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New Kitty!
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» AlienZeD replied on Wed Oct 31, 2007 @ 2:27pm |
 Coolness: 510255 | [ environment.newscientist.com ]
An entirely new species of cat has been revealed. The clouded leopard found on the south-east Asian islands of Borneo and Sumatra is as genetically distinct from its mainland cousin as lions are from tigers, say scientists. "For over 100 years we have been looking at this animal and never realised that it was unique," said Stuart Chapman, coordinator of a WWF programme that aims to preserve the vast rainforests in a region known as the Heart of Borneo. The new cat, now dubbed the Bornean clouded leopard and given the species name Neofelis diardi, is darker than the mainland clouded leopard, Neofelis nebulosa. It also has slightly different markings on its pelt. But the real differences between the two species are in their genes. "Genetic research results clearly indicate that the clouded leopards of Borneo should be considered a separate species," says Stephen O'Brien, head of the Laboratory of Genomic Diversity at the US National Cancer Institute. O'Brien and colleagues ran DNA tests on the two cats, and found about 40 major differences between them. By comparison, there are 56 major genetic differences between lions and the common leopard. The researchers believe the two species of clouded leopards diverged about 1.4 million years ago. Their conclusions are supported by new studies of the skin coloration and fur patterns, conducted by biologists at the National Museums in Scotland (NMS). Double stripe "The moment we started comparing the skins of the mainland clouded leopard with the leopard found on Borneo, it was clear we were comparing two different species," says Andrew Kitchener, from NMS. "It's incredible that no one has ever noticed these differences." The island clouded leopard – believed to number between 5000 and 11,000 in Borneo and between 3000 and 7000 in Sumatra – has small, spotted cloud markings and a double stripe down its back. Its fur is greyer and darker than that of its mainland cousin. The mainland clouded leopard is found from Nepal to southern China and throughout south-east Asia. It has large cloud markings with fewer spots inside them, only a partial dorsal stripe and tawny-coloured fur. Leopard heart According to WWF, the Bornean leopard is the island's main predator. It feeds on monkeys, small deer, birds and lizards. Its canine teeth are proportionally larger than those of any other cat. It is spread across most forested areas, from coastal areas to interior mountain ranges, but prefers dense lowland and hillside rainforest where its natural prey is most abundant. Its last great forest home is the Heart of Borneo, a wild mountainous region of 220,000 square kilometres – five times the size of Switzerland – in the centre of the island. Borneo is divided between the nations of Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam, and, in February 2007, the three governments pledged to protect the Heart of Borneo. In December, WWF published a report saying dozens of new animal, fish, plant and tree species had recently been found on Borneo. The group says the island is one of the world's last frontiers for biodiversity but is under threat from deforestation.  |
| I'm feeling responsibility right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» DCRn replied on Wed Oct 31, 2007 @ 2:41pm |
 Coolness: 158930 | I want one. Time to pillage another island! |
| I'm feeling cydonian right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» Tamala replied on Wed Oct 31, 2007 @ 3:35pm |
 Coolness: 166335 | My cat has thumbs :D |
| I'm feeling exhausted right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» Anarkoid replied on Wed Oct 31, 2007 @ 3:38pm |
 Coolness: 193370 | Damn, they look nice! Like the weird fur pattern.So, if they are so different from the mainland one, does that mean that if they breed with mainland leopard it is some kind of leopard bestiality? |
| I'm feeling somewhen in time right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» JojoBizarre replied on Wed Oct 31, 2007 @ 4:02pm |
 Coolness: 295670 | mon chat s'appelle Mitaine |
| I'm feeling weeeeeee right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» Anarkoid replied on Wed Oct 31, 2007 @ 4:31pm |
| Coolness: 193370 | Originally Posted By JOJO_BIZARRE
mon chat s'appelle Mitaine ok, mais est-ce qu'il mange de la chair humaine, c'est vraiment ca qui est important!!! |
| I'm feeling somewhen in time right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» cvxn replied on Wed Oct 31, 2007 @ 4:55pm |
 Coolness: 179340 | cool! :D
I hope they'll protect this new specie :) |
| I'm feeling y fait beau dehors right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» Daf replied on Wed Oct 31, 2007 @ 4:58pm |
 Coolness: 186050 | wow crissement beau félin, love the color! |
| I'm feeling kiss me, im shitface right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» Purple_Lee replied on Wed Oct 31, 2007 @ 9:27pm |
 Coolness: 239315 | nice more animals for us to kill |
| I'm feeling much happier right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» cvxn replied on Thu Nov 1, 2007 @ 10:18am |
| Coolness: 179340 | non. |
| I'm feeling y fait beau dehors right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» Mico replied on Wed Nov 7, 2007 @ 1:30am |
 Coolness: 151155 | to eat? |
| I'm feeling cool right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» Anarkoid replied on Wed Nov 7, 2007 @ 12:46pm |
| Coolness: 193370 | Originally Posted By MICO
to eat? NO!! The only "pussies" that should be "eaten" are not actually felines!!! |
| I'm feeling somewhen in time right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» cvxn replied on Wed Nov 7, 2007 @ 1:48pm |
| Coolness: 179340 | LOL |
| I'm feeling relaxed right now.. | |
| Good [+1]Toggle ReplyLink» AlienZeD replied on Wed Nov 7, 2007 @ 6:07pm |
| Coolness: 510255 | I beg to differ, General Tao Tiger baby! |
| I'm feeling like a winner right now.. | |
New Kitty!
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