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Fauna of North America
JOrnitho: I decided to open a topic for this continent, since it was the only one that remained without one in the foreign section. I was thinking about the possibility of the snakehead fish and the peacock bass, both introduced species in the USA, surviving in the Neocene. Does it seems plausible? Another animal that could live here is a descendant of the house sparrow. It was also introduced here.
Биолог: JOrnitho Thanks for the topic! And good ideas!
JOrnitho: I wonder if the descendants of the peacock bass could evolve to resist low temperatures and expand North from Florida.
Биолог: JOrnitho support low temperatures You mean "resist"? Seems not very plausible...
JOrnitho: Биолог пишет: You mean "resist"? Seems not very plausible... Yes, resist. Then these fish will be restricted to Florida Peninsula and more warm areas.
Биолог: JOrnitho OK.
JOrnitho: We already talked about it before, but I was reading more about the situation of the red-crowned amazon (Amazona viridigenalis) in California and thought that they really have great chances of surviving on this region. In Los Angeles, their population is becoming larger than that in their natural habitat in Mexico. Maybe they could leave descendants in this region, perhaps these Neocenic birds could have the genes of other feral Amazonas of the region: lilac-crowned parrot (Amazona finschi) and yellow crowned parrot (Amazona ochrocephala). It would be the result of hybridization. These birds could stay in the forests of the Pacific coast during summer and migrate to Mexico during winter.
Биолог: JOrnitho Thanks for the topic. Yes, the survival of amazons in California (continental, not island) is a good idea! But hybridization is quite unlikely because in holocene the red-crowned amazon in California seems to lack overlappings with the other two you mentioned in order for a stable hybrid to emerge.
JOrnitho: Биолог пишет: Yes, the survival of amazons in California (continental, not island) is a good idea! But hybridization is quite unlikely because in holocene the red-crowned amazon in California seems to lack overlappings with the other two you mentioned in order for a stable hybrid to emerge. I see. Then, I think that the red-crowned amazon can be the only ancestor of these birds.
Биолог: JOrnitho Yes, why not.
JOrnitho: I was also thinking that this bird could be migratory, flying to California Island and Pacific coast of Mexico during winter. Their summer range would be the forests and woodlands of what once was California, from North to South.
JOrnitho: I made the description of the parrot. What do you think? Lilac-faced parrot (Amazona migratoria) Order: Psittaciformes Family: Psittacidae Habitat: Forests and woodlands of the region that once was the American state of California, migrating to California Island and the Pacific slopes of Mexico. During the Holocene, the man introduced many species to other continents. Some only because of their ornamental value, while others were introduced because they were useful for agriculture. However, most introductions were those of animals used as pets. The psicittacids were among those that were most introduced, being spread across several continents. The red-crowned parrot (Amazona viridigenalis) was a species that lived in northeastern Mexico and southern Texas. In their natural range, the species was suffering with human pressure and their population decreased. However, some of these birds escaped from their owners and became feral in California. This population grew and thrived, leaving descendants in the Neocene. The lilac-faced parrot is their descendant, one of the last few representatives of the genus Amazona in the Neocene. These birds are endemic to the forests and woodlands of the region that once was the American state of California. During the winter, these birds migrate to the forests of California Island and of the Pacific slopes of Mexico. They have 43 cm of length and a wingspan of 86 cm. These birds also have rounded tails and wings. Their plumage is mostly green with the most notable features being a bright red forehead and crown, with blue-lilac faces. Their beak and legs are dark gray. Their diet consists of seeds, nuts, fruits, flowers and nectar. The lilac-faced parrot has a great preference for pines and the fruits of the oaks. They hold the food with their legs and use their strong beak to break the hard shell. The lilac-faced parrots are gregarious and monogamous. The pairs will be seen flying close to each other in the flocks that can have 20 to 40 individuals. During their migration, such flocks can have hundreds of birds. When flying to their wintering grounds, the male and female will constantly vocalize to each other. They start to breed in the middle of spring. The female lays 3 to 5 white eggs that can be laid with an interval of three to four days. Females are responsible for the entire incubation period of 28 days, and only leave the nest for short feeding periods. Fledging begins at nine weeks old. Their nests are made inside tree cavities near other members of their flock, creating a breeding colony. They will return to the same cavity every year to raise chicks unless that cavity was previously attacked or they did not have reproductive success there for a different reason. While rare, intraspecific fights can happen if they find the hole already occupied by other parrots. The chicks leave the nest after 60 days, but remain close to their parents during the first migration. Sexual maturity is reached with 5 years and they have a lifespan of 34 years.
Биолог: JOrnitho OK, good one.
JOrnitho: With the climate being warmer in the Neocene, do you think that the eared quetzal (Euptilotis neoxenus) could spread to other areas of North America? Their descendants could live in the Mexican Plateau, Florida and a migratory living in Apalachia.
Биолог: JOrnitho Quite possible, but the trogons (quetzals) in this case are quite likely to loose their colorful plumage.
JOrnitho: Биолог пишет: Quite possible, but the trogons (quetzals) in this case are quite likely to loose their colorful plumage. Yes. While I believe that the Mexican species and the one in Florida can still be a bit colorful, the one in Apalachia would be pale, with any red being replaced by reddish-brown.
Биолог: JOrnitho OK, I agree.
JOrnitho: I finished the description of the North American trogon. Do you think that the migratory species could appear in the migration chapter that is being planet? It also cross the Florida Peninsula to reach Great Antigua and close islands. Appalachian quetzal (Americotrogon appalachiensis) Order: Trogoniformes Family: Trogonidae Habitat: Forest and woodlands of the Appalachian mountains, migrating to Great Antigua and other Caribbean Islands during the winter. 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 eared quetzal (Euptilotis neoxenus), had not only survived the anthropogenic onslaught, but also expanded their distribution to the North. There this species gave rise to a new Genus, the Americotrogon. The Appalachian quetzal is its type species. An inhabitant of the forest and woodlands of the Appalachian mountains, this bird migrates to Great Antigua and other Caribbean Islands during the winter. The Appalachian quetzal has 36 cm of length, with a wingspan of 64 cm. Both sexes have dark green backs and reddish brown heads, neck and chest. These birds have iridescent dark blue central tail feathers, and outer tail feathers that are predominantly white. The males have iridescent green feathers in their wing coverts, while the females lack such feathers. The bill is dull gray with a slightly darker band at the tip. Adults males have pale red lower bellies, the females only have some patches of this color in this part of their body. The bill is dull gray with a slightly darker band at the tip, the legs are pale gray. They feed on insects, small vertebrates, and fruit. Caterpillars, moths, katydids, cicadas, small lizards, and other prey are fed to the young. Like other trogons, they often pluck prey and fruit while hovering. Vertebrates and invertebrates are more hunted when they need to feed their chicks. Appalachian quetzals are territorial and monogamous. Males will repel other members of the same species and even other hole-nesting species from around their nesting sites. These birds nest in the beginning of the spring, as soon as they return from migration. Males attract females by singing.Like other trogons, they are cavity nesters. Nests are dug with their beaks, into rotting wood or in the soft ground of cliffs. Nest digging is undertaken by the male alone. In the case of nests dug into tree trunks, the wood must be strong enough not to collapse but soft enough to dig out. When seeking a place to make the nest, the male will land on dead tree trunks and slap the wood with their tails, test the firmness. The nests are usually unlined. Between two and four eggs are laid by the female. These are round and lightly green. Both parents incubate the eggs, with the male taking one long incubation stint a day and the female incubating the rest of the time. The Incubation begins after the last egg is laid. The incubation usually lasts between 16–19 days. On hatching the chicks are altricial, blind and naked. The chicks acquire feathers rapidly, usually in a week. They take 25 days to fledge. The young will follow their parents during the migration, but will return alone. This species don’t form flocks during the migration, with the only groups being that formed by pairs and their chicks. They reach sexual maturity with 2 years and their lifespam is of 21 years. Another representative of the Genus Americotrogon is the Florida quetzal (Americotrogon flaviventer), an inhabitant of the forests and wooded swamps of the Florida Peninsula. They have 33 cm of length and 58 cm of wingspan. Both sexes have dark green backs and iridescent dark blue tail feathers. The males have bright yellow heads, chests and bellies. In the females these parts of their body are pale yellow. This species isn’t migratory.
Биолог: JOrnitho The bird is good! the migration chapter that is being planet? I do not quite understand. You mean the migration is across the whole planet? Like skuas or petrels? But what for?
JOrnitho: Биолог пишет: I do not quite understand. You mean the migration is across the whole planet? Like skuas or petrels? But what for? I mean, I was asking if it could appear in the chapter about the migration of the hummingbird, since this trogon uses a similar route to reach the Antiles and Great Antigua during the winter. I ended typing wrong. It was planed, not planet. Sorry for that.
Биолог: JOrnitho It's OK, don't worry. Yes, sure, it can be mentioned/described along with the hummingbird.
JOrnitho: I was reading an article about how introduced pin-tailed whydah were thriving in California by parasiting nests of munias that were also introduced. It made me think if these two species could have descendants in the Neocene that also continued with this extraspecific relationship. Do you think that it could happen?
Биолог: JOrnitho Yes, why not.
JOrnitho: I was reading how some species of Old World quails are migratory and it made me think if a new genus of migratory Galliformes could appear in North America. Perhaps the Ice Age could have influenced some of these birds to fly to the Mexican Plateau, with this becoming a seasonal practice of their descendants in the Neocene.
Биолог: JOrnitho Good ideas! But what about a large flightless quail? Or poorly flying and migrating on foot, like rails.
JOrnitho: Биолог пишет: But what about a large flightless quail? Or poorly flying and migrating on foot, like rails. These are really good idea. Maybe this quail could have a migration in the two ways, by flying and walking. A flightless quail would need to live in a place without terrestrial predators.
Биолог: JOrnitho Maybe this quail could have a migration in the two ways, by flying and walking. Quite so. A flightless quail would need to live in a place without terrestrial predators. Yes, but it can retain the flight ability, only using to escape a danger. It can hide and disguise itself in the grass or bushes to stay invisible to the enemies.
JOrnitho: Биолог пишет: Yes, but it can retain the flight ability, only using to escape a danger. It can hide and disguise itself in the grass or bushes to stay invisible to the enemies. I think that in this case it could be like a tinamou, a bird with a poor ability to fly. Regarding the migratorious galliforme, I was thinking that it could be close related to the grouses of the Holocene. It would spend the summer in subartic regions, migrating to Mexico in the winter. What do you think?
Биолог: JOrnitho Yes, quite a good idea. Only I thought it would be like a poorly flying rail. But a tinamou-like bird is also OK.
JOrnitho: Биолог пишет: Only I thought it would be like a poorly flying rail. But a tinamou-like bird is also OK. I said a tinamou because they have a similar lifestyle to the Galliformes.
Биолог: JOrnitho OK, I agree. No problem.
JOrnitho: I'm working in the migratory Galliforme, but I can’t think in a good name for it. Do you have any suggestions? It would be close related to the grouses.
Биолог: JOrnitho But what is the ancestor exactly?
JOrnitho: Биолог пишет: But what is the ancestor exactly? I thought that it could be the Ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus).
Биолог: JOrnitho OK. So, maybe, Neobonasa migratoria?
JOrnitho: Биолог пишет: OK. So, maybe, Neobonasa migratoria? I think that it's a good name. It could be the migratory grouse.
Биолог: JOrnitho OK, I agree.
JOrnitho: I finished the description of the migratory grouse. Migratory grouse (Neobonasa migratoria) Order: Galliformes Family: Phasianidae Habitat: Forests and woodlands from the Appalachian Mountains across Canada to Beringia, migrating to the Mexican Plateau during winter. The Ice Age during the end of the Holocene led many species to adapt to survive. Some developed migratory habits, moving to the South so they could escape the cold weather. The ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) was one of these species, with its descendant in the Neocene, the migratory grouse, becoming a fully migratory bird. During the summer, this bird forests and woodlands from the Appalachian Mountains across Canada to Beringia. During the winter, these birds migrate to the Mexican Plateau. The migratory grouse are relatively slender, medium-sized birds that measure from 40 to 50 cm in length and span 80–100 cm across their strong wings. The head, neck, and back are grey-brown; the breast is light with barring. There is much white on the underside and flanks. Overall, the birds have a variegated appearance; the throat is often distinctly lighter. The tail is essentially the same brownish grey, with regular barring and a broad black band near the end. The ruffs are on the sides of the neck in both sexes. They also have a crest on top of their head, which sometimes lies flat. Both sexes are similarly marked and sized, making them difficult to tell apart, even in hand. The female often has a broken subterminal tail band. At the same time, males tend to have unbroken tail bands, though the opposite of either can occur. Females may also do a display similar to the male. Another fairly accurate sign is that during the displays, the males will inflate their throat, revealing a bright red patch of skin. Like most grouse, they spend most of their time on the ground; mixed woodland rich in aspen seems to be particularly well-liked. These birds forage on the ground or in trees. They are omnivores, eating buds, leaves, berries, seeds, and insects. These birds are polygynous, and males may mate with several females during the breeding season. The migratory grouse relies mostly entirely on a non-vocal acoustic display, known as drumming, unlike other grouse species. The drumming itself is a rapid, wing-beating display that creates a low-frequency sound, starting slow and speeding up. The male will also inflate their throats during the ritual. Hens build nests and lay and incubate their eggs under the cover of brushes. The hen uses grass and forbs between patches of brushes for additional cover. During incubation, female migratory grouse undertake recesses, where they leave the nest to undertake self-maintenance activities, thought these recess activities are typically within 250 m of the nest. They lay four to six eggs that are incubated for 21 days. Chicks can walk as soon as they are hatched and are able to fly short distances within two weeks. Within five weeks they are able to fly longer distances. They spend most of their time quietly on the ground, and when surprised, may explode into flight, beating its wings very loudly. During the autumn, the migratory grouse will fly to the South. Their migration will happen both by flight and walking. These birds use long patches of grass in the prairies regions that they cross to hide their terrestrial movements from predators. The average lifespan of a migratory grouse is one year, although some birds can live for eleven years.
Биолог: JOrnitho Very good one! Thanks!
JOrnitho: I had an idea for a descendant of rodents of the genus Zapus that evolved to be fast and run through the grasslands. They are adapted for speed because they are hunted by the jumping shrews. It would be interesting to see a predator-prey relationship with so small animals.
JOrnitho: I made the description for a small jumping rodent. Grassland jumping mouse (Halmazapus rufescens) Order: Rodentia Family: Halmazapodidae Habitat: Plains and grasslands of Central North America The interactions between predator and prey are an important factor in evolution. When one develops a characteristic that gives them the upperhand, the other will be pressured to overcome it with a characteristic of their own. Even with the arrival of the Neocene, such evolutionary mechanisms continued to exist. An example is the appearance of the genus Halmazapus in North America. These rodents are direct descendants of the North American jumping mouse (Zapodidae), but their jumping ability surpasses that of their ancestors, getting closer to that of a jerboa. This happened due to the appearance of faster predators: the jumping shrew (Saltasoricidae). To escape these new predators, the jumping mice had developed far more specialized hind feet than that of their ancestors. The hind feet have three toes, the central three metatarsal bones having fused to form a single structure, similar to jerboa. However, different from them, the Halmazapus jumping mice are capable of sustaining hopping over long periods of time. The type species of this genus is the grassland jumping mouse, an inhabitant of the Great Plains. It's a small rodent, with a body length ranging from 12 to 16 cm and with a tail measuring between 18 and 20 cm. The tail is used to balance when hopping, and as a prop when sitting upright. The fore limbs are short and are useless for locomotion, being only used to hold food. The pelage of this animal is short, and with somewhat dense, coarse hair. The color of the pelage is reddish-brown, with a thin dorsal black strip. The underbody is white. The tail is bicolored, showing a darker color from above and a lighter color below. It is lightly covered with hair, which gets longer as it approaches the tip, and different from their ancestors does form a small dark brown bushy in the tip. The head is small, and narrow. The nose is short, yet it is pointy, and the eyes are relatively big. The food preference of the grassland jumping mouse consists of seeds, but they also eat berries, fruit and insects. Usually right after emerging from hibernation they will eat the larvae of insects such as butterflies, and beetles. These rodents are crepuscular, leaving their dens during dawn and dusk. They live in groups of at least 60 individuals that share the same den. When foraging, the group would split into smaller ones. While feeding, these rodents will stay watching their surroundings. Given their small size, the mice are prey of several different predators such as large birds, serpents and larger mammals. However, their nemesis is the jumping shrew (Saltasoricidae). These small predators are fast and capable of hunting down the rodents. To alert the group, the mice will produce several whistling vocalizations and raise their tail. The grassland jumping mouse shares the Great Plains with the striped jumping shrew. When one of these shrews is hunting a pack of grassland jumping mice, it’s as if a cheetah is hunting antelopes in the Holocene, but in this case in miniature. To escape, the rodents are capable of maintaining their jumps for a long time, but they also use sharp turns and great vertical leaps to confuse predators. Their hibernation begins during the middle of autumn, the moment of entering hibernation there is a decrease in metabolism. Hibernation lasts until about early spring, with males emerging slightly earlier than females. From the time that the mice goes into hibernation to the time it comes out there is a significant amount of weight loss. When the male emerges from hibernation it starts feeding and is immediately reproductively active. Once the female emerges, which is only a short time after the males, they begin mating, and only about two weeks after emergence all the females are pregnant and gestation begins. Gestation lasts about eighteen days, although this can be a bit longer if the female is still nursing her previous litter. The average litter size is of 5 young, but can range anywhere from two to nine young. The jumping mouse is capable of having two to three litters per year. The young are weaned and fully independent within twenty-eight to thirty-three days. They reach sexual maturity with two months, but most will only reproduce after hibernation. They have a lifespan of four years, but many are killed by predators early. The Pacific jumping mouse (Halmazapus fuscus) is another representative of the genus. Inhabiting the forests of the Pacific coast of North America. Like their relatives, it's a small rodent, with a body length ranging from 13 to 17 cm and with a tail measuring between 19 and 21 cm. The color of the pelage is slate gray, with white underparts. The tuft in their tail is light gray. The Mexican jumping mouse (Halmazapus mexicanus) is an inhabitant of the Mexican Plateau. They have a body length ranging from 12 to 15 cm and with a tail measuring between 19 and 21 cm. The color of the pelage is light brown, with white underparts. The tuft in their tail is dark gray.
лягушка: Interesting rodent!
медведь: Interesting rodent!
JOrnitho: Another rodent for North America Marsh pouched rat (Nectocricetomys mississippiensis) Order: Rodentia Family: Nesomyidae Habitat: Mississipi Delta, swamps and salt marshes During their expansion, the humans had introduced several different species, sometimes inadvertently and others in proposital way. The Gambian pouched rat (Cricetomys gambianus) was released in Florida and started to reproduce in the region. They survived and spread to other regions. In the Neocene the marsh pouched rat appeared, a direct descendant. It occurs in wetland habitats, such as swamps and salt marshes of the Mississipi Delta. The marsh pouched rat is a large rodent, reaching up to 90 cm, including the dark gray tail, which makes up half of its total length. The upperparts of their fur is dark brown, while the underside is yellowish-white. Like their ancestors, this species have a well developed cheek pouch, which is used to take food back to their dens. Their hindfeet have well developed webs, which help them move through the water. They have very poor eyesight, depending on their senses of smell and hearing. This species is omnivorous, feeding on vegetables, insects, crabs, snails, and other items, but have preference for palm fruits and palm kernels. Their cheek pouches allow them to gather up several kilograms of nuts per night for storage underground. The marsh pouched rat is solitary, males are territorial and tend to be aggressive when they encounter one another. They make burrows in areas that aren’t flooded, but that aren’t distant from the water. The burrow consists of a long passage with side alleys and several chambers, one for sleeping and the others for storage. The marsh pouched rat reaches sexual maturity at 7 months of age. Females are capable of producing up to 10 litters yearly. Gestation is 27 days. It has up to four litters every nine months, with up to six offspring in each litter. They have a lifespan of 4 years. A close representative species is the Florida pouched rat (Nectocricetomys floridianus), an inhabitant of the subtropical forests and wetlands of the Florida Peninsula. Like their close relative, this species is also a large rodent, reaching up to 85 cm. Their slaty gray tail makes up half of its total length. The upperparts of their fur is black, while the underside is white.
медведь: Interesting! But will its ancestors be able to survive the Dixonian glaciation?
Автор: JOrnitho пишет: Florida Peninsula, swamps and salt marshes I think, it is easy for this one to settle to the west, to Mississippi delta.
JOrnitho: Автор пишет: I think, it is easy for this one to settle to the west, to Mississippi delta. Why do you think that it would be the case? Would such habitats fit better in the Mississipi?
Автор: JOrnitho пишет: Would such habitats fit better in the Mississipi? I just think there are no natural obstacles for settling of this rodent farther to the west, and in Mississippi delta it would find the habitual place for life.
JOrnitho: Автор пишет: I just think there are no natural obstacles for settling of this rodent farther to the west, and in Mississippi delta it would find the habitual place for life. In this case, do you think that could be possible to have two species? One inhabiting the Mississipi and the other Florida.
медведь: I am still not sure if it survives the glaciation.
JOrnitho: медведь пишет: I am still not sure if it survives the glaciation. Would Florida be too much affected by the glaciation?
wovoka: Moving the bestiary for the Microwolves chapter of Panama to the North America section. 1. Scotinomys teguina - singing rats - our main heroes: howling microwolfs. 2. Scotinomys xerampelinus - there main rivals - they are bigger and more agressive, but they have smaller microwolf packs (they will be like Canis lupus occidentalis in the world of microwolfs). 3. Nephelomys albigularis - this rodent is omnivorous and can be like a microbear 4. Rheomys raptor - semiaqutical predatory rodent (maybe a water shrew or tiny otter) Main predators that can hunt on microwolfs: 5.Mustela frenata 6.Falco rufigularis 7.Glaucidium griseiceps - crossing out, i think it is enough one prey bird it he chapter 8.Spilotes pullatus (tiger rat snake) - Tiger rat snakes are solitary quite aggressive snakes that spend most of their life in trees; however, they can hunt in mangrove forest, tropical and subtropical dry broad-leaved forests, wet tropical forests, tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas and shrubs. They are also very good swimmers. Tiger rat snakes are diurnal creatures that hunt by day actively searching for their prey: amphibians, small mammals and birds. This is an egg-laying snake. The female lays 15-25 eggs. Big prey of microwolfs: 9.Sylvilagus brasiliensis - unfortunately, we decided to remove this animal from the chapter 10.Orthogeomys cavator (maybe could form mounds in the ground that protect the entrance of their tunnels like tiny fortress) 11.Marmosa mexicana (they can live not only on trees, but also in holes on the ground) 12. Colinus cristatus Main prey of microwolves: 13.Zygodontomys brevicauda - will be "herd" animal (maybe this one could be a tiny bear or a tiny panda, feeding mostly of green grass and occasional insect) 14.Transandinomys talamancae - will be "herd" animal (could live in herds and move like a rabbit) 15.Peromyscus mexicanus - will be "herd" animal (could live in groups like the guinea pig and maybe have tiny horns like the Ceratogaulus) 16.Reithrodontomys sumichrasti 17.Reithrodontomys mexicanus - (nocturnal scansorial and acrobatic species, in the ground the microwolves will catch them) 18.Reithrodontomys creper 19.Handleyomys alfaroi 20.Transandinomys bolivaris 21.Sigmodon hirsutus 22.Heteromys desmarestianus - may become more spiny (can be a tiny porcupine) 23. Oligoryzomys fulvescens (mole like rodents feeding of roots and seeds. Opportunistics, they could use the protection of the tunnels made by the Orthogeomys) periodical prey 23.Microsciurus alfari subsp. browni (can be preyed in the periods when is looking for food on the land) (can be the diurnal counterpart of the Reithrodontomys) 24.Oryzomys couesi - semiaquatical and omnivorous, it will be interesting hunting on it in shores and water (a semi-aquatic herbivorous species, like a tiny nutria. It could make nests with twigs and grass near water) 25.Cryptotis nigrescens - we probably have to refuse the participation of this animal in the chapter Other prey Lizards 26.Lepidodactylus lugubris Frogs 27.Lithobates vaillanti 28.Dendropsophus ebraccatus (microwolfs will be hunting on them in period of reproduction and eat frogspawn) Invertebrates 29.Gecarcinus quadratus 30.Megasoma elephas 31.Stilpnochlora azteca or Eneoptera surinamensis - better live only one of them 32.Blaberus giganteus 33. Limax maximus - invasive in a lot of countries of Latin America (may live in North Panama in Neocene) We should choose whom we live in chapter, who should be thrown away. The biggest bestiary in one of the chapters: 19 species Where will the events of the chapter take place? I propose this territory: at the intersection of savanna, chaparral, evergreen forest and swamp (and mangrove forest) at the mouth of the San Pablo River. circled in red
wovoka: JOrnitho пишет: wovoka пишет: цитата: 1. Scotinomys teguina - singing rats - our main heroes: howling microwolfs. 2. Scotinomys xerampelinus - there main rivals - they are bigger and more agressive, but they have smaller microwolf packs (they will be like Canis lupus occidentalis in the world of microwolfs). 3. Nephelomys albigularis - this rodent is omnivorous and can be like a microbear 4. Rheomys raptor - semiaqutical predatory rodent The descendant of the Oligoryzomys fulvescens could be like a mole, or like the Blarinomys of South America. It could be a prey of the microwolves, hunted when they leave its holes. wovoka пишет: цитата: Main predators that can hunt on microwolfs: 5.Mustela frenata 6.Falco rufigularis 7.Glaucidium griseiceps 8.Spilotes pullatus (tiger rat snake) - Tiger rat snakes are solitary quite aggressive snakes that spend most of their life in trees; however, they can hunt in mangrove forest, tropical and subtropical dry broad-leaved forests, wet tropical forests, tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas and shrubs. They are also very good swimmers. Tiger rat snakes are diurnal creatures that hunt by day actively searching for their prey: amphibians, small mammals and birds. This is an egg-laying snake. The female lays 15-25 eggs. I think that we could have these three predators. wovoka пишет: цитата: Big prey of microwolfs: 9.Sylvilagus brasiliensis 10.Orthogeomys cavator 11.Marmosa mexicana (they can live not only on trees, but also in holes on the ground) 12. Colinus cristatus Maybe we could discard the Sylvilagus? It's too large for the rats to hunt. Colinus' s chicks and eggs can be the ones preyed. wovoka пишет: цитата: Main prey of microwolves: 13.Zygodontomys brevicauda - will be "herd" animal 14.Transandinomys talamancae - will be "herd" animal 15.Peromyscus mexicanus - will be "herd" animal 16.Reithrodontomys sumichrasti 17.Reithrodontomys mexicanus 18.Reithrodontomys creper 19.Handleyomys alfaroi 20.Transandinomys bolivaris 21.Sigmodon hirsutus 22.Heteromys desmarestianus - may become more spiny If we replace the Sylvilagus, maybe we could have one of these "herd" rodents being like a tiny rabbit? wovoka пишет: цитата: Where will the events of the chapter take place? I propose this territory: at the intersection of savanna, chaparral, evergreen forest and swamp at the mouth of the San Pablo River. I like it! The presence of the swamp allow us to explore the semi-aquatic animals in the chapter.
wovoka: JOrnitho пишет: The descendant of the Oligoryzomys fulvescens could be like a mole, or like the Blarinomys of South America. It could be a prey of the microwolves, hunted when they leave its holes. Good idea! JOrnitho пишет: I think that we could have these three predators. I left three predators, crossed out the owl. JOrnitho пишет: Maybe we could discard the Sylvilagus? It's too large for the rats to hunt. Some red squirrels (genus Tamiasciurus) and Sciurus species of temperate climates will stalk, kill, and eat other squirrels, mice, and adult birds and rabbits for food So microwolves also can eat rabbits, at least young rabbits. And it will be interesting part of the chapter. But ok, we need to shorten the list of animals in chapter. JOrnitho пишет: Colinus' s chicks and eggs can be the ones preyed. Colinus is not so big bird, the pack of microwolves can easily kill and eat it. JOrnitho пишет: If we replace the Sylvilagus, maybe we could have one of these "herd" rodents being like a tiny rabbit? Ok! Peromyscus mexicanus (Mexican deer mouse) - may be if it is "deer mouse" we can make for it little horns JOrnitho пишет: I like it! The presence of the swamp allow us to explore the semi-aquatic animals in the chapter. Not only swamps, don't forget it is a San Pablo river near. And look at this map, there are a lot of little rivers around:
медведь: Peromyscus mexicanus (Mexican deer mouse) - may be if it is "deer mouse" we can make for it little horns Like Ceratogaulus?
JOrnitho: wovoka пишет: Peromyscus mexicanus (Mexican deer mouse) - may be if it is "deer mouse" we can make for it little horns Funny enough, Chinese scientists are already doing it: https://www.zmescience.com/science/chinese-scientists-grow-mini-antlers-on-mice/ However, in our case I think that it would be a Ceratogaulus appearance, like how медведь said. Perhaps it's a defense against the microwolves? wovoka пишет: Not only swamps, don't forget it is a San Pablo river near. And look at this map, there are a lot of little rivers around: Many areas for aquatic animals. The astrapotherium-like peccary could live here. Imagine the impact left behind by a herd of such large animals in the territory of a microwolf.
лягушка: Interesting duscussionn! And also I'll describe "crocodile" and "hippo" for Mexico.
wovoka: медведь пишет: Like Ceratogaulus? Yes, but more quick and graceful. JOrnitho пишет: Chinese scientists are already doing it Cool! JOrnitho пишет: Many areas for aquatic animals. As I understand this rivers are not very big. Better say rivulets. They are big for microwolves but for astrapotherium-like peccary they are too small. лягушка пишет: And also I'll describe "crocodile" and "hippo" for Mexico. Here the list of biggest Mexico rivers https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_longest_rivers_of_Mexico were you can settle them. Who will be the ancestors?
wovoka: JOrnitho, we should choose whom we are crossing out from the bestiary of the chapter of microwolves. I have checked: maximum in the chapter were 19 species, and we have 32 species. May be first of all we should shorten the list of rodents hunted by microwolves? Let's live at least five, which are now the most common and spread species and about which enough information can be found to describe their descendants. As a rodentologist, this will be the easiest for you to do.
JOrnitho: wovoka пишет: As I understand this rivers are not very big. Better say rivulets. They are big for microwolves but for astrapotherium-like peccary they are too small. Then, couldn't we have another large animal in the region? The interaction of the microwolves with their habitat modified by the passage of large animals could be interesting for the chapter. wovoka пишет: May be first of all we should shorten the list of rodents hunted by microwolves? Let's live at least five, which are now the most common and spread species and about which enough information can be found to describe their descendants. As a rodentologist, this will be the easiest for you to do. I'll do that after I finish with the descriptions of the Maracaibo Gulf.
wovoka: JOrnitho пишет: astrapotherium-like peccary They could live in evergreen tropical forest on the shores of Atlantic ocean, and periodically, after rain period, came to savanna and chaparral region to eat high fresh grass and leafes of bushes. And eat berries of Muntingia calabura. The wicrowolves can eat Lumbricus terrestris on drying manure of astrapotherium-like peccary
JOrnitho: wokova Reading about the Myotis vivesi made me think of the oceanic bat.
wovoka: JOrnitho пишет: Reading about the Myotis vivesi made me think of the oceanic bat. Tnak you, I'll need this information!
лягушка: wowoka Barracuda and lanternfish are exctinct because of planktonic disaster; euphausiids may also be affected. So you need to use convergent livebearers from "pirates of caribbean" chapter - pike livebearer and spear-mouth as barracuda and my "salinopoecilia affinis" as schooling fishes.
JOrnitho: лягушка пишет: my "salinopoecilia affinis" as schooling fishes. Would be possible for one of these new schooling fish to develop bioluminescence? Perhaps to communicate with each other wile they are in deep areas and later at night, when they come to close to the surface.
лягушка: JOrnitho I don't think so, because bioluminescence is mainly deep sea animal feature, in upper layers of sea column other ways to communicate and hunt ate avaliable. But it can be some types of squid that lives in caribbean and uses bioluminescence to communicate.
JOrnitho: лягушка пишет: But it can be some types of squid that lives in caribbean and uses bioluminescence to communicate. Perhaps a tiny schooling squid? It could partially fill the niche of lanternfishes.
лягушка: JOrnitho Yes, it's good idea!
JOrnitho: wokova I "filtered" the species of rodents that can appear in the chapter besides Scotinomys teguina and Scotinomys xerampelinus. Rheomys raptor (maybe a water shrew or tiny otter) Zygodontomys brevicauda (maybe this one could be a tiny bear or a tiny panda, feeding mostly of green grass and occasional insect) Transandinomys talamanca (could live in herds and move like a rabbit) Peromyscus mexicanus (could live in groups like the guinea pig and maybe have tiny horns like the Ceratogaulus) Orthogeomys cavator (maybe could form mounds in the ground that protect the entrance of their tunnels like tiny fortress) Oligoryzomys fulvescens (mole like rodents feeding of roots and seeds. Opportunistics, they could use the protection of the tunnels made by the Orthogeomys) Reithrodontomys mexicanus (nocturnal scansorial and acrobatic species, in the ground the microwolves will catch them) Heteromys desmarestianus (can be a tiny porcupine) Microsciurus alfari (can be the diurnal counterpart of the Reithrodontomys) Oryzomys couesi (a semi-aquatic herbivorous species, like a tiny nutria. It could make nests with twigs and grass near water) What do you think?
wovoka: лягушка пишет: So you need to use convergent livebearers from "pirates of caribbean" chapter - pike livebearer and spear-mouth as barracuda Ok! лягушка пишет: salinopoecilia affinis I'm sorry, but what is this, I can't find it. Give me a link, please. JOrnitho пишет: Perhaps a tiny schooling squid? Good idea, but who will be the ansector? JOrnitho пишет: What do you think? I've made the changes in the bestiary. I coloured in blue colour the species we need to choose or throw out. My suggestions of species we can throw out are crossed out. Are you agree whit my choice? But we can leave a maximum of 19 species, we need to throw out someone else, although it's a pity, I would like to leave them all. Who else from those highlighted in blue do you propose to remove from the chapter?
JOrnitho: wovoka пишет: Good idea, but who will be the ansector? The Octopoteuthis danae, which already have photophores. The common name could be firefly squid, because it's small and luminous. wovoka пишет: But we can leave a maximum of 19 species, we need to throw out someone else, although it's a pity, I would like to leave them all. Who else from those highlighted in blue do you propose to remove from the chapter? Eneoptera surinamensis (we already have one Orthoptera with the Stilpnochlora). Maybe Marmosa mexicana, Transandinomys talamancae (we already have other two "herd" animals, besides Peromyscus could be the one moving like a rabbit, it would turn them more in a tiny deer), Megasoma elephas and Limax maximus. I'm very reluctant of removing these though, they are very interesting species.
wovoka: JOrnitho пишет: The Octopoteuthis danae, which already have photophores. The common name could be firefly squid, because it's small and luminous. Cool! I have such idea how to save more biodiversity in chapter. JOrnitho пишет: Eneoptera surinamensis I would better left it. It's more terrestrial than grasshopper. JOrnitho пишет: Marmosa mexicana I wanted to have marsupial species in the chapter. Don't forget, we can make subspecies. We can make marsupial tiny bear ( it can form mounds in the ground that protect the entrance of their tunnels like tiny fortress), And marsupial tiny panda living in little groups of one male and some females instead of Zygodontomys brevicauda. Let's cross out it. Microvolves will eat micropandas too, and fight with microbears. JOrnitho пишет: ), Megasoma elephas and Limax maximus. I'm I want to make some delicacies for microwolves. Today they adore eating bugs. That is for megasoma. And limax maximus will the most delicious diet. JOrnitho пишет: Transandinomys talamanca (could live in herds and move like a rabbit) they would be tiny rabbits living in holes, eating grass, seeds and roots instead of Oligoryzomys fulvescens and Reithrodontomys mexicanus. Let's cross out these two last species. JOrnitho пишет: Peromyscus mexicanus (could live in groups like the guinea pig and maybe have tiny horns like the Ceratogaulus) Will better make them herd quick tiny horny deers with little horns on the head. JOrnitho пишет: Orthogeomys cavator (maybe could form mounds in the ground that protect the entrance of their tunnels like tiny fortress) Let's better change them by marsupial tiny bears. Let's cross out Orthogeomys cavator? We can still use the crossed out species in the chapter about astrapotherium like pecarry living in the rainy forrest of Panama on the coast of Carribbean sea and up north to the Mexican southern forests.
JOrnitho: wovoka пишет: I have such idea how to save more biodiversity in chapter. Ok! Do you think that the bats could hunt these tiny squids? They would be small, with 10 to 15 cm. wovoka пишет: I would better left it. It's more terrestrial than grasshopper. Ok! wovoka пишет: I wanted to have marsupial species in the chapter. Don't forget, we can make subspecies. We can make marsupial tiny bear ( it can form mounds in the ground that protect the entrance of their tunnels like tiny fortress), And marsupial tiny panda living in little groups of one male and some females instead of Zygodontomys brevicauda. Let's cross out it. Microvolves will eat micropandas too, and fight with microbears. Then one subspecies will be more carnivorous, while the other would have preference for plants. wovoka пишет: I want to make some delicacies for microwolves. Today they adore eating bugs. That is for megasoma. And limax maximus will the most delicious diet. Ok! wovoka пишет: they would be tiny rabbits living in holes, eating grass, seeds and roots instead of Oligoryzomys fulvescens and Reithrodontomys mexicanus. Let's cross out these two last species. I agree. wovoka пишет: We can still use the crossed out species in the chapter about astrapotherium like pecarry living in the rainy forrest of Panama on the coast of Carribbean sea and up north to the Mexican southern forests. In this chapter we could mention the impact of the peccaries in the small species of these forests.
wovoka: JOrnitho пишет: Ok! Do you think that the bats could hunt these tiny squids? They would be small, with 10 to 15 cm. I'm sure! JOrnitho пишет: Then one subspecies will be more carnivorous, while the other would have preference for plants. Yes, this was my main idea! JOrnitho пишет: In this chapter we could mention the impact of the peccaries in the small species of these forests. For example peccary manure can become a habitat for earthworms and some other species that eat it and become food for insectivorous rodents and birds, as in the African chapter 58. Workers of decomposition, also insectivorous birds can eat parasites of pecarry. What the other impact do you mean?
JOrnitho: wovoka пишет: What the other impact do you mean? I thought that they could leave trails in the forest and their passage would disrupt the small animals living in the forest floor.
wovoka: JOrnitho пишет: I thought that they could leave trails in the forest and their passage would disrupt the small animals living in the forest floor. I think there can be other forms of impact: the trails will be overgrown with specific vegetation: grass, shrubs (may be with berries). Large animals can create fringes in the forest. Perhaps we do not take into account some other important forms of impact of big animals in the forest on small animals.
JOrnitho: wovoka пишет: Perhaps we do not take into account some other important forms of impact of big animals in the forest on small animals. They can crush smaller animals and destroy their hidding places. By the way, there is monster in the Guarani folklore called Ao ao that is a giant carnivorous peccary. Do you think that we could use this name for a species?
wovoka: JOrnitho пишет: By the way, there is monster in the Guarani folklore called Ao ao that is a giant carnivorous peccary. Do you think that we could use this name for a species? Of course!
JOrnitho: wovoka I know that we talked about a bone crushing dog filling the niche of hyenas living in Patagonia and Pampas, but what do you think if we replace it with a scavenger pig or peccary? We could use the name of the Ao ao. Maybe rather than living in the South, it could live in the cerrado and Gran Chaco.
wovoka: And can we keep both: a bone crushing dog filling the niche of hyenas living in Patagonia and Pampas and scavenger peccary (Ao ao), living in the cerrado and Gran Chaco?
JOrnitho: wovoka пишет: And can we keep both: a bone crushing dog filling the niche of hyenas living in Patagonia and Pampas and scavenger peccary (Ao ao), living in the cerrado and Gran Chaco? I think that it works, besides the bone crushing dog would be far more predatory than the peccary, who would be more opportunist.
wovoka: JOrnitho пишет: who would be more opportunist May be peccary?
JOrnitho: wovoka пишет: May be peccary? Yes. The Ao ao would be an opportunist, eating some vegetable, but also being an incredible scavenger. It could have strong jaws that could break nuts, but have the same effect with bones. By the way, in your chapter about sea bats, do you think that would be posssible for a Leedsichthys-like fish to appear on it, perhaps as part of its migration? I don't know if the Neocene already had large oceanic filter-feeders.
лягушка: JOrnitho Russian user Nick suggested "dreadnought fish" - giand filterfeeding pomfret descedent, but it is not accepred yet. It also was migratory. We already have only two giant filterfeeders (whale salpa and planktonobasileus), but they're invetebrates - urochordate and jelleyfish. They live in subantarctic seas.
JOrnitho: лягушка пишет: Russian user Nick suggested "dreadnought fish" - giand filterfeeding pomfret descedent, but it is not accepred yet. It also was migratory. Does it have a global distribution? Can you give me the link?
лягушка: JOrnitho Click here for this fish. It lives only in Atlantic and Pacific, not globally. In Russian part of forum, we suggestad a chapter about this fish and its parasites and commencials - "На борту дредноута".
JOrnitho: лягушка пишет: Russian user Nick suggested "dreadnought fish" - giand filterfeeding pomfret descedent, but it is not accepred yet. It also was migratory. Would be possible to have a giant fish with a similar diet to that of a Humpback whale? These whales are generalist feeders, their main food items being krill, but they can also eat small schooling fish. This fish would eat the Neocene analogue to the krill (if they went extinct0, the small fish and perhaps small squids.
лягушка: will describe lanternfish-squid this week, i theik it'll be fast.
JOrnitho: лягушка пишет: will describe lanternfish-squid this week, i theik it'll be fast. They would. What do you think if the males are brighter than females? Or perhaps both sexes shiny in a different way? I thought that would be nice if they had some degree of sexual dimorphism, like true fireflies.
JOrnitho: I finished the description of the microwolf. It's large rival will be the next. Howling microwolf (Lupinomys ululatus) Order: Rodentia Family: Cricetidae Habitat: Lowland wet habitats with subtropical climates, commonly observed in grassy clearings and forested areas of the Panama Peninsula The transition of the Holocene to the Neocene gave opportunities for species to evolve into new forms, some due to the speciation of its old habits. One of these cases was the howling microwolf, a descendant of the Alston's brown mouse (Scotinomys teguina) that expanded its ancestors' repertoire of vocalizations with more complex sounds. Endemic to the lowland tropical forests of the Panama Peninsula, the howling microwolf is a pack hunter, forming groups of twenty or more closely related individuals. The howling microwolf is a small rodent, with a body length of 7-10 cm and a tail length of 5-10 cm. Its underparts are dark gray-brown with reddish cinnamon strands coming from their head through the dorsal medium line to the base of the tail. The tail is blackish and lightly haired and its feet are black. The ears are small and rounded. As an adaptation to their predatory habits, the howling microwolf have sharp incisive teeth, modified to fill the role of canines. Their molars also have sharp cusps, allowing them to cut the meat of their prey. They are predominantly insectivorous, feeding on beetles and other insects. However, given the size of their packs, howling microwolves can hunt other animals through cooperation. Birds, lizards, rodents and marsupials can be hunted, with the groups being capable of bringing down animals larger than themselves. The howling microwolf are crepuscular and nocturnal. They live in large packs of twenty to forty close related individuals that share the same den. This species usually hunt separated or in pairs, but when a large prey is located they vocalize to call other members of the group. They produce vocalizations which are characterized by singing bouts containing both sonic and ultrasonic elements. However, the most common sound is a howl. Once a large group is formed, they'll attack the prey with constant bites. Due to its large number, they can bring down animals larger than themselves. Female howling microwolf have an estrous cycle about four to six days long, with estrus itself lasting less than a day. If several females are held together under crowded conditions, they will often not have an estrus at all. If they are then exposed to male urine, they will come into estrus after 72 hours. Sexual maturity is reached within 32 days and they have a lifespan of 2 years.
лягушка: JOrnitho Good creature! I've also tried to describe carnivorous hamster, but evolved from scorpion hamster, not scotynomys.
JOrnitho: лягушка пишет: Good creature! I've also tried to describe carnivorous hamster, but evolved from scorpion hamster, not scotynomys. This an interesting idea. Did you finish the description?
лягушка: JOrnitho Did you finish the description? No i haven't. I described appearance and dental anatomy of this animal, but not it's life.
медведь: Interesting animal!
wovoka: JOrnitho пишет: Howling microwolf Very good description! I think it will be very interesting chapter. JOrnitho пишет: It's large rival will be the next. I'll be waiting for it.
JOrnitho: лягушка пишет: No i haven't. I described appearance and dental anatomy of this animal, but not it's life. I can help, if you need.
wovoka: JOrnitho пишет: I can help, if you need. The description is here https://sivatherium.borda.ru/?1-0-1689593167322-00000180-000-10001-0#068 I think Лягушка wouldn't mind if you give some interesting ideas for description.
JOrnitho: Also, I was reading about introduced species and noticed that some antelopes were introduced in the USA (Antilope cervicapra, Boselaphus tragocamelus, Oryx gazella). So I thought if any of them could survive. From those, I think that Antilope cervicapra and Oryx gazella have the highest chances. Both have stable populations and the A. cervicapra even have a large population. If they survive, I think that they would be endemic to grasslands and arid regions of Texas, Mexico and New Mexico. I support the Oryx here only so it could be the last representative of its genus, living far away from their homeland (I love oryxes ). Another place where A. cervicapra could survive is Argentina. This animal was introduced here and is also thriving in the country.
wovoka: JOrnitho пишет: I think that they would be endemic to grasslands and arid regions of Texas, Mexico and New Mexico They can get niche of Antilocapridae. Or became very big as pleistocene bison latifrons or even have more big hornes like pelorovis antiquus and form of body like magaloceros giganteus JOrnitho пишет: Another place where A. cervicapra could survive is Argentina. This animal was introduced here and is also thriving in the country. They can get niche of Ozotoceros bezoarticus but we should ecologically divided them into different ecological niches with deer maras. Perhaps the antelope will feed on thorny or poisonous bushes.
JOrnitho: wovoka пишет: They can get niche of Antilocapridae. Or became very big as pleistocene bison latifrons Скрытый текст or even have more big hornes like pelorovis antiquus Скрытый текст and form of body like magaloceros giganteus Скрытый текст What do you think if they remain in their ancestor's size, but develop a rump with the same function of the camel? It would help them survive in deserts. They could even live in the Death Valley because of it. wovoka пишет: They can get niche of Ozotoceros bezoarticus but we should ecologically divided them into different ecological niches with deer maras. Perhaps the antelope will feed on thorny or poisonous bushes. Or they can become a tall animal, capable of eating leaves in the trees, like a giraffa, but in the pampas. Another possibility is they evolving into gerenuk-like animals that are capable of feeding in tree branches by standing in their hindlimbs. Besides that, these antelopes could also develop lips and tongue that allow it to feed in thorny plants.
wovoka: Both ideas are cool.
JOrnitho: wovoka пишет: Both ideas are cool. Do you know the zebu cattle? The American oryx could have a rump like they have, but it would be functional.
wovoka: JOrnitho пишет: Do you know the zebu cattle? The American oryx could have a rump like they have, but it would be functional. JOrnitho пишет: but develop a rump with the same function of the camel? I just have had an idea to make something like camelops from desert deer maras. But now I don't know how to divide the niches of zebu-oryx & mara-camelops
медведь: From those, I think that Antilope cervicapra and Oryx gazella have the highest chances. Both have stable populations and the A. cervicapra even have a large population. If they survive, I think that they would be endemic to grasslands and arid regions of Texas, Mexico and New Mexico. I support the Oryx here only so it could be the last representative of its genus, living far away from their homeland (I love oryxes ). Will they survive the Ice Age?
wovoka: медведь пишет: Will they survive the Ice Age? If they will live in Mexico, why not?
JOrnitho: медведь пишет: Will they survive the Ice Age? I think that it's possible. These antelopes are living in New Mexico (close to Northern Mexico) and Texas. I think that the climate of the region would remain warm enough to allow them to survive. Temperature there can go beyond the 40 °C. It would be improbably if they were living in Canada or Montana.
wovoka: JOrnitho, you give me an idea to make chapter about invasive species in North America. I like wiki article about invasive species of Florida. I choose such species. 1. Rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) will make as much aquatic as possible. 2. Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) we need to make something unusual with it. 3. Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) also semiaquatic. 4. Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata) 5. Red-whiskered bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus) 6. Sturnus vulgaris 7. Indian peacock (Pavo cristatus) 8. Argentine black and white tegu (Salvator merianae) 9. Black spiny-tailed iguana (Ctenosaura similis) 10. Burmese python (Python bivittatus) 11. Trioceros jacksonii 12. Common coquí (Eleutherodactylus coqui) 13. Cuban tree frog (Osteopilus septentrionalis) 14. Northern snakehead (Channa argus) 15. Euglossa dilemma (green orchid bee) 16. Platydemus manokwari (New Guinea flatworm) 17. Amynthas agrestis (Crazy worm) 18.Melanoides tuberculata (Red-rimmed melania) 19. Aedes albopictus (Asian tiger mosquito) 20. Coptotermes formosanus (Formosan subterranean termite) 21. Icerya purchasi (Cottony cushion scale) 22. Harmonia axyridis (Harlequin ladybird) 23. Pheidole megacephala (Big-headed ant) 24. Cordylophora caspia (Euryhaline hydroid) 25. Lygodium microphyllum (Old World climbing fern) 26. Albizia lebbeck 27. Casuarina glauca 28. Ardisia elliptica 29. Dioscorea alata 30. Dioscorea bulbifera 31. Pontederia crassipes 32. Heptapleurum actinophyllum 33. Ipomoea aquatica 34. Jasminium dichotomum 35. Manilkara zapota 36. Nymphoides hydrophylla 37. Psidium Cattleyanum 38. Rhodomyrtus tomentosa 39. Ruellia simplex 40. Syzygium cumini The bestiary is too big, will have to cut.
JOrnitho: I have some suggestions for now: wovoka пишет: 1. Rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) will make as much aquatic as possible. 2. Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) we need to make something unusual with it. 3. Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) also semiaquatic. The Rhesus could become a swamp monkey, swimming to collect crustaceans and mussels. I'm not sure about the capybara, but I think that the red fox could evolve to hunt fish, like how the water civet and the fisher cat do. wovoka пишет: 4. Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata) 5. Red-whiskered bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus) 6. Sturnus vulgaris 7. Indian peacock (Pavo cristatus) The Muscovy duck could make nests in trees. The red-whiskered bulbul could develop an elaborated mating ritual. I a descendant of the Sturnus vulgaris could live across all temperate woodlands of North America, forming large flocks. These flocks could migrate to Amazon during winter. Maybe we could have some new pluamage and mating ritual for the peacock?
wovoka: Interesting ideas. I think could Sturnus vulgaris became like Haematopus? The chapter may be named "The invaders from other worlds".
медведь: If they will live in Mexico, why not? But the climate will become even more arid there during the Ice Age. At least for the Blackbuck it can be too dry then. 1. Rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) will make as much aquatic as possible. 2. Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) we need to make something unusual with it. I am not sure if they will survive when Florida will become drier either. And how big is the Capybara population there?
wovoka: медведь пишет: Blackbuck Black buck we are going to settle to south America? to Mexico we are going to settle Gemsbok? if they live in Kalahari and Namib Desert, they will survive everywere. медведь пишет: I am not sure if they will survive when Florida will become drier either. Rhesus macaque can live in absolutely different nature zones "Macaca mulatta lives in a wide range of habitats, and shows a great deal of adaptability. Some populations live in flatlands, while others, in northern India and Pakistan, live in the Himalayas at elevations up to 3,000 m. These primates are able to aclimate to a variety of climatic extremes, from the hot, dry temperatures found in deserts, to cold winter temperatures which fall to well below the freezing point." So they will survive! In dry seasons capybaras can live in savannas and graze like normal herbivores animals. I think they can survive during Ice Age in Everglades. Now in Florida the largest population of capybaras has 50 individuals, but these animals multiply quite quickly. So in 25 million years, it could be a pretty stable population there, especially when the climate gets wet again.
JOrnitho: медведь пишет: But the climate will become even more arid there during the Ice Age. At least for the Blackbuck it can be too dry then. Like wokova said, we decided to have the gemsbok being the one living in the arid regions of North America. We can even say in the description that the hump was developed due to pressures from the increase of arid conditions during the last Ice Age. wovoka пишет: In dry seasons capybaras can live in savannas and graze like normal herbivores animals. I think they can survive during Ice Age in Everglades. Now in Florida the largest population of capybaras has 50 individuals, but these animals multiply quite quickly. So in 25 million years, it could be a pretty stable population there, especially when the climate gets wet again. Such small number of ancestors will leave mutations. Maybe we could have dwarf capybaras with the size of a guinea pig?
лягушка: JOrnitho From those, I think that Antilope cervicapra and Oryx gazella have the highest chances. Both have stable populations and the A. cervicapra even have a large population. If they survive, I think that they would be endemic to grasslands and arid regions of Texas, Mexico and New Mexico. I support the Oryx here only so it could be the last representative of its genus, living far away from their homeland (I love oryxes ). Sorry, but I don't belive in their survival. Their population is stable but not very big, and habitat might turn into stony desert in times of "Dixon's" glaciation. Other proof of their death is existence of asinohippus and rapidocervus - descendants of less adapted creatures that fill niche of antelopes. If oryx and blackbuck survivd, niche of running gregarious herbivores would be filled by their descendants, not deers and donkeys. wowoka or even have more big hornes like pelorovis antiquus and form of body like magaloceros giganteus Basal group of rapidocervus lineage can fill niche of megaloceros deer, but i think there is no animal group at neocene's North America tht can evolveat pelorvis-like forms.
wovoka: JOrnitho пишет: Such small number of ancestors will leave mutations. Maybe we could have dwarf capybaras with the size of a guinea pig? Yes, they may have some kind of mutations, but so what?, this is a normal process in nature, and we are trying to describe real, not embellished evolution. For example, the Florida capybara population may have hereditary autoimmune diseases that cause accelerated aging, such as progeroid syndromes, and only the species' fertility will save it from extinction. лягушка пишет: Basal group of rapidocervus lineage can fill niche of megaloceros deer, but i think there is no animal group at neocene's North America tht can evolveat pelorvis-like forms. Yes Rapidocervus albocephalus can take a niche of megaloceros deer. лягушка пишет: Their population is stable but not very big, and habitat might turn into stony desert in times of "Dixon's" glaciation 12000 oryx dammah in Texas, 4000 oryx gazella in New Mexico. And they can have fertile hybrids that can breed in wilderness, that called Scimbok or Oryx scimbok. And Oryx are not turtles: they can migrate on very big distances to the South in the period of "Dixon's" glaciation. So they can survive but I think they can became much more bigger than rapidocervus and asinohippus and take the niche of megalops. It will be very big with the body shape that propose JOrnitho. And like camelides they could eat cactuses. So let's make bestiary about Death valley. There will be in episodes with Aepythizon ursinus, Dromeogallus meleagroides, Helodermopsis monstrosus, Phascohyaena tigrina 1. big zebu like oryx - I think it will be very big species like megalops. 2. humped desert deer maras. 3. Rapidocervus asellinus 4. Nahashchʼidí - Agriotherium like american badger (from navajo language) collectively hunting with big coyotes 5. Mąʼii - Epycione like coyote (from navajo language) collectively hunting with big badger. 6. Bassariscus astutus - https://sivatherium.borda.ru/?1-0-1689675034792-00000142-000-10001-0#009 but need to be redescribed 7. Vulpes macrotis 8. Cactus Mouse 9. Brush Mouse 10. Neotoma cinerea 11. Neotoma lepida 12. Neotamias panamintinus 13. Dipodomys merriami 14. Ammospermophilus leucurus 15. Deltura colubridae-esus https://sivatherium.borda.ru/?1-0-1689672508264-00000181-000-10001-0#065 16. Phainopepla nitens 17. Agelaius phoeniceus 18. Passerina amoena or Passerina caerulea or Passerina cyanea 19. Sialia currucoides 20.Callipepla gambelii 21. Geococcyx californianus 22. Toxostoma lecontei 23. Chordeiles acutipennis or Buteo jamaicensis or Buteo lineatus 24. Colaptes auratus 25. Aphelocoma californica 26. Quiscalus mexicanus 27. Crotaphytus collaris 28. Lampropeltis getula californiae 29. Masticophis flagellum 30. Sceloporus magister 31. Crotalus cerastes or Crotalus scutulatus (with horns of first and purple tonge of second) 32. Phrynosoma platyrhinos 33. Plestiodon skiltonianus 34. Sauromalus ater 35. Coleonyx variegatus. 36. Wernerius inyoensis 37. Gambelia wislizenii 38. Solenopsis xyloni 39. Anthophora pueblo 40. Larrea tridentata 41. Pinus longaeva 42. Prosopis glandulosa 43. Fouquieria splendens 44. Atriplex canescens 45. Coleogyne ramosissima 46. Yucca brevifolia 47. Juniperus californica 48. Geraea canescens 49. Lupinus excubitus 50. Castilleja applegatei 51. Opuntia basilaris 52. Echinocereus engelmannii 53. Opuntia erinacea This is the maximum list, it should be cut to 19 species. The green is that species that will be included into list. JOrnitho, which species you will be left in the list?
JOrnitho: лягушка пишет: Sorry, but I don't belive in their survival. Their population is stable but not very big, and habitat might turn into stony desert in times of "Dixon's" glaciation. Other proof of their death is existence of asinohippus and rapidocervus - descendants of less adapted creatures that fill niche of antelopes. If oryx and blackbuck survivd, niche of running gregarious herbivores would be filled by their descendants, not deers and donkeys. This is why I think that only the oryx have the best chances os surviving. The blackbuck is too dependant of water to survive in the arid desert that would result of the glaciation. They are naturally adapted to walk long distances in arid regions, so they could migrate to more wet areas during the drier periods. I also think that there would be only one descendant of the oryx living in the region, filling a more specialized niche to dry areas. Donkeys and rapidocervus can easily still live there, since the oryx shares its habitat with zebras, wild asses (both Somali and onagers) and gazelles (rapidocervus are analogues to them). The oryx would be a stocky desert dwelling species that is constantly moving in search of food and water, plus with a rhump to help control the temperature. I also think that it'll not be fast, using more its endurance and harduous habitat to avoid pretation. Like how the Addax do in the Sahara. There is also the fact that during dry periods, the oryx can change from grasing to browsing depending of the disponibility of food. They can also stay a long time without drinking water. Its another point that shows the possibility of their survival. wovoka пишет: Yes, they may have some kind of mutations, but so what?, this is a normal process in nature, and we are trying to describe real, not embellished evolution. For example, the Florida capybara population may have hereditary autoimmune diseases that cause accelerated aging, such as progeroid syndromes, and only the species' fertility will save it from extinction. Perhaps Florida becoming dryer during the Ice Age could have influenced the capybaras becoming less aquatic? wovoka пишет: 12000 oryx dammah in Texas, 4000 oryx gazella in New Mexico. And they can have fertile hybrids that can breed in wilderness, that called Scimbok or Oryx scimbok. And Oryx are not turtles: they can migrate on very big distances to the South in the period of "Dixon's" glaciation. So they can survive but I think they can became much more bigger than rapidocervus and asinohippus and take the niche of megalops. It will be very big with the body shape that propose JOrnitho. And like camelides they could eat cactuses. There is also that. If hybrids are fertile, these two populations could interbreed to the point of becoming only one thing. They are also mobile, walking for several kilometers. This allows them to meet. Regarding the size, I agree that they could be larger and bulkier than their ancestors, but not exactly bull-like. They could also have adaptations in the mouth to eat cactuses, even digging after food, which is something that oryxes already do.
JOrnitho: wovoka пишет: JOrnitho, which species you will be left in the list? I'll work on that when I get home, but some that I already think that could remain are the numbers 7, 8, Passerina cyanea and Chordeiles acutipennis. Still about the survival of oryxes, I was reading about hybridization in this genus and O. dammah x O. gazella can generate fertile hybrids that reproduce back with the sire species. I was suprised that even Oryx and Addax hybrids are fertile. Another point is about competition. I read in the descriptions of Arsinohippus, deermaras and Rapidocervus, coming to the conclusion that the oryx could avoid direct competition with them by living only in deserts and xeric shrublands, feeding on hard plants (changing grom grasing to browsing according to the availability) and having specialized mouths that allow them eat cactuses. The explanation for how this lineage survived: in the late Holocene, the populations of O. dammah and O. gazella roamed through the arid regions of North America, with the two species interbreeding until they became only one lineage. This ancestral lineage generated some others, but those went extinct due to competition with other species and the Ice Age. The only one that survived was the rhumped oryx, a species endemic to the deserts (Mojave, Sonora and Norther Chihuahua) that had became more adapted to this biome than its ancestors (the rhump, capable of feeling where is rain is falling, great endurance, staying months without drinking, being active in crepuscular hours and mouth adapted to eat cactuses).
wovoka: JOrnitho пишет: I'll work on that when I get home, but some that I already think that could remain are the numbers 7, 8, Passerina cyanea and Chordeiles acutipennis. Ok! I agree with you!
JOrnitho: wovoka The last species species that could appear in the chapter is the Yucca brevifolia, with its fruits and leaves being eaten by the oryx. Since the animal will be tall, I think that it can reach the leaves of these desert trees. A chapter about the Death Valley could be about the migration of the rhumped oryx through the desert, being followed by rapidocervus (which could feed on pieces of tall cactuses and fruits that the antelope left behind). A tall cactus could be the descendant of the Opuntia basilaris. While was doing my search for facts to support the survival of the oryx, I discovered that the scimitar oryx already is capable of spending nearly a year without drinking water. These things are really resistant to deserts, both with dunes and stony ones. What also helps them survive there is their nomadic lifestyle, always moving in search of food. We could also bring in consideration that they can forage at crepuscular hours as a fact that can help avoid competition with other local species.
лягушка: wovoka, JOrnitho Yucca brevifolia Soppy, but yucca went exctinct on mainland north America according chapter apout Hawaiian flora. But it is not big loss - I think that arboreal pricky hear is enough to feed both oryxes and rapidocervuses withoutbuing eradicated by them. scimitar oryx already is capable of spending nearly a year without drinking water If they can do this, I think they would survive and evolve into camelid analogue. Gazella is not so adapted, so it can die out but dissolve into oryx gene pool, creating a hybrid species. pleistocene american camelides. I dot't like this ideas and think that only one clade will take camel niches. Huge camelops-like browsers would be related to camel-oryxes if they exist, maybe even placed in the same genus.
wovoka: Then I take Colaptes auratus instead of Callipepla gambelii. Colaptes will make holes in yucca for birds and rodents to make nests. How we will avoid competition between oryx and desert bear porcupine (Aepythizon ursinus)? May be we shouldn't include humped desert deer maras? I just want to make from desert deer maras something like pleistocene american camelides.
JOrnitho: лягушка пишет: Soppy, but yucca went exctinct on mainland north America according chapter apout Hawaiian flora. But it is not big loss - I think that arboreal pricky hear is enough to feed both oryxes and rapidocervuses withoutbuing eradicated by them. wovoka пишет: Then I propose to live in chapter Prosopis glandulosa, commonly known as honey mesquite. Yes, I think that Prosopis is a good replacement. Its descendant could be a desert tree and the pods would still attract animals, while being tall the oryx would be able to reach the leaves. лягушка пишет: If they can do this, I think they would survive and evolve into camelid analogue. Gazella is not so adapted, so it can die out but dissolve into oryx gene pool, creating a hybrid species. My idea was to turn the oryx descendant into a camelid analogue with rhump (but also with the adaptations that this antelope had. The idea for the O. gazella is good, its genes would become part of the pool of the rhumped oryx, but the ancestor would be de facto O. dammah. I was searching and found out that a scimitar oryx can stay 10 months to a year without drinking. It is even more adapted than a camel, that only can do that for some weeks. лягушка пишет: I dot't like this ideas and think that only one clade will take camel niches. Huge camelops-like browsers would be related to camel-oryxes if they exist, maybe even placed in the same genus. wovoka пишет: How we will avoid competition between oryx and desert bear porcupine (Aepythizon ursinus)? The oryx can eat leaves and dry plants that the porcupine don't appreciate. I also thought that the two species could tolerate each other for protection. The porcupine would follow oryxes herds because they are capable of feeling where rain is falling and because their sight, hearing and numbers allow them to detect predators fast. In the other hand, the oryxes would appreciate the rodent's presence because few predators will try to attack them while the spiny porcupine is around, because it'll try to defend itself while the animal try to kill the entelopes. wovoka пишет: May be we shouldn't include humped desert deer maras? I just want to make from desert deer maras something like pleistocene american camelides. Yes, let's only have the rhumped oryx as the camelid analogue. The Neocene already have a desert deermara, but living in the Mexican Plateau as an analogue to gazelles.
wovoka: JOrnitho пишет: The Neocene already have a desert deermara, but living in the Mexican Plateau as an analogue to gazelles. In russian version their areal is bigger: deserts and savannas of North America, and I think they rather partly analogue of Lama guanicoe that can live in semideserts regions.
wovoka: лягушка пишет: but yucca went exctinct on mainland north America according chapter apout Hawaiian flora. But it is not big loss - I think that arboreal pricky hear is enough to feed both oryxes and rapidocervuses withoutbuing eradicated by them. Then I propose to live in chapter Prosopis glandulosa, commonly known as honey mesquite.
лягушка: wovoka Then I propose to live in chapter Prosopis glandulosa, commonly known as honey mesquite. Okay. Fruits and foliage of this tree are edible for herbivores.
wovoka: I was trying to make this animal with neironet. The result is not very good((( 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. JOrnitho, which one is more close to your idea?
JOrnitho: wovoka пишет: JOrnitho, which one is more close to your idea? None of them, to be honest. The number 6 have the body type, but the head not match and lacks the hump. I thought that they would have the head like that of an oryx, with scimitar-like horns. With this head they look less as an oryx and more as a descendant of the cow. But it was a good effort.
лягушка: wovoka neironet Neural network(wikipedia helped me)!
JOrnitho: лягушка пишет: Neural network(wikipedia helped me)! This software is so cool! I'm impressed how it can make these good pictures most of the time.
JOrnitho: wovoka Is possible to make some images by using the oryx and the giant eland (Taurotragus derbianus)? I think that the eland's body would be the closest for what we have in mind, and can have a more antilopine appearence rather than looking like a type of bull. Probably the hump would not appear, though. Sorry if I talking stupid things, I don't know how the neironet works. Also, I discovered that Texas have a population of 9,000 Addax nasomaculatus. New Mexico also have some. This species can also have fertile hybrids with Oryx dammah. Maybe it goes extinct, but contributes to the humped oryx's genetic pool? Usually, the hybrid retains the oryx's horns, but have the fur color of the Addax. However, the humped oryx could develop slightly spiraled horns? By this point, I have the suspicion that some of the scimitar oryxes living nowadays in areas of Texas aren't pureblood anymore. Some live in ranches together with O. gazellas and Addax, with hybrids looking similar to the sire, who can say if they already don't have a contaminated gene pool.
wovoka: There are already a lot of hybrids of two oryx species: Oryx scimbok, they have interesting pink skin So our new neocene animal can be descendant of hybrids of two species of oryx and addaxes. JOrnitho пишет: Is possible to make some images by using the oryx and the giant eland (Taurotragus derbianus)? This stupid Neural network doesn't know what is giant eland Image cannot be created.
JOrnitho: wovoka пишет: So our new neocene animal can be descendant of hybrids of two species of oryx and addaxes. I think that the de facto ancestor would be the O. dammah, but there would be some genes of O. gazella and Addax. wovoka пишет: This stupid Neural network doesn't know what is giant eland Image cannot be created. This is sad. Maybe you could use another large antelope. Does it know the Addax?
JOrnitho: Finished the description of the microwolf's rival: Microamphicyon (Ferocinomys predatorius) Order: Rodentia Family: Cricetidae Habitat: Lowland tropical forests of the Panama Peninsula The transition of the Holocene to the Neocene gave opportunities for species to evolve into new forms. The Chiriqui brown mouse (Scotinomys xerampelinus) is an example. This animal is the ancestor of the microamphicyon, a rodent that evolved to hunt in pairs. Inhabiting the lowland tropical forests of the Panama Peninsula, microamphicyon can kill prey as large as a rabbit and an opossum. The microamphicyon has a head to body length ranging from 15 to 28 cm, while the tail ranges in length from 10 to 24 cm. The fur of dorsal areas is dark brown, with the ventral region being light buff. This creates a countershading in the lateral region. The hind feet are elongated, with reduced interdigital pads. The hypothenar pad is vestigial, while the thenar pad is elongated. The superior part of the feet is covered by silvery hair, while the ventral part is hairless with visible scales. The distal part of the tail is pale gray, with visible scales. The ears are medium-sized for a rodent of its size, covered with fur of the same color of the head, giving an homogeneous appearance. In a case of convergent evolution to the howling microwolf, microamphicyon developed sharp incisive teeth, with molars modified in carnassial-like way. These rodents are totally predatory. Differently of microwolves, the microamphicyons only hunt vertebrates. Frogs, lizards, birds and other mammals are their main prey. Hunting in pairs, these animals are capable of bringing down adult rabbits. Microamphicyon are monogamous, with females and males staying together for their entire life. They are extremely territorial, using both sonic and ultrasonic vocalizations to ward off rivals. Their vocalization also maintains packs of howling microwolves away. These rodents can breed throughout the year if conditions are suitable, with a female producing up to five litters a year. The gestation period is only 21 days, and litters can number up to 14, although seven is common. They reach sexual maturity in about five weeks. The maximum lifespan is three years, although most barely manage one.
медведь: Interesting rodent!
wovoka: Very cool description! But I don't like the name. May be microepicyon? If we decided to make a microworld analogue of big predators. JOrnitho пишет: This is sad. Maybe you could use another large antelope. Does it know the Addax? stupid program, this is the only decent image I got.
JOrnitho: wovoka пишет: stupid program, this is the only decent image I got. These were good attempts. It seems that our antelope is too advanced for the AI to process.
лягушка: JOrnitho Good rodent! I like it! Predatory rat Laconic. Very laconic... wovoka microepicyon I think it is noy good variant. If i remember, epicyon was mostly opportunistic peredator that had several adaptations to eat remnants of other predator's food (for example, massive teeth shaped to crush the bones) and usually could chase smaller animals awayfrom theit food, but this animal is active hunter. Maybe, we can call it "microcoyote"? Like its bei analogue, this animal lives in pairs and has concurention with "wolves".
JOrnitho: лягушка пишет: I think it is noy good variant. If i remember, epicyon was mostly opportunistic peredator that had several adaptations to eat remnants of other predator's food (for example, massive teeth shaped to crush the bones) and usually could chase smaller animals awayfrom theit food, but this animal is active hunter. Maybe, we can call it "microcoyote"? Like its bei analogue, this animal lives in pairs and has concurention with "wolves". The thing is that Ferocinomys is larger than the microwolf. I think that it would make more sense as an analogue of bear stealling food of pack predators.
лягушка: JOrnitho Microamphycion Good name, I like this!
wovoka: Microamphycion, microbeardog, microbearwolf. Something like that.
JOrnitho: wovoka пишет: Microamphycion, microbeardog, microbearwolf. Something like that. Microamphycion is a good name.
wovoka: лягушка, JOrnitho let it be Microamphycion.
медведь: лягушка, JOrnitho let it be Microamphycion. The proper form is Microamphicyon.
JOrnitho: wovoka What do you think if we have the descendant of the honey mesquite have a relationship with the oryx? It could have a higher chance of germinating if spending time inside the stomach of the bovid, which would have a long food retention time.
лягушка: JOrnitho I think it is good idea. We can call it simply "oryx's mesquite" or "acacia mesquite". Also, don't forget about existence of true "acacias" (Vachelia sp.) in America - they also may be sood ancestors.
JOrnitho: лягушка пишет: JOrnitho I think it is good idea. We can call it simply "oryx's mesquite" or "acacia mesquite". Also, don't forget about existence of true "acacias" (Vachelia sp.) in America - they also may be sood ancestors. I think that oryx's mesquite is a good name. Also, I finished the description of the Rheomys for the chapter about the Panama Peninsula: Lutrine mouse (Lutreomys amphibius) Order: Rodentia Family: Cricetidae Habitat: Freshwater reservoirs of tropical lowland and cloud forests of the Panama Peninsula The transition of the Holocene to the Neocene gave opportunities for species to evolve into new forms. The Goldman's water mouse (Rheomys raptor) was one of these species. It had survived the anthropogenic onslaught, leaving the lutrine mouse as its descendant. This small rodent is a fully aquatic mammal that inhabits the freshwater reservoirs of tropical lowland and cloud forests of the Panama Peninsula. The lutrine mouse has a body length of 20 cm, with a thick and slightly flattened tail that has a length of 18 cm. They have interdigital webbing between their fingers, while their hind feet are larger. Their fur is dark chestnut brown dorsally, while ventrally it’s light buff. They also have absent pinnae covered by a tuft of white fur. They have strong masseter muscles and the incisive teeth are strong and sharp. This rodent is a predominantly carnivorous species, feeding on a variety of aquatic animals including fish, crustaceans, shellfish, small birds, eggs, mammals, frogs, and reptiles. They swim actively after prey, using their strong masseter muscles to deliver powerful bites while they hold the food with their forepaws. They are active during both night and day. They are solitary, with both male and female lutrine mice maintaining a territory and avoiding each other. Males will frequently visit various female territories, seeking receptive females. There is no breeding, reproduction occurs during the entire year and much of the courtship takes place in the water. It either uses pre-existing burrows or digs its own. The nesting chamber is lined with moss, dry grass and leaves. Litters of four to eight or more young are born after a twenty-four-day gestation period. The young are tiny and helpless at birth. Their eyes open at fifteen to eighteen days and they are fully weaned at about seven weeks. Females can produce two or three litters a year. The juveniles disperse after weaning, setting up their own territories. They are sexually mature at six to eight months and their life expectancy is about three years. I also finished the description for the oryx: Humped oryx (Americoryx gibbosus) Order: Artiodactyla Family: Bovidae Habitat: Deserts and xeric shrublands of North America, from Northern Chihuahua Desert to the Death Valley in the Mojave Desert. The humans were the greatest agents of environmental change during the Holocene. Species were extirpated from their habitats, while others were introduced in new places. In the United States, humans had introduced the scimitar oryx (Oryx dammah) to the state of Texas. While this species was extinct in its ancestral territories in the Sahara and Sahel, it had reached numbers of 12,000 animals living in American lands. With the disappearance of humans, these antelopes were able to run free through the deserts and semi-arids of their “adoptive” land. However, they weren’t alone. In the same regions that they were introduced, gemsbok (Oryx gazelle) and addax (Addax nasomaculatus) were also left there. With the advent of the Ice Age, the semi-arid of North America became dryer, with only resilient animals being able to survive. The gemsbok died out, with it went the addax, which had a small population. The only survivor was the scimitar oryx, an animal capable of spending months without water. However, the other two Hippotraginae antelopes left genetic material as part of the scimitar antelope’s gene pool. It happened due to the facility that these species had to hybridize with each other and the capability of having fertile hybrids. The long term result of this hybridization was the humped oryx, the last Hippotraginae antelope in the world. Inhabiting deserts and xeric shrublands of North America, this animal is well adapted for this environment. They have a metabolism that functions at the high temperatures prevalent in their habitats, needing less water for evaporation to help conduct heat away from the body, enabling them to go for long periods without water. Most of the moisture that it consumes comes from its food and dew that condenses on plants. It also produces highly concentrated urine to conserve water. These adaptations combined allow this bovid to spend 10 months to one year without drinking. Another adaptation for this lifestyle is a hump located at their shoulders. In a case of convergent evolution with the camels, this hump stores fat, which the animal can break down into energy to meet its needs when resources are scarce, also helping dissipate body heat. They can tolerate high temperatures that would be lethal to most mammals, such as 57 °C that can reach in certain areas of their range in the Mojave Desert. They have a network of fine blood vessels that carries blood from the heart to the brain, passing close to the nasal passage, thus allowing the blood to cool by up to 5 °C before reaching the brain, which is one of the more heat-sensitive organs of the body. Sharing these arid lands with Arsinohippus, deermaras and Rapidocervus, the rhumped oryx avoid competition with them by feeding in different sources of food such as tall branches of desert trees, tall cactuses, dry and bitter grasses, and by preferring to forage during the night and crepuscular hours. Even with their adaptations to high temperatures, these animals prefer to be active during these more fresh hours. During the hottest hours of the day, it digs shallow depressions in the soft ground under shrubs or trees for resting. However, its resting is brief. The humped oryx is nomadic, always moving in search of food. They can detect rainfall and move towards it, meaning they have huge ranges. While moving, humped oryx’s herds are followed by Rapidocervus, deermaras and other desert animals that know that these animals can offer protection and most importantly, find where the rains are falling. The humped oryx is a large antelope. The males have 219 and 291 cm in head-and-body length and stand approximately 200 to 230 cm at the shoulder. Females are smaller, with a head-and-body length of 200 to 220 cm and a shoulder height of 195 to 210 cm. With their height, these animals can reach food in places that other animals can’t. Its coat is white with a reddish-brown throat and black markings on the forehead and down the length of the nose. The coat reflects the sun's rays, while the black portions and the tip of the tongue provide protection against sunburn. The white coat helps to reflect the heat of the desert. Their legs are light gray, while the tail is pure white, with only a black tip. The horns are like that of the oryxes of the Holocene. In males, they are 95 cm long, thick with large bases. In females, the horns are 80 cm and are thinner. Both sexes use their horns to defend against predators, while the males use it in intraspecific disputes. They have thick skin in the lips and inside the mouth that allow them to eat cactuses and plants full of spikes. Their characteristic hump is located at their shoulder. While they are usually grazers, humped oryxes will change to browsing when the number of food is low. In the end, they can eat any plant material. Foliage, grass, flowers, herbs, shrubs, succulent plants, legumes, juicy roots, buds, cactuses and desert fruits. Seeds are an important part of their diet. If necessary, they will dig after anything edible. They have a food retention time long in their stomachs and water retention, adaptations for life in deserts. These animals live in herds of about 10–40 animals, which consist of a dominant male, a few nondominant males, and females. These herds are constantly moving, most of the time being followed by other desert herbivores. The humped oryx is polygynous, with the resident male mating with the receptive females in the herd. The male secures exclusive mating access to the females by attempting to herd mixed or nursery herds onto his territory. Breeding occurs throughout the year, but it peaks during winter and early spring. The young in a given herd tend to be of a similar age due to reproductive synchrony between females. Pregnant females leave the herd before giving birth. The gestation period lasts 270 days and mothers give birth to 1 calf. A postpartum estrus occurs after two or three days. The calf remains hidden 6 weeks after birth, after which mother and calf rejoin the herd. The calf is weaned at 3 months, becomes independent at 4 months, and achieves sexual maturity at 3 years in both sexes. Humped oryxes have a lifespan of 25 years.
wovoka: JOrnitho , it's a good idea!
JOrnitho: wovoka пишет: JOrnitho , it's a good idea! What could be the name of this descendant of the honey mesquite? Also, I think that it could fill a similar niche to acacias in the desertic areas of Africa and have the seeds could have a cover sweet cover inside the pods that need to be fermented in the stomach of the oryx for them to properly germinate.
медведь: Interesting animals!
wovoka: Very good animals! JOrnitho пишет: Humped oryx I would also add skin folds between the front legs for thermoregulation, like zebu has.
JOrnitho: Hi! Sorry for being so silent these past weeks, I was approved for a Master degree program and already started with classes and the search. However, I finished the description of the horned mouse for the chapter of the microwolf. I'll try to make the other animals for the chapter soon. Horned mouse (Ceratomys agilis) Order:Rodentia Family:Cricetidae Habitat:Tropical forests of Panama Peninsula, living at the forest floor. The family Cricetidae is the largest clade of Neotropical mammals, containing more than 400 species during the Holocene. Even in the Neocene, this family continued to show a great diversity of representatives, with some developing very peculiar forms. One of them is the horned mouse, a descendant of Peromyscus mexicanus that developed protuberances in their skulls that are similar to horns. These rodents inhabit the tropical forests of the Panama Peninsula, living at the forest floor. Horned mice have very large ears, and their tail is longer than the head and body combined. Their head to body length is 115 to 122 mm, while the length of the tail ranges from 125 to 156 mm. This species is sexually dimorphic, with males having protuberances in their skulls similar to horns. The structures are covered in vascularized skin giving them a bright red coloration due to the great number of blood vessels. The females only have tiny protuberances that are covered by a pale red skin. The coat is overall orange, mixed with black and brown hairs. This dorsal color shades to a creamy-white belly color.The manus and feet are white. The tail is covered by sparse silvery fur, leaving the scales visible. Their legs are long like that of an elephant shrew, allowing them to run long distances to evade predators. This species is herbivorous, feeding on seeds and grasses. Their molars are lophodont, well adapted to the diet composed of plant material. Horned mice live in groups formed by seven to fourteen females and a dominant male. The male will attack any rival that approaches his harem, with interspecific disputes being made by bites and kicks. Their "horns" aren’t used in these disputes, with its function being to show the female how healthy the male was. The females have a gestation of 25 days, giving birth to a litter of 2 to 7 mices inside the pack's den, which can be a fallen tree or a hole in the ground. The females share maternal functions, taking care of youngs that aren’t hers. The young leave the den within two weeks and forage with the adults at this point. Sexual maturity is reached within one month, at this point they leave the parental group. They have a lifespan of 2 years.
лягушка: JOrnitho Good rodent!
медведь: Interesting rodent! Is it like Ceratogaulus?
лягушка: медведь Is it like Ceratogaulus? Not really. Ceratogaulus was gopher-like burrower that used horns as "shovel" for digging through the ground, but this one is is forest mouse-like creature that has horns as sexual characteristics.
медведь: Ok.
JOrnitho: Another rodent for the chapter: Architect pocket-gopher (Heterogeomys architectus) Order:Rodentia Family:Geomyidae Habitat:Tropical forests of Panama Peninsula, living in subterranean tunnels. The rodent was the most diverse clade of mammals in the world during the Holocene and this diversity remained during the Neocene, with new species appearing. One of them is the architect pocket-gopher, a descendant of the Chiriqui pocket-gopher (Heterogeomys cavator). This species inhabits the tropical forest of Panama Peninsula, living in subterranean tunnels. Architect pocket-gophers weigh around 200 g , and are about 15 to 20 cm in body length, with a tail 2 cm long. The males are larger than the females, and can be nearly double their weight. They have brown fur that closely matches the color of the soil in which they live. Their most characteristic features are their large cheek pouches, very similar to that of their ancestors. These pouches are fur-lined, can be turned inside out, and extend from the side of the mouth well back onto the shoulders. Architect gophers have small eyes and a short, hairy tail, which they use to feel around tunnels when they walk backwards. This species eat plant roots, shrubs, and other vegetables with juice. They are often carry external parasites. Common predators of the architect pocket-gopher include weasels, snakes, hawks and mircrowolves. Like all pocket-gophers, this species also creates a network of tunnel systems that provide protection and a means of collecting food. They use their cheek pouches for transporting food back to their burrows, collecting large hoards. Architect pocket-gophers do not live in large communities and seldom find themselves above ground. To protect the entrance of their tunnels, these rodents make 40 cm tall wall-like structures around the entrance by using the soil from their excavations. The construction of these “walls” happens during the night. Architect pocket-gophers are solitary outside of the breeding season, aggressively maintaining territories that vary in size depending on the resources available. Males and females may share some burrows and nesting chambers if their territories border each other, but in general, each animal inhabits its own individual tunnel system. Although they attempt to flee when threatened, they may attack other animals and can inflict serious bites with their long, sharp teeth. They breed repeatedly throughout the year. Each litter typically consists of two to five young, although this may be much higher depending on the food supply. The young are born blind and helpless and are weaned when around 40 days old. Sexual maturity is reached with two months and this species has a lifespan of 4 years
лягушка: JOrnitho Good rodent!
медведь: Interesting rodent!
wovoka: Both rodents are very good!
JOrnitho: Hi! I was absent due to my master degree, but now I have some weeks with free time. Due to that I'll return to help with the project.
JOrnitho: Has anyone already done the description for the descendants of leaf monkeys living in Florida?
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