Metazoica

Family of the Week: The "Aqua-Lemurs"

2012-01-28T21:55:00.000-08:00

I thought I would do this early this week, so I can remain at work on some of my stories for the UMG Productions site. The family Promonsamiidae is made up of mostly aquatic lemurs. They are not the typical prosimians that we know today, they are a seperately evolved group that came from modern tree shrews that originated on the ground, more often than not inhabiting swampy areas, such as the flooded rainforests of Indonesia. These lemurs are more otter-like in form, with broad, flat muzzles, large, round eyes, and tiny ears. Though like their modern counterparts, some species are tree-dwellers as well. The ears and nostrils of all the aquatic species in this family are capable of closing, and they have a clear nictitating membrane that acts as eye goggles underwater. Some species prefer rivers and fast-flowing streams, however, most of the species in the sub-family Frissinae are oceanic creatures. These animals are excellent swimmers and divers, and move through the water much like modern otters do. The tail is long and flat, the legs are short and both the hands and feet are webbed and tipped with claws. The ears and eyes are both placed at the top of the head, like modern hippos. The teeth are rather small and sharp, fitted for capturing their slippery aquatic prey. The diet is almost strictly carnivorous, except in those species who live in trees, or in Callolemur, which is an omnivore. Favorite prey for these lemurs is fish. But crustaceans like crabs, crayfish and even lobsters may also be taken. In the ocean, octopus and squid are also favored, depending on the species. These animals are slenderly built, with no blubber like in most other marine mammals. Instead the lemurs in this family have a unique feature that no modern prosimian has ever developed, an oil gland under the base of the tail. Before swimming, these lemurs will rub their hands over these glands, and spread the specialized oil over their body. The oil has the same consistency as petroleum jelly, and when rubbed over their thick fur, makes it completely waterproof. These animals are mostly diurnal, but would rarely be seen, as they spend most of their waking hours in the water. Particularly the oceanic species.

Instead of mentioning individual species, I thought I would talk about the different sub-families in this group. The sub-family Promonsamiinae is made up of river-dwelling lemurs. That is, they prefer the rushing river waters. Some inhabit such areas as ponds and lakes as well. These lemurs feed mostly on fish and crayfish, and can easily find them using their sharp eyes underwater. Most species actively swim to hunt for prey, but sometimes they will just sit at the edge of the river or stream and snatch a fish as it swims within reach, usually using their claws to grasp the fish, and carry it in their mouths to an isolated spot to be consumed. Sometimes they will even wade like raccoons, using their hands to feel for prey. Monsamogale also feeds on aquatic insects. These are the smallest members of this family. When roosting or raising young, these lemurs use a cavern under a tree, or a bush, or an abandoned burrow of another animal. When threatened, these lemurs either take to the deepest part of the water, or may climb a tree until the danger passes. Callolemur is the largest land-based species in this family, but it is also less aquatic than other species in this sub-family. This species prefers to live in rocky outcroppings, and feed on bird eggs and fledgelings, as well as grass, berries and lichens. This sub-family has better developed legs, feet and hands than the species in the Frissinae, and still retreat to trees when necessary.

The sub-family Frissinae is made up of mostly oceanic species. One species, Indra, lives in Antarctica, along with Frissa. But unlike Frissa, Indra is not an active swimmer, and cannot get away from Antarctica when winter hits. Instead, it eats whatever it can find during the summer, and stores fat for when winter comes so it can retreat to a burrow and hibernate. It has a much thicker coat than any other species in this family, much thicker than we would see in modern chinchillas. It gathers up moss and fur and builds a warm nest usually 6 feet underground, away from blizzard winds, and settles for the winter. Frissa however spends it's winters away from Antarctica, on warmer, remote islands nearby. The species in this sub-family are deeper divers than their river and lake based relatives are, often capable of diving as far as 2000 feet below the surface. Rhynchocebus is specialized in that it is the only lemur to produce musk from the glands at the base of the tail. the musk is a defensive mechanism, to make it's self seem unsavory to predators. Both Rhynchocebus and Moloja are ambidextrous, that is they can inhabit either rivers or the ocean. Inland specimens of Moloja are also mostly nocturnal, whereas near the coast, they are more active during the day. Most species in this sub-family are characterized by the legs being even more reduced in size than in the Promonsamiinae, more resembling the flippers like we see in seals and sea lions. As a consequence, these animals cannot climb trees at all.

The sub-family Endendrinae are jungle animals that live in the trees. They are not as active leapers as other lemurs are, and usually live at lower levels of the trees than most other lemurs. Some even spend most of their time on or near the ground, but they are also not swimmers, like the other 2 subfamilies. The legs are shorter than in any other tree-climbing lemurs, but they are still fairly good leapers. Unlike any other lemur, the legs are of the same length. They mostly rely on their claws to keep them in the branches, as their hands are not as flexible as in other lemurs. One species, Testudicodas, also has a long, prehensile tail, which is naked for about 1/3 of it's length. The naked portion of it's tail is also coated with a fingernail-like protein, keratin, which provides the roosting animal some degree of protection from tree-clambering predators. It sleeps hanging upside down from it's tail, and folds into a ball, with it's head tucked under it's arms. They have very long, sharp, curved claws that they also use for protection, and a very powerful and painful bite.

Predators of these lemurs are numerous. Deinognathids, vulpemustelids and predatory bats are the most common predators. In the ocean, sea genets and sharks are their major predators. Sometimes snakes like pythons will prey on land or tree dwelling species. Sometimes, they may also be taken by other predatory lemurs, like Bromista and also by caroroos and predatory rats. The claws offer these lemurs some protection, but most of the time, they prefer to swim away from danger. Some species, like those in the Promonsamiinae and Endendrinae will take to trees when danger threatens, as sometimes a predator is determined enough to follow them into the water.

Iridescence in Golden Moles

2012-01-24T20:26:00.000-08:00

I added irridescence in some mammals in my Metazoic project. Mostly pteropods. I was told that was not possible in mammals. Though polar bears are probably the closest, or were for a long time. Their fur reflects the colors of their surroundings, which is not the same as irridescence, but the structure of each strand of hair would be about the same. Anyway this feature, according to this article, is possible in mammals, and it does exist.

http://news.discovery.com/animals/golden-moles-iridescent-122401.html#mkcpgn=rssnws1

World's First Iridescent Mammal Discovered

By Jennifer Viegas
Tue Jan 24, 2012 07:00 PM ET

Iridescence -- a lustrous rainbow-like play of color caused by differential refraction of light waves -- has just been detected in the fur of golden moles.

Aside from the “eye shine” of nocturnal mammals, seen when a headlight or flashlight strikes their eyes, the discovery marks the first known instance of iridescence in a mammal. The findings, published in the latest Royal Society Biology Letters, reveal yet another surprise: the golden moles are completely blind, so they cannot even see their gorgeous fur.

“It is densely packed and silky, and has an almost metallic, shiny appearance with subtle hints of colors ranging between species from blue to green,” co-author Matthew Shawkey told Discovery News.

Shawkey, an associate professor in the Integrated Bioscience Program at the University of Akron, was first inspired to study golden moles after an undergraduate student of his, Holly Snyder, wrote her honors thesis about iridescence. Snyder is lead author of the paper.

For the study, the scientists pulled hairs from specimens of four golden mole species. Using high tech equipment, such as scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, the researchers analyzed the structure of the hairs, down to their smallest elements.

The researchers determined that the hairs are indeed luminescent. They further discovered that each hair has a flattened shape with reduced cuticular scales that provide a broad and smooth surface for light reflection. The scales form multiple layers of light and dark materials of consistent thickness, very similar to those seen in iridescent beetles.

Optical modeling suggests that the multiple layers act as reflectors that produce color through interference with light. The sensitivity of this mechanism to slight changes in layer thickness and number explains color variability.

What remains a mystery is why blind animals would have such eye-catching fur.

Ancestors of the moles were sighted, so it’s possible that the iridescence is a carryover from those times. “However, the moles have diverged considerably from these ancestors so there had to be some selection pressure other than communication to keep their color intact,” Shawkey said.

Another possibility is that the fur somehow wards off the mole’s sighted predators. But Shawkey said shiny fur “would seem to make them more conspicuous,” doing just the opposite. The moles are not poisonous, so the coloration does not serve as a warning to other animals.

The researchers instead think that iridescence may be a byproduct of the fur’s composition, since the structure also streamlines the mole’s profile and creates less turbulence underground, permitting the animals to move more easily through dirt and sand.

“Many of the nanostructures producing iridescent colors have non-optical properties like enhanced rigidity (think mother of pearl) or enhanced water repellency (such as seen in Morpho butterflies),” Shawkey explained. “In the former case, the color, like in the moles, clearly has no communication function and is a byproduct.”

Iridescence has been around for at least 50 million years, since beetles from that time with the unique coloration have been unearthed. An ancient, iridescent bird feather dating to 40 million years ago has also been documented, as have early shells. Now peacocks, hummingbirds, sunbeam snakes, birds of paradise, the rainbow skink, and many fish flash their iridescence.

Daniel Osorio, a professor of neuroscience at the University of Sussex, has studied iridescence in birds. Surprisingly, one of the most beautiful examples may belong to the common feral pigeon. The pigeon’s neck feathers shift from green to magenta, but often look drab gray to human eyes.

Osorio told Discovery News, “In fact, this gray may be a remarkable and very unusual color to birds that can probably see more colors than us.”

In the future, Shawkey and his team hope to study the phenomenon more, to better understand the function of iridescence in the moles and other species.

2012 Metazoica Calendars

2012-01-23T13:14:00.000-08:00

New Metazoica calendars are here! We are celebrating 2012 (a famous year) with another edition of our calendars available for all our fans to purchase. They will be available until March 1st, so hurry and get yours today! Click the button below to buy now! Cost is only $20.99, and you can save now with free shipping! Just enter the code "WHOASHIPPING305" in the coupon field (before January 31, 2012 only)!

Use coupon code WHOASHIPPING305 at checkout and select Ground Shipping. Print and tax amounts are excluded. You can only use the code once per account, and you can't use this coupon in combination with other coupon codes. This great opportunity ends on January 31, 2012 at 11:59 PM so try not to procrastinate! While very unlikely we do reserve the right to change or revoke this code at any time, and of course we cannot offer this code where it is against the law to do so.

Family of the Week: The "Roof Shrews"

2012-01-18T12:41:00.000-08:00

The family Subvilliidae is made up of small-sized armored insectivores. Not really shrews, though they have a unique kinship to them. They more resemble modern hedgehogs. Though most, with the exception of Fistulostium, have body armor that somewhat resembles that of armadillos, only far more complex. These are all tiny, nocturnal creatures. All feed on insects, spiders and earthworms, but occasionally will lap up honey and fallen fruit. They are short-legged animals that sleep by day in burrows. The eyes are large and round, but the eyesight is relatively poor. They mostly use hearing and their sense of smell to find food. The nose is large and naked, the ears are small, round and lies close to the head. These animals have long whiskers, like cats, to help them pick up scent particles. They have long claws on their feet, to aid them in digging their roosting burrows. Most species have long tongues with sticky saliva that helps them catch and trap insects. Most species are small, the largest species in this family are those of Palatops, which is about the size of a large chihuahua dog. Rarely would these animals be seen by day. Most of the time, they spend in their burrows sleeping, and only come out when it is dark out.

Armatechinos has the most extensive armor in this family. The armor is very thick and nearly impenetrable. Another close relative, Subvillius, has almost the same effect in it's armor, but it is not as extensive. The armor has almost a 'trapdoor' effect, and has joints that allows it to close tight into it's self, forming an almost complete ball-like fortress against predators. The armor material is made from the same material that makes up our fingernails. In Subvillius, the armor also has bulb-like spikes that offer it added protection from predators.

One variety, Fistulostium, does not have full body armor. Instead it is camouflaged very well. This species lives in the American south, making it's home in the bristles of the largest cacti in the world. Their fur is even a greenish-brown, making them almost impossible to see. Most of their body is covered in dense wool, but they have also developed sharp spines on their back and tail that are just as sharp as the spines on a cactus, and this also offers them added security should they be singled out by a predator. A single 25-foot tall cactus could house a whole community of 200 or more of these little animals. Though they are solitary animals, and make their own burrows in the sides of the cactus, and have little to do with their neighbors outside the breeding season, except for maybe an occasional territorial sqwabble. But the cactus provides these animals with a home, food and water. They feed on insects and even lap up nectar from the flowers these cacti produce, thus pollenating it. These are the smallest members of this family, smaller than most modern shrews, and are capable of getting around by leaping from one cactus thorn to another, much like how lemurs leap from one tree branch to another.

Few predators prowl the Metazoic nights. But among the many predators the species in this family have are mongooses and small deinognathids. Occasionally predatory bats, birds and snakes will also take them if they can find them and capture them. But these animals are not easy prey, as they can quickly disappear in their armor, and even into their burrows.

Family of the Week: the Wiverns

2012-01-09T20:22:00.000-08:00

The family Viridae is a family of marsupials that have turned carnivorous. They derived from small, tree-dwelling dasyures. The body form is basically like that of the ancient Miacids, with a few differences. The paws have developed into grasping hands, with large, very sharp claws. The eyes are large, they have naked soles and palms, and several species have prehensile tails. The fur is soft and thick, and covers the body, with the exception of the muzzle and around the eyes. The ears are small and pointed. They are mostly active at night, and are among the few remaining marsupials in the Metazoic that hunt by scent, and recognize territories by marking them with odor. These animals have scent glands in the nude part of their face that they use to rub on branches, and sometimes on plants. These animals are pouncers, and hunt their prey using the same technique that modern cats do. These animals range in size from the size of a large mouse to the size of a St. bernard dog. Most species are insect-eaters, but some eat small vertebrates as well. Larger species, like Imperivia, often hunt animals as big as kangaroos.

One of the most unique species is Volanecator. It is the only fully carnivorous mammal that has a gliding membrane. It is mostly an insect eater, but sometimes adds small lizards and small rodents to it's diet. It is about the size of a flying squirrel, and the gliding membrane covers the areas between the arms and legs and from the back of the legs to the base of the tail. It retracts when the animal is at rest or climbing. It climbs using a series of leaps and jumps.

The largest species in the family is Imperivia. This species is not a tree-dweller like most of the others in this family. Imperivia is a ground-dweller, and hunts larger prey than the other species in this group. Kangaroos, phalangers, lemurs, rodents and even large reptiles make up their menu. Though they are ground-dwellers, these animals will climb trees, or even cross rivers to get at their prey. This animal kills it's prey by capturing it with the forepaws and biting the windpipe shut so the prey cannot breathe, often shaking the prey violently to dig it's canines in more.

The smallest species in this family are in the genus Dumetanguis. Most species are the size of a small house cat, but one is the size of a large mouse, or a small rat. Most of these species have crests on their head and neck, or horse-like manes. The eyes are large, and the ears are small, round and naked. In the smallest species, D. minuare, the tail is lightly haired with short, fine, white hairs, whereas other species have long, well-haired tails. The mouths are big in Dumetanguis, and give the face an almost reptilian appearance. Their mouths open wide so they can take on prey as big as themselves, or sometimes larger.

These animals are mostly active at night, and few other predators are active during the same hours. One species of caroroo roams around at night, and are capable of making a meal of some of the larger species in this family. Smaller species may fall prey to the larger species as well. These animals can defend themselves by using their claws and teeth, which can be effective weapons. Smaller species may also fall prey to snakes, gowannas, and carnivorous bats.

More Genera Changes

2011-09-30T22:05:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while I do this. I go back and change some names of some of the genera on my Metazoic checklist. Well, I've been working on that for a bit now, since I printed another prefix and suffix list. I'm really getting to know these terms now! Aside from adding a few new genera and species to the list this past week, I also changed some names, and if you have printed a copy of our most recent checklist, you might want to change these names. So I just wanted to give everyone a headsup on this. Some have been screaming for name changes for a long time! So the names that have been changed are:

Tapimimus is now Tapiemulus
Callichroma is now Anemodryas
Plumipitheca is now Crossodemnus

I had to change these! For one thing, I remember what Metalraptor said about using the name "pithecus" for lemurs and other prosimians. And besides, I think Crossodemnus better fits these varieties of lemurs, whose face and body is full of frills and crests. Hense the new name, which means "tasseled-" or "frilled-upon". I thought it was creative anyway. :) And I found out that Callichroma was already taken. So, I had to change it too. The new name actually means "wind spirit". It too is a lemur, and today, lemurs are often seen as spirits. And I like the sound and feel of "wind spirit", as these lemurs would be fast in today's world.

The Tapimimus is another one I just had to change. The animal is NOT entirely based on Dixon's Tapimus. Same idea, but I wanted to make it it's own animal, an antelope instead of a descendant of rodents. So I felt I had to change the name. The new name actually means "equal to tapirs", even though it is a tiny animal, only the size of a modern tapir's nose! LOL!

Anyway, those are the new changes. I will be updating you all on more as they happen. I'm still hoping to reach 4000 species by Christmas 2012. But if I keep going at the rate I went last night, I should reach that goal by next summer. So, keep your eyes on the ticker on the right side of this page! I update it every time I add new species to the checklist!

Family of the Week: the Metazoic Hyenas

2011-09-11T18:52:00.000-07:00

The family Cloacariidae consists of mammals that are mostly scavengers. They rarely hunt their own food, unlike today's hyenas. These animals are not true hyenas, but instead are descended from weasels. The basic body form is unlike modern hyenas, but the lifestyle is much the same. These animals have very long necks and small heads that are completely naked. Their ears are very small and rounded. The eyesight is poor, but the sense of smell very well makes up for it. The olfactory cavity is reminiscent of that of turkey vultures. They can smell rotting flesh from several miles away. The body is not built like hyenas, but instead are longer than they are tall. The legs are short, the tail is long, or at least as long as the head and body. Unlike in modern hyenas, the females of this family do not have a large clitoris. The males' penis is also quite small, and not easily visible underneath all their fur. The feet are a lot like those of dogs, but they are not really built for running. If you can picture it, these are not attractive animals! They are mostly active during the day, when the predators they like to follow are most active. The most remarkable feature of this family is the design of their teeth. It is unlike any other carnivore on Earth. The canines have become rounded and hard as stones, and the carnissals have become fused together to become one very large chomping mechanism useful for crushing bone. Including those of large gigantelopes.

The largest species are in the genus Yaina. This genus also has the widest range in the family. They range from southern Africa to Asia. They stand as high as 8 feet tall, including the head and neck. Their size gives them a better advantage over most other scavengers, and at times, works to scare a predator off it's prey. They are poor runners, and feed on anything they can scavenge. The smallest species is Pallidogale, which are about 2 feet tall, but about 5 feet long. These animals have a short, blunt, rather catlike head, much shorter than in other species in this family. But the jaws are no less powerful. Like modern hyenas, these animals have a bite force of 1500 pounds per square inch.

As adults, the larger species have few or no predators. Pallidogale may be preyed upon by predatory rats, like Monarchomys, or predatory bats and birds. The young of several species may also be taken by predators, such as large viverrids, predatory bats, and even dogs. Snakes and large carnivorous birds are also a threat to the babies. These animals can defend themselves vigorously. They are not "cowardly" as we see modern hyenas as. In fact, they are quite tough, much more like today's wolverines. They can deliver a nasty bite to an attacker, given the chance, using their powerful jaws and bone-crushing teeth.

Family of the Week: The Mongooses and Civets

2011-08-31T19:04:00.000-07:00

The family Viverridae is made up of mongooses and civets in the Metazoic. Only these are not like the tiny creatures seen today. This family has a wide variety of shapes, sizes and colors. Rather than be creatures only of the Old World as we know them today, the Metazoic version of these animals have colonized every corner of the Earth. They are still very predatory in nature, many feeding alongside such creatures as Deinognathus and even the Metazoic foxes. The variety in this family is very variable. Some species are tiny, weasel-like animals, though they are much bolder in the Metazoic than they are in the Cenozoic. Some are cat-like in appearance, with long whiskers and retractable claws and a bushy tail. A couple of varieties have even become giant, oceanic predators, and developed flippers in place of legs. One thing that most Metazoic Viverrid species completely lacks is the musk gland that their modern relatives have at the base of their tails. This gland is only still present in Viverra, Deinictis and Ischnonia, but it's effects have been greatly reduced. Instead of spraying their attackers, these animals have become bolder adversaries, and despite their size, are quite feisty in nature. Spraying has become a last resort. In the Metazoic, most species are diurnal, with the exception of Viverra, Genetta, Linsang, Civittus and Paragalidia. Most species have large eyes, small, round ears, and long, doglike muzzles. The claws are sharp and curved, like those of a cat. They range in size from the size of a rat, to the size of a small whale. The teeth are long and very sharp, and they often kill their prey by biting and then shaking the prey, more like a dog. The canine teeth are long and straight as needles.

The smallest species in this family are in Deinictis, which are tiny mongooses. Though they do possess the musky gland on the base of their tails, it is rarely used outside of battling others of their own kind. Particularly among mating males. This animal instead has a greater weapon against attackers. They are fast and they can bite hard! The bite usually causes septecemia, or at the very least, a localized infection, which slowly causes the attacker to die or become disabled. Unlike most other Viverrids, these little mongooses attack without much provocation. They are simply fast and furious little creatures. Their diet of insects, mice, small birds and reptiles keeps them active and on their toes. Like today's mongooses, these animals are small and weasel-like in appearance, and also in ferocity!

The largest species in this family is Haliophonia, the giant sea genet. Though it is not a true genet, it is a descendant of the Metazoic river genet (Cleochareia), which is a much smaller animal that took to the water in the early Metazoic, getting most of it's genes from the modern fishing genet (Osbornictis), except that it took it's talent a step further and began actually swimming after fish and crabs. Haliophonia is the ending masterpiece of aquatic Viverrid creation. It does not have very well formed legs, but rather flippers. Though the forelimbs still have paws and even retractable claws. These animals grow to a full adult size of around 45 feet. The tail has become a long, paddle-shaped appendage, which aids in propelling this animal through the water. The fur is short, but very soft. These animals feed on meat, and lots of it. Besides fish and squids, Haliophonia also feeds on sea birds and mammals. Common victims of the giant sea genet include Rhynchocebus, Thalictis, Chamenius and Natopterus, as well as numerous seal species and birds. As seen in modern leopard seals, the giant sea genet tears larger prey animals into small chunks by slamming the body against the water's surface. This is often the case for Chamenius, Rhynchocebus, Thalictis and smaller seals. Small prey, like Natopterus, is simply swallowed whole. In one sitting, the giant sea genet may take as many as 20 Natopterus.

The largest land-based viverrid in the Metazoic is Tarboailurus. This is essentially a giant, saber-toothed mongoose. The teeth are large and strong, growing to a size of about 12 inches. The claws are retractable, the tail is long and stiff for balance. This giant mongoose often makes huge leaps onto the back of it's prey. The long, stiff tail aids in this maneuver. Single-handedly, Tarboailurus can bring down prey the size of a gigantelope. But they usually prefer smaller prey. Tarboailurus, and it's smaller counterpart, Cynocephalogale, are the only viverrids that have this stiff tail. But while Cynocephalogale may hunt in packs, Tarboailurus works alone. Both varieties are extremely fast animals, but their main hunting strategy is the long stalk and a quick pounce. Tarboailurus is so tough, most of the time, even Deinognathus stays out of it's way!

Though the largest examples of this family may not have any predators as adults, the smaller species are often victimized by any species large enough to kill them. This includes foxes, cats, predatory rats, deinognathids, predatory bats and birds, large reptiles, and even larger viverrids.

Family of the Week: the Lily-Walkers

2011-08-23T10:19:00.000-07:00

The family Jacanatheriidae is made up of tiny mammals that are closely related to the small Deinognathids, namely Feresetta. The family was originally named Olodactylidae, but I thought Jacanatheriidae was a name to better describe the physical features of this family. This is one of few cases I have where I didn't name the family after the original genus I thought up, but preferred the more descriptive name. These little trelatebrates are very much like today's jacana birds. Their bone structure is mostly made up of air sacs, making these mammals lighter than they appear. They have long necks and the body is covered in thick, woolly fur. The fur is thicker than it is in modern cats, and aids in keeping the animal afloat if it should fall in the water. The tail is usually long and counterbalances the head and neck. The eyes are large and almond-shaped and placed in the front of the face. The ears are small, diamond-shaped and have a furry backside and naked in front. The arms are almost non-existent and generally covered up by the thick fur, but the fingers are long and slender and are about the only things visible from the forelimbs. The hind legs however, are their most remarkable features. The legs are long and slender, the toes are oversized and arrow-shaped. The tips of their toes are flattened to help them stay buoyant. The oversized toes enable these animals to move easily over aquatic plants, like lilypads and hyacinth. The toes are very flexible and capable of forming to whatever it is the animal is standing on. These animals live their lives among the water plants. This is where they eat, sleep, mate, and give birth and raise their young. So these animals prefer to live in swampy areas where there is a heavy covering of plants on the surface. These animals almost never set foot on dry land. They are mostly small animals and very light-weight. No species is over 10 inches tall, with the neck fully extended, or weighs more than a pound. They are carnivorous, the diet consists mainly of fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and insects. Most hunt like herons, darting their heads into the water to capture their prey. But slow-moving prey, like snails or slugs, they simply reach into the water with their jaws and snatch it up. Most species are usually only social during the breeding season, or they may live in couples.

The largest species in this group is Xescophotus. It is also the only species that has a totally naked head and neck. They also have fleshy "wattles" on the upper jaw and chin areas. During the breeding season, the males' flesh turns from charcoal black to bright pink, and the wattles turn bright red and purple. The females are highly turned-on by this dramatic change in clothing. But after the breeding season, the males' flesh goes back to a dull charcoal black color. After they have mated, males and females may go their separate ways.

Ziphidromas is also a unique species in that it has the longest muzzle, in proportion to it's size than any other species. The nostrils of this animal are also placed higher on the muzzle than any other species in this family. When this animal hunts, it feels under the water's surface with it's highly-sensitive muzzle. It can stand motionless for hours on end, waiting for the muzzle tip to feel a fish pass by. Then they quickly shut their jaws on the hapless fish and bring it to the surface to be consumed. Ziphidromas is one of few species in this family to live in groups of more than 4 individuals.

Female jacanatheriids give birth to several fawns, usually no more than 4 at a time. She will usually give birth on a lily pad, most of the time it is one that is shady, and well away from any others in her herd. She gives birth very quickly, almost one right after another. The fawns then take refuge on the mother's belly, clinging to her thick fur. This also allows them to suckle, and if the mother has to leap into the water to avoid danger, the fur on the belly stores enough air for the fawns to still breathe until the danger passes. Often all that is visible of the babies are the long toes dangling from the mother's belly. The color of the fawns is determined by the color of the mother's belly. But most of their fawns are born with stripes or spots on the body, which fade away with age.

Predators of jacanatheriids are plenty, especially predatory bats, snakes, mongooses, predatory birds, deinognathids, caroroos, large, predatory fish, and almost any other predator, large or small, that can wade into the water to get at them. The lily-walkers usually dip into the water to avoid danger, and can stay submerged for up to 5 minutes until the danger passes. For underwater predators like fish, these animals usually leap onto a branch or hide in the reeds to avoid them. They can move very fast, in spite of their long toes.

Family of the Week: The Auddar and Allies

2011-08-16T21:34:00.000-07:00

This is a small group of mammals. The family Pelargidae consists of bipedal creatures that are found in or near the water. The lifestyle of these mammals somewhat paralells that of modern storks or cranes. They are descended from the Deinognathid subfamily of pervadines. The muzzle is long and narrow. The neck is long and flexible. The ears are more rounded than in the pervadines. The index fingers are long and more narrow than in the pervadines, and there is absolutely no webbing on the hands at all. There is only very rudimentary webbing on the feet. The eyes are placed on the top of the head, and the nostrils are set close to the base of the eyes. The tail is relatively short. The body is also rather short, and the legs are long. They are predatory animals, usually feeding on fish, or any other kinds of small prey they can find and fit into their mouths. They are diurnal animals, and they spend their nights roosting in trees. Most species stand as high as 3 feet tall, but the largest species in the family stands 5 feet tall.

The largest species is in the genus Euphuia. These larger animals feed on anything from fish to frogs and small mammals. The teeth are very sharp to easily grasp their slippery, struggling prey. They prefer to remain in a quiet corner, where they can stay concealed by thick vegetation, and snatch prey by surprise. Prey is usually swallowed whole.

The most unusual species are in Anoicostomus. These animals have mouths that do not close all the way. This allows the sensitive tongue in the water for long periods to feel for prey. They hunt by walking slowly with the tip of their muzzle dipped in the water. When they feel something that feels like prey, they dart their head into the water enough to grasp the prey in their sharp teeth.

Predators of this family include predatory bats, snakes, crocodiles, Deinognathids and Viverrids. They can use their sharp teeth as defensive weapons, or they duck underwater until the danger passes. They are capable of staying submerged for as long as 8 minutes.

New Checklist Installed!

2011-08-10T20:07:00.000-07:00

This is just a quick note to everyone that the latest version of the Metazoic mammal Checklist has been added to the site! I have added more than 200 new species to the list, including one new family of tiny ungulates that live on the Batavian Islands. They descended from the goats that are now left there, only these animals are much smaller, and totally lack the horns, which is what differs them from the antelope family (Megalodorcidae). A few more changes have been made as well. Some updates to some of the generic names have been made as well.

You can go to almost any page and download the new list.

Family of the Week: The Carnivorous Sinecrus

2011-08-08T21:34:00.000-07:00

The family Ephodozoidae is a small group of sinecrus, generally small in size. They are equipped with long, curved, sharp claws and sharp, serrated teeth. Their lifestyle is a lot like those of crocodiles. They stay submerged in the water until it is about time for them to pounce. Like crocodiles, they wait for an animal to come to the edge of the river to drink. At which time, these animals suddenly lunge out of the water, grabbing their victim usually by the head and neck, and then drag them under the water. The prey either dies by the crushing power of these animals' jaws, or they simply drown. Like crocodiles, these animals tear off large chunks of their prey and swollow it whole. This family of sinecrus usually inhabits rivers, estuaries and often lagoons. Like most animals that live near saltwater areas, these animals are capable of drinking seawater with no problems. The forelegs are very well developed, but the rear legs have been completely reduced to flippers. It is the long, flat tail however that propells the animals through the water. The eyes are large and placed on top of their heads. The nostrils are also placed on top of the muzzle. This helps minimize exposure. There are no external ears. When traveling on land, they use their forelegs to pull themselves. These sinecrus are meat-eaters, and their prey often consists of ungulates and cryptopters. The size of the species in this family range from 3 feet long to about 5 feet long, with the tail being as long as the head and body. These are mostly diurnal animals.

The most land-based species is Ephodozous. This is a rather small species that prefers to inhabit rivers, and often captures their prey while on land, where it then proceeds to drag their prey into the water. Despite their size, they are no less powerful animals. They can drag under a 200-pound struggling cryptopter easily. The smallest species in this family is Selatopoocetes, which is a lot more aquatic, and every bit as powerful.

The largest species in this family is Agriopetes. This is a relatively large animal that prefers to inhabit lagoons, usually in small groups. They also hunt larger prey, and even include fish in their diet. This species spends a lot less time traveling on land, and usually prefer the safety of the water.

Though these animals are themselves voracious carnivores, they also have their own predators to contend with. Small animals like Selatopoocetes, are sometimes preyed upon by predatory bats like Cercomoloch. Larger species like Agriopetes, may be taken sometimes by sharks, or preyed upon by other members of their clan.

Family of the Week: The Terasols

2011-07-31T20:38:00.000-07:00

The family Terrosaltidae is made up of rather large, slender animals. The family is a descendant of the mongooses. Most species are quadrupeds, but Piscatoris hunts, standing bipedally for long periods in water, though on land, it is a quadruped. The head is long, with a long, pointy muzzle. The ears of these animals are small and round. The tail is long, usually as long as the head and body. The neck is long and slender. The fur is rather dense and harsh. They have sharp teeth and retractable claws. Though in Piscatoris, the claws are not retractable, and are much larger than they are in other species in this family. These animals are not really runners, but stalkers. They prey on almost anything they can overpower. Most species in this family are solitary hunters that prefer to hunt at night or in the late evenings. They rely mostly on sight when hunting, but they also use their relatively weak, but effective, sense of smell. Most species are relatively uniform in size.

The lightest species in this family belong in Cursotheria. Unlike the other species, this genus run more when in persuit of prey. As a result, they are better hunters than other species, which scavenge as much as they hunt. Much like today's cheetah, these animals start their hunt with a short stalk, and then a short, sprinting chase, which can last for the length of 3 football fields. The legs of these animals are long and slender, the feet are very streamlined, almost hoof-like. They are specially designed to hunt such animals as antelope and deer.

Piscatoris is the only semi-bipedal animal in this family. But they only walk on 2 legs when they are wading in the water. Their diet consists mostly of fish, but also some large river crabs, and large salamanders are consumed as well. The forepaws are designed like hands, with long, curved, sharp claws. They also have fleshy, ball-shaped pads on the tips of their fingers, which is bare, and harsh like sand paper. This allows them to grab fish without the fish having a chance to slip away. These curved claws are not really present on the rear feet. The rear feet in fact, are webbed. These animals are really slender, and when standing bipedally, they can tower over 6 feet tall. Their tail is long and stiff, unlike other species in this family. The brows over their eyes jut out further than in most other mammals, which acts like sunglasses, and makes it easier for them to see the fish they are trying to grasp. Despite their fisherman habits, these animals are only average swimmers.

The largest in this family is Imperator, which is about 12 feet long from nose to tail. This genus also scavenges more than other species. The size of this animal is enough to scare off most smaller scavengers. Though not all are intimidated by these creatures. Though like a whole pack of lions, this animal also hunts. But they hunt by stalking, not really running. They prefer to hunt the larger deer and antelope, as well as any other smaller animals they can capture.

These animals are good hunters, but are not immune to being hunted themselves. Deinognathids often hunt these species. Though these animals can very well defend themselves, using their sharp claws and teeth. But larger animals like the big Deinognathids, are undeterred by the weapons of these animals. The young are also vulnerable to attacks by predatory bats, large snakes and even others of their own kind. Females raise their cubs by themselves, and males that come in contact with the cubs will kill and eat them.

Speculative Evolution Now Has A Face on Facebook!

2011-04-29T20:06:00.000-07:00

Hey all! Finally a page for the subject of speculative evolution has arrived on Facebook! If you have a Facebook, join in! go to http://www.facebook.com/pages/Speculative-Evolution/126129224131769. If you don't have a Facebook, get one! You can post pics, videos, discuss topics, invite all your friends to come! But please be respectful, for those sharing ideas and those critiquing. I will continue to keep up this blog, and post new announcements on there as well. As soon as I get settled in my new apartment in Bozeman, I will also be thinking up fun activities. See ya there!

Family of the Week: the Metazoic Moles

2011-04-27T00:32:00.000-07:00

The moles of the Metazoic are basically a lot like they are today. The big difference is that the Metazoic mole family Scalprodensidae mostly every species bears tusks, to aid in burrowing underground along with their claws. The body is basically like that of modern moles, the body is longer than it is tall, the forelimbs are wide and the arms are greatly reduced, most of the size being taken up by their enormously large forefeet, with large, curved claws. Most species have no external ears, and the eyes are very small in all genera with the exception of Halioscabus. The hind feet are smaller than the forefeet. The nose is long and flexible, much like the noses of modern elephant shrews. The fur is short and slick. The nostrils have the ability to close tightly to keep the sand and dirt out. The tail is short in most species, and usually well-haired. Most species are subterrestrial animals, spending most of their time underground in burrows. But one species, Halioscabus, is fully aquatic, and lives in the oceans of the World. The range in size for Metazoic moles are about the size of a small mouse to the size of a medium-sized dog. They are carnivorous to some extent.

The largest species of mole in the Metazoic are those in Halioscabus. These are very large, ocean-going moles. Thier large feet are used for swimming, much like the desmans do today. The tail is naked and flat, and is slightly longer than the head and body, and moves in a side-to-side eel-like motion. They have no external ears, and their eyes are larger than in any other moles. These large moles spend most of their time in the water. But when they do come ashore, they move in a rather caterpillar-like motion. These moles however, only come to shore occasionally to breed, rear their young, and once in a while to sun themselves. These moles feed on fish and crabs, and they prefer to eat at the water's surface, rather than drag their prey to land or consume it underwater. These moles are very good at diving and swimming. They are not excessively fast swimmers, and usually use the element of surprise to capture their prey.

The smallest species of Metazoic moles are the species in Soriceus. These are the shrew moles. They are generally about the size of a small mouse, and more resemble shrews than moles. They still have the large-proportioned forefeet that is characteristic of other moles. The eyes are very small, they have no external ears, and one species even has a flat, shovel-like muzzle. The muzzle of this species is rather hard, though not like the beak of a bird. But the muzzle is bony and made to push moist dirt out of their burrows. Like other Metazoic moles, these animals rarely surface. The tail is long and furry, and actually plays no role in digging. These animals are insectivorous, and mostly favor hunting in areas where there is an abundance of ants and termites.

The largest land-based species are those of Psammonarus. These are called the sand-sharks or sometimes known as "gibblers". These are highly-aggressive moles that make their homes in the desert and arid regions. As one of their names imply, these animals do indeed behave like they are miniature sharks that live in the sand. If humans were around in the Metazoic, any one unfortunate enough that would encounter one of these moles would have to be careful, as these animals are small, desert-dwelling pit bulls that would literally snatch a person's toes off, biting down and holding tight with their powerful jaws, and spinning in a sort of "death roll" until they rip the flesh and bone off. The animal then proceeds to burrow away with their prize, to finish feeding on it. Most of the time, their prey consists of small animals and insects that happen to stumble where the mole is lying in wait. Insects, small mammals, lizards, snakes, birds, any animal is fair game, and often even large animals that walk anywhere within inches of the waiting mole will get their toes bitten off too. These moles do not bear tusks, but they do have sharp teeth that are capable of tearing easily through flesh. Their eyes are round and small, the head is large and blunt, the fur is short and soft, they have long claws, the mouth opens as wide as the head. They have no external ears. The tail is about half the length of the body and is well haired. They are not good walkers, but they are excellent, very fast burrowers.

Despite the fact that these animals are small predators themselves that live and burrow underground, they themselves fall prey to even larger predators. Any carnivorous mammals that can dig them out will eat moles. Snakes are also major predators. There is one variety of Metazoic "mole boa" that is blind, but is specialized in following these animals through their burrows, capturing and constricting them to death for food. Sometimes, predatory birds and bats will take moles who surface. Carnivorous pteropods sometimes will swoop and land down on a mole before it hits the surface.

Family of the Week: The Armored Shrews

2011-04-12T13:45:00.000-07:00

OK, so these are not really shrews, but they do derive from them. The family Armigeridae consists of medium to large omnivorous mammals that have developed armor of one kind or another as protection from predators. Some species have armadillo-like armor, while others are covered in spines or spikes, and one species has flexible plates that creates a sort of alarm call to alert others in their pack of impending danger. Most species are covered with fine hair on the head and undersides, while the upperparts and neck is covered with hard, nearly impenetrable armor. The eyes and ears are small, and almost absent in some species. But the hearing and eyesight are superb. They create large burrows for themselves underground, and are equipped with long, sharp claws to handle the job of excavating their dens. Often the abandoned dens are used by other animals as well. The tail is as long as the head and body in these animals and is sometimes used for defense in some species. The nose is flat, much like a pig's snout. The body is stocky and legs are short, these are not fast runners at all.

The species with the largest ears is Cuniculatus, which is about 5 feet long, from nose to tail tip. They inhabit rather dry areas and the ears act as a sort of cooling agent. Like elephants, the ears flap back and forth constantly to fan the head and circulate air around the body. The armor of this species is restricted to the back side and between the ears. This prevents attack from predators grabbing them from the rear. The tail of this species is not exactly designed for defense. It is rather small, and well-haired. Usually it is tucked under the body when in defensive posture. This animal does have large claws, which as well as being great for digging it's burrow, can be used as defensive weapons against predators. The large ears also help make this animal appear bigger than they are, which can scare off most predators. These animals feed on a variety of small animals and grass.

The largest species belongs to Testudostrigla. This animal is 11 feet long from nose to tail tip. The ears are so small, they are almost invisible underneath the head armor. The armor completely covers the upperparts of this animal. The claws are huge, and sharp, very efficient defensive weapons, as well as useful for burrying themselves in the sand to keep cool. These animals rarely drink water, but when some water is available, they do not hesitate to grab a sip or two. The fur on the body is short and lies smooth. It covers all the underparts of the animal, and the face. The crown that towers over the eyes and ears also has small, sharp, hornlike projectiles that act as sparring devices during the mating season. These animals feed on a wide variety of small vertebrates, insects, as well as tubers, grasses, and what ever they can find. They are one of few mammals in the Metazoic that is more active at night than during the day. But even so, the eyes are still rather small, even though their eyesight is as good as our own.

The most interesting species belong to Crotalonotus. These are large mammals, about 6-8 feet long, with small ears, large eyes, and unusual armor on the back. The armor is almost useless for protection, as it is made up of loose plates. Instead, this armor offers the animal the ability to warn all others of their kind with a makeshift alarm. This alarm can sound relative to that of a rattlesnake. It is made using special muscles in the back that moves each plate individually, at high speeds. This causes the plates to rub against each other to make this sound. The more terrified the animal is, the faster the plates rattle. These are also the fastest runners in this family. They rely on speed and their burrows to keep them safe from predators. But if one is cornered, it can use it's sharp tusks and claws to deter a predator, and these can be savage weaponary attacks!

Though these species are omnivores, they are not without predators. Deinognathids are among their worst threats, as are mongooses and predatory bats. A large Deinognathid can easily crush the armor of these animals. Smaller deinognathids and mongooses have to flip the victims over and tear into the soft underbelly. But these large shrews are also quite quick to roll into a hard ball, or lie flat on the ground, acting as their own impermeable fortress.

Family of the Week: The Parasitic Shrews

2011-02-22T20:57:00.000-08:00

This is a highly unusual family of mammals. They very closely resemble the true shrews that are around today. However, their lifestyle is very different from what we know of modern shrews. They are small animals, equipped with sharp teeth, and claws that are longer and more curved than they are in modern shrews. The eyes are somewhat larger. The ears in most species are small and round, as they are in modern shrews. The body is rather elongate, and the legs are short. The tail in most species is mouselike, covered in mostly very fine hair. They are diurnal animals and found mostly in bushy areas, where they have access to bower rat nests. The reason being is because these shrews are parasites of bower rats. Much like today's cuckoo birds, these shrews slip into the nests of bower rats and eat the newborn baby rats, and replace them with their own babies, to be raised unwittingly by the parent rats. The saliva of these shrews is specially designed to mimic the scent of the baby rodents as she cleans the babies up from their birthing sac, so they would in no way be detected as foreign babies to the parents. The shrews usually have about 4-5 babies in a birthing season. The mother shrew will sneak into the birthing cavern of a bower rat nest while the parents are away, have her babies, then eat 4 or 5 of the baby rats (depending entirely on how many babies she births), and move on, never to see her own babies again. These shrews are also designed to have their entire brood in a matter of seconds, rather than minutes or hours. This way, the entire parasitic process takes no more than a minute. Plenty of time for her to complete before she is detected by the bower rats.

Each particular species of these shrews uses a specific variety of bower rat as their host, depending on their range. Their birthing season coincides with that of the bower rat family, as does hours of activity. Aside from eating bower rat pups, these shrews are insectivorous. Despite the fact that these shrews do eat the baby rats, they do not feed on the adults. And only the females feed on the babies. Males are purely insect eaters. Favorite foods include earthworms, spiders, insects, grubs, scorpions, and centipedes. Night time is spent in an underground burrow. Outside of the breeding season, these shrews are strictly solitary animals. They are rather elusive animals that crawl along in the forest underbrush.

Because of their small size, these animals have numerous predators. Snakes, predatory bats and birds, mongooses, weasels, dogs, Deinognathids, and even larger shrews like some of the species of feather-footed shrews, will take these animals. They are sometimes even victimized by angry bower rat parents, who would kill them onsite, but not necessarily eat them.

Family of the Week: The Metazoic Tenrecs

2011-02-15T13:44:00.000-08:00

The Metazoic family of tenrecs is basically an offshoot of today's tenrec family. Only I have renamed it Centetidae. The modern family of tenrecs goes to 20 million years in the Metazoic, and then this family takes over. They are basically small, and only a few have spines, like hedgehogs. All species have tails, but the length varies from one species to another. The feet are like those of modern tenrecs and are equipped with claws that are sharp and curved. One species even has retractable claws, which they use for climbing trees. These animals are insectivores, but prey up to the size of small rodents can be taken. Most species are diurnal, but there are some that retains their ancient nocturnal habits. Habitat varies by species. Some live in burrows, some even live in caves. Some are tree dwellers, and some inhabit watery areas. They are equipped with sharp teeth, which in some cases can be used for defense. But most of the time, they are simply quick movers in the underbrush. Some species have larger eyes than others in proportion to their body size. The ears are small and round, and in most cases lies very close to their heads. All tenrecs are solitary animals except during the breeding season. Unlike today, no species of tenrec in the Metazoic is found outside of Madagascar.

The largest, and perhaps the most remarkable species, are in the genus Scelestus. These animals are very much unlike other tenrecs. They have some of the largest species in the family, being quite bigger than an average house cat. These tenrecs have no spines, although they do have some whisker-like hairs on the back. The tail is long, but not prehensile. The ears are triangular-shaped and very mobile, unlike other tenrecs in this age. The eyes are large and round, and face foreward, more like modern primates. The claws are retractable, like a cat's claws, and are used in climbing trees. Unlike other tenrecs, these animals spend almost all their lives in trees, rather than on the ground. Their purpose? To find grubs and other tree-dwelling insects. Formerly, their role was played by the Aye-aye, of which none survives the great extinction event that separates the age of man from the Metazoic. Their tail acts as a balancing rod as these animals scamper quickly through the branches. These animals have a mixed diet of insects, small animals, eggs, and fruits. Though any plant matter is simply a supplement to their diet, their daily intake consists mostly of insects and grubs.

Another amazing metazoic tenrec is Aletogale. This is a small tenrec, about the size of a rat, with a long, flat tail and webbed feet. They are fully aquatic. They have large eyes that enables them to see in murky water, the fingers on the front flippers are long, and tipped with sharp claws. This enables them to grasp prey such as shrimp. The ears are almost non-existent externally. The fur is soft and designed to trap air pockets. The nostrils are capable of opening and closing as the animal rises and descends. They are excellent swimmers, and capable of chasing small fish underwater. Also a part of their diet is aquatic insects, crabs and mollusks. Especially favored is a species of Metazoic aquatic worm that fastens it's self to rocks on the river floor, and feeds on microscopic creatures by way of tentacles that they spread out of their heads. These are a delicasy for these tenrecs. These animals spend very little time out of the water, except when feeding. The time they do spend out of the water, they are very cautious and alert, and usually prefer to hide in the underbrush. At night, these animals retire to an underground burrow, of which the enterance is accessed underwater.

The smallest species of tenrec in the Metazoic is Nebulatus, which is the size of a small mouse. They are also cave dwellers. Almost all their lives is spent in caves. They have sharp, curved claws for climbing the cave walls after insects and arachnids. The rear legs are slightly longer than the forelegs for leaping. The eyes are rather small, but the eyesight is still rather good. Not best though. They rely more on hearing and their sense of smell in finding prey. All in all, this is a rather mouselike tenrec. They have no spines or any other protection other than the darkness of their home. They almost never leave the caves.

Another remarkable tenrec in the Metazoic is Armatura. This tenrec has no spines, no harsh fur or irritating hairs, instead, they have armor. Not too different than what is seen in armadillos. But the armor is not visible externally, as it is under a layer of flesh and fur. These animals do not roll into a ball when threatened like armadillos do. But the armor they do have is designed to handle the pressure of all but the largest predator in their range. This is a rather large tenrec, slightly smaller than a house cat. They are not quick runners like most other tenrecs are, and they do not swim very well, nor climb trees. They rely almost entirely on their armor plates for protection. At night, they do retreat to underground burrows. Their eyes are larger than those of modern tenrecs, in proportion to their body size. The tail is long, and largely unarmored. Though it is scaly like the tail of a rat, and hairless.

The diet of most tenrecs consist mostly of insects. They need not eat every few hours like shrews, and find their prey either by digging in the ground, or pulling bark from fallen trees, or even searching in piles of dung laid down by larger animals for beetles. Tenrecs however are not without their own breed of enemies. Mongooses are probably their worst threats of all, as are predatory bats and birds. Snakes will also take their toll, and crocodiles will also feed on them. Ground dwelling tenrecs often live side-by-side with some ground dwelling lemurs. Centetes is a medium-sized, rabbit-like tenrec, that often shares underground burrows with the ground-dwelling, burrowing Indriid lemur, Geopropithecus. The tenrec relies on the more alert lemur, whose hearing is better than that of the tenrec's, for protection against predators. When alarmed, the lemur has a distinctive sneezing-type call that all inhabitants of their burrow quickly respond to, lemur and tenrec alike.

Beaks May Have Transformed Dino-Diets

2010-12-20T15:53:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I quoted Discovery Network's articles. But I found this one particularly interesting. It talks about beaks on dinosaurs and I wanted to get other peoples' opinions on this. According to this article, there are fewer predatory dinosaurs than originally figured, which I find to be ridiculous! Look at how many predators are around today. And look at how much prey is available to them. There are some predators that kills at random, like leopards. They don't care what they kill, as long as it's got flesh, red stuff and bone, they don't care. So, don't tell me that there is less available to you the farther up in the food chain you are. It also seems to show that a carnivore can actually evolve from herbivorous ancestors. Well, here is the article, it may be my last post until the new year, as I have been pretty busy.

http://news.discovery.com/dinosaurs/dinosaurs-beaks-vegetarian-carnivore-101220.html#mkcpgn=rssnws1

Beaks Transformed Dinosaurs, Expanding Diet
The beak was like nature's Swiss Army knife because it provided many tools in one unit.
By Jennifer Viegas

The emergence of the beak on dinosaurs was "an evolutionary innovation," according to a new study that found this seemingly simple trait is like nature's Swiss Army knife because it functions as many tools in one.
Over time, many dinosaurs replaced their toothy grins with beaks to aid their transition to plant eating, according to the new study that is published in the latest Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
"As modern animals such as birds and turtles demonstrate, a beak can be adapted to function for a variety of purposes from processing different food types -- nuts, fruits, leaves and meat -- to grooming and other behaviors," co-author Lindsay Zanno told Discovery News.
"The evolution of a beak was an evolutionary innovation because it was a new anatomical structure that hadn't been available to theropods before, therefore it provided a new means for theropods to process foods and engage in other behaviors that they hadn't had access to up to this point," added Zanno, a researcher at the Field Museum.
She and colleague Peter Makovicky came to that conclusion after collecting dietary data for theropods, a group of two-footed dinos colloquially known as "predatory" dinosaurs. The group includes some famous flesh-eaters like Tyrannosaurs rex, which turns out to be a very primitive, old-school dinosaur.
"Carnivory is always rare relative to herbivory in animal communities because food availability becomes more scarce as you move up the food chain," said Zanno. "It takes a ton of plant material to sustain a lot of herbivores and a lot of herbivores to sustain a few carnivores."
Many of T. rex's closest relatives were therefore content with vegetarian fare, according to the scientists. The researchers looked at evidence that included fossilized dinosaur dung, stomach contents, tooth marks, gastric stones and even two dinosaurs locked in the throes of combat. All helped to reveal what theropods ate.
Zanno and Makovicky found nearly two dozen anatomical features that are linked to plant-based diets.
Zanno explained that important traits associated with herbivory are tooth loss, beaks, different tooth shapes (leaf, peg conical), multiple tooth types in one animal, tooth elongation (including rodent-like incisors), and long necks.
The researchers believe beaks evolved at least five times in theropods alone. Other dinosaurs, like ceratopsians and hadrosaurs, had them too.
"The ancestors to birds had teeth as did many early birds, so none of the toothless forms are directly ancestral to birds," Zanno explained.
The researchers conclude that "the ancestor to birds was likely to be at least omnivorous," which raises some interesting questions. For example, the scientists hope to find out if the shift to a more vegetarian diet led to the evolution of four-winged gliding and flight.
Thomas Holtz, director of the Earth, Life and Time Program at the University of Maryland, told Discovery News that he agrees that T. rex was a more primitive dinosaur that "inherited the ancient theropod condition of meat eating," and that many other T. rex relatives were either 100 percent vegetarian or transitioned from eating large prey to eating insects.
The new look at "predatory" dinosaurs also reveals "that the unquestionably carnivorous dromaeosaurid 'raptors' (such as Velociraptor and Deinonychus) evolved from plant-eating ancestors," Holtz added.
Living birds include carnivores, herbivores and omnivores, so their diversity and complexity today appears to be echoed in their distant dinosaur past.

Family of the Week: The Feather-Footed Shrews

2010-12-07T13:49:00.000-08:00

This is a group of very interesting insectivores that descend from true shrews, I call them the feather-footed shrews. It is the family Harundopedidae, and all species have oddly-shaped toes on the feet. Most species are found in, or near water, and the toes are flat and feather-shaped. Some species, like Aquambulus, also have long, stiff, whisker-like hairs between the toes that enables them to walk over the surface of the water without sinking in. Most species have long necks, long, sharp muzzles, and large eyes. The ears are relatively small and shrew-like. A few varieties have large, pointy ears, such as Proboscisuncus, Carnosuncus and Platyceps. But despite the size of the ears, all species have very acute hearing. The sense of smell is relatively poor in the aquatic species as it is not needed. Most species hunt by using sight and hearing. The hearing is so acute, that some species are able to hear a fish breathing underwater. The neck is long and flexible, especially in the fishing species, who must dart their head underwater to capture fish. Most species are small and shrewlike, but the largest species stands about 4-feet tall. Most have a tail that is at least as long as the head and body, in some longer than the head and body. Harundopes is the only species that is tailless. The nostrils of these fishing species are placed high up on the muzzle, instead of at the tip, like in the less aquatic species. The nostrils are also able to close shut to keep out the water as they dart their heads in. The diet is primarily insectivorous, but some of the larger species feed also on small vertebrates, eggs, fish, crustaceans, and snails. Most species live near freshwater lakes, rivers and streams, but there are some species that probe the ocean sand, and even one desert-dwelling variety, which the hairs on their feet and the flattened toes allow them to literally skate smoothly over a sandy surface, acting somewhat like snowshoes.

The smallest species in this family is Aquambulus. This is perhaps also the smallest Metazoic mammal. Overall length, including the tail, is less than 4 inches, with the tail being as long as the head and body, and the muzzle being almost 1/3 as long as the head and body. The bone structure is almost entirely made up of air sacs, making this animal incredibly light and bouyant. The feet are club-shaped and the toes are flat and feather-shaped and they have a series of long, stiff hairs between the toes. These stiff hairs, coupled with very soft, fine, downy hair that also grows between the toes, traps in an air bubble, which enables this animal to skim the water's surface without the threat of sinking in or drowning. Just in case, the fur is also fine, profuse and silky, and waterproof, enabling this animal to float back to the surface should they somehow be taken under. This animal has such small ears, that they are almost not visible underneath the thick fur on the head. The fur around the eyes and on the muzzle is the shortest on the animal, and is black in color. This allows them to see through the water for tiny minnows and insects, and possibly for underwater predators. When necessary, these animals can move very quickly over the water's surface to escape danger. Usually retreating to land if need be.

The largest animal in this family is the species of Harundopes. Though they are tailless, they can stand up to 4 feet tall, and weigh about 50 pounds. The legs are long and slender, and the neck is longer than the body, and highly flexible. This animal inhabits areas of a lake where reeds grow abundant, and their unique coloring allows them to stay hidden. The legs are slender enough to resemble the reeds themselves. So, this animal would be almost impossible to detect by potential prey, or even by predators. They are very slow-moving when on the hunt, quietly and patiently stalking underwater prey, and then quickly darting their head into the water to snatch a passing fish. Fish make up most of this animal's diet, but they may also prey on young birds and smaller aquatic mammals, including Aquambulus. The closely related Hemiardea shares much the same hunting features and techniques as Harundopes, but is smaller and has a long tail.

The most remarkable species in this family is Penacodas. This animal is born hairless, blind and deaf, as most species in this family are. But a remarkable thing happens as they mature. They grow large, stiff, whisker-like hairs on their tail, coupled with interwoven soft and silky downy-like fur. These hairs grow backwards, instead of toward the tip of the tail. Once this shrew is ready to leave the nest, much like young spiders do now, they go to a bare branch, tree stump, or anything else that they can capture the wind from with little or no obstacles, and allow the breeze to capture the fur on their tail and carry them off. The long, whiskery hairs hold the downy fur steady and makes a sort of built-in parachute. This can carry these animals for many miles. Once these animals have reached a certain age, these hairs fall completely off. Mature adults are basically featureless. Much like Aquambulus, Penacodas is very small and very light, the bone structure is almost completely made up of air sacs, which allows this animal to weigh less than the wind it's self. Though this species is somewhat larger than Aquambulus.

Because of their smaller size, these animals have many predators. Small species may be eaten by the larger species, or snatched by predatory fish, snakes, lizards and other carnivorous mammals. Larger species may fall prey to Deinognathids, mongooses and predatory bats. Whenever necessary, these animals can move fast and hide quickly. Some shelter in burrows, while others shelter in reed beds, or some in tree hollows. If caught, these animals can bite very hard. Carnosuncus especially has powerful jaws, used for crushing snail shells. They can deliver a very nasty bite! Though that does not always deter a hungry Spathodon or Tamanoa.

Well, tomorrow is my sis's birthday and I will be out all day long. Enjoy your week!

Family of the Week: The Ruonids

2010-11-30T20:44:00.000-08:00

I have no common name for this family. I simply call them the Ruonids. Or the uchlid and allies. It used to go under the family Regniidae. But at one point I had considered separating the subfamily Regniinae from the Ruoninae, which I never really carried out for long. But the name Ruonidae stuck, so now, that is what this family is known as. The two subfamilies differ mostly in that the Regniinae are bipeds, and the Ruoninae are quadrupeds. There are only 2 genera in the Regniinae, they are Regnium, and Stolidus. These are predatory animals descended from weasels. They are for the most part, an old-world family and the basic appearance is like that of a dog. Like dogs, these animals are pack-hunters for the most part. They are also diurnal animals, much like modern dogs. They are big animals. The largest species is actually Regnium, which is an early Metazoic biped. It stands about 6 feet tall. The smallest species is Nanovenator, which is the size of a modern stoat. Some species live in burrows, but there are those who roost out in the open too. Utrarius even builds nests of straw. Only the species in the sub-family Regniinae have retractable claws. The Ruoninae have dog-like paws. Most are terrestrial animals, but Stolidus is mostly a tree-dweller, and there are even some species that love the water. They are strictly carnivorous, though some take in mostly insects, while some mostly feed on carrion. While a few kill their own prey.

The sub-family Regniinae differ from other species by being bipedal walkers. Regnium, for example, walks bipedally all the time. It is a terrestrial hunter that habitually feeds on antelope, monkeys, lemurs, rodents, and anything else it can capture. Stolidus is a rabbit-sized animal that lives mostly in the trees, clinging to the branches with sharp, curved, retractable claws. The tail is long and thick, but it is not prehensile. Though sometimes when the animal it's self is a rest, it will curl it's tail up under it's self, or sometimes even twist it around a vine, more like a twist-tie than like a second hand. They move slowly with all four limbs in the trees, but when on the ground, they move only on their hind legs, and in a quicker motion than they use in the trees. They move more like armadillos walking fast on the ground, with their forelegs tucked under their torso. Stolidus is mostly insectivorous. They favor the meat of beetles, cicadas, grubs, spiders and cockroaches. They also will feed on bird eggs, fledgelings, small bats, and tree-dwelling rodents. Regnium is mostly a product of the early Metazoic, while Stolidus is a mid-to-late Metazoic period genus.

The sub-family Ruoninae is quite different from the Regniinae. These are the truly dog-like species, that move about on all fours. Though some are capable of walking on their hind legs for short periods, they are not true bipeds like the Regniinae. This is a very varied sub-family. Ruo is the one species that very closely resembles a modern wolf. Though it is slightly larger. They are pack hunters, designed to bring down animals up to the size of a young gigantelope. They do not have retractable claws or the strength to hold down a large animal like that. They kill their prey by eating it.

The most remarkable species in this group are also within this subfamily. Utrarius is one of them. This animal is a desert dweller. The females are equipped with a sack that stores water that she can bring home to her helpless babies. The babies are often kept in a nest, so when the mother leaves to hunt, she covers the nest with whatever she can find. And she will store water in this water pouch to give to her babies that are not old enough to follow her to the watering hole, yet are too old to suckle. Another fascinating species are of the genus Naiadis. These animals live in rivers and streams. The body is much like an otter's but the head and neck is a lot like a heron's. These animals are good swimmers. They also use their head and neck to snatch at prey. They sit very still, sometimes for hours, in the shallow water, watching the surface for fish and any other aquatic creatures, such as shrimp and other crustaceans. When something edible swims beneath them, they shoot their head in and snatch the prey. The legs are very short, and really only good for swimming. They cannot move too well over land.

Though these animals are predatory, they also have their own set of enemies to beware of. Deinognathids and dogs are their main predators. While Deinognathids will prey on any of the species, dogs mostly concentrate on the smaller animals. These animals can defend themselves by inflating and looking bigger. They snarl and growl as well to appear more menacing. The jaws and claws can inflict some harsh wounds. The females with young are naturally more aggressive. Though little can be done to deter a large, hungry Deinognathid.

Family of the Week: The Slashers

2010-11-23T12:26:00.000-08:00

I also call these "serpent-slashers" because they feed mostly on large lizards and snakes. This is a very late Metazoic era family, Anguilestidae, that is the last link to the mongoose family. Though they can stand for some period on 2 legs, these are mostly quadrupeds. Their claws are long and sharp, and retractable on the rear feet. The head is elongate and jaws are powerful. The legs are long, the animal it's self is built for speed, but is not wimpy like a cheetah. The tail is long and stiff. The animals themselves when they run and leap appear to be able to defy the laws of gravity! They can leap more than 50 feet in a single bound, and race at speeds topping 70 mph. Most species live in the New World, but some are able to migrate over the new land bridge connecting the New World to Asia. They are solitary hunters, that hunt mostly by night, when most of their prey becomes active. The eyes are large and pupils are a lot like those of a cat. The ears are generally small and round. The feet are padded on the undersides. The fur is thick, and covers the body, being shortest on the face. The nose is naked and usually wet. The genitals of the male are external, but so small and covered with thick fur, they are not easy to see. When hunting, these animals use mostly their sight and hearing, rarely do they use their sense of smell. They range in size from up to 4 feet long in Anguilestes to up to 10 feet long in Cercodius. Not counting the length of the tail, which is about as long as the head and body. Despite their size, these animals can move amazingly silent, causing very little ground vibrations so not to alert the snakes and lizards in their way.

The largest claws belong to the genus Falconyx. These animals have developed large, curved claws on the first toes that are carried well off the ground. They hunt and kill the way other species in this family do. When a prey item is spotted, these animals do a quick pounce, grabbing the head with their large jaws and using the feet to slash open the body, often gutting their prey. The claws are mostly what is used, not really their jaws. Often when the animal pounces on a prey item, they will begin slashing them immediately, taking the prey's head in their jaws only if the prey is proving difficult to overcome by their feet. Much like today's Secretary bird, they stomp on the prey, using the claws to cut it open, and kill that way. They are fast, and can even outwit venomous snakes.

The main prey of these animals are snakes and large lizards like tegus and monitors. Any snakes will do. They will even stand up to medium-sized anacondas. Though not the full-grown 50-footers. However, when snakes and lizards are not available, like during the winter months, these animals will often take deer, antelope, lemurs, monkeys, rodents, birds and bats, even scavenge off the kills of other animals. All prey is killed much in the same manner. Birds and bats are a little more difficult for these animals, but they will often leap up to 10 feet into the air just to pluck prey out of the sky, the stiff tail being used as a balancing rod. It is during the harshest months that these animals often become active hunters during the day as well.

Though their powerful jaws and sharp claws may be useful as weapons, these animals still have their own set of predators to worry about. Deinognathids are among their worst enemies. Giant anacondas also take their toll. Rarely, they may be taken by such animals as large dogs, predatory bats, even larger species of this family may feed on the smaller.

Family of the Week: The Zofons

2010-11-16T13:34:00.000-08:00

The zofons (pronounced like "zuh-fones") are a group of carnivorous mammals that descended from modern day weasels. Most of them are scavengers. The face is much like a modern dog's the tail is relatively short in most species, about half the length of the legs. The ears are small and round. The eyes are rather large and round. Though they are scavengers, their heads are not nude, as in the metazoic hyenas. In some genera, like Zoodes, Truculentus and Dirogale, a horse-like mane is also present. The claws are bearlike, and sharp. The fur is thick, and in Uvidictis is also waterproof. Most species are either solitary, or travels in couples. The smallest species are in the genus Ischuos, the largest species are in Truculentus. Most species inhabit the new world, though some of the larger species are migratory, and occasionally make their way across the land bridge connecting North America to Asia. The sense of smell is better than most other mammals. Almost all species are diurnal animals.

Uvidictis is among the most interesting species, by being semi-aquatic crab and fish-eaters. They are perhaps the only species that hunt their own food, rather than scavenge kills from other animals. They are not long-distance divers like the juriffars, or even like the water dogs, but rather wade in the shallows, topping over rocks and stones to search for crabs, crayfish and fish. Their sharp, curved claws and padded paws are designed to grasp fish. The teeth are sharp and jaws powerful enough to easily crush the shell of crayfish, or crush through the tough armor scales of some catfish. The basic appearance of these animals is a lot like a modern raccoon. They are not really slenderly built, and have very little webbing on their feet, yet their fur is thick, oily, and waterproof. The eyes are rather large and the ears are small. The sense of smell in Uvidictis is poorer than in other zofons, as they hunt mostly by sight and by feel.

One species in this family, Dirogale noxia, bears the funny name of 'big-footed zofon'. This is a design of these animals to get around easily in their mountainous homes. The rather over-sized feet allows this animal to easily get a grasp on the uneven surfaces of boulders and move around without much threat of falling. They have the ability to use their claws much like a monkey uses it's toes. This is a good-sized animal, but it is not the largest in the family. That honor belongs to Truculentus, which are about the size of today's tapirs. They have large claws, but they do not use their claws in killing prey. Most of the time, the claws are used for either defense, or swatted at intruders as a threat, reminding them to stay off their territory, or when they take over a kill to keep other scavengers away.

Though these animals are tough customers, they themselves are not without dangerous enemies. Large deinognathids are perhaps their worst enemies. Large viverrids like Tarboailurus may also prey on these animals. Most of the time, the predator gets angry because the scavenger is intruding on their kill. Zofons are very brazen, much like hyenas today are, and often unintelligently approach a predator on it's kill only to be chased away, or even killed. Small species like Uvidictis are sometimes taken by snakes, crocodiles, predatory bats, and smaller deinognathids as well.

Family of the Week: The Ocean Sinecrus

2010-11-09T21:45:00.000-08:00

The Paracetaceans are actually a group of mammals that are not related to modern cetaceans, but actually evolved from elephant shrews, much like the therapeds and Deinognathids. However, this branch went a totally different way. These animals developed flippers from what was left of their limbs and took to the water. They have long, flat tails and swim by moving the tail from side-to-side, much like fish do, rather than up and down like modern cetaceans. The family Pelagiidae are entirely aquatic, never retreating to land. The flippers are pleated in most species, instead of diamond-shaped like in most modern dolphins. Pelagius even still has claws on it's flippers. The basic body form is much like that of modern dolphins, the body is long and torpedo-shaped, they have flippers in front that are used for steering, and a flat, rudder-like tail. In some species, the tail is longer than in others. But unlike modern dolphins, these animals have fur that covers the body, more like seals or sea lions, instead of being naked like dolphins. They are also equipped with tiny flippers on the backside, just below the tail area. They have no external ears, and they usually have a long, slender beak. The nostrils are at the end of the beak, instead of on the head. The eyes are relatively larger than those of dolphins. They are very fast swimmers, and usually travel in groups, numbering as many as 500 individuals in some species.

These animals basically prefer to inhabit open oceans, much like modern cetaceans. Other, closely related families, that actually descended from this family, can also travel on land, pulling themselves along with the help of their flippers, moving from one water hole to another. Or inhabiting lagoons, especially where there is an abundance of kelp or other such vegetation. But this family cannot do any of that, and find all the food and companionship they need in the ocean. These animals feed on fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods. Their beaks are equipped with small, stabbing teeth, which helps to grasp their slippery prey. The eyesight is mostly poor, except at the surface. These animals are not usually deep divers, and prefer to capture their prey at night, particularly when such creatures as squid come to the surface. Even in sheer darkness, these animals snap up the fast-moving squid with amazing accuracy! Because they do not hunt by sight alone. Like dolphins, these animals deploy the use of sound to locate prey.

Among the most vocal members of this rather small family, is in the genus Loquax. These animals have more than 100 different vocalizations, but the main one is the one they use to hunt prey. Their sounds stun fish and other prey to a point where the prey becomes paralyzed. The prey cannot swim away, thus it is snapped up by Loquax. Most of the time, the prey is swallowed in one gulp, but these animals can attack prey about half the length of their own head and body. Prey this size is torn rapidly into chunks by the entire pod and then eaten. Much like we would see in wolves or wild dogs.

Like today's whales and dolphins, there is a small, triangular fin on the back, the dorsal fin. This is present in almost all species in this family except Natacelus, which instead has a rather narrow ridge on the back where the fin would be at. But this animal still retains other dolphin-like qualities. These animals are fast and agile, often leaping half their body length out of the water. They are however not without predators of their own. Sea genets are among some of the worst enemies of these animals. Sharks also take their toll. For these sinecrus, their best defense is speed, and staying within a group.

Below I have a rather crude sample of what these creatures look like. I have given 2 examples of species from this family. One is Venaria, which is a species most notable for it's paddle-shaped tail, and also has a small dorsal fin on the back. The other species depicted is Natacelus, which lacks the dorsal fin. Click on the pic to make it bigger.

I'll Do The Family Of The Week Tonight!!!

2010-11-09T13:55:00.001-08:00

I promise! I've been sooooooooooooo busy lately, it's been unbearable! But I will get back on track soon.