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Working on a personal fursona (part 3, real animal info)
12 years ago
As my fursona continues to develop, I created this journal to store info about the real animals that his appearance is based on.
Golden Jackal:
The golden jackal is the most typical member of the genus Canis, being of medium size and having no outstanding features. Although similar to a small grey wolf, the golden jackal is distinguished by its lighter tread, its more slender build, its sharper muzzle and it shorter tail. Its winter fur also differs from the wolf's by its more fulvous-reddish colour. The heaviest of the jackals, it is the only species to subsist outside of Africa. Despite its name, the golden jackal is not closely related to black-backed and side-striped jackals, being instead more closely related to the grey wolf, coyote and Ethiopian wolf.
The golden jackal features prominently in African, Middle-Eastern and Asian folklore and literature, where it is often portrayed as a trickster analogous to the fox and coyote in North American and European tales. According to an ancient Ethiopian folktale, jackals and man first became enemies shortly before the Great Flood, when Noah initially refused to allow jackals into the ark, thinking they were unworthy of being saved, until being commanded by God to do so.
The golden jackal is very similar to the grey wolf in general appearance, but is distinguished by its smaller size, lighter weight, shorter legs, more elongated torso and shorter tail. The end of the tail just reaches the heel or slightly below it. The head is lighter than the wolf's, with a less-prominent forehead, and the muzzle is narrower and more pointed. Its skull is similar to the wolf's, but is smaller and less massive, with a lower nasal region and shorter facial region. The projections of the skull are strongly developed, but weaker than the wolf's. Its canine teeth are large and strong, but relatively thinner than the wolf's, and its carnassials are weaker. Occasionally, it develops a horny growth on the skull which is associated with magical powers in southeastern Asia. This horn usually measures half an inch in length, and is concealed by fur. The iris is light or dark brownish.
The fur's base colour is golden, though this varies seasonally from pale creamy yellow to dark tawny. The fur on the back often consists of a mixture of black, brown and white hairs, which sometimes form a dark saddle similar to the black-backed jackal's. Animals from high elevations tend to have buffier coats than their lowland counterparts. The underparts and belly are of a lighter pale ginger to cream colour than the back. Individual specimens can usually be distinguished by light markings on the throat and chest which differ individually. The tail is bushy, and has a tan or black tip
Jackals and coyotes (sometimes called the "American jackal") are opportunistic omnivores, predators of small- to medium-sized animals and proficient scavengers. Their long legs and curved canine teeth are adapted for hunting small mammals, birds, and reptiles, and their large feet and fused leg bones give them a physique well-suited for long-distance running, capable of maintaining speeds of 16 km/h (9.9 mph) for extended periods of time. Jackals are crepuscular, most active at dawn and dusk.
Range: Northern Africa, southeastern Europe, the Middle East, western Asia, and South Asia
Here are some nice references to pictures of real Golden Jackals, to help show their head and muzzle shape:
http://www.animalspot.net/golden-ja.....is-aureus.html
http://www.la.lv/iespejams-ari-latv.....jusies-sakali/ [Latvian photo with both golden jackal and red fox]
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9muCmqr13.....den+Jackal.JPG [this photo appears to be an African Golden Wolf]
African Golden Jackals, aka African Golden Wolves:
http://walkthewilderness.net/golden.....y-photography/ (in Tanzania, five nice photos)
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ltb5TmG0k.....den+Jackal.jpg
http://www.ejphoto.com/golden_jackal_page.htm (in Tanzania, two nice photos)
Long-legged buzzard:
An attractive bird of prey, the long-legged buzzard is very variable in appearance, with individuals being one of three colour types – pale, rufous or dark. However, this elegant buzzard can typically be recognised by dark patches on the bend in each wing, the dark trailing edges of the wings, and a rounded, rufous tail. The long-legged buzzard also has a dark bill, brownish-yellow eyes, and long, dingy-yellow legs. Two subspecies of the long-legged buzzard are recognised, Buteo rufinusrufinus and Buteo rufinuscirtensis, which are distinguishable both by size and geographical distribution, with B. r. cirtensis being the smaller subspecies. Compared to the loud mewing of the closely related common buzzard (Buteo buteo), the call of the long-legged buzzard is somewhat quieter, with a mellower tone.
Size: Length: 43 - 58 cm; Wingspan: 105 - 155 cm; Male weight: 1,100 g; Female weight: 1,300 g
Range: Wikipedia: It inhabits dry open plains of northern Africa, southeastern Europe, west and central Asia east to China, and across central India. Recent sightings indicate that there is a small population in the Apulian region of south-eastern Italy. Younger birds disperse north of breeding grounds and there are records from Northern Europe. The breeding population in Greece is around 60 pairs. ARKive: The range of subspecies B. r. rufinus stretches from south-eastern Europe, through Turkey and the Middle East (1), to China, while subspecies B. r. cirtensis is native to North Africa. This wide-ranging raptor is also an occasional visitor to countries as far as Norway and Sri Lanka.
Habitat: Wikipedia: Open, uncultivated areas, with high bushes, trees, cliffs or hillocks are favoured as nesting areas. ARKive: The long-legged buzzard is found in areas of arid steppe or semi-desert, as well as in mountainous regions of North Africa. A preference for hunting in areas of open land allows the long-legged buzzard to best use its keen eyesight to find prey. The long-legged buzzard usually nests on cliff-sides, rocky ledges or in trees bordering open land, and often this species will often reconstruct nests abandoned by other birds.
Pictures:
http://ibc.lynxeds.com/photo/long-l.....finus/flight-0 Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus)
http://ibc.lynxeds.com/photo/long-l.....finus/flight-1 in flight
http://ibc.lynxeds.com/photo/long-l.....-flight-photos Combo of 2 flight photo's (shows underside and back of the same bird's wings)
http://ibc.lynxeds.com/photo/long-l.....o-rufinus/3-cy in Belgium
http://ibc.lynxeds.com/photo/long-l.....uteo-rufinus-0 in Ethiopia
http://ibc.lynxeds.com/photo/long-l.....s/bird-gliding A bird gliding
http://ibc.lynxeds.com/photo/long-l.....ufinus/migrant wonderful back view
http://ibc.lynxeds.com/photo/long-l.....ufinus/fliying nice example of a realistic version of the 'bars' on Auric's wings
http://sta.sh/02az2btlbv5e nice photo of a buzzard by
chickenzaur
Pictures (headshots):
http://ibc.lynxeds.com/photo/long-l.....autiful-raptor BEAUTIFUL RAPTOR
http://ibc.lynxeds.com/photo/long-l.....credible-stare incredible stare
http://ibc.lynxeds.com/photo/long-l.....s-chicks-nest- Female on nest
Sources for more information:
This site -> http://eol.org/
Golden Jackal:
The golden jackal is the most typical member of the genus Canis, being of medium size and having no outstanding features. Although similar to a small grey wolf, the golden jackal is distinguished by its lighter tread, its more slender build, its sharper muzzle and it shorter tail. Its winter fur also differs from the wolf's by its more fulvous-reddish colour. The heaviest of the jackals, it is the only species to subsist outside of Africa. Despite its name, the golden jackal is not closely related to black-backed and side-striped jackals, being instead more closely related to the grey wolf, coyote and Ethiopian wolf.
The golden jackal features prominently in African, Middle-Eastern and Asian folklore and literature, where it is often portrayed as a trickster analogous to the fox and coyote in North American and European tales. According to an ancient Ethiopian folktale, jackals and man first became enemies shortly before the Great Flood, when Noah initially refused to allow jackals into the ark, thinking they were unworthy of being saved, until being commanded by God to do so.
The golden jackal is very similar to the grey wolf in general appearance, but is distinguished by its smaller size, lighter weight, shorter legs, more elongated torso and shorter tail. The end of the tail just reaches the heel or slightly below it. The head is lighter than the wolf's, with a less-prominent forehead, and the muzzle is narrower and more pointed. Its skull is similar to the wolf's, but is smaller and less massive, with a lower nasal region and shorter facial region. The projections of the skull are strongly developed, but weaker than the wolf's. Its canine teeth are large and strong, but relatively thinner than the wolf's, and its carnassials are weaker. Occasionally, it develops a horny growth on the skull which is associated with magical powers in southeastern Asia. This horn usually measures half an inch in length, and is concealed by fur. The iris is light or dark brownish.
The fur's base colour is golden, though this varies seasonally from pale creamy yellow to dark tawny. The fur on the back often consists of a mixture of black, brown and white hairs, which sometimes form a dark saddle similar to the black-backed jackal's. Animals from high elevations tend to have buffier coats than their lowland counterparts. The underparts and belly are of a lighter pale ginger to cream colour than the back. Individual specimens can usually be distinguished by light markings on the throat and chest which differ individually. The tail is bushy, and has a tan or black tip
Jackals and coyotes (sometimes called the "American jackal") are opportunistic omnivores, predators of small- to medium-sized animals and proficient scavengers. Their long legs and curved canine teeth are adapted for hunting small mammals, birds, and reptiles, and their large feet and fused leg bones give them a physique well-suited for long-distance running, capable of maintaining speeds of 16 km/h (9.9 mph) for extended periods of time. Jackals are crepuscular, most active at dawn and dusk.
Range: Northern Africa, southeastern Europe, the Middle East, western Asia, and South Asia
Here are some nice references to pictures of real Golden Jackals, to help show their head and muzzle shape:
http://www.animalspot.net/golden-ja.....is-aureus.html
http://www.la.lv/iespejams-ari-latv.....jusies-sakali/ [Latvian photo with both golden jackal and red fox]
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9muCmqr13.....den+Jackal.JPG [this photo appears to be an African Golden Wolf]
African Golden Jackals, aka African Golden Wolves:
http://walkthewilderness.net/golden.....y-photography/ (in Tanzania, five nice photos)
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ltb5TmG0k.....den+Jackal.jpg
http://www.ejphoto.com/golden_jackal_page.htm (in Tanzania, two nice photos)
Long-legged buzzard:
An attractive bird of prey, the long-legged buzzard is very variable in appearance, with individuals being one of three colour types – pale, rufous or dark. However, this elegant buzzard can typically be recognised by dark patches on the bend in each wing, the dark trailing edges of the wings, and a rounded, rufous tail. The long-legged buzzard also has a dark bill, brownish-yellow eyes, and long, dingy-yellow legs. Two subspecies of the long-legged buzzard are recognised, Buteo rufinusrufinus and Buteo rufinuscirtensis, which are distinguishable both by size and geographical distribution, with B. r. cirtensis being the smaller subspecies. Compared to the loud mewing of the closely related common buzzard (Buteo buteo), the call of the long-legged buzzard is somewhat quieter, with a mellower tone.
Size: Length: 43 - 58 cm; Wingspan: 105 - 155 cm; Male weight: 1,100 g; Female weight: 1,300 g
Range: Wikipedia: It inhabits dry open plains of northern Africa, southeastern Europe, west and central Asia east to China, and across central India. Recent sightings indicate that there is a small population in the Apulian region of south-eastern Italy. Younger birds disperse north of breeding grounds and there are records from Northern Europe. The breeding population in Greece is around 60 pairs. ARKive: The range of subspecies B. r. rufinus stretches from south-eastern Europe, through Turkey and the Middle East (1), to China, while subspecies B. r. cirtensis is native to North Africa. This wide-ranging raptor is also an occasional visitor to countries as far as Norway and Sri Lanka.
Habitat: Wikipedia: Open, uncultivated areas, with high bushes, trees, cliffs or hillocks are favoured as nesting areas. ARKive: The long-legged buzzard is found in areas of arid steppe or semi-desert, as well as in mountainous regions of North Africa. A preference for hunting in areas of open land allows the long-legged buzzard to best use its keen eyesight to find prey. The long-legged buzzard usually nests on cliff-sides, rocky ledges or in trees bordering open land, and often this species will often reconstruct nests abandoned by other birds.
Pictures:
http://ibc.lynxeds.com/photo/long-l.....finus/flight-0 Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus)
http://ibc.lynxeds.com/photo/long-l.....finus/flight-1 in flight
http://ibc.lynxeds.com/photo/long-l.....-flight-photos Combo of 2 flight photo's (shows underside and back of the same bird's wings)
http://ibc.lynxeds.com/photo/long-l.....o-rufinus/3-cy in Belgium
http://ibc.lynxeds.com/photo/long-l.....uteo-rufinus-0 in Ethiopia
http://ibc.lynxeds.com/photo/long-l.....s/bird-gliding A bird gliding
http://ibc.lynxeds.com/photo/long-l.....ufinus/migrant wonderful back view
http://ibc.lynxeds.com/photo/long-l.....ufinus/fliying nice example of a realistic version of the 'bars' on Auric's wings
http://sta.sh/02az2btlbv5e nice photo of a buzzard by
chickenzaurPictures (headshots):
http://ibc.lynxeds.com/photo/long-l.....autiful-raptor BEAUTIFUL RAPTOR
http://ibc.lynxeds.com/photo/long-l.....credible-stare incredible stare
http://ibc.lynxeds.com/photo/long-l.....s-chicks-nest- Female on nest
Sources for more information:
This site -> http://eol.org/
