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Galliformes and other animals for South America (ïðîäîëæåíèå)
JOrnitho: Hello! I'm back with ideas for some new species for South America. I found in my computer an archive with some ideas for fauna and flora that I had some time ago and decided to show there to ask your opinion about them. The first is about a descendant of the domestic chicken. [more]Copper jacumitan (Jacumita cuprinus) During the Holocene, the man introduced many species in other continents. The jacumitan is a descendant of domestic chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) that are introduced in South America. It replaced the birds in the family Cracidae, which are extinct in the Neocene, in some areas. In a matter of fact, the name jacumitan is the junction of the words jacu, the popular name in Brazil for guans of the Genus Penelope, and the tupi word mitã (mitan) that means new, this way the name means “new guan”. The copper jacumitan is the type species of this genus and lives in the savannas and woodlands of Central South America. The copper jacumitan is sexually dysmorphic. The male measure 190 cm, due to the long tail, it has a bright coppery brown upperbody plumage and reddish-brown feathers below. They also have metallic dark green feathers on the tail and wings. Only males have a bright red naked skin on the face, with two wattles that conceal the sides of its head. This characteristic is shared by all males of the genus Jacumita. The males of the genus also have crests formed by white feathers with black tips. During courtship and panic moments, they rise the crests. The females have 75 cm of length and are cryptic brown and adapted to camouflage, its naked skin on the face is pale pink and don’t have flesh wattles. The young males are similar to the females until they reach 9 weeks, at this time the wattle begin to develop. Both sexes have long orange colored legs and grey beak. The males have spurs that they use in fights for dominance. The neck is long and slim. Copper jacumitans can fly, but prefer to run from the predators flying only as last resort. These birds are omnivorous and feed on insects, seeds, and fruits. Its forage for food by scratching the ground, usually near herbivores this way there is other animals observing for the presence of predators. Often the male sits on a high perch, to serve as a lookout for his group. He sounds an alarm call if predators are nearby. At night it will sleep perched on branches. Copper jacumitans are polygamous; the male will have a harem with 5 to 12 females and will guards the area where his females are nesting, and attack other males that enter his territory. To initiate courting, the males will dance in a circle around or near a female, raising their crests and lowering the wing which is closest to the hen. Then, he will vocalize and when she responds to his call, the male will mount her and proceed with the mating. The females make their nest in the ground, laying 6 to 14 red eggs which are incubated for 22 days. Chicks are precocious, leaving the nest shortly they are born. They fledge in about 4 to 5 weeks, and at 13 weeks old are chased out of the group by their mother, at which point the young males start to form a harem and the females join an existing one. Sexual maturity is reached at 6 months and the lifespan of this species is of 13 years, however is common for males to die early due to predation. Other species in the genus Jacumita are: Golden jacumitan (Jacumita aurea) Living in the forests of the Atlantic coast of South America, the males of this species has 200 cm of length, from beak to tail, while the females have 83 cm. The plumage of the male have a bright golden-yellow plumage in the upperparts, being scarlet in the chest and belly. They have dark metallic green wing feathers and tail while the female is cryptic brown. Red jacumitan (Jacumita amazonica) Living in the "terra firme" forests of the Amazon , the males of this species has 185 cm of length, from beak to tail, while females have 70 cm. The plumage of male is bright orange-red in the upperparts, while their chest and belly is yellow. The males also have dark metallic blue wing feathers and tail while the female is cryptic brown. Andean jacumitan (Jacumita andina) Living in the highland forests in the slopes of the Andes, the males of this species has 170 cm of length, from beak to tail, while females have 68 cm. The plumage of the males is white in the upperparts and yellowish-red in the belly and chest. The males also have dark metallic blue wing feathers and tail while the female is cryptic brown. This other one is about a descendant of the californian quail: Common austral grouse (Tetraoinus australis) During the Holocene, the man introduced many exotic species different habitats, the ancestor of the austral grouse was one of these species. Their ancestor was not a true grouse, but the Californian quail, due to evolutionary convergence they acquired characteristics similar to the true grouses of North America. Living in the forests of Southern South America, the male austral grouse are 55 cm long and the female have 44 cm of length. The male have a dark grey body plumage, black-and-white bridled head pattern, black back and a greyish-blue belly. They have a curving crest or plume, made of six feathers that droops forward (long and black in males /short and brown in females) and long forked blackish tail with white undertail coverts. Females and immature birds are mainly greyish-brown with a light-brown belly. Both sexes have a black bill and relatively long grey legs. Their diet consists mainly of seeds and leaves, but they also eat some berries and insects. In some regions their main source of food are the seeds of trees of the Genus Araucaria. These birds are not elegant fliers, however they sleep perched in branches. Given a choice, they will normally escape on foot. During the courtship, the male austral grouse do displays on a lek, each male have a “personal space”. The males strut around their chose space, doing a display. The display consists of the male posturing himself with the head near the ground. Then, they start to move it from right to left showing their crests, simultaneously they raising the tail feathers, showing their withe undertail coverts. After that, they will raise their heads abruptly and whilst make a highly distinctive mating call. When another male invade the personal space of other, a fight happens, in this case the male will try to take of the crest of the rival, this way they will not be capable to display for the females. The female usually lays approximately 12 spotted eggs. The nest is a shallow scrape lined with vegetation on the ground. Incubation lasts from 21–25 days, usually performed by the female and rarely by the male. The chicks are precocial, leaving the nest with their parents within hours of hatching. The male stay with the female until the young leave, with 3 months. The young reach sexual maturity with 1 year, with this age the young males acquire the coloration of an adult male. Their lifespan is of 27 years. In the forests of Tierra del Fuego another species lives, the Black boreal grouse (Tetraoinus nigrus). Their main difference to the other species is that the males have an all-black plumage, with only a faint shade of blue in the chest and brown undertail coverts. The females are similar to that of the common austral grouse. The males have 52 cm and the females 41 cm.[/more] I also have in this archive some names for possible species that I never developed bayond some few facts. Maybe someone could help me make their descriptions.
ëÿãóøêà: JOrnitho I also think it's good!
ìåäâåäü: Interesting animal!
JOrnitho: Áèîëîã Maybe the chinchillone-gordito could appear in the chapter about the migration of the Andean antelope?
Áèîëîã: JOrnitho OK, I'll add it there.
JOrnitho: Do you think that would be possible for descendants of the agouti to develop fur modified in quills? The agoutis have bodies covered with coarse hair, which is raised when alarmed. Maybe in the Neocene they developed the quills to protect against predators. To not compete with the deer agouti, this species would fill the niche of their ancestors.
Áèîëîã: JOrnitho Quite plausible, but how deeply would they resemble porcupines?
JOrnitho: Áèîëîã ïèøåò: Quite plausible, but how deeply would they resemble porcupines? Only the quills. They would still have the morphology of an Holocenic agouti, but with modified hairs for defense.
Áèîëîã: JOrnitho OK.
JOrnitho: Finished the description of the agouti. Atlantic guatusa (Guatusa orientalis) Order: Rodentia Family: Dasyproctidae Habitat: Seasonal moist and dry broad-leaf tropical forests of the Atlantic coast of South America 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 agoutis (Dasyprocta) survived the anthropogenic onslaught, giving rise to several new genus. One of them is the Guatusa, the spiny agoutis. The word guatusa was used to name their ancestors in Ecuador. Members of this genus developed hair modified in quills that give them protection against predators. The type species is the Atlantic guatusa, an inhabitant of the seasonal moist and dry broad-leaf tropical forests of the Atlantic coast of South America. The Atlantic guatusa is morphologically similar to their ancestors. They are 56 cm long, with the males being larger than the females.They are light brown with darker spots on the upper body. The fur becomes darker as it goes past the middle area of the animal. This species is differentiable from their ancestors due to the quills that run along the nape and back that can be raised when alarmed. The quills are dark brown with yellowish-white circles. They can reach 35 cm. They eat fallen fruit, leaves and roots, although they may sometimes climb trees to eat green fruit. When feeding, agoutis sit on their hind legs and hold food between their fore paws. They may gather in groups of up to 100 to feed. Like their ancestors, the guatusa will hoard food in small, buried stores. They have strong mandibles that are used to break the shell of hard nuts. The Atlantic guatusa have no distinct breeding season, but females come into season twice a year and generally have one to four young. The gestation period is 114 days. On average, it takes 20 weeks for the young to be weaned. They are diurnal and monogamous, living in pairs or family groups of the parents and babies. They reach sexual maturity within 7 months and have a lifespan of 18 years. Another representative of the genus Guatusa is the Savanna guatusa (Guatusa albogullaris), an inhabitant of the savannas and gallery forests of Central South America, including the region of Gran Chaco. They are 53 cm long.They are reddish-brown with light spots on the upper body. The region of the neck and chest is white. The quills are light brown with white circles. The Amazon guatusa (Guatusa amazonica) is the largest representative of the genus, being 60 cm long. These inhabitants of the Amazon rainforest are black with light spots on the upper body. The underparts are light brown. The quills are light brown and lack circles.
Áèîëîã: JOrnitho Good one!
ìåäâåäü: Interesting animal!
JOrnitho: I made the description of descendants of the domestic goose. Crowned goose (Austroanser tropicalis) Order: Anseriformes Family: Anatidae Habitat: Fresh water reservoirs, marshes, flooded areas and coastal lagoons of western South America During their expansion, the humans had transported several domesticated animals with them. Among them was the domestic goose, which could be the result of selective breeding from the wild greylag goose (Anser anser) and swan goose (Anser cygnoides). Some of these birds were able to survive and their descendants now live in the Neocene. In South America, the genus Austroanser appeared. The species in this genus are descendants of domestic goose (Anser anser domesticus), but with some genes of the Chinese goose (Anser cygnoides domesticus). The type species of the genus is the crowned goose, an inhabitant of fresh water reservoirs, marshes, flooded areas and coastal lagoons of western South America. These birds have 53 cm of length and a wingspan of 120 cm. The plumage is white with brown-gray head, neck, back, thighs and rump feathers. The primary and secondary feathers are black. The males have a characteristic crown of stiff white feathers. In the females it's only a small white tuft. They have a longer neck and bill, which is dark gray and have a small knob. Their feet are bright orange. Crowned geese are largely herbivorous and feed chiefly on grasses. It can also graze on plants such as sedges and water plants, but rarely swim in deep waters. They also consume small fish, amphibians, crustaceans, molluscs and insects. The members of the genus Austroanser tend to pair bond in long-term monogamous relationships, but there is cases of pairs separating and re-mate with other geese. Gregarious, they form small familiar flocks outside of the breeding season. Such groups are usually formed by close related individuals and rarely surpass 30 birds. The breeding season starts during the dry periods, when the water level is low. While they aren’t migratory, the crowned geese can make long trips to reach their nesting grounds. Several familiar flocks will congregate in grasslands and plains close to freshwater lakes and costal lagoons, forming flocks that can have thousands of individuals. During this period, members of different flocks will mate with each other. Usually, the female will join the male's flock after this period. Courtship of the crowned goose begins with the male honking while flapping his wings. When an interested female approaches, he'll lower his neck and shake his head. It makes the crown of feathers move. If the female accepts it, she'll mimic him. The nest is on the ground among heather, rushes, dwarf shrubs or reeds, or on a raft of floating vegetation. It is built from pieces of reed, sprigs of heather, grasses and moss, mixed with small feathers and down. A typical clutch is five to seven eggs, but fewer eggs or larger numbers are not unusual. The eggs are reddish-white and are mostly laid on successive days and incubation starts after the last one is laid. The female does the incubation, which lasts about 25 days, while the male remains on guard somewhere nearby. The chicks are precocial and able to leave the nest soon after hatching. Both parents are involved in their care and they soon learn to peck at food and become fully-fledged at eight or nine weeks, about the same time as their parents regain their ability to fly after molting their main wing and tail feathers a month earlier. Immature birds undergo a similar molt, and move to traditional, safe locations before doing so because of their vulnerability while flightless. Young crowned geese stay with their parents as a family group and return to their ranges outside the nesting season. This species reaches sexual maturity within 3 years and has a lifespan of 23 years. The Andean crowned goose (Austroanser andinus) is another representative of this genus. They inhabit the Andean Plateau and Patagonian plains, remaining close to rivers, marshes and lakes. This species is migratorius, with flocks of thousands of birds gathering in nesting grounds during spring and flying to the savannas of Central South America during winter. Outside the breeding season, they live in small family groups. The largest concentrations of these birds happens in their nesting grounds in the Andean Plateau. They are large waterfowl, with 80 cm of length and a wingspan of 150 cm. The plumage of their head, neck, and upper body are gray, while the underbody is white. The primary and secondary feathers are black. The males have the characteristic crown of stiff white feathers. In the females it's only a small white tuft
ìåäâåäü: Interesting birds!
JOrnitho: I made the description a gliding rodent for the forests of South America. Great feather-tailed rat (Volaticomys cinereus) Order:Rodentia Family: Echimyidae Habitat: Canopy of the flooded forests along the banks of the Amazon River and its tributaries The anthropogenic onslaught over nature during the Holocene had damaged several ecosystems and brought several species to extinction. The disappearance of humanity gave some respite to the survivors and they continue to evolve, allowing several new species to appear in the Neocene. In South America, the rodents of family Echimyidae were able to survive and left several descendants. A group in particular had developed the ability of gliding with a patagium stretching between the fore and hind legs. They are the genus Volaticomys, the feather tailed rats. The type species of the genus is the greater feather-tailed rat, the largest representative of the genus. It's an inhabitant of the canopy of the flooded forest along the banks of the Amazon River and its tributaries. Its average body length ranges from 22 cm to 29 cm, with the tail ranging from 18 to 23 cm. Like other gliding mammals, they have a patagium stretching between the fore and hind legs. The tail is oval in cross-section, only slightly prehensile, and has very short fur except for two distinctive rows of long, stiff hairs on either side. This gives the tail the appearance of a feather or a double-sided comb. Such a characteristic is common to all members of the genus. The fur is soft and silky, and is a uniform gray on the upper body, and white on the underside. They have long vibrissae, which are larger than their heads. The great feather-tailed rat usually eats fruits, nuts, and fungi found on nocturnal forays through the tree canopy. They are solitary animals, with individuals only meeting to breed. This species is largely nocturnal, starting its activity just before dusk and retreating at dawn. They spend the day sleeping in nests made in tree hollows lined with bark, fur, moss, and leaves. The great feather-tailed rats are very vocal animals, with their callings being common in the night of the flooded areas of the Amazon rainforest. Mating occurs during the entire year, but has the apex during the wet season. A female can have four to seven litters during a year. The receptive females will call the males, with them calling for at least 4 hours each night until a male answers. Each litter averages three to five young. The gestation is about 38 to 39 days. The young are looked after by the mother alone and are born helpless, blind, and deaf. Their body is covered by hair at 21 days, their eyes and ears open after three to four weeks, and they develop all their teeth by 42 days. Juvenile great feather-tailed rat can eat solids around 40 days following birth and from that point can leave the nest on their own to find food. However, they still suckle from their mother until weaning occurs at 8 to 10 weeks. Sexual maturity is reached within 3 months and they have a lifespan of 6 years, but many fall prey to serpents, birds of prey and other mammals. The Atlantic feather-tailed rat (Volaticomys mesembrinus) is an inhabitant of the tropical forests of the Atlantic coast of South America, living in areas from sea level to montane forests. Its average body length ranges from 18 cm to 20 cm, with the tail ranging from 15 to 17 cm. They have dark brown fur in their upperparts, while the underparts are yellowish-white. Another representative of the genus is Andean feather-tailed rat (Volaticomys brevicaudatus), an inhabitant of the montane forests of the Andes. Its average body length ranges from 20 cm to 23 cm, with the tail ranging from 8 to 11 cm. Their fur is slate gray, with a white underside.
ìåäâåäü: Interesting rodents!
ëÿãóøêà: Good animal!
JOrnitho: Thanks! Here is the description of a small canid. Their ancestor is so well adapted that it can live even in urban forests in the middle of the city of Rio de Janeiro. Common maned-graxaim (Jubatocyon intrepidus) Order: Carnivora Family: Canidae Habitat: Tropical areas of Western and Central South America, from costal forests to savannas. Absent in the Amazon rainforest. The anthropogenic onslaught over nature during the Holocene had damaged several ecosystems and brought several species to extinction. The disappearance of humanity gave some respite to the survivors and they continue to evolve, allowing several new species to appear in the Neocene. In South America, the crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous) was capable of surviving and gave rise to the Genus Jubatocyon, the maned-graxaim. In Brazil, the word graxaim was one of the several names of their ancestors. The type species of the genus is the common aguara, a species found across much of the tropical areas of South America, being only absent in the Amazon rainforest. Their head and body length averages 55 cm, and the average tail length is 15 cm. The main characteristic of this group is the mane that grows downwards and backwards covering most of their neck. When threatened, the aguara can raise it to seem bigger and more threatening. The snout is narrow and slender, but the jaw is strong. The coat is short and thick. Coloration varies from auburn to dark brown on the upperparts. On the muzzle, ears and paws there is yellow fur. The tail, legs and ear tips are light gray. The ears are wide and round. The torso is somewhat narrow; legs are relatively long for an animal of this size. The tail is fluffy. Due to the presence of several larger predators in South America, the maned-graxaims were forced to fill the niche of opportunist omnivores, preferring fruits and insects, feeding on meat from rodents and birds when available. Other foods readily consumed include turtle eggs, tortoises, bird eggs, crustaceans, lizards and carrion. They will carefully approach the carcass left by hunting herons and packs uktenas, avoiding conflicts with them. A pair of these canids can face a solitary uktena, but large groups are impossible for them to confront. They can scare off vultures and other scavengers using displays of their manes and growls, but will flee with the arrival of an akatu. Common maned-graxaims form monogamous pairs, which hunt in cooperation. Territorialism is more common during the dry season. During rainy seasons, when there is more food, they pay less attention to territory. Hideouts and dens often are found in bushes and in thick grass, and there are typically multiple entrance holes per den. Despite being capable of tunneling, they prefer to take over other animals' burrows. Several characteristic sounds are made by the common maned-graxaims such as barking, whirring and howling, which occur often when pairs lose contact with one another. They reach sexual maturity within 10 months. Adult females give birth to one or two litters per year, depending on the climate and the availability of food. The reproductive period most often begins in early summer, and again in late winter. The birth of offspring follows after an approximately 56-day gestation. The breeding pair raises the pups together, which are weaned at around three months old and become independent of their parents around 8 months old. They have a lifespan of 14 years and are preyed upon by large animals such as hunting herons and birds of prey. Uktenas can kill them to eliminate a competidor, but will not feed on the carcass. Altiplano maned-graxaim (Jubatocyon obscurus) is another representative of the genus. Inhabiting the Andean Altiplano, this species has a body length averaging 60 cm, and the average tail length is 17 cm. Their fur is thicker and denser than their tropical relatives. The upper parts are black, while the underparts are light brown. The paws and ears are light brown, while the tail has a white tip. The Patagonian maned-graxaim (Jubatocyon australis) is a closely related species. An inhabitant of Patagonia and Southern South America, this species has a body length averaging 63 cm cm, and the average tail length is 13 cm. Like their Andean species, their fur is thicker and denser than that of common maned-graxaim. The upper parts are slate gray, while the underparts are yellowish-brown. The paws and ears are light brown, while the tail has a white tip. Being more carnivorous, this species will follow the migration of herds of large herbivores during winter, taking the opportunity to eat those that die or are killed during the journey.
ëÿãóøêà: JOrnitho I like this animal!
ìåäâåäü: Interesting animal!
JOrnitho: With the megafauna of South America being larger in the Neocene, would be possible for a larger vampire bat to appear? Like how the Desmodus draculae appeared in the Pleistocene.
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