Posts tagged ernest protheroe

Jaws of the Hare You can see the teeth of the hare in the cutaway of the jaws. Note the “clipping”-oriented incisors, with the grinding-oriented molars. These are very similar to rodent teeth, having continually-growing incisors covered with enamel on the anterior surface, but with exposed dentine on the posterior surface. As dentine wears away much more easily than enamel, it serves as a “self-sharpening” system to keep the teeth in gnawing-condition. Despite these similarities, the teeth of rodents and lagomorphs are the result of convergent evolution, rather than being closely related. The difference that first led scientists to believe this (before it was proved by analysis of the inner-ear bones and other anatomical features, and, much later, genetics) is that lagomorphia are far more herbivorous than rodentia, and as such, do not have pre-molars, or any evidence of having had them. Their palate anatomy and digestive tract differs significantly because of this. The Handy Natural History. Ernest  Protheroe, 1910.

Jaws of the Hare

You can see the teeth of the hare in the cutaway of the jaws. Note the “clipping”-oriented incisors, with the grinding-oriented molars. These are very similar to rodent teeth, having continually-growing incisors covered with enamel on the anterior surface, but with exposed dentine on the posterior surface. As dentine wears away much more easily than enamel, it serves as a “self-sharpening” system to keep the teeth in gnawing-condition.

Despite these similarities, the teeth of rodents and lagomorphs are the result of convergent evolution, rather than being closely related. The difference that first led scientists to believe this (before it was proved by analysis of the inner-ear bones and other anatomical features, and, much later, genetics) is that lagomorphia are far more herbivorous than rodentia, and as such, do not have pre-molars, or any evidence of having had them. Their palate anatomy and digestive tract differs significantly because of this.

The Handy Natural History. Ernest  Protheroe, 1910.

Sheep Skull The skull of the bighorn sheep is pretty awesome - it’s made specifically for an animal that vies for superiority by violently headbutting other animals. It’s a double-buttress, with honeycomb bone struts to reinforce it and absorb the blows. The Handy Natural History. Ernest Protheroe, 1919.

Sheep Skull

The skull of the bighorn sheep is pretty awesome - it’s made specifically for an animal that vies for superiority by violently headbutting other animals. It’s a double-buttress, with honeycomb bone struts to reinforce it and absorb the blows.

The Handy Natural History. Ernest Protheroe, 1919.

Sea Lion Skeleton vs Seal Skeleton

The Handy Natural History. Ernest Protheroe, 1919.


Well, maybe jerboas aren’t exactly like kangaroos, but they’re both pretty cool.

Well, maybe jerboas aren’t exactly like kangaroos, but they’re both pretty cool.

Hipitty hop, hipitty hop… Jerboas can hop faster than a human can run! They don’t walk around like normal gerbils or mice, but walk upright or hop. They’re like little kangaroos!

Hipitty hop, hipitty hop…

Jerboas can hop faster than a human can run! They don’t walk around like normal gerbils or mice, but walk upright or hop. They’re like little kangaroos!

Rodentia. Capybaras are the largest extant rodents, and live throughout the forested and swampy parts of South America. They love water, and the name “capybara” comes from the Paraguayan Guarani word Kapiÿva, meaning “Master of the Grasses”.  The Handy Natural History. Ernest Protheroe, 1910.

Rodentia. Capybaras are the largest extant rodents, and live throughout the forested and swampy parts of South America. They love water, and the name “capybara” comes from the Paraguayan Guarani word Kapiÿva, meaning “Master of the Grasses”. 

The Handy Natural History. Ernest Protheroe, 1910.

Llamas, guanacos, alpacas, and vicunas are the remaining American camelids. True camelids began to develop in North America, then migrated south to South America and north across the Bering Strait, into Asia and Africa. As the populations moved apart, they began evolving to adapt to their habitats and became distinct species. Still, until the last ice age, the different camelids existed throughout the Americas. According to Donald Prothero (no relation to Ernest) in his 2002 book Horns, tusks, and flippers: the evolution of hoofed mammals, the North American camelids survived until nearly the end of the last ice age, and there is evidence that they were hunted by the early North American natives. The Handy Natural History. Ernest Protheroe, 1910.

Llamas, guanacos, alpacas, and vicunas are the remaining American camelids. True camelids began to develop in North America, then migrated south to South America and north across the Bering Strait, into Asia and Africa. As the populations moved apart, they began evolving to adapt to their habitats and became distinct species. Still, until the last ice age, the different camelids existed throughout the Americas. According to Donald Prothero (no relation to Ernest) in his 2002 book Horns, tusks, and flippers: the evolution of hoofed mammals, the North American camelids survived until nearly the end of the last ice age, and there is evidence that they were hunted by the early North American natives.

The Handy Natural History. Ernest Protheroe, 1910.

Rat skull. Rat teeth grow continuously and have to be constantly worn down, otherwise they grow through the skull. The Handy Natural History. Ernest Protheroe, 1910.

Rat skull. Rat teeth grow continuously and have to be constantly worn down, otherwise they grow through the skull.

The Handy Natural History. Ernest Protheroe, 1910.

“Sea Bear” refers to any fur seal, but often sea lions (which weren’t good pinnipeds to hunt for pelt, unlike the other fur seals). The Handy Natural History. Ernest Protheroe, 1910.

“Sea Bear” refers to any fur seal, but often sea lions (which weren’t good pinnipeds to hunt for pelt, unlike the other fur seals).

The Handy Natural History. Ernest Protheroe, 1910.

Vampire and insectivorous bats, small digging mammals. The Handy Natural History. Ernest Protheroe, 1910.

Vampire and insectivorous bats, small digging mammals.

The Handy Natural History. Ernest Protheroe, 1910.

Striped hyena, black-backed jackal, and wolf. New Illustrated Natural History of the World, Ernest Protheroe, 1910.

Striped hyena, black-backed jackal, and wolf.

New Illustrated Natural History of the World, Ernest Protheroe, 1910.

The Axis Deer (Axis axis) is usually called the Chital these days. It lives in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and India, for the most part. The “Wapiti Deer” (Cervus canadensis) is what most people know as the elk. New Illustrated Natural History of the World. Ernest Protheroe, 1910.

The Axis Deer (Axis axis) is usually called the Chital these days. It lives in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and India, for the most part. The “Wapiti Deer” (Cervus canadensis) is what most people know as the elk.

New Illustrated Natural History of the World. Ernest Protheroe, 1910.

The Handy Natural History. Ernest Protheroe, 1910.

The Handy Natural History. Ernest Protheroe, 1910.

Bats! The Handy Natural History. Ernest Protheroe, 1910.

Bats!

The Handy Natural History. Ernest Protheroe, 1910.

New Illustrated Natural History of the World by Ernest Protheroe.

New Illustrated Natural History of the World by Ernest Protheroe.