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Microtus Henseli
''Microtus (Tyrrhenicola) henseli'' is an extinct species of vole belonging to the genus ''Microtus'' that was endemic to Sardinia and Corsica during the Pleistocene and Holocene. Taxonomy and evolution It is placed in the subgenus ''Tyrrhenicola,'' alongside its probable ancestor, the early Middle Pleistocene species ''Microtus (Tyrrhenicola) sondaari,'' which probably descended from a population of '' Allophaiomys'' that arrived in Sardinia between 1.2 million and 0.8 million years ago. The arrival of ''Microtus (Tyrrhenicola)'' on Sardinia marks a faunal turnover event from the Early Pleistocene '' Nesogoral'' faunal complex and the Middle-Late Pleistocene ''Microtus (Tyrrhenicola)'' faunal complex. The oldest dates for ''M. henseli'' are over 500,000 years old. The youngest dates for the species on Sardinia around 1300 BC, while in Corsica the species is suggested to have become extinct between 393 BC and the 6th century AD. It may have become extinct as a result of introd ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Middle Pleistocene
The Chibanian, more widely known as the Middle Pleistocene (its previous informal name), is an Age (geology), age in the international geologic timescale or a Stage (stratigraphy), stage in chronostratigraphy, being a division of the Pleistocene Epoch within the ongoing Quaternary Period. The Chibanian name was officially ratified in January 2020. It is currently estimated to span the time between 0.7741 annum, Ma (774,100 years ago) and 0.129 Ma (129,000 years ago), also expressed as 774.1–129 ka. It includes the transition in palaeoanthropology from the Lower Paleolithic, Lower to the Middle Paleolithic over 300 ka. The Chibanian is preceded by the Calabrian (stage), Calabrian and succeeded by the Late Pleistocene. The beginning of the Chibanian is the Brunhes–Matuyama reversal, when the Earth's magnetic field last underwent reversal. Its end roughly coincides with the termination of the Penultimate Glacial Period and the onset of the Last Interglacial period (correspondin ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Island Gigantism
Island gigantism, or insular gigantism, is a biological phenomenon in which the size of an animal species isolated on an island increases dramatically in comparison to its mainland relatives. Island gigantism is one aspect of the more general "island effect" or "Foster's rule", which posits that when mainland animals colonize islands, small species tend to evolve larger bodies, and large species tend to evolve smaller bodies (insular dwarfism). This is itself one aspect of the more general phenomenon of island syndrome which describes the differences in morphology, ecology, physiology and behaviour of insular (island) species compared to their continental counterparts. Following the arrival of humans and associated introduced predators (dogs, cats, rats, pigs), many giant as well as other island endemics have become extinct (e.g. the dodo and Rodrigues solitaire, giant flightless pigeons related to the Nicobar pigeon). A similar size increase, as well as increased woodiness, has b ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mustelidae
The Mustelidae (; from Latin , weasel) are a diverse family of carnivora, carnivoran mammals, including weasels, badgers, otters, polecats, martens, grisons, and wolverines. Otherwise known as mustelids (), they form the largest family in the suborder Caniformia of the order (biology), order Carnivora with about 66 to 70 species in nine subfamilies. Variety Mustelids vary greatly in size and behaviour. The smaller variants of the least weasel can be under in length, while the giant otter of Amazon rainforest, Amazonian South America can measure up to and sea otters can exceed in weight. Wolverines can crush bones as thick as the femur of a moose to get at the Bone marrow, marrow, and have been seen attempting to drive bears away from their kills. The sea otter uses rocks to break open shellfish to eat. Martens are largely arboreal, while European badgers dig extensive tunnel networks, called setts. Only one mustelid has been domesticated; the ferret. Tayra are also kept ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ictonychinae
Ictonychinae is a subfamily of the mammal Family (biology), family Mustelidae found mainly in the Neotropics (three species) and Africa (three species), with one Eurasian member. It includes the grisons, Patagonian weasel, Ictonyx, striped polecats, African striped weasel, and marbled polecat. These genera were formerly included within a paraphyletic definition of the mustelid subfamily Mustelinae. Most members have a mask-like bar or larger dark marking across their faces; the African representatives of the group are striped. A defense mechanism common to the group is use of a Chemical defense#Mammals, chemical spray similar to (but not necessarily as strong as) that of skunks. Species Subfamily Ictonychinae Fossil genera *''Cernictis'' *''Enhydrictis'' *''Martellictis'' *''Lutravus'' *''Oriensictis'' *''Pannonictis'' *''Propoecilogale'' *''Sminthosinis'' *''Stipanicicia'' *''Trigonictis'' *''Trochictis'' References External links Ictonychinae, {{carnivor ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sardinian Dhole
The Sardinian dhole (genus ''Cynotherium'' especially ''C. sardous'') is an extinct insular canid which was endemic to what is now the Mediterranean islands of Sardinia and Corsica during the Middle-Late Pleistocene. It went extinct at the end of the Pleistocene around the time of human settlement of the islands. Its scientific name means "dog-beast of Sardinia", the genus name from the and and the specific name from the , alt. form of . Around the size of a jackal, morphological studies indicate it was a specialised stalking predator of small mammals and birds, with a probable preference for the endemic Sardinian pika. Evolution The oldest remains of ''Cynotherium'' on Sardinia date to around the early-Middle Pleistocene transition around 800,000 years ago, associated with a faunal turnover event on Sardinia likely caused low sea levels allowing dispersal to Sardinia-Corsica from mainland Italy. ''Cynotherium'' is suggested to have originated from the species '' Xenocyon l ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Talpa Tyrrhenica
''Talpa tyrrhenica'', also known as the Tyrrhenian mole, is an extinct species of mole belonging to the genus '' Talpa''. It was endemic to the Mediterranean islands of Corsica and Sardinia during the Pleistocene epoch. It was first described in 1945 by Dorothea Bate, Remains with affinities to the species extend back to around 2 to 2.1 million years ago on the archipelago, during the Early Pleistocene. It is suggested to have evolved from the mainland European species ''Talpa minor'', which is known from the archipelago during the Pliocene. It is estimated to have been around 15% larger than its mainland ancestor. The species survived into the Late Pleistocene, but the timing of its extinction is uncertain due to a lack of radiocarbon dates. Paleoenviroment During the Middle-Late Pleistocene Corsica and Sardinia had their own highly endemic depauperate terrestrial mammal fauna which besides ''T. tyrrhenica'' included Tyrrhenian field rat, ('' Rhagamys orthodon''), the Sardinian ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mole (animal)
Moles are small, fossorial, subterranean mammals. They have cylindrical bodies, velvety fur, very small, inconspicuous eyes and ears, reduced hindlimbs, and short, powerful forelimbs with large paws adapted for digging. The word "mole" most commonly refers to many species in the family Talpidae (which are named after the Latin word for mole, ''talpa''). True moles are found in most parts of North America, Europe (except for Ireland) and Asia. Other mammals referred to as moles include the African Golden mole, golden moles and the Australian Marsupial mole, marsupial moles, which have a similar ecology and lifestyle to true moles but are unrelated. Moles may be viewed as pests to gardeners, but they provide positive contributions to soil, gardens, and ecosystems, including soil aeration, feeding on slugs and small creatures that eat plant roots, and providing prey for other wildlife. They eat earthworms and other small invertebrates in the soil. Terminology In Middle English, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Asoriculus
''Asoriculus'' is an extinct genus of terrestrial Shrew (animal), shrews in the subfamily Soricinae (red-toothed shrews) and tribe Nectogalini, native to Europe (including the islands of Corsica, Sardinia and Sicily) West Asia and North Africa, from the Late Miocene (from around 6 million years ago) until the late Holocene (likely the late 1st millennium BC). The genus is closely related and possibly ancestral to the also recently-extinct Nesiotites, Balearic shrews (''Nesiotites''), with their closest living relative being the Himalayan shrew (''Soriculus nigrescens''). Taxonomy and evolution The number of valid species in the genus is uncertain and subject to dispute. The best known species of ''Asoriculus'', ''Asoriculus gibberodon'', was widespread in Europe from the Late Miocene (Messinian, Mammal Neogene zones, MN13, from around 7.2-5.3 million years ago) to the Early Pleistocene, and was also present in Anatolia and the Caucasus during the Pliocene. The youngest records of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Prolagus Sardus
The Sardinian pika (''Prolagus sardus'') is an extinct species of lagomorph that was endemic to the islands of Sardinia, Corsica and neighbouring Mediterranean islands until its extinction likely in Roman times. It was the last surviving member of ''Prolagus,'' a genus of lagomorph with a fossil record spanning 20 million years once widespread throughout Europe during the Miocene and Pliocene epochs. Its closest living relatives are modern pikas (which all belong to the genus '' Ochotona''), from which it is estimated to have diverged around 30 million years ago. Anatomy The full skeletal structure of the Sardinian pika was reconstructed in 1967, thanks to the numerous finds of bones in Corbeddu Cave, which is near Oliena, Sardinia. Some years later, from these remains, the same researchers led by paleontologist Mary R. Dawson from the US were able to create a plaster reconstruction with good accuracy, and provide a thorough description of the skeleton's morphology published in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rhagamys Orthodon
''Rhagamys'' is an extinct genus of rodents in the subfamily Murinae, the Old World mice and rats. The genus was established by the Swiss zoologist Charles Immanuel Forsyth Major to accommodate ''Rhagamys orthodon'', which is the only species in the genus. It was endemic to the Mediterranean islands of Corsica and Sardinia, descending from '' Rhagapodemus'', which had colonised the islands around 3.6 million years ago. Its closest living relatives are of the genus ''Apodemus,'' which includes the field and wood mice. Taxonomy and evolution The ancestors of ''Rhagamys'', belonging the widespread genus '' Rhagapodemus'', first arrived in Corsica-Sardinia during the Early-Late Pliocene transition, around 3.6 million years ago. Three chronospecies of the lineage have been named, including "''Rhagapodemus''" ''azzarolii'' from the earliest Late Pliocene, followed by "''Rhagapodemus''" ''minor'' from the Early Pleistocene, succeeded by ''Rhagamys orthodon'', which ranged from the Middl ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Invasive Species
An invasive species is an introduced species that harms its new environment. Invasive species adversely affect habitats and bioregions, causing ecological, environmental, and/or economic damage. The term can also be used for native species that become harmful to their native environment after human alterations to its food web. Since the 20th century, invasive species have become serious economic, social, and environmental threats worldwide. Invasion of long-established ecosystems by organisms is a natural phenomenon, but human-facilitated introductions have greatly increased the rate, scale, and geographic range of invasion. For millennia, humans have served as both accidental and deliberate dispersal agents, beginning with their earliest migrations, accelerating in the Age of Discovery, and accelerating again with the spread of international trade. Notable invasive plant species include the kudzu vine, giant hogweed (''Heracleum mantegazzianum''), Japanese knotw ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Holocene
The Holocene () is the current geologic time scale, geological epoch, beginning approximately 11,700 years ago. It follows the Last Glacial Period, which concluded with the Holocene glacial retreat. The Holocene and the preceding Pleistocene together form the Quaternary period. The Holocene is an interglacial period within the ongoing Ice age, glacial cycles of the Quaternary, and is equivalent to Marine isotope stages, Marine Isotope Stage 1. The Holocene correlates with the last maximum axial tilt towards the Sun of the Earth#Axial tilt and seasons, Earth's obliquity. The Holocene corresponds with the rapid proliferation, growth, and impacts of the human species worldwide, including Recorded history, all of its written history, technological revolutions, development of major civilizations, and overall significant transition towards urban culture, urban living in the present. The human impact on modern-era Earth and its ecosystems may be considered of global significance for th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
