Historias De Un Cazador

scientificillustration:

“The phylogenetic position of Cetacea relative to other extant mammals. Parsimony analysis of 26 nuclear loci (Goloboff weighting with k = 2) position Cetacea deep within Artiodactyla and distantly related to other obligately aquatic mammals (Sirenia). For the placements of aquatic mammals and for relationships among higher-level placental groups, circles at nodes indicate >90% bootstrap support. Branches are proportional to the number of substitutions optimized to branches; long basal branches with cross bars were truncated for aesthetics. The cladogram is rooted by vertebrate outgroups to Mammalia (Gallus, Taeniopygia, Anolis, Xenopus, Danio). Artwork is by Carl Buell.”

A phylogenetic blueprint for a modern whale. Gatesy J, Geisler JH, Chang J, Buell C, Berta A, Meredith RW, Springer MS, McGowen MR. Mol Phylogenet Evol. 2012 Oct 26. pii: S1055-7903(12)00418-6. doi: 10.1016/j.ympev.2012.10.012. (pdf)

paleoillustration:

“Bad day at the tar pits, as a sabre-toothed cat (Smilodon) attacks an already entrapped giant ground sloth, Paramylodon”. By Mauricio Antón.

metazoa-etcetera:

A Markhor (Capra falconeri) says ‘cheese’ for the camera. 

The name is thought to be derived from the Persian word mar, meaning snake, and khor, meaning “eater”. According to folklore, the markhor will kill and eat snakes. While chewing the cud, the markhor produces a foam-like substance that is sought after by the local people, who believe it is useful in extracting venom from snake-bite wounds.

[Photo Source.]

paleoillustration:

Repenomamus by Jim Robins.

paleoillustration:

Procoptodon by Peter Trusler

paleoillustration:

 ”Giants” by José Antonio Peñas:

“A selection of bigger beasts of all times. I compose 3d images with classic 2d drawing. You can see in ground, right to left, african elephant (currently, the bigger land beast) indricotherium (the bigger mammal of all times), TRex (one of biggest predators), Brachiosaurus (one of biggest dinosaurs) and human (the bigger stupid in earth). In top, blue whale (the bigger beast of all times) and quetzalcoatlus (the bigger flying)”