Aragonese dinosaur hominid and maño by adoption and inclination, Rupert Glasgow has kindly sent me the latest update on Spanish dinosaurs from aragosaurus, this time news of Plesiosaur fossils on the coast of Asturias. Leer
Oldest hominid in Europe found in Atapuerca
Scientists have discovered the oldest hominid remains in western Europe. A jawbone and teeth discovered at the famous Atapuerca site in northern Spain have been dated between 1.1 and 1.2 million years old. (BBC). The remains beat the previous record by 500,000 years (El Pais). Stone tools and animal bones were also found with tell-tale cut marks from butchering by humans.
Best thread of the month on the forum goes to this fascinating piece of hypothetical speculation started by Steve T and followed up by several others. Could modern African elephants have also lived in Iberia? Steve T:
“Aristotle said around 350 BC that elephants were numerous in the lands around the Pillars of Hercules (straits of Gibraltar). When this has been quoted it has been understood to mean that there were elephants on the ‘African side’, as there is later historical evidence of elephants in North African eg Hannibal’s elephants (except his own personal elephant, which is believed to have been Asian …and bigger than the rest, which were North African elephants). Aristotle may have wanted to include Iberia too, as having elephants but this not made clear at all. What we do know is that elephants are excellent swimmers. The Straits of Gibraltar are only 14 km wide, which is nothing for an elephant. So, if there were elephant populations on the ‘Moroccan side’, there is a good chance that there were populations on the Spanish side or at least elephants were occasional or even regular visitors.” Read the arguments
Aragonese dinosaur man Rupert Glasgow of the excellent aragosaurus has kindly sent me this news review of their recent work with dinosaurs.
theropod dinosaur tooth (aragosaurus) Leer
Intersting news item from the BBC on the existence of giant hyenas, sabretoothed cats, giraffes and zebras in Spain 1.8 million years ago.
“The creatures’ remains were among a vast fossil hoard unearthed at an ancient hyena den in Granada. The area appears to have been a crossroads where European animals mixed with species from Africa and Asia. About 4,000 fossils have been found at the unique site. They also include gazelles, wolves, wild boar and lynx. Read on the BBC + Project site here (Thanks Clive)
The brown hyena lived in Europe 1.8 million years ago
I enjoyed doing these Spanish geography quizzes. The rivers of Spain is fiendishly difficult. You may also enjoy these Spanish natural history quizzes I did last year.
Scientists from Barcelona University have discovered that bears produce an inhibitor that prevents loss of muscle tissue during hibernation. While their body temperature stays constant and they neither eat, drink nor defecate, proteins in the body produce a potent inhibitor that allows their muscle mass to remain as it was prior to hibernation leaving them able to move normally when they exit their dens in spring. The discovery could lead to a breakthrough in human medical care.
From terra.es
One of the lammergeyers released in the Sierra de Cazorla as part of the reintroduction programme has been found shot dead in the nearby Sierra de Castril (Granada). Its body was found thanks to the satellite tagging system fitted to all the released birds. The female was born at the lammergeyer breeding centre in Guadalentín (Jaén) where another 14 birds have been born. This is the first bearded vulture to be shot since the reintroduction programme began. The programme is to go ahead and three more birds are to be released in May. El País
Spanish scientists from the Pyrenean Ecological Institute have predicted that temperatures in the mountain range in eastern Spain and south-west France could rise by between 2.8C and 4C by the start of the 22nd century. At the same time, snowfall levels could decline by between 30% and 50%. The study also claims that the slopes above 2,000 metres may see snow for only four to five months, whereas today they are covered for up to six months. The report, published in the International Journal of Climatology, also claimed rainfall levels could go down by between 10.7% and 14.8% a year by the end of this century. Researchers said the predictions, which cover the period between 2070 and 2100, were based on possible rises in greenhouse gases. They used six climate models which accurately estimated conditions in the Pyrenees between 1960 and 1990.
Juan Ignacio López-Moreno, a geographer, who led the Spanish High Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) team, said that in the best-case scenario, if emissions were low, by 2100 average temperatures could rise by 2.8C. However, if emissions rose, temperatures would increase by 4C. This would clearly have major implications for the Pyrenees. The Guardian or CSIC report here in Spanish
Excellent article by Roberto Hartasánchez here at Fapas and published in this month's Quercus on the dangers of ecologist fundamentalism for conservation in Spain. I'm on the road so no time for a summary, but it's well worth a read.
Gibraltar is to cull a pack of 25 of the Barbary macaques after they have taken to breaking into hotel rooms and scavenging in bins in the town centre. El Mundo or Daily Telegraph. The current Gibraltar population of the Barbary macaque, often termed erroneously as I have done as an ape, numbers more than 200. More on them here
