits can also be consumed. As their name says, this bovid is mostly solitary. Only juveniles occasionally form herds with a clan hierarchy. Males and females are known to associate all year round, but this interaction lasts only a few hours. Adult males are often solitary and aggressive, while adult females can be alone, accompanied by a bull, or their young of different ages. During the mating season, there will be disputes between males for the females. They fight by clashing their horns against each other. The adult female gives birth to one offspring after a gestation period around 235 days. There is an interbirth interval of two years and the calf stays for 2–4 years with its mother before becoming independent. The solitary goat-antelope has a lifespan of 20 years. THeir main predator is the algalia. Superb false-marmoset (Mona splendida) Order: Primates Family: Cercopithecidae Habitat: Forests of São Tomé Island, tree canopy During the Holocene, the humans had introduced many species in new locations. In the island of São Tomé, they introduced the mona monkey (Cercopithecus mona). There, this species survived the transition into the Neocene and their descendant is the superb false-marmoset, a small colorful primate that inhabits the canopy of the island’s forests. As their name says, these monkeys have similar size and habits to the marmosets of South America. Males have an average size of 22 cm while the females are 19 cm. This species has a colorful appearance, with bright maroon arms and legs. The rump and belly are golden-yellow. The male has bright orange patches around the eyes, while in the females they are pale yellow. Their crown is reddish, their temples are silver and their foreheads are black. The males also have a distinctive blue scrotum. Besides their size, the superb false-marmoset also developed a similar diet to that of the true marmosets. They developed claw-like nails that allow them to cling to the side of a tree and, with their long lower incisors, chew a hole in the tree. The monkey then licks up the exudates or swoops them with the teeth. They also eat insects, fruits, seeds and flowers. The superb false-marmoset is usually found in family groups of about twelve individuals, with a single mature male. The troop moves through the canopy foraging. It is a highly vocal species with a wide repertoire of calls. Both males and females have vocal sacs which are inflated to be used as resonators. Even being small, the booming call made by the adult male can be heard from great distances. Social interactions include tail twining between resting monkeys and a ritualized head display. When conditions are right, adult females breed regularly for the rest of their lives. Females flick their tongues at males to solicit mating. The gestation period lasts for 5 months, and females are ready to breed again around 10 days after giving birth. Five months pass between each parturition, so they can give birth twice a year. Usually, the females will give birth to twins. They are weaned with 3 months and reach sexual maturity within 15 months. They have a lifespan of 9 years.
Áèîëîã: JOrnitho Wow, great, I'll add them to the catalogue. I think this can make up a chapter about the Sao Tome islands.
ìåäâåäü: Interesting animals! But I think that drill is too rare to leave descendants in the Neocene.
Áèîëîã: ìåäâåäü I agree, drill is unlikely to survive and have descendants.
JOrnitho: ìåäâåäü ïèøåò: But I think that drill is too rare to leave descendants in the Neocene. Maybe one of the other monkeys of Boiko could fill their niche in the island?
ëÿãóøêà: They're good and interesting. Bear I also agree about drill.
ëÿãóøêà: Yes, I think so.
JOrnitho: Finished the description of the rodent and of the weasel São Tomé quilled tree-rat (Pectinorattus elegans) Order: Rodentia Family: Muridae Habitat: Forests of São Tomé Island, tree canopy During their expansion, the humans had inadvertently transported several commensal species with them. The black rat (Rattus rattus) was one of the animals that became widespread thanks to anthropogenic expansion. In the islands of the Gulf of Guinea, this species was able to survive in the Neocene and originated the genus Pectinorattus, the quilled tree-rat. The type species is the São Tomé quilled tree-rat, an inhabitant of the canopy of the tropical forests of São Tomé Island. The São Tomé quilled tree-rat has a body length 16 cm, with a tail of 22 cm. Their fur is chestnut brown with a lighter underside. Their main characteristic is the long hairs that are modified into hard quills in the adult. Being found in the back and side of the rodent’s body, these quills are dark brown with white tips. A case of convergent evolution with the porcupines, the quilled tree-rats also use these structures as a defensive mechanism. Their tail is semi-prehensile, being used most to help them maintain balance while moving through the branches of trees. While being omnivorous, this species has a great preference for food of plant origin. They eat seeds, fruit, stems and leaves. The consumption of fungi is also common, while invertebrates and eggs are very rare. Being nocturnal, the São Tomé quilled tree-rat will forage during the night. This rodent is mostly monogamous, with males and females forming pairs that remain together for their entire life. Even then, there are cases of a male and two females bonding. Usually one of the females is younger. During the day, they rest in a cavity in a hollow tree. Quilled tree-rats rarely descend to the ground, being very careful when it happens. They can breed throughout the year if conditions are suitable, with a female producing up to five litters a year. Females are able to produce and raise two healthy litters of normal size and weight without significantly changing their own food intake. However, when food is restricted, females can extend pregnancy by over two weeks, and give birth to litters of normal number and weight. The gestation period is only 21 days, and litters can number seven. The male helps the female take care of the young. They reach sexual maturity in about five weeks and have a lifespan of 5 years, but many are preyed upon before reaching an old age. Príncipe quilled tree-rat (Pectinorattus minor) is another representative of the genus. Inhabiting the island of Príncipe, this species is smaller than the others, with a body length of 12 cm and a tail measuring 15 cm. Their fur is dark brown, with the characteristic quills being light and having yellowish tips. The tropical forests of Bioko Island are the habitat of the giant quilled tree-rat (Pectinorattus giganteus). With 27 cm of body length and 25 cm in the tail, this is the largest representative of the genus. Their fur is light brown, with the quills being black with cream-colored tips. Guinea weasel (Mustela guianensis) Order: Carnivora Family: Mustelidae Habitat: Tropical forests of the islands of the Gulf of Guinea During the Holocene, the humans had introduced many species in new locations. In the island of São Tomé, they introduced the least weasel (Mustela nivalis). There, this species survived the transition into the Neocene and their descendant is the Guinea weasel. Through rafting, the ancestors of this mammal were able to reach the other islands of the Gulf of Guinea. It lives in the ground of the tropical forests. The Guinea weasel had preserved many of its ancestors' characteristics. Average body length in males is 13 to 26 cm, while the females average 11 to 20 cm. Their tail measures 8 cm in males and 6 cm in females. Their fur is very short, sparser and rougher. The upper parts are dark brown, while lower parts, including the lower jaw and inner sides of the legs, are yellowish-white. The Guinea weasel feeds predominantly on rodents, shrews and lizards. Frogs, fish, small birds and bird eggs are occasionally eaten. Despite its small size, this mustelid is a fierce hunter, capable of killing animals five to 10 times its own weight. They forage undercover, to avoid being seen by predators. It is adapted for pursuing its prey down tunnels, though it may also bolt prey from a burrow and kill it in the open. They are solitary animals, with the male territory ranges encompassing multiple female ranges. Their territory is marked with scent, with feces, urine and anal and dermal gland secretion. The population density of each territory depends greatly on food supply and reproductive success, thus the social structure and population density of any given territory is unstable and flexible. The Guinea weasel does not dig its own den, but nests in the abandoned burrow of another species. The burrow entrance measures about 2 cm across and leads to the nest chamber located up to 17 cm below ground. The nest chamber measures 10 cm in diameter, and is lined with straw and the skins of the weasel's prey. They breed during the entire year. The average litter size consists of 6 kits and these reach sexual maturity with 4 months. Males may mate during their first year of life, though this is usually unsuccessful. The female raises its kits without help from the male. Newborn kits are born pink, naked, blind and deaf, but gain a creamy coat of downy fur at the age of 4 days. At 10 days, the margin between the dark upper parts and light under parts becomes visible. The milk teeth erupt at 3 weeks of age, at which point the young start to eat solid food, though lactation can last 12 weeks. The eyes and ears open at 4 weeks of age, and by 8 weeks, killing behaviour is developed. The family breaks up after 9 weeks. The Guinea weasels can live for 8 years.
Áèîëîã: JOrnitho Very good!
ëÿãóøêà: Interesting animals!
ìåäâåäü: Interesting animals!
JOrnitho: Thanks, everyone! I have some more descriptions: Bioko antelope (Amplicephalophus biokoensis) Order: Artiodactyla Family: Bovidae Habitat: Tropical forests of Bioko Island The human actions during the Holocene caused the decline of many species. However the species that were resilient enough survived, with their descendants now living in the Neocene. In Bioko Island, the Ogilby’s duiker (Cephalophus ogilbyi) was capable of surviving the anthropogenic onslaught and gave rise to a new species, the Bioko antelope. This animal inhabits the tropical forests of the island. The Bioko antelope is the largest mammal that inhabits Bioko. It stands 110 cm tall at the shoulder, with an average body length of 160 cm. They have a relatively long neck. The males have 40 cm long horns, while in the females the horns only have 21 cm. Their fur is chocolate brown, while the legs and underparts are reddish brown. Both sexes have a patch of yellow hairs on their rump, which stand when the animal is alarmed or feels threatened. This species is herbivorous, feeding on tree leaves and buds, grasses, ferns, fruits, and fungi. The Bioko antelope uses its long neck to reach leaves and fruits in the understory of the forest. When foraging, they’ll be seen close to giant guenons and will flee when hearing the primates’ alarm call. The females form small herds of eight individuals, with an older female and her daughters. The males are solitary, only visiting these herds during the mating season. During this period, which starts at the end of the rainy season, the males will move from one herd to another. Females become sexually mature at about one-and-a-half years old, while males reach maturity after two years. The gestational period is around 220 days long, following which usually a single calf is born. Parturition takes 2 hours, and the female stands throughout this period, though she may rest during brief intervals. The mother consumes the afterbirth and extensively grooms the infant. As in other ruminants, the infant can stand within 30 minutes of birth. Juveniles start taking solid food from 3 months, and weaning takes place at 6 months. While the females remain in their mother’s herd, the males are expelled after one year. Their lifespan is 27 years. Bioko forest dog (Canis sylvaticus) Order: Carnivora Family: Canidae Habitat: Tropical forests of Bioko Island During their expansion, the humans had transported several domesticated animals with them. Among them was the domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris), which was capable of surviving in Bioko Island after the disappearance of the humans. In the Neocene, the domestic dog had originated the Bioko forest dog, the largest predator of the tropical forests of the island. The average male Bioko forest dog has a head to tail length of 115 cm, but some can reach 126 cm. The females are smaller, measuring 112 to 123 cm. The head is the widest part of the body, wedge-shaped, and large in proportion to the body. The upper and lower jaws are strong and broad, giving them a powerful bite. Their fur is black with clearly defined markings of light brown on the cheeks, muzzle, throat, chest and legs, as well as over both eyes and under the base of the tail. This species is carnivorous, actively hunting other animals. Most of their prey are mammals, with the Bioko antelope being their main prey. They will also occasionally eat rodents, birds and monkeys that venture in the ground. They are more active during dawn and dusk, but can also hunt at night. They avoid the hot hours of the day. When hunting, the pack will split in small groups of two or three individuals. When hunting antelopes, one of the dogs will bite its neck while the others attack the rear. The Bioko forest dog is monogamous, with the male and female forming a pair that will remain together for the rest of their lives. Should one of the pair die, another mate is found quickly. Together with their young, the mated pair form packs of five to six individuals. They become mature at the age of two years and sexually mature from the age of three years. Females are capable of producing pups every year, one litter annually being the average. Oestrus and rut begin in the second half of the dry season and last for two weeks. Dens are usually constructed for the pups. When building dens, females make use of natural shelters like fissures in rocks, cliffs overhanging riverbanks and holes thickly covered by vegetation. Sometimes, the den is the appropriated burrow of smaller animals. An appropriated den is often widened and partly remade. The gestation period lasts 67 days with pups being born blind and deaf and are covered in short soft gray fur. Young females give birth to four to five young, and older females from six to eight young and up to 14. They begin to see after nine to 12 days. Pups first leave the den after three weeks. At one-and-a-half months of age, they are agile enough to flee from danger. The mother does not leave the den for the first few weeks, relying on the father to provide food for her and their young. The Bioko forest dog has a lifespan of 16 years. Giant guenon (Parapapio giganteus) Order: Primate Family: Cercopithecidae Habitat: Tropical forests of Bioko Island, foraging in both trees and ground The human actions during the Holocene caused the decline of many species. However the species that were resilient enough survived, with their descendants now living in the Neocene. In Bioko Island, the red-eared guenon (Cercopithecus erythrotis) was capable of surviving the anthropogenic onslaught and gave rise to a new species, the Giant guenon. This animal inhabits the tropical forests of the island, sharing its habitat with the Bioko antelope. The giant guenon is one of the largest monkeys in Africa, with an adult male having 70 cm head-body length. The females are smaller, with 55 cm. Their morphology is very similar to that of a baboon, with a stocky body with a large head and muzzle, as well as a short, 20 cm long, tail. The limbs are evenly sized and fingers and toes are elongated. Their fur is reddish-brown with a yellow-orange beard, the underside is white. The males have a red face with a blue nose, the females lack such colors, being pale pink. This species is an omnivore, feeding on fruits, seeds, leaves, flowers, eggs, insects, lizards and other small animals. They forage in the ground, preferably close to Bioko antelopes. These monkeys will pay attention to the bovids' alarm calls to flee from predators. They are mostly diurnal and are awake around 10 hours per day from morning to dusk. To sleep, they pick a new tree every night. Groups consist of a single male with at least 10 reproducing females and their infants. In good conditions, adult females reproduce annually. Gestation lasts about 7 months, and the young nurse for a further 6 months. Normally, only a single infant is born. Although the young are born in a fairly well-developed condition, with open eyes and able to grasp their mothers, giant guenon mothers appear anxious and possessive, rarely letting young infants leave them. As infants grow, however, they become very playful. Juveniles reach sexual maturity at an age of about 3 years. Daughters remain in their mothers' social groups, while males leave their natal groups shortly before attaining sexual maturity. This species has a lifespan of 20 years.
ìåäâåäü: Interesting animals!
ëÿãóøêà: They're good, but I don't think that this small island can support its own species of antelope.
JOrnitho: ëÿãóøêà ïèøåò: They're good, but I don't think that this small island can support its own species of antelope. Bioko is relatively larger than São Tomé e Príncipe, with its ancestor already living here. However, I can reduce their size if it would increase their chance of surviving. As consquence, I'll need to make its predator smaller too. By the way, Bioko was connected to África during the last glacial period. I wonder if it would repeat and affect the island geography in the Neocene. Perhaps it would be a bit large? The tectonic forces could also influence its size and proximity with the continent.
ëÿãóøêà: JOrnitho I think that island will stay unchanged, but will become a bit smaller. I think you need to slighty reduce size of dog and antelope.
Áèîëîã: JOrnitho Good animals! I'm adding them to the catalogue.
JOrnitho: I edited the size of the dog and antelope to suit the size of the island. Any idea for animals that could enter Bioko during the last glacial age? It would need to be small mammals, since the niche of large ones is already filled.
ëÿãóøêà: Animals that can enter Bioko are birds and rodents, maybe, reptiles and some kinds of other mammals.
Áèîëîã: ëÿãóøêà And, of course, invertebrates!
JOrnitho: Áèîëîã ïèøåò: And, of course, invertebrates! I'll be in debt with this one, invertebrates are beyond my area of expertise.
ìåäâåäü: Biologist can surely help!
Áèîëîã: JOrnitho ìåäâåäü Sure! If only I have enough time and electricity... But I'll do my best! First, I have to look up information on which species can arrive there from Africa. I think we can make some butterflies and/or moths there, as well as beetles.
JOrnitho: Once we have more species, we could start thinking about the chapter about the islands of the Gulf of Guinea. Among the mammals that could enter in Bioko from the continent during the Ice Age could be the rodents of the Anomaluridae families. They could fill the niche of diurnal squirrels.
Áèîëîã: JOrnitho They could. But will they retain their ability of gliding flight?
JOrnitho: Áèîëîã ïèøåò: But will they retain their ability of gliding flight? I'm not sure, while it would be interesting to see them ratining it, I'm not sure if the change on their lifestyle would make it necessary. Perhaps they retained this ability to escape from snakes that hunt them in the trees.
JOrnitho: This description was around my computer for some time, it's a large predatory bat. Olitiau or Great demon bat (Diablopteron olitiau) Order: Chiroptera Family: Carnonycteridae Habitat: Tropical forests of Western and Central Africa, including those in the Congo Basin. During the Age of Man, the rainforests of Africa have always been shrouded in mysterious cryptids, such as the Mokele-mbembe. In the Neocene, an equivalent of one of the African cryptids appeared, the Great demon bat or Olitiau. This name, Olitiau, is the same name of a giant bat-like cryptid which is said to live in the forests near the rivers in the modern day Cameroon. Like the cryptid of the same name, the Olitiau is a large bat, with 27 cm of length and 130 cm of wingspan. Their fur is black, with reddish-brown in the head and brown skin in their wings. This bat has powerful muscles in the skull, allowing them to deliver a powerful bite in their prey. Their skull is also robust, with a rather short and broad jaw. The teeth are strongly convergent with those of carnivoran mammals, bearing carnassial-like molars. It's similar to that of the bat Necromantis, from the Eocene. They had large ears and a good sense of hearing, which helps them locate prey in the dark. Contrary to what it seems, this species does not descend from a megabat (Megachiroptera) but from a microbat (Microchiroptera). Their closest living relative is the Cat-headed pipistrelle (Hirtofalco felinocephalus), thus the olitiau is also a member of the family of Predatory bats (Carnonycteridae). They live in the tropical forests of Western and Central Africa, including those in the Congo Basin. The diet of the Olitiau consists of vertebrates: birds, reptiles, rodents and other bats, including smaller megabats. They are good hunters, capturing birds and bats during flight and delivering a powerful bite in the skull. With the prey dead, they'll eat it in tree branches. They will also attack birds by surprising them while they are sleeping in roosts during the night and they can also ambush fruit bats while they are eating fruits. This species is monogamous, with a pair staying together for the rest of their lives. If one of them dies, the other will find a replacement. Spending the day in hollows and cracks of large trees, the Olitiau don’t form colonies. They mate in the middle of the dry season and give birth to twins during the rainy season. The young are able to fend for themselves from quite a young age, the females wean then within weeks of birth. At this point they leave their parents den in search for their own territory. Sexual maturity is reached with three months and they have a lifespan of 10 years.
ìåäâåäü: And could it have carnassial-like molars like the Eocene bat Necromantis, that had a similar lifestyle?
Áèîëîã: JOrnitho Great! I used to read about Olitiau cryptid some time ago.
ëÿãóøêà: Good bat.
JOrnitho: I finished the description for a fruit bat that could be a potential prey for the olitiau and the main character for a chapter regarding their migration. Red-collared fruit bat (Neoeidolon rubrocollaris) Order: Chiroptera Family: Pteropodidae Habitat: Savannas, rainforests and semi deciduous forests of sub saharan Africa The anthropogenic onslaught over nature during the Holocene had damaged several ecosystems and brought several species to extinction. The disappearance of humanity gave some respite to the survivors and they continue to evolve, allowing several new species to appear in the Neocene. The straw-coloured fruit bat (Eidolon helvum) had survived and gave rise to the genus Neoeidolon, which is widespread in sub saharan Africa, Comoros Islands and Zinj Land. The main representative of this group is the red-collared fruit bat, an inhabitant of the savannas, rainforests and semi deciduous forests of sub saharan Africa. These mammals have 18 cm of length and a wingspan of 76 cm. Males are generally larger than females. Their head is dark brown, nearly black. The wings are black, and the fur is silky with the back being reddish-brown, while the belly is yellowish or tawny colored. Males have bright red patches of fur around their neck, while in females it’s dull. The red-collared fruit bat usually eats bark, flowers, leaves, nectar, and fruits. These bats pollinate flowers and disperse seeds through the forests. The species is highly social, living in groups of over 100,000 and at times that number may increase to almost one million. At night the bats leave the roost in smaller groups to find food by sight and smell. The largest congregations of these animals are formed during October and December. During this period, they will repeat the migration of their ancestors to the swamp forests of the region that once was Zambia to feast on the several fruits that grow there. Bats of several areas of Africa migrate to this region, forming a huge flock. Their mating season shows the same strategy of their ancestor. It happens from April to June, but implantation is delayed until October and is synchronized with all females implanting during this time. This strategy allows the female to have access to a great number of foods during the early pregnancy. The delay also corresponds to one of two dry periods in the home range of the bats. Females typically give birth to only a single offspring each year (called a "pup"), but twins are occasionally born, after a gestation period of around 115 to 120 days. The pups are altricial at birth with their eyes shut until they are nine days old. The female carries the pup until it is six weeks old, which is when it can hang in the roost on its own. Afterwards, the pup is left in the roost while the mother forages. Before the pup is left in the roost, the mother repeatedly transports the pup to the same tree and is left there for the night while the mother forages. The pup learns this location and visits it first when at about three months of age, the pup will leave the roost on its own to forage for its food. They only become independent from their mothers after nine months, once they have finally reached their adult physique. Offspring typically stay with the same colony as the parents for their entire lives. They have a lifespan of 8 to 10 years and their main predators are large snakes, birds of prey and the olitiau. The Comoros fruit bat (Neoeidolon minor) is the smallest representative of the genus and a inhabitant of the forests of the Comoros Islands. It have 14 cm of length and a wingspan of 72 cm. Males are generally larger than females. Their head is light brown, contrasting with the dark brown of the back. The wings are black and the belly is yellowish or tawny colored. Males have bright orange patches of fur around their neck, while in females it’s dull. Zinj Land also have a member of this genus, the Zinj fruit bat (Neoeidolon alecto). This species has 17 cm of length and a wingspan of 74 cm. Males are generally larger than females. Their entire fur is black, with the exception of the throat that is bright red in the males and very faint in the females.
ëÿãóøêà: JOrnitho Good bat, I like it.
ìåäâåäü: Interesting bat!
JOrnitho: I made the description of a bird of prey that could appear in the chapter about fruit bats. Ajabu eagle (Amplicircaetus potens) Order: Accipitriformes Family: Accipitridae Habitat: Tropical forests and woodlands of Central and Eastern Africa, including the areas of the Congo Basin and the forests of the Tanganyika Passage The human actions during the Holocene caused the decline of many species. However the species that were resilient enough survived, with their descendants now living in the Neocene. The black-breasted snake eagle (Circaetus pectoralis) was able to survive and in the Neocene they gave rise to a new genus, the Amplicircaetus. The type species is the ajabu eagle, an inhabitant of tropical forests and woodlands of Central and Eastern Africa, including the areas of the Congo Basin and the forests of the Tanganyika Passage. The word ajabu means awesome in Swahili. With the extinction of most large birds of prey, several niches were left open. The Amplicircaetus eagles had filled some of them. The ajabu eagle is a large bird of prey, with 90 cm of length and a wingspan of 230 cm. The sexes are similar in appearance and overlap in size but like most birds of prey do show reverse sexual dimorphism, in which females outsize males to the contrary of most non-raptorial birds. Their plumage is glossy black on the head and the back. They are white on the underside, much of the wing secondaries and even on its legs. The black-tipped white feathers on the wing primaries contrast strongly with the chestnut secondaries and underwing coverts. The adult's tail is white with a thick black subterminal band. The eye is bright yellow-orange in color, the bill horn-coloured and the legs pale gray and unfeathered below the thigh, Their main prey is usually small-to-mid-sized arboreal mammals, such as squirrels and monkeys. Ajabu eagles can also prey upon fruit bats, assaulting their hosts during the day. In the areas where their range overlaps, the eagles will also hunt the olitiau. Birds are also part of their diet, with them hunting pigeons and parrots. They also eat reptiles such as lizards and serpents. The ajabu eagle lives solitary or in pairs. Monogamous, the male and female remain together for the rest of their lives. These birds nests in trees and typically builds its nests with epiphytic vegetation and sticks. The female will lay only one egg per clutch, which is white and unmarked in appearance. The egg is incubated for 58 days, with the female performing the incubating alone while the male provides her with food. After hatching, the chick remains in the nest for approximately 90 days. Breeding occurs year-round, although it peaks during the wet season in Central Africa. The young remain in their parents territory until reaching one year. Ajabu eagles reach sexual maturity with 3 years and they have a lifespan of 27 years. The lesser ajabu eagle (Amplicircaetus minor) is another representative of the genus, it inhabits the tropical forests of Zinj Land and Comoros Islands. Smaller than their continental relatives, they have 73 cm of length and a wingspan of 200 cm. Their plumage is light gray on the head and the back, while the underparts are yellowish-white.
ìåäâåäü: Interesting bird!
wovoka: JOrnitho proposed the idea of new chapter about Land Zinj The name of the chapter "The Wild Orchard" (I proposed some alternative names "The owner of wild orchard" or "The master of wild orchard"). The main hero is descendant of Gypohierax angolensis which is became not omnivorous, but absolutely fruit-eating with the size of a golden eagle. We decided to name this bird Koho - Palm-nut vulture in Swahili. He will be living in the woody thickets of wild pomelo (Citrus maxima) (left after humans giant agricultural farms) and thickets of palms Elaeis guineensis and Raphia farinifera, also cultivated now in Africa. The name of wild Pomelo can be Mbalungi, Balungi or Furungu - Pomelo or any citrus tree in Swahili. We have already some ideas for the chapter. First of all we are taking this animals from bestiary: 1. http://www.sivatherium.narod.ru/enmammal.htm#posteidolon_solaris_en 2. http://www.sivatherium.narod.ru/enmammal.htm#myrmisengi_saltator_en - he will feed on ants eating fallen pomelo fruits on the ground. 3. http://www.sivatherium.narod.ru/enbirds.htm#iridonephele_smaragdinus_en 4. http://www.sivatherium.narod.ru/enmammal.htm#sylvicaprella_sylvana_en And the will be relative species of these animals Ashkoko sylvaticus (but smaller) and relative of this bird http://www.sivatherium.narod.ru/enbirds.htm#noctiliocton_vespertiliovorus_en (but bigger). Also here will be omnivorous relative of african fruit civets http://www.sivatherium.narod.ru/enmammal.htm#paradoxuroides_frutophagus_en maybe Nandinia binotata could be an additional member of this genus or perhaps a close related new genus? it will be eating fruits and small ashcocos, birds & bats. And on the ground we settle a large omnivorous Civettictis civetta, it will simultaneously be a large predator of the garden, for example, eating Sylvicaprella sylvana, who come to eat fallen fruits, but the civet itself will eat fallen ripe pomelo fruits. Also we will have a parrot in this chapter, a descendant of the Agapornis (I think it will be Agapornis personatus - Cherero uso-mweusi - cherero - lovebird on Swahili and uso-mweusi - black faced in Swahili), it will evolve to become larger and have some interesting plumage, a crest like that of the Deroptyus accipitrinus. My propositions to take this species of Trialeurodes vaporariorum and give it golden wings, and make honeydew shepherds not ants or wasps, but some kind of local bees. The other idea is a symbiosis of a pomelo and some kind of fungus interacting through mycorrhiza. We need birds and bats: nectar-eating, fruit-eating, carnivorous. Also invertebrate pests of fruit and leaves. Epiphytes and creepers. We just need to decide where will be situated this wild orchad: I think somewhere in the south in tropical rainforest.
JOrnitho: wovoka ïèøåò: I think somewhere in the south in tropical rainforest. Yes, I believe that this region would be perfect to house so many fruit trees. There could be a species of guenon and tree-climbing rodent on this region.
wovoka: JOrnitho ïèøåò: guenon It can be Cercopithecus mitis or Cercopithecus ascanius. JOrnitho ïèøåò: tree-climbing rodent It can be Lophiomys imhausi (very interesting rodent), Graphiurus kelleni - we can use both. Also it can be Dendromus mesomelas, Thallomys loringi, Grammomys dolichurus. And we can use Idiurus macrotis. I like Lemniscomys striatus or Rhabdomys pumilio, but one of them (which we choose) will be living on the ground.
JOrnitho: wovoka ïèøåò: It can be Cercopithecus mitis or Cercopithecus ascanius. I think that Cercopithecus mitis is the perfect candidate. What do you think if its ancestors becomes a large fruit eating monkey (with the size of a Brachyteles), living only in the canopy? They could also have loud vocalizations, like the Indri and Alouatta. wovoka ïèøåò: It can be Lophiomys imhausi (very interesting rodent), Graphiurus kelleni - we can use both. The Lophiomys always reminded me of a porcupine. Maybe it could develop quills among its hair? It can be a bit of a crazy idea, but its descendant could continue to smear the poison from the bark of trees in its hair. Thus making its quills covered with toxins. In lifestyle, it could be like the Chaetomys subspinosus. wovoka ïèøåò: Also it can be Dendromus mesomelas, Thallomys loringi, Grammomys dolichurus. And we can use Idiurus macrotis. Rather than using Idiurus macrotis, we could have Dendromus or Thallomys evolving to become gliding rats in Zinj Land. What do you think of it? wovoka ïèøåò: I like Lemniscomys striatus or Rhabdomys pumilio, but one of them (which we choose) will be living on the ground. Lemniscomys could evolve to collect the palm nuts and store them in the ground, but with some germinating.
wovoka: JOrnitho ïèøåò: I think that Cercopithecus mitis is the perfect candidate. What do you think if its ancestors becomes a large fruit eating monkey (with the size of a Brachyteles), living only in the canopy? They could also have loud vocalizations, like the Indri and Alouatta. Ok! But better make something interesting with its appearance. Haircut like Cercopithecus pogonias, mask like Cercopithecus mona (for example red mask), brows like Cercopithecus wolfi, beard for males like Cercopithecus neglectus. JOrnitho ïèøåò: The Lophiomys always reminded me of a porcupine. Maybe it could develop quills among its hair? It can be a bit of a crazy idea, but its descendant could continue to smear the poison from the bark of trees in its hair. Thus making its quills covered with toxins. In lifestyle, it could be like the Chaetomys subspinosus. I like it! JOrnitho ïèøåò: we could have Dendromus or Thallomys evolving to become gliding rats in Zinj Land Let it be Dendromus! JOrnitho ïèøåò: Lemniscomys could evolve to collect the palm nuts and store them in the ground, but with some germinating. I agree! What about Graphiurus kelleni?
JOrnitho: wovoka ïèøåò: Ok! But better make something interesting with its appearance. Haircut like Cercopithecus pogonias, mask like Cercopithecus mona (for example red mask), brows like Cercopithecus wolfi, beard for males like Cercopithecus neglectus. I thought that they could have a colorful face, perhaps with some different fur. It could have brows and beard in the males. wovoka ïèøåò: What about Graphiurus kelleni? I'm not sure of how it could be. It could become different, perhaps develop a jumping ability? It could be like a Zapodidae.
wovoka: JOrnitho ïèøåò: I'm not sure of how it could be. It could become different, perhaps develop a jumping ability? It could be like a Zapodidae. But it is arboreal animal Kellen's dormouse is an active animal, scrambling about in trees and pouncing on its living prey, which includes insects and other invertebrates, small vertebrates, birds' eggs and carrion. Its diet also includes seeds and fruit. It is nocturnal and builds a nest into which it retreats during the day.[2] Apart from briefly in the breeding season, it is a mostly solitary animal. It makes a number of shrill vocalisations, including both warning signals and communication signals. JOrnitho ïèøåò: I thought that they could have a colorful face, perhaps with some different fur. It could have brows and beard in the males. Ok! But let it have red mask! Please!
JOrnitho: wovoka ïèøåò: But it is arboreal animal Then we can have it jumping abilities allowing it to hunt prey in the trees. Their pouncing could become more developed and they could hunt prey like Tarsius. wovoka ïèøåò: Ok! But let it have red mask! Please! Yes! And the skin of the snout would be yellow. I thought that they could be called Cercopithecus satanas, because the beard and brow would given them the appearance of a cartoonish devil. The fur of the head could be black
wovoka: JOrnitho ïèøåò: Then we can have it jumping abilities allowing it to hunt prey in the trees. Their pouncing could become more developed and they could hunt prey like Tarsius. Ok! JOrnitho ïèøåò: Yes! And the skin of the snout would be yellow. I thought that they could be called Cercopithecus satanas, because the beard and brow would given them the appearance of a cartoonish devil. The fur of the head could be black I like it! JOrnitho ïèøåò: Cercopithecus satanas Cool idea!
JOrnitho: wovoka I found out that the project already have a descendant of the Lophiomys imhausi filling the niche of a porcupine, making unnecessary to make animal like the one that we talked about. Perhaps the already existing one could appear in the chapter about the wild orchard.
wovoka: JOrnitho ïèøåò: I found out that the project already have a descendant of the Lophiomys imhausi filling the niche of a porcupine, making unnecessary to make animal like the one that we talked about. Perhaps the already existing one could appear in the chapter about the wild orchard. We could make a related species with some more interesting features. Or let's not fool ourselves and take the already described animal.
JOrnitho: wovoka ïèøåò: We could make a related species with some more interesting features. Or let's not fool ourselves and take the already described animal. I think that we should take the already described animal. It's interesting by itself.
wovoka: JOrnitho ïèøåò: I think that we should take the already described animal. It's interesting by itself. Ok!
wovoka: JOrnitho, let’s try to make list of Neocene Madagascar Carnivores (described and still not described). In the portrait of the Neocene Earth it is written: “Carnivores of the island belong to four families – felids, canids and viverrids (descendants of the species introduced by people), and also Malagasy predators (more rare and specialized descendants of local kinds). Among them there are ecological analogues of leopards, cheetahs and mustelids. Canids and long-legged viverrids live mainly on plains, and felids, the most part of viverrids and Malagasy predators inhabit forested areas, bush and mountains of the central part of island”. There are already described: Felids Felimalagasia (Felimalagasia gracilissima) Order: Carnivores (Carnivora) Family: Felids (Felidae) Habitat: Madagascar, various types of forests. https://sivatherium.narod.ru/enmammal.htm#felimalagasia_gracilissima_en descendant of feral domestic cat Native malagasy predators: Gefana (Hyaenosoma velocipes): Family: Eupleridae Habitat: Madagascar, savannas and sparse forests with small areas of thick forest. https://sivatherium.narod.ru/2savlemr.htm Descendant of fanaloka (Fossa fossana) Squirrel mongoose (Mungartes scandens) Family: Eupleridae Habitat: tropical rainforests of Eastern Madagascar. https://sivatherium.narod.ru/enmammal.htm#mungartes_scandens_en Descendant of Galidictis fasciata Sugar mungo (Floromungo flosculiphagus) Order: Carnivors (Carnivora) Family: Eupleridae Habitat: tropical rainforests of Eastern Madagascar. https://sivatherium.narod.ru/enmammal.htm#floromungo_flosculiphagus_en Descendant of Galidictis fasciata Bee mungo (Floromungo apiphilus) Order: Carnivors (Carnivora) Family: Eupleridae Habitat: rainforests of East Madagascar. https://sivatherium.narod.ru/enmammal.htm#floromungo_apiphilus_en Descendant of Galidictis fasciata Antamba (Antamba fadi) Order: Carnivors (Carnivora) Family: Eupleridae Habitat: Madagascar, woodlands and savannas in the western part of the island. https://sivatherium.narod.ru/mammals.htm#antamba_fadi_ru (in Russian) – the description needs a translation descendant of Galidictis fasciata. Also we decided to describe Madagascar savanna “jackals” – descendants of feral domestic dogs. We can call them Kivà – what means dog in Malagasy language About long-legged viverrids, I know that only Viverricula indica was introduced in Madagascar, we can make her 1) a little variant of cheetah in savannas and 2) in the forest it can be the analogue of some mustelids. But this savanna “jackals” and small “cheetah” we need ecologically separated from Gefala About local Malagasy carnivores https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eupleridae Can really survive only: 1. Galidia elegans I think we can make from it the analogue of forest wolf (and by shape of body) but with possibility of climbing trees. Forest tree-climbing falsewolf. Can possibly survive: 1. Galidictis fasciata 2. Fossa fossana 3. Eupleres goudotii (we can make it a big swamp living animal with possibility of swimming and diving & eating amphibians and small animals of benthos). We can call it Swamp frog-eating falanouc or Mandrevo mpihinana sahona (Swamp frog-eater from Malagasy language) 4. Mungotictis decemlineata (has very little chance to survive, there now survived only 69 animals) but if it will survive, we can make something like mustelid of it in xerophilic bushes of western Madagascar. In Malagasy it is called bokiboky (pronounced "Boo-ky Boo-ky"). Have you any other ideas of other carnivores of Madagascar? For example, we should settle somebody big in the mountains of the island.
JOrnitho: wovoka ïèøåò: About long-legged viverrids, I know that only Viverricula indica was introduced in Madagascar, we can make her 1) a little variant of cheetah in savannas and 2) in the forest it can be the analogue of some mustelids. I think that the cheetah variant will compete with the Gefala, so perhaps it should be left as an analogue to mustelids. About local Malagasy carnivores https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eupleridae Can really survive only: 1. Galidia elegans I think we can make from it the analogue of forest wolf (and by shape of body) but with possibility of climbing trees. Forest tree-climbing falsewolf. Can possibly survive: 1. Galidictis fasciata 2. Fossa fossana 3. Eupleres goudotii (we can make it a big swamp living animal with possibility of swimming and diving & eating amphibians and small animals of benthos). We can call it Swamp frog-eating falanouc or Mandrevo mpihinana sahona (Swamp frog-eater from Malagasy language) 4. Mungotictis decemlineata (has very little chance to survive, there now survived only 69 animals) but if it will survive, we can make something like mustelid of it in xerophilic bushes of western Madagascar. In Malagasy it is called bokiboky (pronounced "Boo-ky Boo-ky"). I like these ideas. Galidictis fasciata could become an analogue to meerkats in the savannas. Maybe Fossa fossana became a specialized insectivore? Eupleres goudotii coild be a complete analogue to the otters. I'm not sure if Mungotictis decemlineata can survive. Have you any other ideas of other carnivores of Madagascar? For example, we should settle somebody big in the mountains of the island. Perhaps a cougar-like descendant of the Fossa fossana could live here? It could hunt a ungulate based on the Mangarsahoc. By the way, I'll start working in the mongooses of South America.
wovoka: JOrnitho ïèøåò: Eupleres goudotii coild be a complete analogue to the otters. Like Atilax paludinosus; Genetta piscivora or Cynogale bennettii But I imagine it a little bit differently, perhaps I will describe it myself. JOrnitho ïèøåò: I'm not sure if Mungotictis decemlineata can survive. It can be endemic of some small territory. I like you other ideas! JOrnitho ïèøåò: I think that the cheetah variant will compete with the Gefala "gefana occupies an ecological niche of cheetahs and canids, and partly of hyenas" But in the portrait of earth it is written long-legged viverrids live mainly on plains. So, may be we can make dwarf cheetah from Viverricula indica hunting on smaller prey? JOrnitho ïèøåò: By the way, I'll start working in the mongooses of South America. It's good news! JOrnitho ïèøåò: It could hunt a ungulate based on the Mangarsahoc. donkeys extinct everywhere except prairies of North America, who will be ancestor of "Mangarsahoc"? It can be only Phobocorninae or other Caprinae relative of Proboscilalomena monticola. Or donkey tenrec There also could be descendants of domestic sheeps that became feral. The two main breeds African Long-fat-tailed sheeps and Fat-tailed Hair Sheeps. http://dagris.ilri.cgiar.org/node/2475 So you can make mountain Mangarsahoc from hornless long-fat-tailed sheeps of Madagascar.
JOrnitho: wovoka ïèøåò: So, may be we can make dwarf cheetah from Viverricula indica hunting on smaller prey? Perhaps like a serval cat? We could make it also fast, to run after prey like a cheetah. So you can make mountain Mangarsahoc from hornless long-fat-tailed sheeps of Madagascar. I found a better candidate in the place of the Mangarsahoc: the Habéby! It's a sheep-like cryptid from Madagascar, perfect to be descendant of the Long-fat-tailed sheeps. The cougar-like Fossa fossana could hunt them in the mountains.
wovoka: JOrnitho ïèøåò: Perhaps like a serval cat? Yes! JOrnitho ïèøåò: Habéby Let's the name will be Habéby, but the size and shape of body better will be like Mangarsahoc. Because habeby is too small according to the picture.
JOrnitho: wovoka ïèøåò: Let's the name will be Habéby, but the size and shape of body better will be like Mangarsahoc. Because habeby is too small according to the picture. I agree. It can be like an analogue to the Ovis vignei in the mountains of Madagascar. Do you have ideas for non-carnivorous mammals for Madagascar?
wovoka: JOrnitho ïèøåò: It can be like an analogue to the Ovis vignei in the mountains of Madagascar. Only hornless. Madagascar domestic sheeps are hornless. But better make it hornless analogue of Equus kiang only long-fat-tailed. JOrnitho ïèøåò: Do you have ideas for non-carnivorous mammals for Madagascar? We forgot very important subfamily of Madagascar mammals https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nesomyinae For example I like eastern red forest rat (Nesomys rufus). It will be interesting to make something with it. Unfortunately Malagasy giant rat (Hypogeomys antimena), also known as the votsotsa or votsovotsa, is Critically Endangered. It could become more big creature. Have you ideas about this subfamily of rodents?
ëÿãóøêà: wovoka For example I like eastern red forest rat (Nesomys rufus). It will be interesting to make something with it. We can make gliding descendant pf this animal, I think? Gymnuromys roberti It's a "least concern" species, but we have wery small amount of information about it - so I think that we shouldn't describe its descendant.
wovoka: ëÿãóøêà ïèøåò: We can make gliding descendant pf this animal, I think? It is interesting idea, but there are a lot of gliding animals in neocene. I always want to make the neocene analogue of Japan tree climbing hare https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amami_rabbit https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ëàçàþùèé_çàÿö ëÿãóøêà ïèøåò: It's a "least concern" species, but we have wery small amount of information about it - so I think that we shouldn't describe its descendant. There is such a usefull book: Nick Garbutt. Mammals of Madagascar: A Complete Guide [url=https://cloudflare-ipfs.com/ipfs/bafykbzacecb6fljys76yspzjzxh2ig4u7w56xed5gv4bpqkd7vhdcg455xmiy?filename=]https://cloudflare-ipfs.com/ipfs/bafykbzacecb6fljys76yspzjzxh2ig4u7w56xed5gv4bpqkd7vhdcg455xmiy?filename=[]%20Nick%20Garbutt%20-%20Mammals%20of%20Madagascar:%20A%20Complete%20Guide%20(2007,%20Yale%20University%20Press).pdf[/url] About Nesomys rufus page 224 About Gymnuromys roberti page 234 Gliding animal we can make from Brachytarsomys albicauda page 235 About other Madagascar rodents there is also information. Unfortunately book unrecognized by Finereader.
JOrnitho: wovoka ïèøåò: But better make it hornless analogue of Equus kiang only long-fat-tailed. I also thought that it could have long ears, like a donkey, to be used a temperature control. It is interesting idea, but there are a lot of gliding animals in neocene. I always want to make the neocene analogue of Japan tree climbing hare We could have a rat being an analogue to rabbits. Maybe Nesomys rufus could work, since Hypogeomys antimena is nearly extinct.
wovoka: JOrnitho ïèøåò: I also thought that it could have long ears, like a donkey, to be used a temperature control. I agree! JOrnitho ïèøåò: an analogue to rabbits. Maybe Nesomys rufus could work And if it make an analogue of Japan tree climbing hare https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amami_rabbit, like I propose previously? JOrnitho ïèøåò: since Hypogeomys antimena is nearly extinct. Yes, if it will survive it could became big as capybara, but terrestrial. And proposed by Ëÿãóøêà gliding animal we can really make from Brachytarsomys albicauda.
JOrnitho: wovoka ïèøåò: And if it make an analogue of Japan tree climbing hare https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amami_rabbit, like I propose previously? Good idea! Yes, if it will survive it could became big as capybara, but terrestrial. Would it compete with local tenrecs? And proposed by Ëÿãóøêà gliding animal we can really make from Brachytarsomys albicauda. Yes. It would be a good species to develop patagium.
wovoka: JOrnitho ïèøåò: Would it compete with local tenrecs? We could propose him a specific diet. But he sure wouldn't survive. Who of this subfamily of rodents have a little chance to survive? having very little population: 1. Eliurus webbi (page in book 230); 433 2. Eliurus tanala (page in book 229) 377 3. Nesomys rufus (page in book 224) 374 4. Eliurus myoxinus (page in book 232) 337 better make it gliding, it has very interesting tail 5. Eliurus minor (page in book 230) 337 6. Eliurus majori (page in book 228) 249 7. Macrotarsomys bastardi (page in book 240) 160 8. Gymnuromys roberti (page in book 234) 121 9. Nesomys audeberti (page in book 226) 121 10. Brachytarsomys albicauda (page in book 235) 83 But we shouldn't forget, there a lot of brown and black rats and house mice from "Big Earth" in Madagascar. And to be honest the real very little chance to survive have only Nesomys rufus and may be Eliurus myoxinus. The other surely will extinct.
JOrnitho: wovoka ïèøåò: And to be honest the real very little chance to survive have only Nesomys rufus and may be Eliurus myoxinus. The other surely will extinct. I think that these two are the ones with best chance of surviving, then we can have the rest of Madagascar's rodents in the Neocene being descendants of black rat and house mice. We could make some interesting things with them.
wovoka: JOrnitho ïèøåò: I think that these two are the ones with best chance of surviving Yes one be the analogue of tree climbing hare the second a little gliding animal. JOrnitho ïèøåò: the rest of Madagascar's rodents in the Neocene being descendants of black rat and house mice. We could make some interesting things with them. For example?
JOrnitho: wovoka ïèøåò: For example? They could evolve into echimyid-like forms with spike strands of fur. There could also be aquatic mouses like Oryzomys, Nectomys and Holochilus. Also, do you think that Macronectes petrels could survive in the Neocene?
wovoka: In russian part of forum are discussed a semiaquatic tenrec, eating gift of ocen on the beech? and sometimes swimming and diving to eat fish and crustaceans .JOrnitho ïèøåò: They could evolve into echimyid-like forms with spike strands of fur. There could also be aquatic mouses like Oryzomys, Nectomys and Holochilus. many tentecs aready have spikes. Do we need echimyid-like forms of rats. And water forms better make from native species. For example to make swimming lemurs in the Mangoky River. An from rats it is interesting to make something specific and original I decided to make cougar-like mountain predator hunting on habeby from Galidia elegans (he has more chance to survive). We call him Vontsika (one the variant of the name of this animal in malagasy) The original form of animal And what I could made in neural networks But he is or like wolf or like cougar, or like hybryd of this animals. Best of all I like first variant and the face of second variant (the second looks like mongoose) 1. 2. The third will be the perfect animal if we make it bigger and make it the body like a hybrid of cougar and wolf 3. May be this variant is the more like big cougar like predator (or it too small?) 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. Ring-tailed mungos live in small family groups of 3-4 or more individuals. When moving, the female usually goes first, the male follows her or closes the procession after the cubs. The group usually lives in one hole. During the day, animals from the same group play with each other for a long time. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. Which variant do you like the most? Also, do you think that Macronectes petrels could survive in the Neocene? I think he could.
JOrnitho: wovoka ïèøåò: Which variant do you like the most? The third is the one that look the best. The others seems more like a cross of a cougar and a fox.
ìåäâåäü: I agree with JOrnitho.
wovoka: JOrnitho ïèøåò: The third is the one that look the best. But he looks to small to hunt on the habeby. I need the animal as big as cougar, with big body, long powerful legs and paws, powerful jaws. Can we make him more big in photoshop? And what do you think about variant 27? I think, they look like very strong mongooses. Not like cougar, fox or wolf. More variants: But to be honest I don't really like them 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
JOrnitho: wovoka ïèøåò: And what do you think about variant 27? I think, they look like very strong mongooses. Not like cougar, fox or wolf. It's good, but I thought that the other had a more singular appearence. The 27 looks a bit canid-like. If we could unite in Photoshop these two animals Uniting the two images would really help the predator look larger. But to be honest I don't really like them The 6 looks that could be used for another species.
wovoka: If we could unite in Photoshop these two animals: and to show that predatotor is really big to hunt on this prey.
wovoka: May be this animal is more like mountain ring-tailed mongoose and not a hybrid of wolf and cougar? Of course we need to make it red hair and red tail with black circles.
ìåäâåäü: This is already better!
wovoka: ìåäâåäü ïèøåò: This is already better! ìåäâåäü, thank you! But, as I said, it needs recoloring in Photoshop!
JOrnitho: wovoka ïèøåò: May be this animal is more like mountain ring-tailed mongoose and not a hybrid of wolf and cougar? This one is perfect!
wovoka: But I like the color and face of previous one. If we could connect them in one image...
wovoka: So the bestiary of Madagascar mountains 1. Vontsira - big cougar-wolf like predator - descendent of Galidia elegans 2. Habeby - big donkey-lama like mountain herbivourus animal - descentent of domestic madagascar hornless sheeps 3. Maky (lemur in malagasy) - big social herbivourus and insectivourus mountain lemur - descendent of Eulemur rubriventer 4. Trandraka (tenrec in malagasy) - big collective predator, scavenger, insectivourus mountain tenrec - descendent of Hemicentetes nigriceps 6. Rabaraba (rat in malagasy) - semisocial mountain rodent - descendent of Nesomys rufus 7. Fatio (falcon in malagasy) - very big predator mountain bird - descendent of Falco newtoni 8. big flock granivorous mountain bird - descendent of Pterocles personatus 9. big flock herbivorus mountain bird - descendent of Coturnix delegorguei 10. small insectivourus terrestrial mountain bird - descendent of Atelornis pittoides 11. bigger insectivourus living on shrubs or little trees bird - descendent of Leptosomus discolor 12. Kalabe (cocroach in malagasy) big mountain cocroach - descendent of Gromphadorhina portentosa 13. mountain shrub with berries - descendant of Vaccinium madagascariense 14. mountain Poaceae grass - descendant of Loudetia simplex 15. and invasive Trifolium repens will be just remembered in fragment of the chapter.
ëÿãóøêà: wovoka Galidia elegans Sorry, but I think that cougar-like animals are more likely to evolve from domestic cat - we already have fossa-like Felimalagasia gracilissima and many small arboreal mungos. Tendancy is obvious. and invasive Trifolium repens How it can evolve? I think it can stay unchanged or became slighty ore adapted oor mountain live, so I think it's not nessecary.
wovoka: ëÿãóøêà ïèøåò: How it can evolve? I think it can stay unchanged or became slighty ore adapted oor mountain live, so I think it's not nessecary. I'll just remember it in chapter. ëÿãóøêà ïèøåò: Sorry, but I think that cougar-like animals are more likely to evolve from domestic cat - we already have fossa-like Felimalagasia gracilissima and many small arboreal mungos. Tendancy is obvious. I will try to justify it in the description. And don't forget, we have also Antamba fadi. So tendancy is not so obvious.
JOrnitho: I finished the description of a primate for Zinj Land: Satanic guenon (Ceratopithecus satanas) Order: Primates Family: Cercopithecidae Habitat: Evergreen forests and montane bamboo forests from Zinj Land, living largely in the forest canopy, coming to the ground infrequently. In the Neocene, the Great Rift Valley was filled with ocean water, forming the Tanganyika Passage. The landmass that was separated from the rest of the continent was named the Zinj Land. The species that inhabited this region continued to evolve. Among them was the diademed monkey (Cercopithecus mitis). In the isolation offered by Zinj Land, this species gave rise to the Satanic guenon, an inhabitant of evergreen forests and montane bamboo forests from Zinj Land, living largely in the forest canopy, coming to the ground infrequently. This primate is close related to a lineage of guenons from continental Africa that evolved to partially fill the niche of Callitrichidae primates. The main characteristic of this species of primate is the black and stiff fur that grows in a V shape on its eyebrows, giving the appearance of a pair of horns. In the males, this fur is longer than in the females. Another difference between the two is that the males have a prominent black beard, while the females lack it. The rest of their appearance is similar. It has little hair on its face, which is pale gray. The head and back is reddish-brown, while the underparts are silvery gray with a white belly. The tail is reddish-brown with a black tuff at the tip. Typical sizes range from 27 to 38 cm in length, not including the tail, which is almost as long as the rest of the animal, with females weighing a little over 500 grams and males up to 750 grams. Satanic guenons eat fruits, figs, insects, leaves, eggs, young birds, twigs, sap, and flowers. They feed primarily on sap, using enlarged incisor teeth the same size as the canine teeth which are used for gouging holes in trees to extract exudates. A case of convergent evolution with South American Callitrichidae. Insects and eggs are their main source of protein. This species is only diurnal, spending the night sleeping high in the canopy, similar to other primates. The species forms social groups of around 10-40 individuals, typically with a single male, around 10 females and their offspring. Males may change between groups, while females generally stay with the same group into which they were born. For the monkeys, most of their day is spent searching for food, and in between hunting, during rest time, the monkeys will take time to groom one another, play, and care for their young. This is the primary time for bonds to form and strengthen. The rest period during the day is also a great time for the infants to learn and grow mentally. In addition, they are social, and will interact with other monkeys that inhabit the same areas. It has many different types of calls and sounds it will make based on the scenario. The monkey is known to croak, chuckle, shriek, and will even make distinct yelling sounds when it senses a threat, and wants to warn the others in the group. Another frequent call is one that the males of the haram will make. This is known as a gathering call and it lets the females and juveniles of the group know that they should return to their home range, near the male. Verbal communications are not the only forms of communication that Satanic guenons employ. Many individuals will perform physical communications, including facial expressions, posture, hand signals, and even actions. They use their mouth and teeth as a way of being either dominant or submissive, and different mouth movements or shapes can mean different things. When showing teeth in a smile, the individual is usually submissive, but when growling and wide open, with a pushed out jaw, the monkey is aggressive. This species is polygynous. Females go through an estrous cycle of 30 days, and this cycle can occur at any point in the year. The female normally gives birth to a single infant or, rarely, twins, after a gestation period of around six months. The female monkey is the primary caretaker, though siblings or non-related female monkeys may help to care for the newborn. The mother will suckle the infant for about six months, and then it will feed it a more adult-like diet, including fruit, nuts, and seeds. This species reaches maturity at about 3–4 years of age. A young male typically seeks out a new group that he can join or forms a new group in order to reproduce with unrelated females. The lifespan of a Satanic monkey is about 20 years in the wild.
Àâòîð: JOrnitho ïèøåò: a primate for Zinj Land Joao, it's good description, but we already have tree-dwelling herbivorous hyraxes (ashkoko and kin) there. So, first of all, we need to think about the ecological differences between them and primates. They must occupy different ecological niches, that do not overlap.
JOrnitho: Àâòîð ïèøåò: Joao, it's good description, but we already have tree-dwelling herbivorous hyraxes (ashkoko and kin) there. So, first of all, we need to think about the ecological differences between them and primates. They must occupy different ecological niches, that do not overlap. Maybe the primates could be more omnivorous? They could feed more of insects and small vertebrates, with fruits being a complement. I also had another idea of small descendants of guenons being analogues to tamarins, feeding on sap with specialized teeth, but I'm not sure where they could live. Zinj Land or Continental Africa?
wovoka: Cool description!
ìåäâåäü: Interesting animal! Joao, it's good description, but we already have tree-dwelling herbivorous hyraxes (ashkoko and kin) there. So, first of all, we need to think about the ecological differences between them and primates. They must occupy different ecological niches, that do not overlap. But the modern tree hyraxes do not compete with primates.
wovoka: Àâòîð, this primate is for the special chapter about Land of Zinj. The idea of Joao. The bestiary is here https://sivatherium.borda.ru/?1-7-1703421584522-00000019-000-10001-0#033 What do you think?
ëÿãóøêà: JOrnitho This monkey is quite realistic, but we have arboreal hyraxes in Zinj Land that occupy similar ecological niche. So, this animal shouldn't exist or should be quite specialised to avoid concurence. ìåäâåäü But the modern tree hyraxes do not compete with primates. They're not enough specialised to arboreal life and occupy other ecological niche then monkeys. In my opinion, they're more like bush babies. So it's bad argument.
JOrnitho: ëÿãóøêà ïèøåò: This monkey is quite realistic, but we have arboreal hyraxes in Zinj Land that occupy similar ecological niche. So, this animal shouldn't exist or should be quite specialised to avoid concurence. How they can be specialized? More omnivorous like the capuchin monkeys from South America, even using tools? Maybe big incisors to remove the bark of trees to eat insects and sap? I'm not sure how to change this description. Also, I thought about a more carnivorous descendant of the yellow baboon living in Zinj Land forests and hunting monkeys and tree hyraxes in the canopy and in the continent a large descendant of guenon partialy filling the niche of chimpanzees.
JOrnitho: I edited the description of the guenon. Now it's specialized to feed on sap. We could make the description of a tree from Africa and Zinj land that is capable of producing sweet exudate. Any ideas of who could be the ancestor of this plant?
ëÿãóøêà: JOrnitho I edited the description of the guenon. Now it's specialized to feed on sap. Interesting! However, I think it should be smaller and more marmoset-like, and you should place it on its own genus.
ìåäâåäü: I edited the description of the guenon. Now it's specialized to feed on sap. A good idea!
JOrnitho: ëÿãóøêà ïèøåò: Interesting! However, I think it should be smaller and more marmoset-like, and you should place it on its own genus. I already changed it's genus to Cercopithecus (because of the fake horns). I'll edit their size.
JOrnitho: I finished the description of another primate: Golden dwarf guenon (Simiosucophagus chryseus) Order: Primates Family: Cercopithecidae Habitat: Montane semi-deciduous broad-leaf tropical forests of Western Africa The species that survived the environmental collapses during the transition between the Holocene and the Neocene were capable of evolving into new forms adapted to the habitats that appeared. In Africa, the guenons (Cercopithecus) remained as a diverse group with new genera appearing. Among them is the genus Simiosucophagus, which is formed by small sized monkeys that developed large and strong incisors that allow them to open the bark of trees to have access to sap, similar to the family Callitrichidae from South America. This genus is close related to the squirrel-guenons and to the satanic guenon from Zinj Land. Simiosucophagus, Sciuropithecus and Ceratopithecus together form the tribe Afrocallitrichini. The type species of the genus Simiosucophagus is the golden dwarf guenon, an inhabitant of montane semi-deciduous broad-leaf tropical forests of Western Africa. The golden dwarf guenon is a small primate, with males having 23-25 cm, while females have 20-23 cm. Like many small primates, they have a small head, large eyes. Their tails are the double of the length of their bodies. The fur of the head and back is reddish orange, with males having extra long hairs around the face and ears which give it a distinctive mane. The face is bright blue with a white nose spot. Underparts, arms, tail, and legs are silvery-gray. The tail also has a reddish orange tip. Like all the members of this genus, the golden dwarf guenon is adapted to eat sap.They gnaw holes in the bark of appropriate trees and vines with their large incisors to elicit the production of gum. When the sap puddles up in the hole, they lap it up with their tongues. They also lie in wait for insects, especially butterflies, which are attracted to the sap holes. They supplement their diet with nectar, fruits, eggs and bird chicks. The golden dwarf guenon is a highly social primate that typically lives in groups of two to nine individuals, but may reach up to 13 members. These groups consist of one male with several females and infants, giving rise to matrilineal societies. The mating system is polygynous, with a corresponding sexual dimorphism in size, as the males are the substantially larger sex. Females normally give birth every year, during the onset of the warm, rainy season; gestation is around five months, and the infants are born with fur and with their eyes open. Females stay in their natal groups, while males disperse once they reach adulthood. They have a lifespan of 13 years. Another representative of the genus is the black-headed dwarf-guenon (Simiosucophagus nigrocephalus). This species inhabits the lowland semi-deciduous broad-leaf tropical forests of Western African coast. They are small primates, with males having 20-24 cm, while females have 18-22 cm. The tail is double the length of their bodies. The head is black, with males having extra long hairs around the face and ears which give it a distinctive mane. The face is bright blue with a pinkish-white nose spot. The back and arms are reddish-orange. Underparts, tail, and legs are silvery-gray. The tail also has a reddish orange tip.
ëÿãóøêà: JOrnitho Good primate!
ìåäâåäü: Interesting animal!
JOrnitho: I finished the description of another primate: Lowland koolakamba (Parapan bellicosus) Order: Primates Family:Cercopithecidae Habitat:Lowland tropical forests and seasonal marshlands of Western and Central Africa. Many species didn’t survive the transition between the Holocene and Neocene. All great apes disappeared during this period, leaving their niches vacant. In the African continent, primates evolved to partially fill them. Among these new species is the koolakamba, a descendant of the guenons (Cercopithecus). It’s named after a purported hybrid species of chimpanzees and gorillas said to have inhabited the tropical forests of Western Africa. The type species of the group, the lowland koolakamba, inhabits tropical forests and marshlands of Western and Central Africa. The lowland koolakamba is a large primate if compared to its ancestors, they are 120 to 150 cm tall when upright, with females being smaller than males. The adult males weigh between 40 and 70 kg, with females weighing between 27 and 45 kg. Their arms are longer than its legs and can reach below the knees. The hands have long fingers with short thumbs and flat fingernails. The feet are adapted for grasping, and the big toe is opposable. The pelvis is long with an extended ilium. The head is rounded with a prominent and prognathous face and a pronounced brow ridge. It has forward-facing eyes, a small nose, rounded non-lobed ears and a long mobile upper lip. Both adult males and females have sharp and elongated canine teeth. The body is covered by coarse hair, except for the face, fingers, toes, palms of the hands, and soles of the feet. The hair is dark brown with a reddish-orange tinge. The naked face is bright blueish-purple in sexually mature males and blueish-gray in females. The tail is reduced, with only 4 cm. This species is omnivorous with a taste for meat of other vertebrates, mainly monkeys. They hunt in groups, with the females being the ones more active on it. Due to them weighing less than the males, they are more agile when pursuing monkeys in the forest canopy. They will guide the distressed target to an area where the male is waiting, who will then use his strength to kill it. The food is distributed among the group, with individuals of high levels of the hierarchy eating more than the lower ones. The koolakamba also eats fruits, leaves, leaf buds, seeds, blossoms, stems, pith, bark, and resin. Insects, eggs, honey and birds are also consumed. They use tools when necessary, being capable of modifying sticks, rocks, grass, and leaves and use them when foraging for termites and ants, nuts, honey, algae or water. Some nuts are left to dry under the sun, before being crushed by stones. This species lives in groups with 15 to 20 individuals led by two adult males, one being older than the other. The rest of the group is formed by females and their offspring of different ages. The females are philopatric, remaining in the group where they were born. On the other hand, males are expelled when they are older, being forced to travel alone in search of a new group. During this nomadic period, males interact with each other, with cooperative duos being formed. These duos are usually formed by siblings, with the oldest being dominant. They search for food together and fight for the position of leading male in a group. Once part of a group, the males perpetrate infanticide, killing the young from the previous dominant male. Sometimes the dead infants will be eaten by them. They patrol the territory, protect group members, and search for food. They are highly territorial and will frequently kill other individuals. Battles between groups that trespassed territories are brutal. If the leading male dies, its subordinate will become the dominant. They sleep in the canopy of trees, making nests with branches and leaves. They mate throughout the year, although the number of females in oestrus varies seasonally in a group. Females are more likely to come into oestrus when food is readily available. The dominant male will mate with all the females, with his subordinate rarely being allowed to do it. From a group of ten pregnant female, only one will be carrying the child of a subordinate male and usually they are lower ranking females. Copulation is brief, lasting approximately seven seconds. The gestation period is eight months. Care for the young is provided mostly by their mothers. The survival and emotional health of the young is dependent on maternal care. Mothers provide their young with food, warmth, and protection, and teach them certain skills. In addition, an koolakamba future rank may be dependent on its mother's status. Newborns are helpless, their grasping reflex is not strong enough to support them for more than a few seconds. For their first 30 days, infants cling to their mother's bellies. Infants are unable to support their own weight for their first two months and need their mothers' support. When they reach five to six months, infants ride on their mothers' backs. They remain in continual contact for the rest of their first year. When they reach two years of age, they are able to move and sit independently and start moving beyond the arms' reach of their mothers. By four to six years, they are weaned and infancy ends. The juvenile period for the agogwe lasts from their sixth to ninth years. Juveniles remain close to their mothers, but interact an increasing amount with other members of their community. Adolescent females are supported by their mothers in agonistic encounters. Adolescent males spend time with adult males in social activities like hunting and boundary patrolling. Adulthood is reached after the thirteenth year, when the males are expelled from the group. Sexual maturity is reached with 14 years and they have a lifespan of 40 years Another representative of the genus is the Montane koolakamba (Parapan montanus), an inhabitant of the montane cloud forests of Central and Eastern Africa. They are larger than their western relatives, reaching heights between 125 and 180 cm, weights between 100 and 270 kg, and arm spans up to 2.6 meters, depending on age and sex. Their fur is dark brown, while their face is less colorful in males and totally gray in females. They are also more herbivorous, feeding on fruits, bamboo, leaves and herbs. Meat is rarely consumed.
ìåäâåäü: Interesting primate! But: led by two adult males, one being older than the other Do any present-day primates have this kind of social structure? In primate groups, there is usually only one leader.
JOrnitho: ìåäâåäü ïèøåò: Do any present-day primates have this kind of social structure? In primate groups, there is usually only one leader. I'm aware, but I thought that it could be interesting way to show the adaptation of this species in which males form these pairs to increase their survival and chance of taking over the leading positions of the group. The relationship of these pairs would be similar with what happen with lions. Also, chimpanzees have a male hierarchy in which several males live in the same group together, but some have a high position than the others. I also used it as inspiration, but I didn’t want to make it a copy of the chimpanzee's system.
ëÿãóøêà: JOrnitho Good primate! I also had question about social structure, but you had already answered it!
Àâòîð: JOrnitho ïèøåò: Lowland agogwe The trivial name agogwe is already occupied...
ëÿãóøêà: Àâòîð The trivial name agogwe is already occupied... I thought that JOrnitho already knew about it and called that creature "agogwe" to compare it to already existing one.
JOrnitho: Àâòîð ïèøåò: The trivial name agogwe is already occupied... Is it in the project? Because it's the name of a cryptid with no valid description. If it's a problem, I can replace the name with Koolakamba, a purported hybrid species of chimpanzees and gorillas that was never properly described.
ëÿãóøêà: JOrnitho Is it in the project? Yes, we already have chimpanzee-like guenon called "agogwe" in Neocene, but it's not identical to yours. So, I think its name won'- be a problem.
Àâòîð: JOrnitho ïèøåò: Is it in the project? Yes, part 100 "Land of last hyenas" (not translated into English).
JOrnitho: Àâòîð ïèøåò: Yes, part 100 "Land of last hyenas" (not translated into English) This explains why I didn’t find it in the Index. Alright, I'll change the name to Koolakamba.
ìåäâåäü: "Land of last hyenas" One little remark, not to offend anyone: In English it would be more natural to say "Land of the last hyenas".
JOrnitho: I made the description of another monkey: Bishop guereza (Colobus pontifex) Order: Primates Family:Cercopithecidae Habitat: Endemic to Central African lowland rainforest between the Lualaba River and the Aruwimi-Ituri River. The species that survived the Holocene had evolved into new species. Among these survivors is the mantled guereza (Colobus guereza), which gave rise to the bishop guereza in the Neocene. This new species' common name is inspired by its striking appearance, reminiscent of that of a Catholic bishop. This species is endemic to a limited area of lowland rainforest in Central Africa, located between the Lualaba River and the Aruwimi-Ituri River. The rivers worked as a physical barrier that isolated this population from the rest, resulting in their speciation. The bishop guereza has a distinctive pelage. Their mantle and back is white and covers part of their shoulder, giving the appearance of a papal pellegrina, a cape-like item of clerical dress worn by the Catholic pope. The top of the head is white. The bands that make up the mantle start at the shoulders and extend along the back until they connect at the lower torso. The tail is long and ends in a silvery-gray tuft which covers half of the tail. The rest of the body is black, including the sides of the face and chin. Infants are born with pink skin and white hair. The hair and skin darken as they age and by three to four months they attain adult coloration. Male usually gain their coloration before females. The male typically weighs 10 and 14 kg and the female weighs between 8 and 10 kg. The head and body length averages 60 cm for males and 54 cm for females. Like their ancestors, the bishop guereza has a small thumb that is vestigial. The teeth of the males are larger than those of the females. This species is not an obligate folivore. While it mainly eats leaves and fruit, its diet is quite variable. It may eat bark, wood, seeds, flowers, petioles, lianas, aquatic-plants and arthropods. The amount of each food item in its diet varies by area and time of year. Leaves usually make up over half of its diet, although fruits are occasionally eaten more depending on the season. When foraging for leaves, the bishop guereza prefers young ones over old. With fleshy fruits, they prefer to eat them unripe, which may serve to reduce competition with primates that eat ripe fruits. Like all colobi, this monkey is able to digest leaves and other plant fibers with a large, multi-chambered stomach that contains bacteria in certain areas. The bishop guereza lives in stable social groups, usually formed by 15 and 20 members. The groups usually contain one male, several females and juveniles. Males that are not part of groups either live solitarily or with other outside males in bachelor groups. The females keep the groups cohesive and they are matrilineally related. They rarely disperse from their natal groups, except possibly when they break apart. Males usually leave when they become sub-adults or adults. They may start out being solitary and or in bachelor groups. They gain entry into a social group either by being on the periphery or displacing a group male. Because of its low quality diet and the dispersed distribution of its food, the bishop guereza has a resident-egalitarian social structure. Females living in a group often have an egalitarian dominance style with no formalized rank relations. Relationships are relaxed and friendly with rare signals of dominance or subordinance. Physical aggression within the group is usually not harmful and rarely escalates into a conflict. Allogrooming is an important part of mantled guereza interactions and mostly occurs between females. However, such peaceful interactions do not apply between groups, with them being aggressive to each other. During intergroup encounters, males can engage in direct or indirect mate defense, like defending a female's resources. It is the males that participate in agonistic inter-group encounters but females may do so as well. Aggressive encounters between groups usually involve chases, displays and vocalizations rather than physical contact. The most notable vocalization of the bishop guereza is the "roar", which is made mainly at night or dawn by males. The sound of a roar can be carried for up to a mile. Roars are used for long-distance communication and can regulate inter-group spacing without direct, physical contact while foraging. The bishop guereza has a polygynous harem-based mating system. Mating solicitations are made by both males and females, half of the time for each. To solicit mating, the monkey will walk near its potential partner and make low-intensity mouth clicks or tough-smacks. During copulation, the males hold on the female's ankles and body. Most matings take place between individuals of the same group but copulations outside of the group can happen. The gestation period lasts 150 days with a 18 month interbirth interval. The newborn relies on its mother for support and must cling to her. As they grow older, infants can move on their own but keep returning to their mothers. The infants take up most of the attention in the groups. The other females in a group may handle an infant although the latter are only comfortable with their mothers. The males normally don't pay much attention to infants until they are four to five weeks old. Infants can eat solid food at about eight to nine weeks and by fifty weeks they are fully weaned and no longer need to hold on to their mothers. They have a lifespan of 20 years.
ìåäâåäü: Interesting animal!
ëÿãóøêà: JOrnitho Good animal!
JOrnitho: I made the description for another mammal for Africa: Giant potto (Megaloperodicticus altimontanus) Order: Primates Family:Lorisidae Habitat:Montane semi-deciduous broad-leaf tropical forests of Eastern Africa Many species had perished during the Holocene, bringing an end to their lineages. Only those that were resilient enough had survived, originating new lineages. Among these survivors were the pottos (Perodictius), with the giant potto being a new representative of this group. This species is endemic to the Montane semi-deciduous broad-leaf tropical forests of Eastern Africa. Living it up to its name, the giant potto is the largest representative of the Family Lorisidae. They grow to a length of 61 to 70 cm, with males being larger and heavier than the females. Their wooly fur is gray-brown with golden strands in the back. The underbelly is grayish-white. The index finger is vestigial, although it has opposable thumbs with which it grasps branches firmly. Like other strepsirrhines this species has a moist nose, toothcomb, and a toilet claw on the second toe of the hind legs. In the hands and feet, fingers three and four are connected to each other by a slight skin fold, while toes three through five are joined at their bases by a skin web that extends to near the proximal third of the toes. The neck has four to six low tubercles or growths that cover its elongated vertebrae which have sharp points and nearly pierce the skin; these are used as defensive weapons.Both males and females have large scent glands above the anal area. In females, the swelling created by the glands is known as a pseudo-scrotum. These structures are used to mark their territories and to reinforce pair bonds. This species is more omnivorous than their ancestors. While they feed on fruits and tree gums, the giant potto catches bats and small birds, including raiding nests in search of chicks and eggs. They also eat insects, lizards and amphibs. Their strong jaws enable it to eat fruits and lumps of dried gum that are too tough for other tree-dwellers. The insects they eat tend to have a strong smell and are generally not eaten by other animals. If threatened, the giant potto will hide its face and neck-butt its opponent, making use of its unusual vertebrae. It can also deliver a powerful bite. Its saliva contains compounds that cause the wound to become inflamed. Giant pottos move slowly and carefully, always gripping a branch with at least two limbs. They are also quiet and avoid predators using cryptic movement. The most common call is a high-pitched whistle, which is used mainly between mother and offspring. They have large territories which they mark with urine and glandular secretions. Same-sex intruders are vehemently guarded against, and each male's territory generally overlaps with that of two or more females. Females donate part of their territories to their daughters, but sons leave their mother's territory upon maturity. As part of their courting rituals, giant pottos often meet for bouts of mutual grooming. This is frequently performed while they hang upside down from a branch. Grooming consists of licking, combing fur with the grooming claw and teeth, and anointing with the scent glands. They face-to-face while hanging upside down from a branch. After a gestation period of about 210 days, the female gives birth, typically to a single young, but twins can also occur. The young first are clasped to the belly of the mother, but later she carries them on her back. She will also hide her young in the leaves while searching for food. After about ten months, they are weaned, and are fully mature after about 20 months.
ëÿãóøêà: JOrnitho Good animal!
ìåäâåäü: Interesting animal!
JOrnitho: Would the Socotra Archipelago still exist? I thought that, without human presence, it could have new species and ecosystems.
Àâòîð: JOrnitho ïèøåò: Would the Socotra Archipelago still exist? Socotra represents the archipelago of continental origin. So, I think it would exist in Neocene also. Based on the idea of split of Africa and shift of Zinj Land eastward, we may predict that Socotra will be geologically active zone due to the movement of Zinj Land.
JOrnitho: Àâòîð ïèøåò: Socotra represents the archipelago of continental origin. So, I think it would exist in Neocene also. Based on the idea of split of Africa and shift of Zinj Land eastward, we may predict that Socotra will be geologically active zone due to the movement of Zinj Land. Nice! How could be its vegetation? With the humans being extinct, I thought that there could be more woods and forests.
Àâòîð: JOrnitho ïèøåò: there could be more woods and forests the climate is dry, so the forests may be composed of dry-resistant plants. In Russian part of forum, we have a description of relic dwarf dromedary camel (insular dwarfism).
JOrnitho: Àâòîð ïèøåò: the climate is dry, so the forests may be composed of dry-resistant plants. In Russian part of forum, we have a description of relic dwarf dromedary camel (insular dwarfism). Among the plants, could be a descendant of the Dracaena cinnabari. This species is still surviving in Socotra nowadays, maybe the disappearance of humans could allow it to spread once again. Could this dwarf dromedary be like the extinct Stenomylus? With a gazelle-like appearence.
Àâòîð: JOrnitho ïèøåò: With a gazelle-like appearence. The terrain of Socotra is mountanous, so the goatlike appearance with shorter legs and wide toes is more probable.
JOrnitho: Àâòîð ïèøåò: The terrain of Socotra is mountanous, so the goatlike appearance with shorter legs and wide toes is more probable. Good idea! The main predator could be a descendant of small Indian civet (Viverricula indica), adapted to hunt these camels.
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