Comments on: Elephants, What Elephants? http://olduvaigeorge.com/2005/12/22/elephants-what-elephants/ Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:17:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Caroline http://olduvaigeorge.com/2005/12/22/elephants-what-elephants/#comment-57176 Caroline Mon, 14 Jan 2008 18:18:02 +0000 http://olduvaigeorge.com/2005/12/22/elephants-what-elephants/#comment-57176 I'm researching for a book set in the mid to late African Pliocene. It's coming along well, but some animals and plants I'm having trouble finding data for. Can I ask you some questions? You seem like you might know, based on your blog. - I’m researching for a book set in the mid to late African Pliocene. It’s coming along well, but some animals and plants I’m having trouble finding data for. Can I ask you some questions? You seem like you might know, based on your blog.
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]]> By: OGeorge http://olduvaigeorge.com/2005/12/22/elephants-what-elephants/#comment-222 OGeorge Fri, 23 Dec 2005 19:19:40 +0000 http://olduvaigeorge.com/2005/12/22/elephants-what-elephants/#comment-222 Alan K: I sometimes make dumb mistakes, but when an animal is involved, no matter how small in the image, you can bet I was thinking of something in particular when I drew it. The fact that sometimes the beaks disappear with distance or reduction, or the ear turns out to be too large, or I put that 6th toe on a human foot (which I HAVE done) only means I made that aforementioned dumb mistake. ;-)> Alan K: I sometimes make dumb mistakes, but when an animal is involved, no matter how small in the image, you can bet I was thinking of something in particular when I drew it. The fact that sometimes the beaks disappear with distance or reduction, or the ear turns out to be too large, or I put that 6th toe on a human foot (which I HAVE done) only means I made that aforementioned dumb mistake. ;-)>

]]> By: Alan Kellogg http://olduvaigeorge.com/2005/12/22/elephants-what-elephants/#comment-221 Alan Kellogg Fri, 23 Dec 2005 18:22:35 +0000 http://olduvaigeorge.com/2005/12/22/elephants-what-elephants/#comment-221 OGeorge, I was right, it is growing into a book. :) Where the avians in the picture are concerned, I just figured they were generic large birds. :D OGeorge,

I was right, it is growing into a book. :)

Where the avians in the picture are concerned, I just figured they were generic large birds. :D

]]> By: Hungry Hyaena http://olduvaigeorge.com/2005/12/22/elephants-what-elephants/#comment-217 Hungry Hyaena Thu, 22 Dec 2005 20:41:54 +0000 http://olduvaigeorge.com/2005/12/22/elephants-what-elephants/#comment-217 Dowitchers! Good to know. I was stumped myself, and I'm warming up for the annual Cape Charles BirdCount in Virginia, so the "in-flight" cues had better start coming back to me. Actually, I think the bodies are painted accurately, but without the beaks, it is difficult to identify. I'm sorry to read about Tito. Best of luck with his recovery. Dowitchers! Good to know. I was stumped myself, and I’m warming up for the annual Cape Charles BirdCount in Virginia, so the “in-flight” cues had better start coming back to me. Actually, I think the bodies are painted accurately, but without the beaks, it is difficult to identify.

I’m sorry to read about Tito. Best of luck with his recovery.

]]> By: OGeorge http://olduvaigeorge.com/2005/12/22/elephants-what-elephants/#comment-216 OGeorge Thu, 22 Dec 2005 20:34:26 +0000 http://olduvaigeorge.com/2005/12/22/elephants-what-elephants/#comment-216 neutrino: Argghhh is correct! Actually, I was thinking dowitchers, but for once I wasn't concerned with anatomy, and the long beaks were lost as an artifact of reduction. The piece was reproduced about the size you see it here. I should have "cheated" and digitally put the beaks back in...sorry about that. neutrino: Argghhh is correct! Actually, I was thinking dowitchers, but for once I wasn’t concerned with anatomy, and the long beaks were lost as an artifact of reduction. The piece was reproduced about the size you see it here. I should have “cheated” and digitally put the beaks back in…sorry about that.

]]> By: neutrino_cannon http://olduvaigeorge.com/2005/12/22/elephants-what-elephants/#comment-214 neutrino_cannon Thu, 22 Dec 2005 19:36:44 +0000 http://olduvaigeorge.com/2005/12/22/elephants-what-elephants/#comment-214 You know, I usually fancy myself to be pretty good with birds but for the life of me I can't figure out what there are. The wings look too big for game birds, much too high an aspect ratio for anseriformes. Surely those are not falcons (which they rather look like with the wings pulled back), for falcons are not social. Argghhh... they must be some sort of shorebird or other incredibly common migratory species that I never bothered to learn 'cause it wasn't flashy enough for my tastes! You know, I usually fancy myself to be pretty good with birds but for the life of me I can’t figure out what there are. The wings look too big for game birds, much too high an aspect ratio for anseriformes. Surely those are not falcons (which they rather look like with the wings pulled back), for falcons are not social.

Argghhh… they must be some sort of shorebird or other incredibly common migratory species that I never bothered to learn ’cause it wasn’t flashy enough for my tastes!

]]> By: OGeorge http://olduvaigeorge.com/2005/12/22/elephants-what-elephants/#comment-213 OGeorge Thu, 22 Dec 2005 18:11:35 +0000 http://olduvaigeorge.com/2005/12/22/elephants-what-elephants/#comment-213 Arctodus: First of all...my favorite Pleistocene animal...Arctodus simus...I've drawn or painted them numerous times. I have one I'll put up in the next few days. I'm much better informed on North American genera, but I know Deinotherium bozasi lasted well into the Pleistocene. The 50,000 BP date I can't verify, but it wouldn't surprise me. And Tito did well last night...comparatively. The mile long walk at 1 AM in 12 degree cold helped me sleep later also. DouglasG: Don’t give up on your hands. I’m 59 years old…I better be good at something by now or it just ain’t gonna happen. Arctodus: First of all…my favorite Pleistocene animal…Arctodus simus…I’ve drawn or painted them numerous times. I have one I’ll put up in the next few days.

I’m much better informed on North American genera, but I know Deinotherium bozasi lasted well into the Pleistocene. The 50,000 BP date I can’t verify, but it wouldn’t surprise me.

And Tito did well last night…comparatively. The mile long walk at 1 AM in 12 degree cold helped me sleep later also.

DouglasG: Don’t give up on your hands. I’m 59 years old…I better be good at something by now or it just ain’t gonna happen.

]]> By: Arctodus http://olduvaigeorge.com/2005/12/22/elephants-what-elephants/#comment-212 Arctodus Thu, 22 Dec 2005 17:17:59 +0000 http://olduvaigeorge.com/2005/12/22/elephants-what-elephants/#comment-212 Mammoths,Stegodonts and Rhynchotheres Oh My! I know three elephant species are currently recognized,(Loxodonta africanus,Loxodonta cyclotis and Elephas maximus.The Bornean Elephas subspecies may be lifted to full species status, according to recent DNA studies.Two Cryptid elephants in Africa may exist.The pygmy elephant, and the swamp elephant. I can't wait to see your proboscidean post.A question, did Deinotherium exist as late as 50,000 years ago?I know that an African Megafaunal extinction event occured around that time period. Your Hyainailouros pics are hilarious and beautiful.I've always had a special fondness for the Big Four One-Tonners,Andrewsarchus, Hyainailouros(Megistotherium),Deinodon,and of course, Arctodus. Land Mammal Predators may not have yet gotten to T.rex and Carcharadontosaur sizes, but they still are creatures of nobility and great power. Keep up the excellant work! Hope Tito receives the best of medical care. Mammoths,Stegodonts and Rhynchotheres Oh My!

I know three elephant species are currently recognized,(Loxodonta africanus,Loxodonta cyclotis and Elephas maximus.The Bornean Elephas subspecies may be lifted to full species status, according to recent DNA studies.Two Cryptid elephants in Africa may exist.The pygmy elephant, and the swamp elephant.
I can’t wait to see your proboscidean post.A question, did Deinotherium exist as late as 50,000 years ago?I know that an African Megafaunal extinction event occured around that time period.

Your Hyainailouros pics are hilarious and beautiful.I’ve always had a special fondness for
the Big Four One-Tonners,Andrewsarchus, Hyainailouros(Megistotherium),Deinodon,and of course, Arctodus.
Land Mammal Predators may not have yet gotten to T.rex and Carcharadontosaur sizes, but they still are creatures of nobility and great power.

Keep up the excellant work! Hope Tito receives the best of medical care.

]]> By: DouglasG http://olduvaigeorge.com/2005/12/22/elephants-what-elephants/#comment-211 DouglasG Thu, 22 Dec 2005 14:50:10 +0000 http://olduvaigeorge.com/2005/12/22/elephants-what-elephants/#comment-211 I have the same problem with the hands/minds eye thing. However, mine is much worse as I can even begin to make anything as stunning as the picture. Darn my hands! I have the same problem with the hands/minds eye thing. However, mine is much worse as I can even begin to make anything as stunning as the picture. Darn my hands!

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