HOME | DD
BrandonScottPilcher — Neotropical Bison Sketch
#animals #bison #bovidae #buffalo #drawing #jungle #mammals #mesoamerican #rainforest #sketch #wildlife #speculativezoology
Published: 2019-08-20 21:00:59 +0000 UTC; Views: 2003; Favourites: 61; Downloads: 2
Redirect to original
Description
This concept sketch, which I did as a little personal diversion, depicts a fictional subspecies of American bison (Bison bison peténesis, named after the Petén region of Guatemala) that would have adapted to live in the tropical forests of Central and South America. If they ever existed, they’d probably travel in smaller and more tightly knit herds than their prairie-roaming brethren, and they would eat more leaves and shoots since those are more common in jungles than grasses.
In reality, there actually is a population of plains bison (B. b. bison) native to northern Mexico. It’s possible the Aztecs kept some of these at their menagerie in Tenochtitlan (the Spanish identified them as “Mexican bulls”), but they would have represented exotic imports like lions at your local zoo.
By the way, if you wonder what the adjective “Neotropical” means, it refers to the tropical regions of the Americas (aka the “New World”).
Related content
Comments: 12
👍: 1 ⏩: 0
If bison were to venture into Central or even South America I don't think they'd retain any fur around their usual areal. They'd still be hairy sure, but probably no hairer than African Cape Buffalo, or even Asian Water Buffalo or Gaurs.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Perhaps, but I needed to make him look more like a bison than simply a New World answer to Zebu.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
images.fineartamerica.com/imag…
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I see. Maybe I'll do a digital version of my jungle bison with the modifications you suggested.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I also encourage you look at Bison musculature to get a better idea of a less shaggy bison.
Also, here's a rough I made that may also be helpful media.discordapp.net/attachmen…
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Buffalo are some of my favorite animals
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
I actually had an idea for creating a North American species of Boa Constrictor.
Before 1776, there were estimated to be 2 million found throughout the South Eastern United States; but in 1896, there were about only 400 in the wild. It wasn't until 1982, when a population boom struck eastern Louisiana; and took them off the endangered species list.
They can only be found in bayous and marshes throughout Louisiana, Florida, swamplands of Tennessee, small islands in the gulf of Mexico, Georgia, and Southern Mississippi and Alabama.
The French have a huge respect for the species; often using their survival methods as examples for young soldiers.
To this day, you can't take one step in New Orleans without seeing a tribute of sorts to the snakes.
They're about 11ft long and 40 lbs on average.
Males are larger than females.
Their coloration ranges from a dark orange, sickly green, mossy green, and a reddish brown; with black and bage spot patterns, a white underbelly, yellow eyes; some have rare pink eyes, and a noticeable gold colored tail.
As predators, they often hunt a wide range of fauna.
Including deer, nutrirats, boars, raccoons, catfish, other boas, alligators, panthers, spoonbills, iguanas, bears, coyotes, etc.
Though they often compete with; or even hunted by the gators, panthers, coyotes, eagles, etc.
They used to be hunted by eastern grey wolves in the more woodland areas of the swamp; but after 1907, and the wolves went extinct, the boas population rose in those areas.
They're mostly nocturnal; but will hunt during the day, if they're hungry enough.
Whenever they sleep, they rest upon the limbs of trees; often covering themselves in Spanish moss.
Despite their size, they're incredibly fast when traveling under water.
I'm still working on it
👍: 3 ⏩: 0