4th post and Physical Characteristics part one

Physical Characteristics

As we know the wild felids are a diverse group of carnivores, which encompasses a range of beasts from one and a half kilogrammes to three hundred kilogrammes in weight. We are more interested in our winged species, but to get a better understanding of this are species we need to gain a basic comprehension of the felid anatomy.

Panthera leo volatilis is similar to the domesticated cat’s anatomy and physiology despite the obvious change in scale and the addition of a pair of wings. According to Fowler & Miller’s Zoo & Wild Animal Medicine (5th edition), all members of the Felid family have a similar dental formula, this is:

Incisor 3/3, Canines 1/1, Pre-Molar 2-3/2, Molar 1/1 and totalling 28 or 30 teeth.

Does anyone know how dental formula work?

With the incisors not being specialised, the large canines, premolars and molars have to do the job of the gripping and tearing apart of the meat. On continuing an examination of the oral cavity, we can see that “an incomplete ossification of the hyoid apparatus” leads to Panthera’s ability to roar. The hyoid apparatus is the u-shaped bone in the neck that supports the tongue (the term ‘hyoid’ is derived from the Greek ‘huoeides’ – ‘shaped like the letter upsilon’); go on I dare you to have a feel with your tongue and see if you can find the apparatus. The partial ossification has led the hyoid to become partly bone like. But what does this mean to our big cat? It allows our Panthera to roar (like a lion, duh!) and limits the purring sound to the exhalation.

I remember seeing a programme in the seventies, maybe the eighties, where Percy Edwards (the animal impersonator) was on a little train going around a safari park. He used a cardboard tube, which he roared down, into a bucket to create the resonance. The lions at the safari park reacted to that sound. The domestic cat has a completely ossified hyoid apparatus and this prevents them from their true roaring potential. This is lucky in some way, but it could cause some quite comical scenes where the cats scare bejesus out of garden birds. Imagine a robin or sparrow suddenly crapping half of its live weight after being scared shitless by a roaring garden moggie.

3rd post with a bit on the name of the creature and a notice to say no more posts until the day after Boxing Day

Naming & Etymology

The word “lion” which is similar in many languages – leo (Latin), leon (Greek), lavi (Hebrew) and rw (Ancient Egyptian).

Carolus Linnaeus in his published work Systema Naturae (1735) described the lion as Felis leo. The classification includes the word Panthera, this made up of two Greek words – pan, which means all and the word ther meaning beast. It is also reported that word panthera may have come East Asian origins and this would mean a yellowish or whitish-yellow animal.

The term volatilis comes from the Latin for winged and refers to the creature's wings.

Due to the two holidays, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, there will be a two day hiatus, just like the WGA strike.

Have a good Christmas or Seasons Greetings.

2nd Post - The cultural image of Panthera leo volatilis - London & Venice

If you cast your memory back to the first post, just look downwards if you can't remember, you may remember that Panthera leo volatilis is a symbol of peace. Yesterday I came across a picture of our winged lion with an open book (peace not war) on a sink in the Patrick Mavros Store, it was on La Chapelle sink, similar to this one.

There is a city, which is based on a hundred and seventeen islands in a marsh, called Venice, which uses Panthera leo volatilis in its municipal coat of arms

In Durant Imboden's website Venice for Visitors, we are told that the reason for the winged lion emblem in Venice is due, possibly, to a Ninth century legend. Several Chamber of Commerce types stole the remains of Saint Mark the Evangelist's body from his tomb in Alexandria, Egypt. During the crossing of the Mediterranean, a storm arose and a vision of St. Mark saved the crew and the ship. When the ship finally arrived in Venice's port, the religious and council officials adopted Saint Mark as their patron saint and his emblem, a winged lion.

According to Jan Morris, her description of Venice's feline population wasn't always limited to the domesticated species. Emblematic lions were painted, carved and supported architectural decorations, citizens even had lions in their gardens - one example is a where a lion died from gilt poisoning after licking the bars of his gold cage in the Piazza.

The linked picture shows workmen moving a Winged Lion, the symbol of the Venice Film Festival which is held in August each year.

1st Post and the details from the Christmas Card if you haven't got it yet.

The Winged Lion (Panthera leo volatilis) is a mammal member of the family FELIDAE from the genus PANTHERA. The male is recognised with its' smaller mane and wings that are attached to its shoulders. Its weight can reach up to 250 kilogrammes and a wingspan of 50 feet.

The winged lion is said to be a symbol of peace. If it is accompanied by a closed book, it is said to be a symbol of war.

The Gates of Xerxes at Perespolis had winged lions at the corner of one entrance.

The British Museum holds an example of a human-headed winged lion; the Shedu were also engraved on tablets and buried under the door's thresholds as they were beneficent protective deities.

Despite an obvious similarity, Panthera leo volatilis has no biological relationship to the records of winged lions. The cats have wings due to Feline Cutaneous Asthenia or felted mats of hair.

Panthera leo volatilis has pneumatised bones and interior air sacs to create a lighter body mass.

There is some controversy over the origin of Panthera leo volatilis' flight, Is the species species an arboralist or a cursorialist?

Panthera leo volatilis has the necessary evolutionary essentials to fly and if we can believe an elephant can fly then we can also believe next year will be a better one than this.

Happy Christmas and a Happy New Year

Http://pantheraleovolatilis.blogspot.com for more details