Cynocephalus 

4 creative works found

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  The Intellect
  by Lisa G. Putman

  The Yellow Baboon (Papio cynocephalus) is a baboon from the Old World monkey family. It has a slim body with long arms and legs and a yellowish-brown hair. It resembles the chacma baboon but is smaller and its muzzle is not as elongated. The hairless face is black, framed with white sideburns. Males can grow to about 84 cm, females to about 60 cm. It has a long tail which grows to be nearly as long as the body. The Yellow Baboon inhabits savannas and light forests in the eastern Africa, from Kenya and Tanzania to Zimbabwe and Botswana. It is diurnal, terrestrial, and lives in complex mixed gender social groups. It is omnivorous with a preference for fruits, but it also eats other plant parts as well as insects and small vertebrate animals. The word “baboon” comes from “babouin”, the name given to them by the French naturalist Buffon. The baboon held several positions in Egyptian mythology. The baboon god Baba, was worshipped in Pre-Dynastic times; alternatively, this may be the origin of the animal’s name. Papio belongs to family Cercopithecidae, in subfamily Cercopithecinae. All baboons have long dog-like muzzles (cynocephalus, “dog-head”), close-set eyes, heavy powerful jaws, thick fur except on their muzzle, a short tail and rough spots on their protruding hindquarters, called ischial callosities. These callouses are nerveless, hairless pads of skin which are present to provide for the sitting comfort of the baboon (and other Old World monkeys). Males of the Hamadryas Baboon species also have a large white mane. / There is considerable variation in size and weight depending on species, the Guinea Baboon is 50 cm (20 inches) and weighs only 14 kg (30 lb) while the biggest Chacma Baboon can be 120 cm (47 inches) and weigh 40 kg (90 lb). In all baboon species there is pronounced sexual dimorphism, usually in size but also sometimes in colour or canine development. Baboons are terrestrial (ground dwelling) and are found in open savannah, open woodland and hills across Africa. Their diet is omnivorous, but is usually vegetarian. They are foragers and are active at irregular times throughout the day and night. They can raid human dwellings and in South Africa they have been known to prey on sheep and goats. Their principal predators are man and the leopard, although they are tough prey for a leopard and large males will often confront them by flashing their eyelids, showing their teeth by yawning, making gestures, and chasing after the intruder/predator. Baboons in captivity have been known to live up to 45 years, while in the wild their life expectancy is about 30 years. Information is an excerpt from Wikpedia: / http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baboon / http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_Baboon Don’t miss out on these other animal images: (Simply click thumbnail to view larger or purchase) ! - - -

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  Thylacine
  by Wendy Slee

  The Thylacine – “Thylacinus cynocephalus” , Tasmanian Tiger, Marsupial Wolf or as it is fondly called where I come from – The Nannup Tiger….is one of Australia’s most intriguing biological ironies. / Supposedly only existing on the island of Tasmania, these amazing creatures – a seeming blend of carnivous wolf and kangaroo, were hunted to extinction in the days of early settlement because they were blamed for killing livestock. The last known thylacine died in a Hobart zoo in 1936. / However, the truth is, they have also existed on mainland Australia, and they still do. These marsupials, like a medium sized dog, with trademark stripes, carry their young in a backward opening pouch. Like a kangaroo, they use their long stiff tail and hind legs to take off, gaining speed, before dropping their front legs to the ground to run like a cat. Many sightings have referred to them as cougars or panthers, as thylacines appear in many colours including black or grey and at times without stripes. To date, there has been no significant proof of their existence, and the fact remains that their extinct status is a harsh lesson to humanity, that we wield a terrible power over the creatures of this earth, and our insensitive treatment of them leads to greater loss than gain. / But, there have been countless sightings of the thylacine, and / documentations of their existence over the years, yet to date, no hard evidence has surfaced, except the credibility of those who know. / My Father is one such person – finding this amazing creature in a kangaroo snare when he was a boy (and naturally no one cared back in the early 1930s!) captured his interest and he became a total believer who has spent his life to date trying to REprove their existence. His lifetime of knowledge has lead to the publication of a book (“The Haunt of the Marsupial Wolf” – reprinted many times over) and participation in many televised documentaries, including in recent years, an AnimalX show for Foxtel discovery channel. / Having grown up with this awareness, I am just as intrigued by the existence of our most elusive marsupial. I too have seen the “tiger” on a number of occasions, frequently see its five toed footprints (dogs have four toes).... and even as recent as last week, heard it screaming outside my house (not a nice sound on a cold dark night, I can tell you…..!) During winter is the time they seem to go out calling, looking for a mate, and most winters we have nights where we can hear their chilling screams as they wander from the state forest through the cover of thick scrub. So I walk most days, always with my camera in hand, and wait for that magic opportunity to prove its existence. Yet somehow, I also feel that to do so, to end the argument once and for all, would also destroy a valuable lesson for humanity…. and place the tiger back in the spotlight where it would be endangered once again. The question for me, and quite a lot of others I know, is do we really WANT the world to know of its status, or whereabouts? Perhaps the Thylacine knows that its greatest protection is the air of mystery and unknown, that haunts its footsteps on this Earth and we should honour that and just let it be.

• 

  Marsupial Wolf
  by Wendy Slee

  The Thylacine – “Thylacinus cynocephalus” , Tasmanian Tiger, Marsupial Wolf or as it is fondly called where I come from – The Nannup Tiger….is one of Australia’s most intriguing biological ironies. / Supposedly only existing on the island of Tasmania, these amazing creatures – a seeming blend of carnivous wolf and kangaroo, were hunted to extinction in the days of early settlement because they were blamed for killing livestock. The last known thylacine died in a Hobart zoo in 1936. / However, the truth is, they have also existed on mainland Australia, and they still do. These marsupials, like a medium sized dog, with trademark stripes, carry their young in a backward opening pouch. Like a kangaroo, they use their long stiff tail and hind legs to take off, gaining speed, before dropping their front legs to the ground to run like a cat. Many sightings have referred to them as cougars or panthers, as thylacines appear in many colours including black or grey and at times without stripes. To date, there has been no significant proof of their existence, and the fact remains that their extinct status is a harsh lesson to humanity, that we wield a terrible power over the creatures of this earth, and our insensitive treatment of them leads to greater loss than gain. / But, there have been countless sightings of the thylacine, and / documentations of their existence over the years, yet to date, no hard evidence has surfaced, except the credibility of those who know. / My Father is one such person – finding this amazing creature in a kangaroo snare when he was a boy (and naturally no one cared back in the early 1930s!) captured his interest and he became a total believer who has spent his life to date trying to REprove their existence. His lifetime of knowledge has lead to the publication of a book (“The Haunt of the Marsupial Wolf” – reprinted many times over) and participation in many televised documentaries, including in recent years, an AnimalX show for Foxtel discovery channel. / Having grown up with this awareness, I am just as intrigued by the existence of our most elusive marsupial. I too have seen the “tiger” on a number of occasions, frequently see its five toed footprints (dogs have four toes).... and even as recent as last week, heard it screaming outside my house (not a nice sound on a cold dark night, I can tell you…..!) During winter is the time they seem to go out calling, looking for a mate, and most winters we have nights where we can hear their chilling screams as they wander from the state forest through the cover of thick scrub. So I walk most days, always with my camera in hand, and wait for that magic opportunity to prove its existence. Yet somehow, I also feel that to do so, to end the argument once and for all, would also destroy a valuable lesson for humanity…. and place the tiger back in the spotlight where it would be endangered once again. The question for me, and quite a lot of others I know, is do we really WANT the world to know of its status, or whereabouts? Perhaps the Thylacine knows that its greatest protection is the air of mystery and unknown, that haunts its footsteps on this Earth and we should honour that and just let it be.

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  Tweet?
  by Ysyra

  A Thylacinus cynocephalus with a pink birdy saying tweet… My collage piece! / It was fun making it.