#Animal History

[nickysfacts]

Beware of the feathery brown men from outer space!🛸

🦉👽🦉

[arthistoryanimalia]

For #WorldBinturongDay :

The Binturong (Arctictis binturong), Plate X in Joseph Wolf's Zoological Sketches Vol. 2, London, 1867. Via BHL.

"A fine male specimen of the Binturong was presented to the Zoological Society in 1855, by Mrs. Samuel Rawson, and lived in good health nearly eleven years in the Gardens. It is believed to have been the only example of this scarce animal ever exhibited alive in Europe."

[catpartyletsgo]

Jimmy the Raven

Jimmy the Raven (often referred to as Jimmy the Crow) was an expertly trained raven that starred in some of the most famous films of all time. Jimmy belonged to animal trainer Curley Twiford, and was “discovered” while Jimmy was riding on Twiford’s bulldog, Squeezit, along with two parakeets. Twiford once said training corvids were the easiest, and (of course) training cats were the most…

[warcrimetime]

This is A1546 and she rests in the National Museum of Australia. Tasmanian tigers/wolves (thylacine) are not canine or feline but a marsupial filling a predator niche. She was the last one alive and passed on Sept 7 1936 in the Beaumaris Hobart Zoo. Graham Pizzely spread the rumor about her being male and named Benjamin. As far as I can tell the closest thing to a name I can find is the label for skull and some bones in the museum: A1546. But I have nicknamed her Hope due to the fact that we still have her DNA and could create a clone ❤️

[tropicalcryptid]

Omg horse post horse post horse post! 🐎

Akhal-Tekes are gorgeous, and they also come in darker colors which are equally stunning:

But there are so many ridiculously gorgeous horse breeds out there! There's the Irish Cob, which was primarily bred by Irish Travellers to pull their carts and as a friendly, gentle companion. They are built like a light draft horse and should be intelligent and sweet. They come in many colors but are best known for having showy black-and-white coats, luxurious manes, and heavily "feathered" feet.

Then there's the Friesian,which originated in the Netherlands. The breed has existed since the 11th Century and were used as war horses and mounts for medieval knights. They have full manes and tails, feathering on their legs, and are always black.

The Andalusian horse originated in the Iberian peninsula in the 15th Century. They were used as war horses and tools of diplomacy, as they were considered one of the most beautiful horses in the world. Shadowfax and Arwen's horse Asfaloth in the LoTR movies.

The American Saddlebred was developed around the time of the American Revolution and were used as officer's mounts during the Civil War. They are known for having a naturally showy, high-stepping gait and can come in any color. Many can also perform two special "gaits" (types of movement) that other horses cannot do.

The Lippizanner was developed in the Hapsburg Empire in the 16th Century. The breed has had to be evacuated during wartime several times to save it from extinction--most famously during WWII. Lipizzanners are famous for their prowess at dressage--specially trained "horse dancing"--and are usually grey ("white") as adults, but are born with dark fur.

Icelandic horses descend from Nordic stock brought to the island around the 9th Century. Although they are small, they are considered horses and not ponies. They are tough, able to withstand harsh Icelandic weather, and can naturally move in two unique gaits. To keep the breed healthy, they are the only horse allowed in Iceland, and any Icelandic horses that leave the island can never return.

A very modern breed, the Rocky Mountain horse was developed in Kentucky in the late 19th Century. Another breed with a unique gait, they are known to be hardy and friendly. Although they come in other colors, they are famous for the rare "silver dapple" gene which gives them a chocolate coat with a silver mane and tail.

One of the most famous and recognizable breeds, the Arabian is also one of the world's oldest, with evidence showing their ancestors existed in the Middle East 3,500 years ago. While modern breeding practices have "pug-ified" them to some degree, Arabians naturally have delicate, "dished" faces and high tail carriage. While fairly small, they are known for their dense bone structure, speed, incredible endurance, and spirited nature. Most modern horse breeds have been created with at least some Arabian blood due to their versatility.

The Marwari is a horse breed developed in India in the 12th Century. They were used as war horses and were known for their courage and loyalty. They are a rare breed today, and are easily identified by their unique curved ears.

The last breed I'll cover before this post gets really absurdly long is the Knabstrupper. This breed is endangered, with only about 600 living horses. The entire breed is descended from one Spanish mare in the 19th Century. The Knabstrupper is most known for its flashy spotted coat.

[bebs-art-gallery]

Cats Stealing Food in Paintings

Still Life with Cat (1705) by Desportes, It's no use crying over spilt milk (1880) by Frank Paton, Still Life of the Remnants of a Meal with a Lunging Cat (18th Century) by Alexandre-François Desportes, Fish Still Life with Two Cats (1781) by Martin Ferdinand Quadal, Still Life with a Cat and a Mackerel on a Table Top (18th Century) by Giovanni Rivalta, The Collared Thief (1860) by William James Webbe, Cat Stealing a String of Sausages (17th Century) by Abraham van Beyeren, Still Life with a Cat (1760) by Sebastiano Lazzari, Kitchen Still Life with Fish and Cat (ca. 1650) by Sebastian Stoskopff, An Oyster Supper (1882) by Horatio Henry Couldery, Still Life with an Ebony Chest (17th Century) by Frans Snyders, Still Life with a Cat (1724) by Alexandre-Francois Desportes, A Cat Attacking Dead Game (18th Century) by Alexandre-François Desportes, Still Life of Fresh-Water Fish with a Cat (1656) by Pieter Claesz, Still Life with Fruits and Ham with a Cat and a Parrot (18th Century) by Alexandre-Francois Desportes, A Cat Holding a Fish in Its Mouth (18th Century) by Sebastiano Lazzari, Still Life with a Cat and a Hare (18th Century) by Desportes, Still Life with Cat and Rayfish (1728) by Jean-Siméon Chardin, A Cat with Dead Game (1711) by Alexandre-Francois Desportes, Still Life with Cat and Fish (1728) by Jean Baptiste Siméon Chardin

Via James Lucas on X/Twitter

[parhe1ion]

if you’re gonna introduce me to something new you have to defeat my 7 evil ex hyperfixations

[mariolanzas]

¨ANTEDILUVIAN¨ gifs

Antediluvian is a short animated film in commemorative homage to Classic Paleoart and the earliest Paleontologists. Exactly 200 years ago was the first dinosaur formally described.

Full short film now available at Youtube/MarioLanzas.

__

Youtube channel

Instagram

Prints and more paleomerch

[nickysfacts]

Poor little guy, nobody taking them seriously, even when one is right in front of them!

😢🇦🇺

[arthistoryanimalia]

#BookRecommendation for #WorldSnakeDay 🐍:

Snake Charm (1995)

"From the time of the earliest cave paintings, artists have been compelled to create likenesses of snakes. Authors Marilyn Nissenson and Susan Jonas have collected the best of those likenesses in Snake Charm, an elegant, absorbing compendium of snake iconography and lore throughout recorded history. In text and images, the authors explore the paradox of the snake, a creature that inspires as much fascination as fear. The themes are grand: good and evil, seduction and betrayal, death and rebirth. The 157 illustrations - 138 of them in color - are magnificent: Minoan goddesses and medieval dragons, Rococo silver and Lalique pendants, nineteenth-century American pottery and contemporary Mexican folk sculpture, scientific drawings and Australian aboriginal "dream" paintings, and much more. The result is a lively and informative book on a provocative subject."

[i-was-today-years-old-when]

i learned that there's a Japanese beetle that when eaten by a frog will haul ass through its digestive system and escape out the back end unscathed (x)

[catpartyletsgo]

Orangey the Cat

Orangey was an incredibly in-demand cat actor back in the 50’s and 60’s! Orangey belonged to Hollywood animal trainer Frank Inn, and was a beautiful ginger cat with a patient personality for filming. Orangey made his movie debut in the 1951 film Rhubarb, in which he plays the namesake character, a “millionaire” cat who was gifted an entire baseball team by his late owner. According to the book…

[pennstateuniversitypress]

Unlocked Book of the Month: Pennsylvania Lion or Panther & Felis Catus in Pennsylvania?

Each month we’re highlighting a book available through PSU Press Unlocked, an open access initiative featuring scholarly digital books and journals in the humanities and social sciences.

About our June pick:

This Metalmark volume combines two of Henry W. Shoemaker’s pamphlets, both published by Shoemaker’s Times Tribune Co., which also published his newspaper, the Altoona Tribune. Pennsylvania Lion or Panther, published in 1914, provides a narrative look into the history and romance of Pennsylvania’s mountain lion. Hunting lore and legends mix with local and natural history and Shoemaker’s musings on the disappearance of this once prevalent animal. The pages are dedicated to J. T. Rothrock, whose description of the mountain lion’s haunting cry graces the pages of this text. The second pamphlet, Felis Catus in Pennsylvania?, gathers reports of the 1922 capture of a wildcat in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, which many speculated was a European wildcat.

Read more and access the book here: https://www.psupress.org/books/titles/978-0-271-02267-3.html

See the full list of Unlocked titles here: https://www.psupress.org/unlocked/unlocked_gallery.html

[dogposts]

An archivist found a long forgotten 8mm film reel in an old metal box, marked "Philippines 1942". Thinking it was lost WWII footage, he sent it in to be restored/digitized. When he got the footage back, he found puppies instead

[borgiabeacon]

A Pig on Trial: Medieval Justice in France, 1386

In 1386, the small town of Falaise in Normandy witnessed one of the most unusual legal proceedings in medieval history—the trial of a pig, accused of attacking a child, fatally.

The courtroom was a spectacle, with the pig (allegedly, but we'd believe) dressed in human clothing, symbolically representing its perceived moral agency. The prosecution treated the case with the gravity afforded to any human criminal, presenting evidence of the attack and calling for justice on behalf of the victim.

Despite any defense efforts, the pig was ultimately found guilty and sentenced to public execution by hanging.

We don't know if the pig was dressed as a human but it'd be easier to imagine.

Further reading:

"The Criminal Prosecution and Capital Punishment of Animals" by E. P. Evans, 1906 : detailing various cases of animal trials throughout history.

"Animal Trials: A Multidisciplinary Approach" by Peter Dinzelbacher, 2002 : discusses the legal framework and societal implications of such cases.

[bebs-art-gallery]

Dog sculptures turned golden from tourists petting them throughout the years