There is a world somewhere between reality and fiction. Although ignored by many, it is very real and so are those living in it. This forum is about the natural world. Here, wild animals will be heard and respected. The forum offers a glimpse into an unknown world as well as a room with a view on the present and the future. Anyone able to speak on behalf of those living in the emerald forest and the deep blue sea is invited to join.
10-17-2019, 06:22 AM( This post was last modified: 10-17-2019, 09:30 AM by Rishi )
Some news regarding Cape lions.
Recently, Forrest Galante, a wildlife biologist, announced that he will be searching for the Cape lion. While this type of thing would normally seem without merit, Forrest has repeatedly found extinct species alive - including the Zanzibar leopard. While I don't entirely believe they'll find one (or, honestly, if Cape lions are even distinct as a population) but nevertheless it's cool to see and hope for the best!
(10-17-2019, 06:22 AM)BlakeW39 Wrote: Some news regarding Cape lions.
Recently, Forrest Galante, a wildlife biologist, announced that he will be searching for the Cape lion. While this type of thing would normally seem without merit, Forrest has repeatedly found extinct species alive - including the Zanzibar leopard. While I don't entirely believe they'll find one (or, honestly, if Cape lions are even distinct as a population) but nevertheless it's cool to see and hope for the best!
I wouldn't trust anything comes from EXTINCT OR ALIVE from Animal Planet.
(10-17-2019, 07:25 PM)lionjaguar Wrote: While I don't entirely believe they'll find one (or, honestly, if Cape lions are even distinct as a population) but nevertheless it's cool to see and hope for the best!
Actually, Cape lions were just a southern population of th existing South African lions. Although they had some characteristics that may suggest a differentiation, we must take in count that those were described by only a couple of skulls and skins from the area, so are not very reliable.
Mazák said that cape lions had a distinct mane in the last part of they abdomen, but modern Kruger lions also have that, check this male for example, know as "Hairy belly":
*This image is copyright of its original author
Those old taxonomic characteristics should be taken carefully as where based in very few specimens, this is the case with all the lion and tiger subspecies.
(10-17-2019, 07:25 PM)lionjaguar Wrote: While I don't entirely believe they'll find one (or, honestly, if Cape lions are even distinct as a population) but nevertheless it's cool to see and hope for the best!
Actually, Cape lions were just a southern population of th existing South African lions. Although they had some characteristics that may suggest a differentiation, we must take in count that those were described by only a couple of skulls and skins from the area, so are not very reliable.
Mazák said that cape lions had a distinct mane in the last part of they abdomen, but modern Kruger lions also have that, check this male for example, know as "Hairy belly":
*This image is copyright of its original author
Those old taxonomic characteristics should be taken carefully as where based in very few specimens, this is the case with all the lion and tiger subspecies.
I didn't wrote this.
(10-17-2019, 07:25 PM)lionjaguar Wrote: While I don't entirely believe they'll find one (or, honestly, if Cape lions are even distinct as a population) but nevertheless it's cool to see and hope for the best!
(10-18-2019, 03:59 AM)lionjaguar Wrote: I didn't wrote this.
Yes, I know, but when I quote the post of @BlakeW39, the system authomatically put your name, because I quote it from your post, not from the original. So, no big deal.
(10-17-2019, 07:25 PM)lionjaguar Wrote: While I don't entirely believe they'll find one (or, honestly, if Cape lions are even distinct as a population) but nevertheless it's cool to see and hope for the best!
Actually, Cape lions were just a southern population of th existing South African lions. Although they had some characteristics that may suggest a differentiation, we must take in count that those were described by only a couple of skulls and skins from the area, so are not very reliable.
Mazák said that cape lions had a distinct mane in the last part of they abdomen, but modern Kruger lions also have that, check this male for example, know as "Hairy belly":
*This image is copyright of its original author
Those old taxonomic characteristics should be taken carefully as where based in very few specimens, this is the case with all the lion and tiger subspecies.
Yes I am aware of this, the genetic differentiation between lions is incredibly small, and genetically there are only two subspecies - one of which primarily occupies Sub-Saharan Africa and another which occupies Eurasia, North Africa, as well as parts of Sub-Saharan Africa as well. The Asiatic/Indian lion is pretty close to genetically identical to the Barbary lion.
However this does not mean that seperate populations aren't different. Morphological and behavioral characteristics are most important on a subspecific/population level. These morphological characteristics/adaptations as well as behaviors probably vary more within big cat subspecies than they do between them. Indian lions are unique in their behavior (small lioness prides, males fotming coalitions or beinh solitary) and are morphologically distinct, clearly these adaptations are for their forest habitat. They are well suited to their habitat. While West African lions are genetically similar, they are in other respects different and adapted to a different habitat/lifestyle and are behaviorally more similar to many of the other subspecies. This is why populations are important. Animals form adaptations based on their habitat. Siberian tigers are adapted to temperate and often very cold temperatures, Bengal tigers are closer in adaptation to Sunda tigers in that they live in a warmer climate.
Also, for conservational reasons, recognition of distinctive *populations* can be vital for an animal's survival. If Asiatic lions weren't distinguished as a distinct population, they'd not recieve such important efforts.
So, while I don't think Cape lions in particular are especially unique, we can see that it is important to go beyond the genetic and subspecific level of classification.
Etosha: A photo I find fascinating, I don't know exactly why but it's so, two young all muscle lions with 0% fat, tearing away one from the other a poor part of a small zebra's body.
Kevin Richardson: " When a lion is out and about and comes across a new scent he will often flehmen grimace. It’s looks quite comical but actually he is drawing in the scent over the vomeronasal organ also known as the Jacobson’s organ. Here information is unlocked about the scent and things like female reproductivity or whether a rival male passing through is a threat, can be determined. The word ‘flehmen’ comes from the German word, which means to bare upper teeth. In this video Vayetse demonstrates the behaviour beautifully and then carries on his way. ".
Sad... Warning ! An iconic animal is silently disapearing under our eyes.
Kevin Richardson:" Nothing really to smile about: In countries like Malawi, the approximate wild lion population is 5, 30 in Nigeria, 25 in Angola, 22 in Rwanda and 20 in Niger. Countries with larger populations include Tanzania (8176), Kenya (1825), Mozambique (1295), South Africa (2070), Zimbabwe (1709) and Zambia (1095). A recent study (The draft report titled State of the Lion: Fragility of a Flagship Species, by Amy Dickman and Amy Hinks from the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit at the University of Oxford), notes how there are more wild rhinos than wild lions, 14 times more African elephants and wild gorillas than wild lions and nearly 350 000 people for every one wild lion, yet wherever I travel in the world people know more about the plight of the rhino, elephant and gorilla than the lion. I use my platform to spread as much awareness about the lion as possible and include talking about it wherever I can. You can play your part in spreading awareness by tagging a few friends who might not know this. ".
Lions in South-Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia
