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Fauna of Islands of the Indian Ocean
JOrnitho: Starting a new topic because this doesn't fit the already existing ones about islands (Atlantic and Pacific). I saw in the map of the Neocene that Adaman and Nicobar still exist, so I thought about some species that could exist here. Since it was a chain of islands, I think that the fauna could be different in each of them. For example, the largest one (Adaman itself) could have maintained large introduced species such as the chital deer and feral dogs. These animals would have descendants in the Neocene. Meanwhile in Great Nicobar, terrestrial predators could be absent and the largest animal could be a flightless descendant of the Nicobar pigeon . What do you think?
Биолог: JOrnitho I think that would be smaller, maybe with the size of harpy or golden eagle. It would kill the junglefowl by coliding against its neck with full force and using the claws OK, sounds good! A finch could fill the niche of parrots and other species that don’t exist in the islands. Yes, why not. I thought it could become as large as a common pigeon.
JOrnitho: Биолог пишет: I thought it could become as large as a common pigeon. I like this idea. They could be descendants of the munia that came from Indian subcontinent. Other niches that they could fill is that of nectarivores and insectivores. They could develop specialized beaks for that too.
Биолог: JOrnitho Yes, sounds good, except for niches. Munias feed primarily on seeds and have thick strong beaks adapted to this. So, switching to insects and nectar would involve tremendous changes in the beak structure.
JOrnitho: Биолог пишет: So, switching to insects and nectar would involve tremendous changes in the beak structure. Yes. I was thinking how the Hawaiian honeycreepers are descendants of cardueline finches. They also developed different beaks. Maybe something similar could happen in these islands.
Биолог: JOrnitho Oh, I didn't know that honeycreepers were descendants of carduelines. OK, so be it.
JOrnitho: So, for the insectivores descendants, I was thinking that they could be adapted to feed by gleaning, similar to the genus Anabacerthia from South America. Meanwhile, the nectarivores could be similar to the Dacnis from South America.
Биолог: JOrnitho OK, so be it.
JOrnitho: Do you have suggestions for the ancestor of the eagle-like bird of prey that could inhabit the Andaman and Nicobar Islands?
Биолог: JOrnitho Unfortunately no. Perhaps some species of Indian hawk...
JOrnitho: Биолог пишет: Perhaps some species of Indian hawk... Maybe the shikra (Accipiter badius)? It's relatively common in India nowadays.
Биолог: JOrnitho Yes, why not.
JOrnitho: I read in article that the northern palm squirrel (Funambulus pennantii) was introduced in Andamans Islands. It gave me an idea for a descendant of this species that developed the ability of gliding between trees. It would be a case of convergent evolution with the true flying squirrels. What do you think of this?
Биолог: JOrnitho Good idea.
лягушка: It can be, good idea.
JOrnitho: In addition to that, I thought that they could have spread to the other islands of the Archipelago through rafting. In each island, a different sized species developed, with the largest one living in great Andaman.
Биолог: JOrnitho Hmm, do you expect them to belong to the same genus?
JOrnitho: Биолог пишет: do you expect them to belong to the same genus? I'm not sure. I think that the smaller ones would be from another genus.
Биолог: JOrnitho OK.
JOrnitho: Other species that could live in these islands is a nocturnal descendant of black rats that feed in descendants of cocconuts. I have an idea for these plants too. Given the way that they spread, I think the fruits could also be found in the continent.
Биолог: JOrnitho Well, looks plausible. But do you expect the rats to eat the entire contents of coconuts? If this is a common action, the coconut palm would not survive for long, having limited numbers of nuts eaten by rats before they germinate into new trees.
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