viverrids

But despite the apparent strengths of this identification (and the fact that it came from an authoritative source: one of the authors in particular [Géraldine Veron] is a noted expert on viverrids), it was really a non-starter for several obvious reasons.

That’s no mystery carnivore (part II)… it’s a giant squirrel! Darren Naish 2007

Nandinia is not close to civets and genets, but is in fact a basal feliformian (Flynn et al. 2005); oriental linsangs (Prionodon) are not viverrids, but in fact the sister-taxon to cats (Gaubert & Cordeiro-Estrela 2006, Gaubert & Veron 2003); and Madagascan carnivorans are also not viverrids, but closer to mongooses (Gaubert et al. 2005).

Archive 2007-01-01 Darren Naish 2007

The way the animal holds its long hindlimbs (referring here to the photo showing the animal from behind) and the suggestion of a patagium now make sense, and the unusual curving shape of the long tail matches the tail posture reported for giant flying squirrels (Meijaard et al. 2006, p. 321) and is unlike that of viverrids and other carnivorans.

That’s no mystery carnivore (part II)… it’s a giant squirrel! Darren Naish 2007

Particularly in the foothills and mountains, larger mammals such as Chacma baboon Papio ursinus, honey-badger Mellivora capensis, clawless otter Aonyx capensis, leopard Panthera pardus, aardvark Orycteropus afer, eland Taurotragus oryx, the regional endemic bontebok Damaliscus dorcas dorcas anddiverse mustelids and viverrids occur.

Cape Floral Protected Areas, South Africa 2009

The way the animal holds its long hindlimbs (referring here to the photo showing the animal from behind) and the suggestion of a patagium now make sense, and the unusual curving shape of the long tail matches the tail posture reported for giant flying squirrels (Meijaard et al. 2006, p. 321) and is unlike that of viverrids and other carnivorans.

Archive 2007-01-01 Darren Naish 2007

Nandinia is not close to civets and genets, but is in fact a basal feliformian (Flynn et al. 2005); oriental linsangs (Prionodon) are not viverrids, but in fact the sister-taxon to cats (Gaubert & Cordeiro-Estrela 2006, Gaubert & Veron 2003); and Madagascan carnivorans are also not viverrids, but closer to mongooses (Gaubert et al. 2005).

That’s no mystery carnivore (part I) Darren Naish 2007

But despite the apparent strengths of this identification (and the fact that it came from an authoritative source: one of the authors in particular [Géraldine Veron] is a noted expert on viverrids), it was really a non-starter for several obvious reasons.

Archive 2007-01-01 Darren Naish 2007

New records of two species of rare viverrids from Liberia.

Western Guinean lowland forests 2008

Assorted viverrids and mustelids at front left, duck-billed platypus in middle (cuscus behind it).

Toys toys toys Darren Naish 2006

I WANT: aye - aye, viverrids, all the glowing deep - sea fish, more.

Toys: part II Darren Naish 2006