Отправлено: 04.05.22 04:20. Заголовок: Fauna of Africa

I'm making this new topic after Биолог mentioned some interesting ideas for descendants of the tree hyraxes with more adaptations for an arboreal lifestyle. I was also thinking that they could be adapted to jump between branches and even trees.
Биолог, do you have more ideas about these animals?

 Отправлено: 04.05.22 06:06. Заголовок: JOrnitho пишет: ada..

JOrnitho пишет:

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adapted to jump between branches and even trees

To make it, they must have gripping hands with opposable thumb or thumb-like finger.

 Отправлено: 04.05.22 10:55. Заголовок: Автор I agree...

Автор
I agree.

 Отправлено: 04.05.22 10:59. Заголовок: JOrnitho I've a..

JOrnitho
I've already described my ideas briefly. Deeper development of sticky "glue" and sucking force on the soles seems the most interesting.

 Отправлено: 04.05.22 15:54. Заголовок: Биолог пишет: Deepe..

Биолог пишет:

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Deeper development of sticky "glue" and sucking force on the soles seems the most interesting.

Ok. Do you have ideas for how they would look morphologically? You mentioned that they could be like a squirrel or a weasel. I like the idea of them being slender and tailess animals that move through the trees.

 Отправлено: 04.05.22 17:18. Заголовок: JOrnitho slender an..

JOrnitho

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slender and tailess animals that move through the trees

Yes, would be great! But it could still retain its dorsal gland and feed on tough plant material using its ruminant-like multichambered stomach.

 Отправлено: 04.05.22 20:11. Заголовок: Биолог пишет: it co..

Биолог пишет:

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it could still retain its dorsal gland and feed on tough plant material using its ruminant-like multichambered stomach

Plant matter is hard to digest and contains a low amount of nutrients. So, the excusive plant-eater using fermentation for digesting of cellulose will be rather sluggish and large animal - it must have long intestines to digest plant matter. It means that this one will be large, and the ability of making long jumps means the great need in nutrients. Plants only will not cover this need. So, IMHO, specialized tree-climbing plant-eating hyraxes will look more like orangutan - with big belly and rather short hind legs. Their mental abilities will be predictably low.
We have galagos, by the way. Maybe, they will evolve to anything interesting?

 Отправлено: 04.05.22 21:17. Заголовок: Автор пишет: So, IM..

Автор пишет:

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So, IMHO, specialized tree-climbing plant-eating hyraxes will look more like orangutan - with big belly and rather short hind legs. Their mental abilities will be predictably low.

This gives me another idea. Maybe these hyraxes could be koala like animals, sleeping long periods of time to diggest the leaves.
Also, would be possible for quadrupedal descendants of the hyrax to exist in the forests of Africa and Europe? In appearance, they could look like a tapir or of one of the extinct primitive ungulates, like the hyracotherium. They could be a sister group to the flathorns.

Автор пишет:

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We have galagos, by the way. Maybe, they will evolve to anything interesting?

Maybe some forms adapted to more insectivorous lifestyle could appear. Even one adapted to take larvae from trunks, like the aye‐aye.

 Отправлено: 04.05.22 23:08. Заголовок: JOrnitho пишет: May..

JOrnitho пишет:

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Maybe these hyraxes could be koala like animals, sleeping long periods of time to diggest the leaves.

Like koala eats gum leaves inedible for other mammals, these arboreal hyraxes may eat leaves of trees of plant families tend to experiments with poisons in their greenery - Solanaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Apocynaceae and so on.
Talking about tree-climbing hyraxes, I must note: all described species inhabit Zinj Land. Largest of them for now is ngoloko (description is not translated into English), a small bear-sized beast. In African mainland, cercopithecoid monkeys still exist. They may be important competitors for hyraxes in their adaptation to arboreal lifestyle. So, I think, in African mainland, we may expect for the appearing of specialized monkey species having any strange adaptations to their ways of life to avoid competition.

 Отправлено: 04.05.22 23:40. Заголовок: Автор пишет: They m..

Автор пишет:

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They may be important competitors for hyraxes in their adaptation to arboreal lifestyle.

Some tree hyraxes are nocturnal, maybe these descendants of leaf eating hyraxes could also be nocturnal. They would feed of leaves during the night, avoiding the competition with monkeys.
By the way, I have a description for a monkey.

Скрытый текст

Golden agile guenon (Eucinetopithecus chryseus) Order: Primates Family: Cercopithecidae Habitat: Tropical forests of the Congo Bassin During the Holocene, the destruction of many habitats by the humans caused the extinction of many species. In the Neocene, the fortunate species that survived give rise to new ones. The guenons (genus Cercopithecus) were one of the survivors and in the Neocene it gives rise to the genus Eucinetopithecus, the agile guenons. The type species of this genus is the golden agile guenon, which lives in the tropical forests of the Congo Bassin. The golden agile guenon has 47 cm of body length and a 60 cm long tail. It has a bright reddish orange pelage in the head, arms and upper back while their lower back, tail and legs are dark brown. The face is black and the underbelly is white. The body of the monkeys of this genus is slim with long arms, which gives them the agility when moving on trees. The male's scrotum is blue. These animals are predominantly frugivore, eating sometimes seeds and insects. It has no adaptation for leaf eating, consuming only young and easily digestible leaves. These monkeys find food on all areas of the canopy, rarely coming to the ground. All monkeys in the genus Eucinetopithecus lives in groups lead by a dominant male which mate with all the females of the group. These groups can have 25 individuals. The gestation of a female golden agile guenon is of 6 months, ending when the rainy season starts, this way they have more fruits available. The males will fight fiercely for the position of dominant. When another male drive the dominant of the group, he will kill all infants of the previous male. When the young reach sexual maturity with 5 years, the males will be expelled from the group while the females will stay. The young males form bachelor groups to survive until they are strong enough to fight for the dominance of a group. The lifespan of this species is of 14 years. Other species in the genus Eucinetopithecus: Grey agile guenon (Eucinetopithecus griseus) Living in the tropical forests of the western coast of Africa, this animal have 43 cm of body length and a tail with 57 cm. The fur of this species is mostly grey, with exception of the head which is reddish orange and the lower members and tail that are brown. Their throat and belly are white. The face is black. The male’s scrotum is blue. Brown agile guenon (Eucinetopithecus fuscus) Living in the forests of the eastern coast of Africa near the Tanganyika Strait, this animal have 45 cm of body length and a tail with 58 cm. The fur of this species is mostly brown, with a patch of reddish orange in the back. The tail and lower members are light brown. The throat and belly are white. The face is black and the males have a blue scrotum.

 Отправлено: 05.05.22 11:58. Заголовок: JOrnitho hyraxes co..

JOrnitho

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hyraxes could be koala like animals, sleeping long periods of time to diggest the leaves

But they can easily feed on tough, may be even shelled fruit, not leaves exclusively. This will again decline the contradiction between my idea and what the Author said.

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By the way, I have a description for a monkey.

Good one!

 Отправлено: 05.05.22 11:56. Заголовок: Автор I agree, alth..

Автор
I agree, although I did not think of making them able to jump long gaps - it was JOrnitho's idea. I really thought they could be slow-moving and probably with big belly. So my idea does not contradict what you said.

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small bear-sized beast

Sorry, but maybe "bear-like", but not "-sized"? Because the smallest bears are about 1,5 m long (I cut it down to minimum), which can hardly be called "small".

 Отправлено: 05.05.22 15:19. Заголовок: Биолог пишет: But t..

Биолог пишет:

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But they can easily feed on tough, may be even shelled fruit, not leaves exclusively.

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really thought they could be slow-moving and probably with big belly.

Автор said that they would face competition with monkeys, so I thought that they could be nocturnal to avoid it. What do you think?
Also, this conversation gave the idea of a descendant of the colobine monkeys with the size and lifestyle of the orangutans living in Congo.

 Отправлено: 05.05.22 16:58. Заголовок: JOrnitho competition..

JOrnitho

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competition with monkeys, so I thought that they could be nocturnal to avoid it. What do you think?

Surely, they can be nocturnal. Just because tree hyraxes are already nocturnal in holocene! Wikipedia states that and describes their territory calls:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_hyrax
The call records can be found here:
https://www.wildsolutions.nl/vocal-profiles/hyrax-vocalizations/

And finally:

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One of the commonest night noises was caused by an animal which I think was a tree hyrax.

Gerald Durrell, The Overloaded Ark

 Отправлено: 05.05.22 17:53. Заголовок: Биолог пишет: Just ..

Биолог пишет:

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Just because tree hyraxes are already nocturnal in holocene!

I know, I mentioned this fact in one of my previous posts. I only meant if you wanted this detail to be added to the description of the species. After all it's your idea.

 Отправлено: 05.05.22 18:09. Заголовок: JOrnitho Thanks, bu..

JOrnitho
Thanks, but you will be the author of the description (as will be mentioned beneath the text when it appears on the site page), so it is up to you to decide. But I think yes, it should be added.

 Отправлено: 06.05.22 14:15. Заголовок: Биолог пишет: Thank..

Биолог пишет:

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Thanks, but you will be the author of the description (as will be mentioned beneath the text when it appears on the site page), so it is up to you to decide.

Ok! I'm working on it and will be finished soon.

 Отправлено: 06.05.22 18:36. Заголовок: JOrnitho OK. Waitin..

JOrnitho
OK. Waiting for it!

 Отправлено: 07.05.22 19:44. Заголовок: I finished the descr..

I finished the description of the descendants of the hyraxes

Скрытый текст

Slow dassy (Segnohyrax robustus) Order: Hyracoidea Family: Hiracidae Habitat: Rainforests of Western and Central Africa, including those in the Congo Basin The human actions during the Holocene caused the decline of many species. However some species survived and in the Neocene they gave rise to new species. They took advantage of the niches that were left behind by the extinctions of the anthropogenic era. One of these species was the slow dassy, a descendant of the Hyraxes (Hyracoidea). They inhabit the rainforests of Western and Central Africa, including those in the Congo Basin. The slow dassy is a stocky animal with a large head and vestigial or non-existent tail. It has a body length of 75 cm and a weight of 15 kg. The males are larger than the females. The pelage is thick and coarse, with a few yellowish hairs scattered among the dark brown and blackish ones. Both the males and females have long tusk-like upper incisors. These animals are far more arboreal than their ancestors, rarely climbing down. To fit this lifestyle, the sole of their feet have more developed sucking force to climb. They also have large eyes, covered by tapetum lucidum. The slow dassy are herbivorous, with leaves being 90% of their diet. They became resistant to the toxins of some species. These mammals will also consume soft fruits, but more rarely. Since the leaves that they eat have a low level of energy, these animals are adapted to a low energy lifestyle, having slow movements and sleeping for 20 hours in a day. This species is solitary and nocturnal, spending the day sleeping in tree holes. Each individual has an established territory, with those of the females being found near that of a dominant male. They are territorial and aggressive, dominating others with their larger body size. The younger males are subordinate until they mature and reach full size. Among the males displays of dominance is a series of blood-curdling shrieks building up to a crescendo that they produce every night. Besides scent marks, these sounds are used to mark territory. The slow dassy does not have a fixed mating season, being able to mate during the entire year. Because of his much larger size, a male can usually force himself on a female, mounting her from behind, and in extreme cases, the male may pull the female out of the tree. A female may scream and vigorously fight off her suitors, but will submit to one that is dominant or is more familiar. The sounds that she emits can attract other males to the scene, obliging the incumbent to delay mating and fight off the intruders. These fights allow the female to assess which is dominant. Older males have deep scars of these events. Their gestation lasts for five months, with the female giving birth to one or two cubs inside a tree hole. They will remain here until after their second week of life, when they start to follow the female to forage. The young begin to take solid food after their fourth week. They reach sexual maturity with 3 years and have a lifespan of 18 years Western false tapir (Paratapirus occidentalis) Order: Hyracoidea Family: Paratapiroideae Habitat: Rainforests of Western and Central Africa, including those that are part of the Congo Basin. The human actions during the Holocene caused the decline of many species. However some species survived. The hyraxes (Hyracoidea) were among the animals that were able to survive. In the Neocene several new families descending from them appeared. One of these groups was the Paratapiroideae, a sister family to the Flathorns (Platyceratheriidae). The Genus Paratapirus is the one with the largest number of representatives, with four species. The type species is the Western false tapir, a species that inhabits the rainforests of Western and Central Africa, including those that are part of the Congo Basin. The Western false tapir has 190 m of length and 95 cm of height at the shoulder, with a 7 cm short stubby tail. The body of this animal resembles their South American name saker. They have dark brown short fur, which is paler in the face. Their ears are round and dark. What makes them different from the tapir is that they lack the trunk, which is present on them. Their upper lip is flexible, but isn’t broad enough to form such an extructure. The males have large, tusk-like upper incisors that are used in fights between them. They are fast, having long and slender limbs to help them flee from predators. False tapirs are also good swimmers, being able to dive in rivers when danger approaches. They are able to stay underwater for 5 minutes. This animal is an herbivore, feeding on leaves, buds, shoots, fruit, grasses, aquatic plants, and small branches it tears from trees by standing on its hind legs. They also feed on the vast majority of seeds found in the rainforest. Western false tapirs are shy and solitary animals, only being seen together when they visit clearings with mineral licks. At these moments, the animals interact with each other through several different whistles and grunts. Female false tapirs have a 30-day estrous cycle, and typically breed only once every other year. During courtship, the male chases the female and uses soft bites, grunts, and whistles to get her attention, while the female responds with frequent squealing. During this period, the once shy males become violent. They will fight against each other for the right to mate with a female. Their incisors are used to inflict deep wounds on their rivals. After a gestation period of 392 days, the female gives birth to a single young and occasionally two. They are born with pale fur, if compared with that of adults. Weaning begins at around three months of age. The immature coloration becomes darker after about a year, but the mother continues to care for her young for around 18 months. Western false tapirs reach sexual maturity with 2 years and can live up to 24 years. Other species in the genus Paratapirus are: Eastern false-tapir (Paratapirus orientalis) Living in the forests and woodlands of Eastern Africa, this species has 170 cm of body length and 80 cm of shoulder height. Their fur is similar to that of the western species, but lacks the pale in the face. Nile false tapir (Paratapirus niloticus) This species inhabits Northern Africa, mainly in the region of the Nile and close to other freshwater reservoirs. They have 175 cm of body length and 87 cm of shoulder height. Their fur is dark brown, with pale markings on the face below and around the eyes. They can stay more time underwater than other relatives, having an appreciation for aquatic plants. Dwarf false tapir, or Zinj false tapir (Paratapirus minor) Living in the forests and savannas of Zinj Land, this species is the smallest representative of the Genus. They have 140 cm of length and 60 cm of shoulder height. Their fur is reddish-brown, with a dark brown face. This species is more nocturnal than the others, being more active after dusk. European false tapir (Paratapirus europaeus) Living in the forests and woodlands of Western and Central Europe, this species has 190 cm of length and 90 cm of shoulder height. They are the northernmost representative of the Genus. This species has a long and wholly fur when compared to its African relatives. It’s dark brown, with a white stripping pattern in the back. The belly is pale brown.

 Отправлено: 07.05.22 19:50. Заголовок: JOrnitho Very good!..

JOrnitho
Very good! Added them to the catalogue!

 Отправлено: 11.05.22 18:10. Заголовок: Would be plausible f..

Would be plausible for a genus of generuk-like harelopes to exist? They could reach higher branches and twigs that other harelopes couldn’t by standing erect on its hindlegs and elongating its neck, like the gerenuk.

 Отправлено: 11.05.22 18:21. Заголовок: JOrnitho generuk-li..

JOrnitho

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generuk-like harelopes

I think yes, but in which region? It must be a region free of harelopes or other large descendants of hares or other herbivores, in other words, the niche must be all free to allow hares in.

 Отправлено: 12.05.22 03:45. Заголовок: Биолог пишет: I thi..

Биолог пишет:

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I think yes, but in which region?

This is a dificult one. At first I thought about Africa and Europe, but I think that most the regions in the project already have herbivores. I didn't know if would be possible for this species to avoid competition by feeding in the high branches of trees and bushes.

 Отправлено: 12.05.22 07:54. Заголовок: JOrnitho I didn'..

JOrnitho

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I didn't know if would be possible for this species to avoid competition by feeding in the high branches of trees and bushes.

Difficult question. I would rather ask the Author.

 Отправлено: 19.05.22 20:50. Заголовок: Does the flamingos m..

Does the flamingos mentioned in the Zinj Land part of the Neocene: the Portrait of the Earth have a description? I could make it if they don't have.

 Отправлено: 19.05.22 21:32. Заголовок: JOrnitho пишет: Doe..

JOrnitho пишет:

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Does the flamingos mentioned in the Zinj Land part of the Neocene: the Portrait of the Earth have a description? I could make it if they don't have.

Flamingos of the Zinj Land haven't a description. If you make it, it will be wonderfull!

The portrait of the Earth also states that:

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Flamingo of Madagascar represents the species common with Zinj Land, formed stable populations at the reservoirs near the western coast of island.

So when describing the flamingos of the Zinj Land, it is worth pointing out that they also live in Madagascar.

 Отправлено: 20.05.22 03:53. Заголовок: wovoka пишет: Flami..

wovoka пишет:

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Flamingos of the Zinj Land haven't a description. If you make it, it will be wonderfull!

Nice! I'll start to work on it. By the way, which one should be their ancestor? The lesser or the great flamingo?

 Отправлено: 20.05.22 08:14. Заголовок: JOrnitho Yes, flami..

JOrnitho
Yes, flamingos are interesting birds - and interesting for neocene! Thanks again for your work.

 Отправлено: 20.05.22 12:35. Заголовок: JOrnitho пишет: The..

JOrnitho пишет:

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The lesser or the great flamingo?

The great flamingos, they have more chance to survive.

 Отправлено: 20.05.22 15:07. Заголовок: wovoka пишет: The g..

wovoka пишет:

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The great flamingos, they have more chance to survive.

Ok! Would they have some difference if compared to their ancestors? Since they would not live in the same salt lakes, but in the Victoria marshes, perhaps their diet suffered some changes.

 Отправлено: 21.05.22 18:38. Заголовок: I finished the descr..

I finished the description of the flamingos.

Zinj scarlet flamingo (Phoenicopuniceus magnificens)
Order: Phoenicopteriformes
Family: Phoenicopteridae
Habitat: Victoria marshes in Zinj Land, coastal lagoons and estuaries in Eastern Africa
The human actions during the Holocene caused the decline of many species. However some species survived and in the Neocene they gave rise to new species. One of these new species is the Zinj red flamingo, a descendant of the Great flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus). The largest population of this species inhabits and nests in the Victoria marshes in the Zinj Land, but smaller groups also occur in the coastal lagoons and estuaries of Eastern Africa. During the wet season, the population that inhabits the Victoria marshes migrate to coastal areas with brackish water of Zinj Land.
The Zinj scarlet flamingo is a large wading bird, with 143 cm tall and a wingspan of 130 cm. Differently from their ancestors that were covered by a mostly white plumage, these birds are scarlet. Only the bright pink wing converts and the black primary and secondary deviate from its scarlet appearance. The bill is pink with a restricted black tip, and the legs and webbed feet are entirely pink. The call is a goose-like honking.
Their bill is equipped with comb-like structures that enable them to filter food, which is crustaceans, molluscs and algae. Their vivid red coloration is the result of their ability to extract carotenoids present in their food.
The breeding season starts at the beginning of the dry season, when the water level is low enough for them to make their cone-shaped nests made from mud and sticks. The Zinj scarlet flamingo forms monogamous pairs when selecting a nest site, and incubating and raising young. The entire colony participate in mating rituals at the same time. The males put on a show by vocalizing and sticking their necks and heads straight up in the air and turning their heads back and forth. The females initiate mating by walking away from the group and a male follows. The female then spreads her wings and the male mounts her. Long-term pairs do not frequently engage in courtship behaviors or in-group display. Pairs often stand, sleep, and eat in close proximity.
The female lays one egg that is incubated by her and the male for 32 days. When newly hatched, the chick's bill is straight and black, but later develops a downward curve and the adult colors of beak. The feathers are white and grey and the legs are pale pink. The parents are able to distinguish their chick from others in the colony by appearance and vocalization. Both the male and the female feed their chicks with a kind of crop milk, produced in glands lining the whole of the upper digestive tract. For the first 5 days after the chicks hatch, the adults and chicks stay in the nesting sites. At around 10 days old, the chicks begin to move out of their nests and explore their surroundings. When they are two weeks old, the chicks congregate in groups, called "microcrèches", and their parents leave them alone, only returning during the dusk. After a while, the microcrèches merge into "crèches" containing thousands of chicks. Chicks that do not stay in their crèches are vulnerable to predators. After 2 months, the chicks are already fledged. The white flamingo reaches sexual maturity with 4 years and they have a lifespan of 33 years, but many chicks are killed by predators.
The Malagasy scarlet flamingo (Phoenicopuniceus magnificens malagasianus) is a subespecies that inhabits brackish coastal lagoons of Madagascar. On the other hand, the Indian scarlet flaming (Phoenicopuniceus indicus) is another species of the genus. They inhabit the coastal regions of Southern Asia. Their plumage is very similar to that of the Zinj species, but their necks and heads are bright pink, contrasting with the scarlet of the rest of the body. They have 115 cm of height and 123 cm of wingspan.

 Отправлено: 21.05.22 20:37. Заголовок: JOrnitho пишет: I f..

JOrnitho пишет:

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I finished the description of the flamingos.

Very good

 Отправлено: 21.05.22 21:28. Заголовок: JOrnitho Good one!..

JOrnitho
Good one!

 Отправлено: 24.05.22 08:37. Заголовок: It was said in Portr..

It was said in Portrait of the Earth that the flamingos of Madagascar are the same species as the one from Zinj Land.

 Отправлено: 24.05.22 15:25. Заголовок: медведь пишет: It w..

медведь пишет:

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It was said in Portrait of the Earth that the flamingos of Madagascar are t5he same species as the one from Zinj Land.

In this case I can edit the species to be only one living in both Zinj and Madagascar. The other species that I did could be modified to live in the coastal lagoons areas of India.

 Отправлено: 22.05.22 03:33. Заголовок: Still about Zinj Lan..

Still about Zinj Land, the Neocene: the Portrait of the Earth mentions canids living in its open areas. Do they already have descriptions?
I also have an idea about a descendant of the galago adapted to extract larvae from inside trees living in the microcontinent.
Another idea, now about the forests of Central Africa, is the existence of a orangutan-like descendant of the colobus monkeys.

 Отправлено: 22.05.22 12:14. Заголовок: JOrnitho пишет: Sti..

JOrnitho пишет:

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Still about Zinj Land, the Neocene: the Portrait of the Earth mentions canids living in its open areas. Do they already have descriptions?

Yes. In russian version.
Paralupus afrorientalis

 Отправлено: 22.05.22 12:24. Заголовок: JOrnitho пишет: I a..

JOrnitho пишет:

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I also have an idea about a descendant of the galago adapted to extract larvae from inside trees living in the microcontinent.

We have such a descendant of the galago on Zinj Land.
http://www.sivatherium.narod.ru/mammals.htm#tardigalago_tenax_ru

Before describing your galago, compare it with the description of the existing one.

 Отправлено: 22.05.22 12:19. Заголовок: JOrnitho Galagos ar..

JOrnitho
Galagos are interesting! Do you mean they'll have elongated thin digits to extract the larvae just like aye-aye do?

 Отправлено: 22.05.22 12:25. Заголовок: JOrnitho пишет: Ano..

JOrnitho пишет:

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Another idea, now about the forests of Central Africa, is the existence of a orangutan-like descendant of the colobus monkeys.

Good idea!

 Отправлено: 22.05.22 15:39. Заголовок: Биолог пишет: Do y..

Биолог пишет:

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Do you mean they'll have elongated thin digits to extract the larvae just like aye-aye do?

Yes, but another idea was that they developed strong incisors and claw-like nails to remove the bark.

 Отправлено: 22.05.22 18:28. Заголовок: JOrnitho Oh, this i..

JOrnitho
Oh, this is interesting, too.

 Отправлено: 22.05.22 19:52. Заголовок: JOrnitho пишет: str..

JOrnitho пишет:

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strong incisors and claw-like nails to remove the bark

You must remember that aye-aye from Madagaskar evolved in conditions of the abscence of woodpeckers. In Africa (and Zinj Land) woodpeckers are present. So, to evolve a similarity of aye-aye, galagos must have a considerable ecological difference from woodpeckers, that allows them evolving in such direction with avoiding the competition.

 Отправлено: 22.05.22 22:54. Заголовок: Автор пишет: So, to..

Автор пишет:

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So, to evolve a similarity of aye-aye, galagos must have a considerable ecological difference from woodpeckers, that allows them evolving in such direction with avoiding the competition.

I was thinking that they could evolve to be strictly nocturnal. While the woodpeckers feed during the day, the galagos eat during the night. They could also feed of hard fruits.

 Отправлено: 23.05.22 07:58. Заголовок: JOrnitho they could ..

JOrnitho

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they could evolve to be strictly nocturnal. While the woodpeckers feed during the day, the galagos eat during the night

Yes! That's true.

 Отправлено: 23.05.22 20:25. Заголовок: Could the scientific..

Could the scientific name Pongoides be good for the genus of orangutan-like colobus? Or Pseudopongo?
Since Parapongo already exists in the project, I try to create other names that reflect what this animal looks like.

 Отправлено: 23.05.22 21:00. Заголовок: JOrnitho Pseudopong..

JOrnitho
Pseudopongo, because "pongoides" is an adjective, not noun.

 Отправлено: 25.05.22 19:41. Заголовок: I finished the descr..

I finished the description of the false-orangutan.

Western false-orangutan (Pseudopongo occidentalis)
Order: Primates
Family: Cercopithecidae
Habitat: Tropical forests of Western and Central Africa, tree canopy
The human actions during the Holocene caused the decline of many species. However some species survived and in the Neocene they gave rise to new species. One of these new species is the Western false-orangutan. This species is a descendant of Colobinae monkeys from Africa that survived the anthropogenic onslaught during the Holocene. They inhabit the tropical forests of Western and Central Africa.
In this species, the male is larger than a female. While he can be 120 to 170 cm long, she is 100 to 120 cm. The male is also heavier, with 50 to 100 kg, while the female has 30 to 50 kg. Beyond their size, a male can be identified by his long white fringes of silky hair, which form a mantle along the sides of its body, and relatively larger canines. Both males and females are mostly black, with a reddish-brown face, arms and legs. Their underparts are dark brown. Differently from their ancestors, this species lacks a long tail, having only a vestigial, short and stumpy one. They have arms longer than the rest of their body, which is used to move through the canopy of the trees.
The western false-orangutan has a preference for leaves, but isn’t an obligate folivore. This species can also eat fruits, bark, wood, seeds, flowers, petioles, lianas and arthropods. Leaves usually make up over half of its diet, although fruits are occasionally eaten more depending on the season. When foraging for leaves, they prefer young ones over old. With fleshy fruits, the false-orangutan prefers to eat them unripe, which may serve to reduce competition with primates that eat ripe fruits. Like their colobi ancestors, they are able to digest leaves and other plant fibers with a large, multi-chambered stomach that contains bacteria in certain areas.
These primates are mostly arboreal, rarely descending to the ground. This species is active during the day, sleeping at night in nests made of leaves high in the trees. They live in groups formed by a dominant male and four to eight females. Males that are not leading groups either live solitarily or with other outside males in bachelor groups. The females keep the groups cohesive and they are matrilineally related. They rarely disperse from their natal groups, except possibly when they break apart. Males on the other hand, usually leave when they become subadults or adults. They may start out being solitary or in bachelor groups. They gain entry into a social group either by displacing a group male. Aggressive encounters between groups usually involve chases, displays and vocalizations rather than physical contact.
Females mature at 8-10 years and males at 9–11 years. They mate year-round and the female gives birth after a gestation of 8 months. Females will purse their lips and slowly approach a male while making eye contact. This serves to urge the male to mount her. If the male does not respond, then she will try to attract his attention by reaching towards him or shaking tree branches.
False-orangutan infants are vulnerable and dependent of their mothers, who are their primary caregivers. The males are not active in caring for the young, but they do play a role in socialising them to other youngsters. The male has a largely supportive relationship with the infants in his group and shields them from aggression within the group. Infants remain in contact with their mothers for the first five months and mothers stay near the male for protection. Infants suckle at least once per hour and sleep with their mothers in the same nest. After 30 months, the young are weaned and they start to sleep on their own nests. The males are expelled from the group after they reach sexual maturity. Their lifespan is of 48 years.
Another species of the Genus Pseudopongo is the Eastern false-orangutan (Pseudopongo orientalis). This animal inhabits the tropical forests of Eastern Africa. Their are similar to their Western relative, with the exception of their underparts being pale brown and the males having a shorter mantle. They are also smaller, with males being 100 to 150 cm long, while females are 80 to 90 cm long. Their groups are also more numerous and they can venture in forest ground more commonly than the Western false-orangutan. Together, these two species are part of the Family Pseudopongidae.

 Отправлено: 26.05.22 11:39. Заголовок: JOrnitho Good prima..

JOrnitho
Good primate!

 Отправлено: 01.12.22 01:36. Заголовок: I looked at the map ..

I looked at the map of the Neocene for more islands and noticed that São Tomé e Príncipe and other of the Gulf of Guiné still exisit. Since they are away from the continent, which species you think that could appear here with this isolation? Maybe some continental ones could reach it.

 Отправлено: 01.12.22 10:19. Заголовок: JOrnitho Interestin..

JOrnitho
Interesting location! You said they are remote from continents, so continental land fauna has little chance. But birds do have a chance.

 Отправлено: 01.12.22 14:30. Заголовок: Биолог пишет: You s..

Биолог пишет:

цитата:

You said they are remote from continents, so continental land fauna has little chance. But birds do have a chance.

Yes, I think that most land fauna would be descendants of those introduced by the humans.

 Отправлено: 02.12.22 11:06. Заголовок: JOrnitho So be it!..

JOrnitho
So be it!

 Отправлено: 03.12.22 15:30. Заголовок: Let's start with..

Let's start with São Tomé. The largest predator could be a descendant of the African civet, which was introduced by humans. Their main prey could be a descendant of the goat. Another mammal living here could be a descendant of the mona monkey.
While I have an idea of how the civet could be, I was thinking if you have suggestions to for the bovid and primates. Maybe something different, such as complex dysmorphic structures in the case of the goat.

 Отправлено: 03.12.22 18:31. Заголовок: JOrnitho suggestion..

JOrnitho

цитата:

suggestions to for the bovid

Depends on the size of the predator, the civet in our case. Varies from the size of a mara (if the civet's descendant is the size of an ocelot) to the size of a deer (if the "civet" is the size of a jaguar).

цитата:

a descendant of the mona monkey

Good idea, it can be small, the size of a marmoset, beautifully colored.

 Отправлено: 03.12.22 20:42. Заголовок: Биолог пишет: Depen..

Биолог пишет:

цитата:

Depends on the size of the predator, the civet in our case. Varies from the size of a mara (if the civet's descendant is the size of an ocelot) to the size of a deer (if the "civet" is the size of a jaguar).

I was thinking that the civet could have the size of a small leopard, with a maximun lenght of 180 cm. Their tail would be short.

цитата:

it can be small, the size of a marmoset, beautifully colored.

I like that idea! Their predators could be birds of prey and a descendant of the domestic cat that evolved to live in trees.

 Отправлено: 03.12.22 19:06. Заголовок: Interesting...

Interesting. But Sao Tome rift is stil active - may it be new island? It can be colonised by flightless birds.

 Отправлено: 04.12.22 10:21. Заголовок: лягушка More probab..

лягушка
More probably an archipelago. Flightless birds? From which ancestor?

 Отправлено: 04.12.22 11:18. Заголовок: Биолог пишет: Fligh..

Биолог пишет:

цитата:

Flightless birds? From which ancestor?

The presence of predators excludes the probability of flightless altricial birds like New Zealand "wrens". So, passerines, cuckoos and parrots do nit fit this idea. Then, let's check precocial birds. The ancestor must be able to cross ocean, so Galliformes are also doubtful (except for quails?). Anseriformes and rails can do it - so, we may expect for a kind of large rail, moorhen or large goose/duck.

 Отправлено: 04.12.22 15:53. Заголовок: Биолог пишет: More ..

Биолог пишет:

цитата:

More probably an archipelago.

While I like this idea, would it be possible to other islands to appear around São Tomé and Príncipe?

Автор пишет:

цитата:

so Galliformes are also doubtful (except for quails?).

Would be possible for the chickens introduced by the humans in São Tomé and Principe to evolve this way? I'm usure if they would be able to reach the hypothetical islands that could appear during the Neocene. Besides the quails, maybe francolins could also arrive here from continent.

 Отправлено: 04.12.22 18:24. Заголовок: JOrnitho would it b..

JOrnitho

цитата:

would it be possible to other islands to appear around São Tomé and Príncipe?

I don't think so.

 Отправлено: 04.12.22 18:36. Заголовок: I agree with Биолог...

I agree with Биолог.

 Отправлено: 30.12.22 16:41. Заголовок: I made the descripti..

I made the description of the African civet.

Algalia (Paracrocuta ferox)
Order: Carnivora
Family: Viverridae
Habitat: Forests of São Tomé Island
During the Holocene, the humans had introduced many species in new locations. In the island of São Tomé, they introduced the African civet (Civettictis civetta). There, this species survived the transition into the Neocene and their descendant is the algalia, the largest predator of the island. Algalia is a word of Portuguese origin that was used to name both its ancestor and the civetone that it produced.

The algalia have 180 cm of length and 70 cm of shoulder height. The tail is short and thick, with 30 cm. The females are slightly smaller than the males. This species has strong muscles in the skull, giving them a powerful bite capable of breaking bones. Their fur is creamy yellow to reddish on the back, with black stripes, spots, and blotches. Horizontal lines are prominent on the hind limbs, spots are normally present on its midsection and fade into vertical stripes above the forelimbs. Its muzzle is pointed, ears small and rounded. A black band stretches across its small eyes, and two black bands are around its short broad neck. Following the spine of the animal extending from the neck to the base of the tail is an erectile dorsal crest.

This species is mostly carnivorous, hunting large terrestrial prey that they will kill with a powerful bite in the skull. However, the algalia will occasionally visit the beaches after shellfish and beached animals. They can also consume soft fruits, but to a lesser extent than their ancestors.

The algalia is a solitary species, with males and females only being seen together during the mating season. Usually three females share their territory with that of a male. They deposit their feces in large piles called latrines and use their perineal gland secretion to mark their territories around their latrines. When they feel threatened, algalias raise their dorsal crest to make themselves look larger and thus more formidable and dangerous to attack. The mating season starts during the end of the dry season, with the male entering the territory of the females. Females create a nest which is normally in dense vegetation and commonly in a rock crevice. They normally give birth to one to four young. The young are born in advanced stages compared to most carnivores. They are covered in dark, short fur and can crawl at birth. The young leave the nest after 18 days but are still dependent on the mother for milk and protection for another two months. The algalia have a lifespan of 18 years.

 Отправлено: 31.12.22 12:58. Заголовок: JOrnitho Good one!..

JOrnitho
Good one!

 Отправлено: 30.12.22 16:48. Заголовок: Good animal, interes..

Good animal, interesting.

 Отправлено: 30.12.22 19:56. Заголовок: Interesting animal, ..

Interesting animal, thanks!

 Отправлено: 31.12.22 14:36. Заголовок: Thanks, everyone! I&..

Thanks, everyone!
I'll work in the description of the descendant of the domestic goat and of the mona monkey. Any of you have an idea for an interesting descendant of the domestic rat? Maybe by filling a different niche.

 Отправлено: 31.12.22 14:45. Заголовок: Interesting, I'm..

Interesting, I'm waiting for it!

 Отправлено: 31.12.22 16:20. Заголовок: Would be possible fo..

Would be possible for rats and least weasels (they were also introduced) to more between the islands by floating in debris? It would allow each island to have their own species.

 Отправлено: 31.12.22 21:12. Заголовок: JOrnitho I agree ab..

JOrnitho
I agree about floating, although mammals are least likely to arrive this way: two (one male + one female) must arrive, not one, or else a pregnant female.

 Отправлено: 01.01.23 12:54. Заголовок: Биолог пишет: I agr..

Биолог пишет:

цитата:

I agree about floating, although mammals are least likely to arrive this way: two (one male + one female) must arrive, not one, or else a pregnant female.

But they would not be originated from the continent. I thought that the least weasel and the rodents would be descendants of the ones introduced by the humans in São Tomé, then they would float in rafts to the others.
By the way, my idea for one of the rodents was that it could be a porcupine-like animal living in trees.

 Отправлено: 01.01.23 20:30. Заголовок: JOrnitho descendant..

JOrnitho

цитата:

descendants of the ones introduced by the humans

Ah, that really solves the problem!

цитата:

By the way, my idea for one of the rodents was that it could be a porcupine-like animal living in trees.

Quite plausible, if they have enough treetops to live, feed and reproduce.

 Отправлено: 31.12.22 16:22. Заголовок: Yes, they can move a..

Yes, they can move across the sea in driftwood, because why not?

 Отправлено: 03.01.23 02:14. Заголовок: More two animals for..

I read more about the islands of the Gulf of Guinea and noticed that Bioko Island could have more representatives of continental fauna, due to it being close to the continent. It is large, so there is the possibility that more speciels could survive there, for example the drill (Mandrillus leucophaeus), guenons, Ogilby's duiker (Cephalophus ogilbyi), turacos. All these species already live here in the Holocene.

By the way, more two animals for São Tomé. Next will be the rodents and the least weasel's descendant.

Solitary goat-antelope (Solitaricapra tomei)
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Habitat: Forests of São Tomé Island
During the Holocene, the humans had introduced many species in new locations. In the island of São Tomé, they introduced the domestic goat. There, this species survived the transition into the Neocene and their descendant is the solitary goat-antelope. While it shares the name with the bovids of Zinj Land, the solitary goat-antelope is only distantly related to them.

This species has 150 cm of length and stands at 70 cm in the shoulder. The males are slightly larger than females and have 40 cm long horns, with a black fur and chestnut brown underparts. The females are hornless and their fur is totally chestnut. The young of both sexes have a coloration similar to that of the females. Their tails are 15 cm long and have a white tuff.

The solitary goat-antelope is a grazer, feeding on grasses and young shoots. They are naturally diurnal, feeding during the daytime hours. Fallen fruits can also be consumed.

As their name says, this bovid is mostly solitary. Only juveniles occasionally form herds with a clan hierarchy. Males and females are known to associate all year round, but this interaction lasts only a few hours. Adult males are often solitary and aggressive, while adult females can be alone, accompanied by a bull, or their young of different ages. During the mating season, there will be disputes between males for the females. They fight by clashing their horns against each other. The adult female gives birth to one offspring after a gestation period around 235 days. There is an interbirth interval of two years and the calf stays for 2–4 years with its mother before becoming independent. The solitary goat-antelope has a lifespan of 20 years. THeir main predator is the algalia.

Superb false-marmoset (Mona splendida)
Order: Primates
Family: Cercopithecidae
Habitat: Forests of São Tomé Island, tree canopy
During the Holocene, the humans had introduced many species in new locations. In the island of São Tomé, they introduced the mona monkey (Cercopithecus mona). There, this species survived the transition into the Neocene and their descendant is the superb false-marmoset, a small colorful primate that inhabits the canopy of the island’s forests.

As their name says, these monkeys have similar size and habits to the marmosets of South America. Males have an average size of 22 cm while the females are 19 cm. This species has a colorful appearance, with bright maroon arms and legs. The rump and belly are golden-yellow. The male has bright orange patches around the eyes, while in the females they are pale yellow. Their crown is reddish, their temples are silver and their foreheads are black. The males also have a distinctive blue scrotum.

Besides their size, the superb false-marmoset also developed a similar diet to that of the true marmosets. They developed claw-like nails that allow them to cling to the side of a tree and, with their long lower incisors, chew a hole in the tree. The monkey then licks up the exudates or swoops them with the teeth. They also eat insects, fruits, seeds and flowers.

The superb false-marmoset is usually found in family groups of about twelve individuals, with a single mature male. The troop moves through the canopy foraging. It is a highly vocal species with a wide repertoire of calls. Both males and females have vocal sacs which are inflated to be used as resonators. Even being small, the booming call made by the adult male can be heard from great distances. Social interactions include tail twining between resting monkeys and a ritualized head display.

When conditions are right, adult females breed regularly for the rest of their lives. Females flick their tongues at males to solicit mating. The gestation period lasts for 5 months, and females are ready to breed again around 10 days after giving birth. Five months pass between each parturition, so they can give birth twice a year. Usually, the females will give birth to twins. They are weaned with 3 months and reach sexual maturity within 15 months. They have a lifespan of 9 years.

 Отправлено: 03.01.23 10:51. Заголовок: JOrnitho Wow, great..

JOrnitho
Wow, great, I'll add them to the catalogue. I think this can make up a chapter about the Sao Tome islands.

 Отправлено: 03.01.23 10:57. Заголовок: Interesting animals!..

Interesting animals! But I think that drill is too rare to leave descendants in the Neocene.

 Отправлено: 03.01.23 11:04. Заголовок: медведь I agree, dr..

медведь
I agree, drill is unlikely to survive and have descendants.

 Отправлено: 03.01.23 13:07. Заголовок: медведь пишет: But ..

медведь пишет:

цитата:

But I think that drill is too rare to leave descendants in the Neocene.

Maybe one of the other monkeys of Boiko could fill their niche in the island?

 Отправлено: 03.01.23 11:05. Заголовок: They're good and..

They're good and interesting.
Bear
I also agree about drill.

 Отправлено: 03.01.23 13:47. Заголовок: Yes, I think so...

Yes, I think so.

 Отправлено: 03.01.23 22:13. Заголовок: Finished the descrip..

Finished the description of the rodent and of the weasel

São Tomé quilled tree-rat (Pectinorattus elegans)
Order: Rodentia
Family: Muridae
Habitat: Forests of São Tomé Island, tree canopy
During their expansion, the humans had inadvertently transported several commensal species with them. The black rat (Rattus rattus) was one of the animals that became widespread thanks to anthropogenic expansion. In the islands of the Gulf of Guinea, this species was able to survive in the Neocene and originated the genus Pectinorattus, the quilled tree-rat. The type species is the São Tomé quilled tree-rat, an inhabitant of the canopy of the tropical forests of São Tomé Island.

The São Tomé quilled tree-rat has a body length 16 cm, with a tail of 22 cm. Their fur is chestnut brown with a lighter underside. Their main characteristic is the long hairs that are modified into hard quills in the adult. Being found in the back and side of the rodent’s body, these quills are dark brown with white tips. A case of convergent evolution with the porcupines, the quilled tree-rats also use these structures as a defensive mechanism. Their tail is semi-prehensile, being used most to help them maintain balance while moving through the branches of trees.

While being omnivorous, this species has a great preference for food of plant origin. They eat seeds, fruit, stems and leaves. The consumption of fungi is also common, while invertebrates and eggs are very rare. Being nocturnal, the São Tomé quilled tree-rat will forage during the night.

This rodent is mostly monogamous, with males and females forming pairs that remain together for their entire life. Even then, there are cases of a male and two females bonding. Usually one of the females is younger. During the day, they rest in a cavity in a hollow tree. Quilled tree-rats rarely descend to the ground, being very careful when it happens. They can breed throughout the year if conditions are suitable, with a female producing up to five litters a year. Females are able to produce and raise two healthy litters of normal size and weight without significantly changing their own food intake. However, when food is restricted, females can extend pregnancy by over two weeks, and give birth to litters of normal number and weight. The gestation period is only 21 days, and litters can number seven. The male helps the female take care of the young. They reach sexual maturity in about five weeks and have a lifespan of 5 years, but many are preyed upon before reaching an old age.

Príncipe quilled tree-rat (Pectinorattus minor) is another representative of the genus. Inhabiting the island of Príncipe, this species is smaller than the others, with a body length of 12 cm and a tail measuring 15 cm. Their fur is dark brown, with the characteristic quills being light and having yellowish tips. The tropical forests of Bioko Island are the habitat of the giant quilled tree-rat (Pectinorattus giganteus). With 27 cm of body length and 25 cm in the tail, this is the largest representative of the genus. Their fur is light brown, with the quills being black with cream-colored tips.

Guinea weasel (Mustela guianensis)
Order: Carnivora
Family: Mustelidae
Habitat: Tropical forests of the islands of the Gulf of Guinea
During the Holocene, the humans had introduced many species in new locations. In the island of São Tomé, they introduced the least weasel (Mustela nivalis). There, this species survived the transition into the Neocene and their descendant is the Guinea weasel. Through rafting, the ancestors of this mammal were able to reach the other islands of the Gulf of Guinea. It lives in the ground of the tropical forests.

The Guinea weasel had preserved many of its ancestors' characteristics. Average body length in males is 13 to 26 cm, while the females average 11 to 20 cm. Their tail measures 8 cm in males and 6 cm in females. Their fur is very short, sparser and rougher. The upper parts are dark brown, while lower parts, including the lower jaw and inner sides of the legs, are yellowish-white.

The Guinea weasel feeds predominantly on rodents, shrews and lizards. Frogs, fish, small birds and bird eggs are occasionally eaten. Despite its small size, this mustelid is a fierce hunter, capable of killing animals five to 10 times its own weight. They forage undercover, to avoid being seen by predators. It is adapted for pursuing its prey down tunnels, though it may also bolt prey from a burrow and kill it in the open.

They are solitary animals, with the male territory ranges encompassing multiple female ranges. Their territory is marked with scent, with feces, urine and anal and dermal gland secretion. The population density of each territory depends greatly on food supply and reproductive success, thus the social structure and population density of any given territory is unstable and flexible. The Guinea weasel does not dig its own den, but nests in the abandoned burrow of another species. The burrow entrance measures about 2 cm across and leads to the nest chamber located up to 17 cm below ground. The nest chamber measures 10 cm in diameter, and is lined with straw and the skins of the weasel's prey.

They breed during the entire year. The average litter size consists of 6 kits and these reach sexual maturity with 4 months. Males may mate during their first year of life, though this is usually unsuccessful. The female raises its kits without help from the male. Newborn kits are born pink, naked, blind and deaf, but gain a creamy coat of downy fur at the age of 4 days. At 10 days, the margin between the dark upper parts and light under parts becomes visible. The milk teeth erupt at 3 weeks of age, at which point the young start to eat solid food, though lactation can last 12 weeks. The eyes and ears open at 4 weeks of age, and by 8 weeks, killing behaviour is developed. The family breaks up after 9 weeks. The Guinea weasels can live for 8 years.