Australia is a large island continent that holds some of the most diverse range of biogeography regions. It is the home to the endemic order of Marsupialia. These mammals are unique to the rest of the Mammalia class due to the fact that the female possesses a skin pouch. Some of the more well-known marsupials that exist today are the kangaroo, the wombat, and the koala (Thylacoleo Carnifex 2011). However, most individuals today are unaware of a species of carnivorous marsupials that once roamed Australia over 6,000 years ago. Thylacoleo carnifex, or better known as the marsupial lion, was the largest meat-eating mammal known to exist in Australia (Campbell 1999). its name Thylacoleo, meaning pouch lion, and carnifex, meaning butcher or tormentor perfectly fits its predator status. Although its name might suggest that it was a close relative of present day lions, T. carnifex was more closely related to koalas (Campbell 1999).
The remains of the first marsupial lion were originally discovered by Thomas Mitchell from the Wellington Valley in New South Whales in the early 1830s (Owen 1887). Mitchell came to the conclusion that a large extinct carnivore had existed previously because of a fossilized tooth that he discovered in the valley. All future fossil remains from there and other localities were sent to British paleontologist, Sir Richard Owen. In 1859, Owen was the first to describe the fossil and referred it to the extinct species Thylacoleo carnifex. This would be one of the first mammal fossils discovered in Australia. Owen would described the creature as “one of the fellest and most destructive of predatory beasts” (Owen 1887). For the next 100 years, the lion was only found in small fragmented fossils (Owen 1887).
From ...
... middle of paper ...
...s do not suggest attempts at breakage (Horton and Wright 1981).
Perhaps it is too premature to explore an additional paleoecological implication, namely that the human that had settled in Australia from the land bridge were in competition with Thylacoleo carnifex for the resources of meat from the megafauna (Horton and Wright 1981). To date, there has not been any archeological discovery that has been found which from fossil record predicts that humans might have been killing and eating the megafauna and depleting the supply of food for Thylacoleo carnifex. From the fossil record, we can only describe how the animal could have lived and its diet. There is not yet enough evidence that proves that humans killed off the lions. However, like most of the megafauna that died off after the ice age, the Thylacoleo carnifex could not adapt well enough (Trivedi 2004).
The Smilodon, the most recent type of saber tooth cats, went extinct about 10,000 years ago, around the time when Pangea began separating and breaking up. Sabertooth Cats did not go extinct due to lack of prey. However, around 12,000 years ago (end of the late Pleistocene) sabertooth cats, american lions, wooly mammoths and other gigantic creatures considered the “megafauna” went extinct. A die-off called the Quaternary extinction. A popular theory for the extinction is that the changing in climate during the end of the last ice age, human activity, or a combination of both killed off most large
In this paper Martin is arguing that late quaternary or near time extinctions where caused by human activity or as he calls it “overkill”. Martin recognizes that there have been many forces that have triggered extinctions in the planet on the past but disagrees with the idea that near time extinctions where caused by some commonly believed causes like climate change, disease or nutrient shortage. He argues that the arrival of humans to different continents, islands and the subsequent excessive hunting, the introduction of diseases and other competitors and predators was the cause of extinction of a great number of species “As our species spread to various continents we wiped out their large
Koalas, an Australian native, have the scientific name, ‘Phascolarctos cinereus’, meaning 'ash grey pouched bear.' They are sometimes called koala bears due to their resemblance to bears. However, they are not related to each other. Instead, koalas are related to other marsupials, such as kangaroos and wombats. Being a marsupial means that the females have a pouch for newborns. The Australian Koala Foundation estimated that less than 80000 koalas are left in Australia (Australian Koala Foundation n.d.).
Man is responsible for the extinction of the North American megafauna (Donlan 2005, Rubenstein et al. 2006). Since our ancestors are responsible for the extinction, it’s our duty to fix what our ancestors have destroyed (Donlan 2005). Moreover, according to Donlan (2005) most megafauna species in Africa and Asia are endangered or under threat. Hence, relocating them to North American is a best way of conserving them because the country carries “Global conservation implications” and contrary to that Africa and Asia practice poor conservation strategies (Donlan 2005). He further argues that N...
... over the print is correct. All of these facts are bittersweet though, since sample specimens have nothing to be compared to since no actual creature specimen has been collected. It can be concluded, however, that these remains did not come from any animal currently known to modern science.
“The Victoria Colonist, July 3, 1884, reported the capture of a "gorilla type" creature, six feet six inches tall, weighing from 400- 1000 pounds and covered with glossy hair an inch long.” Although, other 19th
Ancient Aboriginals were the first people to set foot on the Australian continent, over 40,000 years or more before Colonization (Eckermann, 2010). They survived by hunting and gathering their food, worshipping the land to protect its resources, and ensuring their survival. The aboriginal community had adapted to the environment, building a strong framework of social, cultural, and spiritual beliefs (Eckermann, 2010).
In 2000, Dr. Philip D. Gingerich, a paleontologist from the University of Michigan, and his associates discovered two primitive whale fossils in the Balochistan Province of Pakistan. By dating the limestone located in the Habib Rahi Formation of the Balochistan Province, Gingerich estimated these fossils to be about 47 million years old. According to author David Braun of National Geographic News, “The researchers have classified one, Rodhocetus balochistanensis, as a new species of an existing genus, and the other, Artiocetus clavis, as a new species and new genus” (Braun, 5). The discovery of these two fossils suggests that the closest living relative of these primitive whales could possibly be the modern day hippopotamus. This suggested relationship is based on similarities in the bone structure between the two animals.
Thousands of years ago, hunting may have been the cause of the extinction of the North American large land mammals. “Moving up into the 1940’s and 50’s some of today’s most prominent game animals were almost non-existent.”(Kerry G) Over-hunting will directly cause the decline in the particular animal’s species. This will effect everything around it, for example ...
For example, chapter 4 brings up the question of how much Homo Sapiens played a role in the extinction of most of the large marsupial mammals in Australia. The evidence is presented that, after Homo Sapiens arrived on the continent of Australia, “of the twenty-four Australian animal species weighing 100 pounds or more, twenty-three became extinct” (65). This is the type of evidence that cannot be disputed. It is a literal fact that certain areas with large mammal populations experienced a decrease in those populations upon the arrival of Homo Sapiens. Thus it is posited that humans have been a strong antagonist to other species for many thousands of
Austalopithicus meaning “southern ape” was the first specimen to be found. The Austalopithicus was found in African and was know to have lived from 4.2 to around 1.0 million years ago (Standford 251). They had a small body like an ape that would get approximately 64 to around 100 pounds. They had a big jaw with a U-shaped mouth of small teeth. The brain size of a Australopithicus was small and would get approximately 340 to 500 cc, which is in the same range as gorillas and chimpanzees brain sizes. The top of their skull was of a bony ridge. They were able to walk on their two feet and had a small pelvis. The Australopithecus were found with stone tools, which made them the first stone tool makers.
Peterson, Richard S., and George A. Bartholomew. {The Natural History and Behavior of the California Sea Lion}. Los Angeles: American Society of Mammalogists, 1967.
Marchant, S. and P.J. Higgins. Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1990.
Before current knowledge of mountain lion activity had been researched, it was commonly believed that mountain lions were ferocious killers which crept down from the mountains to indulge in midnight feasts on livestock and pets. Of course, the worst harbored fear was the possibility of losing children, family and friends to these wild predators. Besides the past 25 years, little concern was given to the condition of mountain lion populations in California and much of the western United States. Between 1916 and 1971, more than 12,000 mountain lions were killed for bounties and for sport in California (California Wildlife Protection Coalition, 1995).
Sikes, Roberts. and William L. Gannon. "Guidelines of the American Society of Mammalogists for the Use of Wild Mammals in Research." Journal of Mammalogy 92.1 (Feb. 2011): 235-253. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 5 Oct. 2011.