Why Do Africans Have Yellow

Neither dogs nor cats ... Paths of Power

If there is an interesting animal order par excellence is that of carnivores. Reason atavistic myths and memories of predation , members of this order were our worst enemies in past times, having spent some of its members today, to be faithful friends and colleagues. And, like cats and dogs, pun intended, the order of carnivorous mammals is divided into two suborders: " Caniformia " (related to the dog) and " Feliformia " (similar to cat) . Within the first addition to wolves, dogs and foxes are the bears, mustelids (weasels, ferrets ...) and seals, while inside the " feliformes "are cats, hyenas, and viverrids and mongooses. The presence of felines and canines in our society we are remembered for our dogs and cats, but what happens with the other members of the order "Carnivora , and especially with the younger members? Leaving aside the mustelids , I want to focus on the relatives of memores cats, and mongooses viverrids.

The remains of ancient civilizations never not reduced to a pile of stones. In the architectural ruins always accompany other debris, whether cultural or, as in this case is, "zoo." The presence of dingo in Australia, or porcupine in the woods of Tuscany, is due to the introduction by man (though now been integrated perfectly in the ecosystem, being part indispensable to your current balance). However, are there similar cases in our Iberian Peninsula?

Iberia has been the cradle of great civilizations . The largest empires in human history have had to present-day Spain, as well as center, as well as core hard. Rome and the Empire itself were to Hispanic Andalusia (Andalucía current) as a great haven for leisure and horticulture, while took advantage of the potential of agriculture, mining and foremost, the rest of our country. Given the performance of these lands, it is not surprising that there were regions in Spain very densely populated. With the people came their pets, and sometimes other species were stowaways on ships or ships and different they were introduced for purposes of hunting or vermin control. Our forest Mediterranean, while conditioner "English culture" throughout the centuries has also been conditioning himself for the people who populated the surrounding area. Two foreign powers: Rome and Islam in particular, who introduced a number of animal and plant species now considered as typically English. " The carob in plant or animal as pheasant are not unique examples, highlighting, and not enough, the inclusion of outsiders in our forest carnivores.

findings in the caves of Nerja (Málaga) have given birth to investigators about the disturbing presence of mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon) a species of mongoose, in our forests. As is clear from these remains, found in 1959 (and recently analyzed by the University of Upsala ), the mongoose was introduced by the Arabs as a pet (well as fun or as faithful driver populations of reptiles and rodents). Origin would become the same as that of the genet.

The genet (Genetta genetta ) is believed to have been imported by the Romans as a pet, having been documented its presence in the Roman houses before the arrival of the domestic cat, the latter from the Old Egypt. The genet was seen as a infallible hunter useful to control the rabbit population at the time, very abundant before the arrival of myxomatosis (there are some who say that the rabbit is native to Iberia and the Balearics, meaning even the Hispania name "land of rabbits"). The abundance of rabbits in the Balearic Islands was such that fostered a considerable

introd uction

riders, who have grown into a sort of " subspecies, the genet Ibiza, smaller due to insularity.

Although not considered as viverrids both English mongoose, mongoose, genet and are close relatives, both from the suborder Feliformia . Like their relatives, hyenas, violent species is very prone to aggression towards his own and other species. It is proverbial skill of the mongoose in the fight against snakes, cobras and snakes are they having come down to us myths and legends about them the most interesting. Marcial, the celebrated poet Calatayud ( Bílbilis ) came to talk about the value of the bowels of the mongoose to treat the wounds of venomous snakes. Other myths surrounding the animal, placed him as a terrifying enemy, not only snakes but also crocodiles. It was said by the Romans who were able to get inside the crocodiles when they were with their mouths open, going fast into him, and beat well enough to eat the animal. Obviously, Roman myths, as compared to many other animals, are highly sensational and should not be a particular case of his truthfulness.

is look where you look, the man has served as a "factor" for Nature many more times than we believe. Genets and mongooses came to enrich our ecosystems without us awareness of it. Participate , not a higher intelligence, but a balance, half an existence that makes us share in full, in each of our individual actions ...

1 st picture: jinetas

2 nd picture: mongoose