Posts tagged zoology

Unknown Skull - Identification?

image

any idea what this is? a friend found it in their backyard. South Texas feel free to post the picture. I don’t have a size reference :( sorry about that. =]

Ahhh I wish there were more photographs of it! It’s hard for me to tell what a skull is when I can’t see it from more than one angle.

It’s upside down, so the parts of the skull I can identify most easily (the sagittal arch and the parietal complex) are hidden. It doesn’t look like that small of a skull, but from what I can see of the relationship between the auditory bullae and the zygomatic arches, it looks canid. I’m not sure if it’s too big to be a coyote skull, though.

It’s been a few years since wildlife ecology and actually handling skulls, so does anyone else have an idea?

biomedicalephemera: “Great Beast” (Megatherium) skeleton, from George Shaw’s Zoological Lectures delivered at the Royal Institution, 1800.  Megatherium americana was one of the few species of South American megafauna to not die out soon after the Great American Interchange at the beginning of the Pliocine era, and there’s evidence that it was encountered and hunted by early humans, especially after it expanded northwards into southern North America. The size of a bull elephant, Megatherium were largely quadrupeds, but could use their massive tail as a tripod-like base to allow themselves to stand on their hind legs and pull down the choicest branches of leaves. Their somewhat smaller (rhino-sized) ancestor Promegatherium is believed to be a direct ancestor of both Megatherium and modern-day sloths. 

biomedicalephemera:

“Great Beast” (Megatherium) skeleton, from George Shaw’s Zoological Lectures delivered at the Royal Institution, 1800. 

Megatherium americana was one of the few species of South American megafauna to not die out soon after the Great American Interchange at the beginning of the Pliocine era, and there’s evidence that it was encountered and hunted by early humans, especially after it expanded northwards into southern North America.

The size of a bull elephant, Megatherium were largely quadrupeds, but could use their massive tail as a tripod-like base to allow themselves to stand on their hind legs and pull down the choicest branches of leaves. Their somewhat smaller (rhino-sized) ancestor Promegatherium is believed to be a direct ancestor of both Megatherium and modern-day sloths. 

odditiesoflife:

The Bestiarium of Aloys Zötl (1831-1887)

These beautiful watercolours come from the Austrian painter Aloys Zötl’s Bestiarium, a series of exquisite paintings of various animals undertaken from 1831 through until his death in 1887. He was relatively unknown until, decades after his death, his work was “re-discovered” by surrealist André Breton who was taken by the surrealist aesthetic he saw present in the images – as he writes: “Lacking any biographical details about the artist, one can only indulge one’s fantasies in imagining the reasons which might have induced this workman from Upper Austria, a dyer by profession, to undertake so zealously between 1832 and 1887 the elaboration of the most sumptuous bestiary ever seen.”
biomedicalephemera: Upset rooster is upset. Conradi Gesneri medici Tigurini Historiae animalium. 1551. Thanksgiving would be so much different if you had to kill your own angry rooster. Those bastards go for the eyes.

biomedicalephemera:

Upset rooster is upset.

Conradi Gesneri medici Tigurini Historiae animalium. 1551.

Thanksgiving would be so much different if you had to kill your own angry rooster. Those bastards go for the eyes.

Dyspholidus typus - The Boomslang Though it belongs to the same family as king snakes and the most common “grass snakes”, the boomslang is one of the few members of Colubridae to possess a venom that’s legitimately dangerous to humans, and the fangs that are able to inject it (some members of the family have venom, but weak fangs). In fact, the fangs of the boomslang are some of the broadest and most deeply-grooved in the snake world. The venom of the boomslang is hemotoxic. That means that the proteins in the venom affect the blood of the victim, and in the case of the most common hemotoxin in boomslang venom (phospholipase A2, if you’re wondering), it causes red blood cells to rupture. Given enough time with this toxin floating around in the bloodstream, the significant thinning of the blood allows it to flow out of the capillary walls, and can flow out of any part of the body where capillaries are particularly close to the exposed surface. In other words, if you’re bitten by a boomslang and don’t seek help right after being bitten, you’ll likely end up bleeding out from your nose, eyes, mouth, ears, and genital orifices. Because of the significant blood loss associated with a wait of more than 48 hours between bite and antivenin administration (phospholipases are fairly slow-working, compared to neurotoxins and cardiotoxins), full blood transfusions are sometimes needed, to replenish the plasma, red blood cells, and platelets that were lost in the bleed-out. Illustrations of the Zoology of South Africa. Andrew Smith, 1888.

Dyspholidus typus - The Boomslang

Though it belongs to the same family as king snakes and the most common “grass snakes”, the boomslang is one of the few members of Colubridae to possess a venom that’s legitimately dangerous to humans, and the fangs that are able to inject it (some members of the family have venom, but weak fangs). In fact, the fangs of the boomslang are some of the broadest and most deeply-grooved in the snake world.

The venom of the boomslang is hemotoxic. That means that the proteins in the venom affect the blood of the victim, and in the case of the most common hemotoxin in boomslang venom (phospholipase A2, if you’re wondering), it causes red blood cells to rupture. Given enough time with this toxin floating around in the bloodstream, the significant thinning of the blood allows it to flow out of the capillary walls, and can flow out of any part of the body where capillaries are particularly close to the exposed surface.

In other words, if you’re bitten by a boomslang and don’t seek help right after being bitten, you’ll likely end up bleeding out from your nose, eyes, mouth, ears, and genital orifices. Because of the significant blood loss associated with a wait of more than 48 hours between bite and antivenin administration (phospholipases are fairly slow-working, compared to neurotoxins and cardiotoxins), full blood transfusions are sometimes needed, to replenish the plasma, red blood cells, and platelets that were lost in the bleed-out.

Illustrations of the Zoology of South Africa. Andrew Smith, 1888.

Xiphochilus fasciatus [now Choerodon fasciatus] - The Harlequin Tusk Wrasse More colloquially known as the “Harlequin Tusk” by wrasse fanciers, this fish is a difficult keeper in an aquarium, but a very flashy specimen. Illustrations can’t truly capture the low-level bioluminescence or UV reflection in the live animals. The Harlequin Tusk’s long, sharp teeth would seem to imply a more hostile creature than other wrasse, they’re only semi-territorial, and will tolerate other semi-aggressive fish around (such as blenny and angelfish), so long as no other Harlequin Tusks are present. Their primary foodstuffs consist of small-to-medium sized crustaceans that live in reefs, so they’re not considered “reef-friendly”, though they don’t destroy coral itself. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. 1867.

Xiphochilus fasciatus [now Choerodon fasciatus] - The Harlequin Tusk Wrasse

More colloquially known as the “Harlequin Tusk” by wrasse fanciers, this fish is a difficult keeper in an aquarium, but a very flashy specimen. Illustrations can’t truly capture the low-level bioluminescence or UV reflection in the live animals.

The Harlequin Tusk’s long, sharp teeth would seem to imply a more hostile creature than other wrasse, they’re only semi-territorial, and will tolerate other semi-aggressive fish around (such as blenny and angelfish), so long as no other Harlequin Tusks are present. Their primary foodstuffs consist of small-to-medium sized crustaceans that live in reefs, so they’re not considered “reef-friendly”, though they don’t destroy coral itself.

Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. 1867.

Peter Pallas Procured a Pack of Pulchritudinous Plumages

ofpaperandponies:

People from Stephen Colbert to Kate Winslet to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow have animals named after them in an honorary way. Peter Pallas also has two animals honorarily named after him, but he also published the original descriptions of quite a few species, himself!

Peter Simon Pallas - (1741-1811) 

Pallas was a German-born and educated Russian zoologist. The first animals that he made original descriptions of were unclassified taxidermied creatures in a Dutch museum in the Hague. Later, after Catherine II invited him to teach at St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences, he made several expeditions to central Russian provinces, Lake Baikal, the Ural Mountains, and the upper Amur. He amassed an impressive collection of minerals, plants, and animals. Empress Catherine II was very impressed with his work, and paid Pallas 2,000 rubles for his entire collection (500 rubles above the asking price), allowing Pallas to keep his collection until he died. She later gave him a large estate, where he lived until his second wife died.

Pallas went back to Berlin in 1810, with permission of the Emperor. He died there the next year. The majority of his original botanical and zoological collection remain in St. Petersburg.

So what did he discover?

Pallas’s critters past break!

Read More

ofpaperandponies

Canis Zorda [now Vulpes zerda] - Fennec Fox The Fennec fox is indigenous to Northern Africa, especially around Morocco, but is common in zoos around the world. Their large ears dissipate the heat of the desert, and their thick fur keeps them warm during the surprisingly-cold nights of the Sahara. They’re the smallest canid in the world, and often weigh less than 3 lbs as adults. Despite their tiny size, their ears can reach up to six inches across. Like many desert residents, Fennecs are opportunistic feeders. They consume eggs of birds and reptiles, rodents, and reptiles themselves, as well as a large number of insects. Interestingly, the Fennec fox’s paws are much more similar to the Arctic foxes than any other fox species. They’re large and fur-covered, which protect them from the blisteringly-hot sand, rather than the frigid snow and ice. Atlas zu der Reise im nordlichen Afrika. Eduard Ruppell, 1926.

Canis Zorda [now Vulpes zerda] - Fennec Fox

The Fennec fox is indigenous to Northern Africa, especially around Morocco, but is common in zoos around the world. Their large ears dissipate the heat of the desert, and their thick fur keeps them warm during the surprisingly-cold nights of the Sahara. They’re the smallest canid in the world, and often weigh less than 3 lbs as adults. Despite their tiny size, their ears can reach up to six inches across. Like many desert residents, Fennecs are opportunistic feeders. They consume eggs of birds and reptiles, rodents, and reptiles themselves, as well as a large number of insects.

Interestingly, the Fennec fox’s paws are much more similar to the Arctic foxes than any other fox species. They’re large and fur-covered, which protect them from the blisteringly-hot sand, rather than the frigid snow and ice.

Atlas zu der Reise im nordlichen Afrika. Eduard Ruppell, 1926.

Emperor Penguin - Aptenodytes forsteri. Full adult plumage. Emperor penguins are similarly colored but larger than King Penguins. They are not sexually dimorphous (the males and females are similarly colored and sized), and are one of many species of bird that requires two adults to raise a brood - in their case, a single chick. The bones of the penguin are solid, allowing them to dive to depths with pressures that would crush birds with hollow bones. The hemoglobin in the blood of Emperor and King penguins is also unique - it’s specialized for maximum absorption in low densities of oxygen. Emperor (but not King) penguins are able to shut down many of their internal organs so as to slow metabolism during egg production (in the female) and incubation (in the male). National Antarctic Expedition 1901-1904: Natural History - Vol II. Zoology. The Order of Trustees of the British Museum, 1907.

Emperor Penguin - Aptenodytes forsteri. Full adult plumage.

Emperor penguins are similarly colored but larger than King Penguins. They are not sexually dimorphous (the males and females are similarly colored and sized), and are one of many species of bird that requires two adults to raise a brood - in their case, a single chick. The bones of the penguin are solid, allowing them to dive to depths with pressures that would crush birds with hollow bones. The hemoglobin in the blood of Emperor and King penguins is also unique - it’s specialized for maximum absorption in low densities of oxygen. Emperor (but not King) penguins are able to shut down many of their internal organs so as to slow metabolism during egg production (in the female) and incubation (in the male).

National Antarctic Expedition 1901-1904: Natural History - Vol II. Zoology. The Order of Trustees of the British Museum, 1907.

biomedicalephemera: Strigops habroptilus - The Kakapo Kakapos are some of the goofiest animals out there, and sadly, one of the most endangered, too. Also known as the owl parrot and night parrot, they lost their power of flight long ago, and as is too often the case, were nearly wiped out by settlers and their introduction of dogs, cats, ferrets, and stoats. Since the kakapo had evolved without a fear of those animals, their natural boldness wound up getting many of them eaten by the invasive species - and that’s not even counting the fact that they were apparently “delicious”. The kakapo (one named Sirocco, specifically) is the bird that attempted to mate with Mark Carwardine’s head in the remake of “Last Chance to See”, with Stephen Fry. If you haven’t seen the clip yet, it’s fantastic. “You’ve been shagged by a rare parrot!” The Zoology of the Voyage of the HMS Erebus & Terror From 1839-1843. John Richardson and John Edward Gray, 1845.

biomedicalephemera:

Strigops habroptilus - The Kakapo

Kakapos are some of the goofiest animals out there, and sadly, one of the most endangered, too. Also known as the owl parrot and night parrot, they lost their power of flight long ago, and as is too often the case, were nearly wiped out by settlers and their introduction of dogs, cats, ferrets, and stoats. Since the kakapo had evolved without a fear of those animals, their natural boldness wound up getting many of them eaten by the invasive species - and that’s not even counting the fact that they were apparently “delicious”.

The kakapo (one named Sirocco, specifically) is the bird that attempted to mate with Mark Carwardine’s head in the remake of “Last Chance to See”, with Stephen Fry. If you haven’t seen the clip yet, it’s fantastic. “You’ve been shagged by a rare parrot!”

The Zoology of the Voyage of the HMS Erebus & Terror From 1839-1843. John Richardson and John Edward Gray, 1845.

Galliphasis albocristatus (now Lophura leucomelanos hamiltoni) and Galliphasis horsfieldii (now Lophura leucomelanos lathami)  The White-Crested Kalij Pheasant and Black-Breasted Kalij Pheasant. Pheasants and other fowl (such as domestic chickens, ducks, and geese) are some of the most well-known precocial birds. Born with open eyes and fluffy down, with “adult” (juvenile) feathers growing in shortly after birth, precocial birds generally require less care from their parents than altricial chicks. The range of precocial nature is broad, though, and precocial birds still need protection and care from their parents. Most birds that have only one parent caring for them after hatching are precocial, and most tree-nesting birds with two parents are altricial, but there are no set lines how birds raise their young. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. 1858.

Galliphasis albocristatus (now Lophura leucomelanos hamiltoni) and Galliphasis horsfieldii (now Lophura leucomelanos lathami) 

The White-Crested Kalij Pheasant and Black-Breasted Kalij Pheasant.

Pheasants and other fowl (such as domestic chickens, ducks, and geese) are some of the most well-known precocial birds. Born with open eyes and fluffy down, with “adult” (juvenile) feathers growing in shortly after birth, precocial birds generally require less care from their parents than altricial chicks. The range of precocial nature is broad, though, and precocial birds still need protection and care from their parents.

Most birds that have only one parent caring for them after hatching are precocial, and most tree-nesting birds with two parents are altricial, but there are no set lines how birds raise their young.

Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. 1858.

Struthio camelus and Galbula fuscicapilla [now Galbula tombacea tombacea] - The Common Ostrich and White-Chinned Jacamar

The ostrich belongs to the paleognathae, while the jacamar belongs to the neognathae.

There are two superorders (a phylogenetic classification) of the the class Neornithes - the Paleognathae, or “old-jaws”, and the Neognathae, or “new-jaws”. The palates and beak structures of the paleognathae are much more closely related to reptilian jaws, and the superorder evolved significantly before the “new-jaws” came about. The flightless ratites (ostriches, kiwis, elephant birds, cassowaries, etc) and the flying tinamous of South America are all paleognathae.

All of the other extant birds (27 of the 29 orders) belong to the Neognathae. Everything from the birds of prey to the hummingbirds to the finches and sparrows falls under this classification. 

Transactions of the Scientific Meetings of the Zoological Society of London. 1858, 1854.

Bitis nasicornis - The Rhinoceros Viper or River Jack The river jack is also known as the horned puff adder, though the latter name is given to more than one “horned” viper. It’s native to the central African forests, and is rarely seen outside of heavily forested and humid areas.  As a viper, the river jack has a highly venomous bite, and limited studies suggest that it’s very near (if not) the most venomous puff adder. It’s not a highly aggressive species, but has known to defend its territory more than the more well-known Gaboon Viper. Given the more hemotoxic venom and the more defensive demeanor, this viper could well account for many deaths per year, but Central African snake bites are often unreported and untreated. Noviates Zoologicae: A Journal of Zoology. Vol X. The Hon. Walter Rothschild & Dr. Ernst Hartert, 1903.

Bitis nasicornis - The Rhinoceros Viper or River Jack

The river jack is also known as the horned puff adder, though the latter name is given to more than one “horned” viper. It’s native to the central African forests, and is rarely seen outside of heavily forested and humid areas. 

As a viper, the river jack has a highly venomous bite, and limited studies suggest that it’s very near (if not) the most venomous puff adder. It’s not a highly aggressive species, but has known to defend its territory more than the more well-known Gaboon Viper. Given the more hemotoxic venom and the more defensive demeanor, this viper could well account for many deaths per year, but Central African snake bites are often unreported and untreated.

Noviates Zoologicae: A Journal of Zoology. Vol X. The Hon. Walter Rothschild & Dr. Ernst Hartert, 1903.

dendroica: n130_w1150 by BioDivLibrary on Flickr. Planches enluminées d’histoire naturelle t.1 Paris? :s.n.,1765-1783?biodiversitylibrary.org/item/109376

dendroica:

n130_w1150 by BioDivLibrary on Flickr.

Planches enluminées d’histoire naturelle t.1
Paris? :s.n.,1765-1783?
biodiversitylibrary.org/item/109376