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March Mammal Madness ft. fossil mammals! (Part 2)

6/3/2018

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Here's the second part of my picks for the March Mammal Madness competition, specifically, the extinct mammal  'Antecessors' division. You can read my picks for the first four pairs here.

​PSEUDAELURUS VS. ARCHAEOINDRIS

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Left image by Jay Matternes. Right by Wiki user Smokeybjb.
Pseudaelurus were relatively slender ancient felids, ranging in size from a typical domestic house cat to a cougar. They were spread across the globe from North America to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Although this genus would later give rise to the sabre tooth cats, only one species shows some indication of having large canines (Pseudaelurus quadridentatus). Their slender proportions and shorter limbs probably allowed them to be swift hunters that were also able to climb trees.

Now let us look at Archaeoindrus: a gorilla-sized lemur with a robust skeleton and long arms. The only species found thus far, Archaeoindrus fontoynontii, weighed around 160 kg and was likely arboreal (tree-dwelling), feasting on leaves and the occasional piece of fruit and seeds plucked from nearby tree branches.
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I think a small species of Pseudaelurus wouldn't bother A. fontoynontii. But if this hypothetical battle involves a larger, cougar-sized P. quadridentatus (and this may be the case given its higher seeding), then our giant lemur may be in for some trouble. I'm giving this fight to Pseudaelurus, assuming it can clamp its jaws down on Archaeoindrus's neck before batted away by those long arms.

DIMETRODON VS. AEGYPTOPITHECUS

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Left image by Dimitri Bogdanov. Right image by Nobu Tamura.
The next battle features my childhood favourite 'not-a-dinosaur': Dimetrodon! Dimetrodon was a sail-backed, Early Permian synapsid, sometimes called a 'mammal-like reptile' but more correctly known as a 'non-mammalian synapsid'. Yes, we humans are synapsids, although our mammalian lineage did not directly evolve from Dimetrodon. Different species ranged in size from 1.7 to 4.6 m long, and weighed from 28 to 250 kg. It was a terrestrial predator that sometimes ventured into shallow water to feed on reptiles, fish, and large amphibians.
 
Aegyptopithecus (known from one species, A. zeuxis), was a small (50-90 cm) ancient primate from the Oligocene of Egypt. The shape and position of its humerus (upper arm bone) suggests that rather than swinging through trees, Aegyptopithecus used all four limbs to climb through branches and along tree trunks.
 
Sorry Aegyptopithecus, you don't stand a chance against Dimetrodon! The only way it could survive a direct confrontation would be for it to use its cunning, agility, and small size to run circles around Dimetrodon and flee, thereby forfeiting the battle and automatically losing.

HOMO FLORIENSIS VS. PALAEOLOXODON

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Left photograph by Karen Neoh. Right image by Heinrich Harder.
Homo floriensis was a short statured, 'hobbit' sized species of early human. They lived on the island of Flores in Indonesia between 190,000 and 50,000 years ago. They stood about 1 metre tall, were capable of making simple stone tools, and used fire to cook. These stone tools have been found alongside remains of the now extinct dwarf elephant Stegodon. They also had a small brain with a relatively large cognitive centre, similar in size to modern humans.

Palaeoloxodon was a genus of ancient elephants that lived throughout Europe and Asia during the Pleistocene and Holocene. They had long, straight tusks that could grow up to 9 metres in length (depending on the species). One species of Asian Palaeoloxodon, P. namadicus, was around 4 to 5 metres tall at the shoulder, and was possibly the largest land mammal to have ever lived. It is thought that most of the Palaeoloxodon species went extinct due to the introduction of predatory species, including Homo heidelbergensis and other early humans.

Palaeoloxodon seems to have been hunted to extinction by various species of Homo across the globe. And H. floriensis probably knew how to hunt the dwarf elephants of Flores. But if this battle is between H. floriensis and a local species of Palaeoloxodon -- the gigantic P. namadicus -- my bet is on Palaeoloxodon to trample its enemy and win.

UPDATE: I was informed that the species of Palaeoloxodon taking part in the battle is the dwarf Palaeoloxodon falconeri! So my pick is actually for H. floriensis to win this one.

AMEBELODON VS. DEINOGALERIX

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Left image by Jay Matternes. Right image by Stanton F. Fink.
And finally we come to the last 'Antecessor' division pair. Amebelodon was an ancient proboscidean, an ancestor of modern elephants, that lived in North America during the Miocene. It had a pair of 1 metre long, flat, paired lower tusks that formed a 'shovel'-like scoop, and a pair of more normal looking upper tusks. The lower tusks were likely used to strip bark off trees and dig through vegetation. Various species were up to 3 metres long and 2.5-3 metres tall at the shoulder.

Deinogalerix was a Miocene gymnure, a rat-like 'giant' hedgehog, which lived on islands off the coast of Italy. It was an ancestor of modern day moonrats and hedgehogs, and like modern moonrats, did not have quills. Measuring around 60 cm in length, and with a mouth full of sharp teeth, it likely fed on insects, small reptiles, and other small mammals.

I suppose that Deinogalerix could annoy Amebelodon enough that it quits the field of battle, but I think it's more likely that Amebelodon will accidentally step on and squish our hairy-protohedgehog contender.

And that's a wrap for my March Mammal Madness 'Antecessors' division picks! 

Join in the fun by printing and filling out your own bracket (found here). Then watch the #2018MMM hashtag from the 12th of March and keep up to date with the battles and fascinating mammal facts!
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I just want to science

23/2/2017

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Image by Sarah Andersen 
This is why we want equality, and equal representation for women in science... so we can JUST TALK ABOUT OUR RESEARCH like anyone else!
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Why people wear labcoats

5/1/2017

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I'll add one more reason to the list: because there's a photoshoot and you can't convince the photographer that science does indeed happen in the absence of labcoats.
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Image by Jorge Cham, via PhDComics
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How cladistics works, now in cartoon form

17/4/2016

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They've done it again! The fabulous creators at Corkboard of Curiosities has a very clear and succinct run down of cladistics - how we determine which groups of animals are more closely related to one another. Head over there to find out how!
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Image by Nate Carroll and Tammi Heneveld
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Corkboard of Curiosities = Palaeontology comics!

20/10/2015

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How have I only just recently heard about the palaeontology themed comic, Corkboard of Curiosities? Given my obsession with both palaeontology and cabinets of curiosity... I'll blame my lack of awareness on working too hard on my PhD.
Now, enjoy their primer on Pterosaurs: how they aren't dinosaurs, and they certainly didn't have bat-like wings, and more! And click this link to go to the Corkboard of Curiosities website and enjoy more of their palaeontological comics.
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Images via Corkboard of Curiosities
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Packable, stackable, wearable dinosaurs

22/4/2014

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Ever wished you could be a dinosaur?

Your wish has been granted in the form of: wearable dinosaur costumes! 

I've seen these sorts of costumes in live performances of Walking with Dinosaurs, and in various other street-art shenanigans, but it had never occurred to me that you could just buy one for yourself! These magnificent beasts are available via Only Dinosaurs. They don't mention the price of each model, only that it is dependant on the number ordered. Read - probably very expensive.
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I don't know what's scarier: the cool, deadly, dinosaur stares, or what appears to be the first recorded incidence of theropods giving live-birth to men in raincoats...
Image via Only Dinosaurs.
But what if you don't want to get a giant dinosaur shipped to your doorstep... wait, what am I saying? Who wouldn't want to open and unwrap one of these beasts? They looks so peaceful, and yet so terrifying, covered in plastic and waiting... just waiting...
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Surely the the scariest airport baggage check, ever. Image via Only Dinosaurs.
Ok, let me re-phrase: what if you can't afford to get one of these dinosaurs shipped to your doorstep? Well, you could just origami-fold one instead:
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The incredible googley-eyed full-size Kitrex by Lisa Glover. Image via NerdApproved.
Lisa Glover designed this 15-ft long wearable origami Velociraptor as part of a homework assignment on manufacturing processes. She decided to create and sell 3-ft miniature versions, called KitRex, via a Kickstarter campaign (with only 7 days left!). Although you can't get your hands on a full-size model yet, apparently she will be manufacturing them sometime in the future. 

You can back the campaign and receive your miniature 
not-so-terrifying-more-cutesy model for around ~$20 USD plus shipping. Or if you can't wait, you can download the 3ft KitRex pattern for free!
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The Zoological Times Table

25/3/2014

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Just had to share this wonderful 'times table' of animals by David Malki of Wondermark, which also reminds me of the mash-up of prehistoric animals in the Flip-O-Storic kids book by Sara Ball. 

My favourites are the 'Armadillo' (cat + tortoise) and the Batlephant (bat + elephant). But I can't help thinking of their latin names too, so the 'Narwhape' would be a 'Monohomi' (genera Monodon + Hominoidea), and the 'Camwhal' would be a 'Camodo' (genera Camelus + Odobenus). NERD ALERT!
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The Zoological Times Table, from Wondermark
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Happy New Year!

31/12/2013

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From all your work buddies at 'Dinosaur Office'! Raaaawrr! Image from dinosauroffice.com.
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Always keep a notepad handy...

14/8/2013

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... and I'd like to add another: walking to the toilet, making for a very quick visit and panicky jog back to my desk to write the idea down!
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Whenever I visit the Co-Op Bookshop...

30/4/2013

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Image courtesy of The New South Wales Writer's Centre Facebook page
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    About the author

    Dr Caitlin Syme is a palaeontologist studying the taphonomy (preservation state) of fossil non-avian dinosaurs, crocodiles and fish from the Winton Formation, Queensland, Australia. Think forensic science or CSI for fossils, and you're on the right track!

    Posts on this blog focus mainly on vertebrate palaeontology and taphonomy, as well early career researcher (ERC) productivity tips and insights.


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