#babyrousa babyrussa

[peniswizard69]

Shouts the the Buru babirusa, whose scientific name is two distinct misspellings of babirusa

[inquisitoradaar]

Hi so, I hate to be annoying, but this post is (very slightly) related to a field of study I'm deeply interested in, and I noticed that the Irish elk info was outdated, so... I decided to do some research on a Tumblr post.

First things first, my field of research is related to extinct animals, not extant ones, so this first bit will be less in depth than the part about the Irish elk. However, doing some zooming in reveals that those "boar" (not a boar) skulls belong to Babyrousa babyrussa, commonly known as the Buru babirusa.

There's next to no mention from a quick look-through of some sites about the Buru babirusa's tusks being able to grow through its skull, thus killing it. But that image had to come from somewhere, right?

While it's nowhere close to being a common ocurrence, it is possible for a Buru babirusa to become old enough for its tusks to grow back into its skull, provided they grow a certain way. I believe that the origin of that image is this article posted on the 8th of March, 2010. Although the images no longer load, the description appears to be accurate.

This article also makes it apparent that I am at least somewhat correct in assuming that this is by no means a common ocurrence, and in addition, that the specimen that had its tusks grow through its skull must have been extremely old for this to happen. Most Buru babirusa would likely die of old age or other circumstances before ever reaching this point.

I also was unable to find anything about female Buru babirusa finding longer tusks to be a more desirable trait in a mating partner. From my understanding, swine (of which babirusa are a part of) use tusks for fighting, not mating purposes. However, again, I am not a biologist.

The theory that Irish elk went extinct as a result of the large antlers that males possessed is widely seen as outdated and inaccurate according to modern understandings. It is believed that they first evolved ~450k years ago, and that they went extinct ~7.7k years ago. That's over 100k more years than our species has been around for!

According to this paper published by C. O. Worman and T. Kimbrell, antler size actually decreased through the Late Pleistocene and into the Holocene (the current era). While a large and healthy stag could grow antlers up to 3.65m (12ft) from tip to tip, which would have weighed 40kg (88lbs), that same stag would have had antlers only weighing 20 to 28kg (44 to 62 lbs) under poor conditions, assuming they endured a similar response to starvation as a red deer.

As there was a reduction in forest density during the Late Pleistocene, as well as insufficient high-quality forage, it can be inferred that Irish Elk stags actually experienced a reduction in both body and antler size, as opposed to the growth that would have occurred as a result of "sexual selection".

(Sexual selection, by the way, is when a species breeds itself out of existence as a result of highly desired traits that end up harming its survival overtime, to massively simplify it.)

Had the Irish elk truly gone extinct as a result of the size of the stags' antlers, they would not have survived for as long as they had; rather, it is more likely they would have gone extinct during the Last Glacial Maximum (or Ice Age) as a result of how taxing their antlers are nutritionally, if they did not go extinct earlier.

Instead, what we see is far less remains known during that time period, before a substantial increase after the Earth warmed back up. It even managed to re-colonise its former range, with many remains found in Ireland, the UK, and Germany (despite its name, the Irish elk was not solely found in Ireland!)

It is not known how exactly the Irish elk went extinct, although it is theorised to be either habitat changes as a result of the changing climate, hunting by humans, or a combination of the two. In this paper on the extinction of the Irish elk, A. M. Lister and A. J. Stuart conclude that environmental factors reduced the elk to a highly vulnerable state, to the point where even low-level hunting by small human populations could have contributed to its extinction.

Also, it turns out that the Irish elk looks far less ridiculous when you don't use a skeleton to show off the size of its antlers. Here's a modern life restoration for comparison, as well as a cave painting from Lascaux from around 15,000 BC.

too many people see evolution as just animals becoming better animals when the truth is that theres a species of boar that evolved to die because its tusks grow into its skull because the males with long tusks fuck the most

[anungulateaday]

Babirusas (Babyrousa babyrussa)

[animalids]

Buru babirusa  (Babyrousa babyrussa)

Photo by Colin Groves

[lightningspam-photography]

Babirusa (Babyrousa babyrussa celebensis)

taken at the LA zoo in Los Angeles, California

status: vulnerable

I have a really hard time getting a decent photo of these guys, glad to have gotten one of a female this time. Maybe the male next time!

[cypherdecypher]

Animal of the Day!

Buru Babirusa (Babyrousa babyrussa)

(Photo by Michael Shehan Obeysekera)

Conservation Status- Vulnerable

Habitat- Indonesia Islands

Size (Weight/Length)- 72.5 kg; 94 cm

Diet- Leaves; Fruits; Nuts; Mushrooms; Insects; Small mammals; Fish

Cool Facts- Buru babirusa are one of the subspecies of several types of babirusa. Similar in appearance to pigs, their standout feature is their tusks, of which they have four. Their tusks grow from both their bottom jaw and top jaw, but the ones on the top jaw grow a little differently. Instead of growing down, the teeth grow up until they poke through the snout and curl towards the eyes. The Buru babirusa use their tusks to forage for food and fight for a mate. On very, very rare occasions, these tusks may circle all the way back and into the forehead of the babirusa, piercing the skull and ultimately killing it.

Rating- 12/10 (Wicked canines, bro.)

[ainawgsd]

[x]

The babirusas, also called deer-pigs are a genus, Babyrousa, in the swine family found in the Indonesian islands of Sulawesi, Togian, Sula and Buru. All members of this genus were considered part of a single species until 2002, the babirusa, B. babyrussa, but following the split into several species, this scientific name is restricted to the Buru babirusa from Buru and Sula, whereas the best-known species, the north Sulawesi babirusa, is named B. celebensis. The remarkable "prehistoric" appearance of these mammals is largely due to the prominent upwards incurving canine tusks of the males, which actually pierce the flesh in the snout.

All members of the genus were considered part of a single species until recently. The split, which uses the phylogenetic species concept, is based on differences in size, amount of hair on body and tail-tuft, and measurements of the skull and teeth.

Babirusa are notable for the long upper canines in the males. The upper canines of male babirusa emerge vertically from the alveolar process, penetrating through the skin and curving backward over the front of the face and towards the forehead.The lower canines also grow upwards. The canines of the female are either reduced or absent. The structure of the male's canines vary by species. In the golden babirusa, the upper canines are short and slender with the alveolar rotated forward to allow the lower canines to cross the lateral view. The Togian babirusa also has the same characteristics and the upper canines always converge. The North Sulawesi babirusa has long and thick upper canines with a vertically implanted alveolar. This caused the upper canines to emerge vertically and not cross with the lower canines. Babirusa also vary by species in other characteristics. The golden babirusa has a long, thick pelage that is white, creamy gold, black or gold overall and black at the rump. The pelage of the Togian babirusa is also long but not as that of the golden babirusa. The Togian babirusa has a tawny, brown or black pelage that is darker on the upper parts than in the lower parts. The North Sulawesi babirusa has very short hair and appears bald. The female babirusa has only one pair of teats. The litter size for a babirusa is usually one or two piglets.

Babirusa are native to Sulawesi, some of the Togian Islands, the Sula Islands and Buru. In Sulawesi, they range from the northern peninsula to the south and south east provinces. Although babirusas are present on both Sulawesi and Sula, they are not found on the large islands between the two, the Banggai Archipelago. It has been hypothesized that the unusual distribution is due to their being transported by humans as gifts bestowed by native royalty. The preferred habitat of babirusa are tropical rainforests along river banks.

Like all pig species, babirusa have an omnivorous diet with an intestinal tract similar to that of the domestic pig. Because it does not have a rostral bone in the nose, a babirusa does not dig with its snout like other pigs do except in mud and swampy grounds. The diet of the babirusa includes leaves, roots, fruits and animal material. Apparently, the strong jaws of a babirusa are capable of easily cracking hard nuts. 

Male babirusa tend to live solitarily while adult females can be found in groups with young. Groups of female and young babirusa may number up to 84 individuals, most of which contain no adult males. Males rarely travel in pairs or trios. The tusks of the adult males are used in intraspecific fighting. The upper tusks are for defense while the lower tusks are offensive weapons. If a babirusa does not grind its tusks (achievable through regular activity), they can eventually keep growing so as to penetrate the animal's own skull.

Babirusas are protected in Indonesia and killing them is illegal in most cases. However, poaching remains a significant threat to the babirusa. Additionally, commercial logging operations threaten the babirusa by habitat loss, and also reduce cover, making the babirusa more exposed to poachers. All extant species of babirusa are listed as vulnerable or endangered by the IUCN. 

[bluekaddis]

Beastember #4 Tusket

Tuskets are one of the most legit looking creatures in the game. Really. They are basically the Thedasian version of babirusa (Babyrousa babyrussa) and I think most of this species ecology could be applied to tuskets.

Headcanon: Their teeth do not make certain aspects of male anatomy bigger. It’s just a rumour.

[earthstory]

What Hath Evolution Wrought?

A babirusa is a kind of pig (known formerly as Babyrousa babyrussa celebensis). A rather strange looking pig that lives in the Indonesian islands, the babirusa has anatomical features more reminiscent of sheep (two-chambered stomachs) which suggests to biologists that the babirusa diverged early in its genetic history from the mainline of pig evolution. Another amazing feature of the babirusa is the rather strange and amazing tusks of the males. There are two lower tusks used in combat (perhaps against other pigs or to aid in plowing up dirt while looking for goodies to eat), and two further back that apparently protect their foreheads from the fighting and plowing… or possibly to merely look good for the pig-ladies.

Perhaps, these pigs took an evolutionary road going in the wrong direction. The rear tusks never stop growing, and as they lengthen they curve into the most marvelous shapes, until… yes, until they actually curve into and begin to impale their own skulls. Ouch!

Annie R

Photo supplied to TetZoo by Henrik Petersson. Read the TetZoo blog at: http://scienceblogs.com/tetrapodzoology/2010/03/08/babirusa-impales-own-head/ Other fun sources: http://www.lazoo.org/animals/mammals/babirusa/ http://www.wired.com/2014/05/the-creature-feature-10-fun-facts-about-the-babirusa/

[animalworld]

BABIRUSA Babyrousa babyrussa celebensis Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens Los Angeles, California ©Laura Quick

Babirusa is a wild pig native to the Indonesian archipelago. This is a female - the male babirusa are known for their bizarre tusks (see them here and a video here), which, if they’re not worn down or broken in combat, will eventually grow long enough to pierce the animal’s skull. Prehistoric paintings of babirusa found in caves on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia have been dated back at least 35,400 years (to the ice age Pleistocene epoch).

Other posts you might like:

South American Tapir (baby)

Mangalitza - Curly Coated Pig

Malayan Tapir with Black Swan

[quickwitter]

BABIRUSA Babyrousa babyrussa celebensis Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens Babirusa is a wild pig native to the Indonesian archipelago. This is a female - the male babirusa are known for their bizarre tusks, which, if they're not worn down or broken in combat, will eventually grow long enough to pierce the animal's skull. Prehistoric paintings of babirusa found in caves on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia have been dated back at least 35,400 years (to the ice age Pleistocene epoch). #babirusa #omnivore #babyrousababyrussacelebensis #pigdeer #wildpig #losangeleszooandbotanicalgardens #losangeleszoo #lazoo #lauraquick #mammalia #prettyeyes #weirdbristlyskin #sparsehair https://www.instagram.com/p/B4I54cIHjoC/?igshid=1286e98dbbimc

[megustaclick-blog]

Animales exóticos increíbles que no sabías que existían

http://megusta.click/wow/animales-exoticos-increibles-no-sabias-existian/

Animales exóticos increíbles que no sabías que existían

http://megusta.click/wow/animales-exoticos-increibles-no-sabias-existian/

1. Cangrejo araña gigante japonés (Macrocheira kaempferi) 2. Ciervo de copete o eláfodo (Elaphodus cephalophus) 3. Pulpo Dumbo (Grimpoteuthis) 4. Gerenuc, gacela jirafa o gacela de Waller (Litocranius walleri) 5. Babirusa (Babyrousa babyrussa) 6. Fosa (Cryptoprocta ferox) 7. Jerbo de Gobi...

[anungulateaday]

Babirusas (Babyrousa babyrussa)

[animalids]

Buru babirusa  (Babyrousa babyrussa)

Photos by Klaus Rassinger and Gerhard Cammerer

[gergarnero]

babirusa babyrousa babyrussa

El babirusa (Babyrousa babyrussa) es una especie de mamífero artiodáctilo de la familia Suidae. Es un extraño cerdo nativo de las islas Célebes, en el centro de Indonesia. Su nombre proviene del malayo båbí rûsa, que significa “puerco ciervo”. Este apelativo se debe a que en el babirusa, los colmillos superiores se curvan hacia arriba de forma tan cerrada que acaban perforando la carne del morro…

[cnacilla]

9. Buru Babirusa

The Babyrousa babyrussa is native to Indonesia where there are tropical rain forests on the Sula Islands and Buru. Very little is known about the habitat,origin, and ecology of this species since it’s under complete protection under Indonesian law due to its vulnerability.

KIngdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Cetartiodactyla

Family: Suidae

Genus: Babyrousa

Species: Babyrousa babyrussa

The buru babirusa is omnivorous, typically feeding on fruit, grasses, leaves, carrion, foliage, fungi, and tiny animals. It has two pairs of tusks, the enlarged upper and lower canines curving towards their skull. The canines can reach up to twelve inches in length, the upper canines growing to the point of piercing the area between its eyes. Males grind their tusks on trees to prevent them from impaling their skulls.

The hairy babirusa is active in the morning, but 50% of their time is taken up by sleep or rest. Babirusas are quick runners and are capable of swimming to other islands. They usually create straw nests and wade in mud. They clatter their teeth when excited, communicate with moans and grunts, and tend to be partially territorial, ploughing and salivating in loose soil for scent-marking.

Male Moluccan babirusas use their tusks to fight others in order to determine who holds the right to mate with different females. The gestation period for females ranges from 150-157 days, 1 or 2 young being born. The golden babirusa is born during the early months of the year. Within 2-10 days after being born, it’ll begin eating solid food. Weaning occurs 6-8 months after its birth and it reaches sexual maturity by 2 years old. In captivity, babirusas can live up to 24 years old. Males tend to travel alone while females remain with families. 

Sources:

http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Babyrousa_babyrussa/

http://www.theanimalfiles.com/mammals/hoofed_mammals/babirusa.html

http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/2461/0

https://youtu.be/6ukezlhvKdU