Common Bibymalagasy

Madagascar aardvark has been used as a common name for Plesiorycteropus, but MacPhee considered it inappropriate because the animal may not be related to aardvarks. Instead, he proposed "bibymalagasy" as a common name, a manufactured Malagasy word meaning "Malagasy animal".

Plesiorycteropus resembles a real aardvark, but they aren't close relatives. Plesiorycteropus as a member of the group, dismissing many similarities with pangolins and other animals as convergent evolution.

According to a 2013 molecular analysis that used conserved bone collagen, Plesiorycteropus belongs to Afrotheria and is closely linked to golden moles and tenrecs rather than aardvarks or pangolins. Plesiorycteropus belongs to the Order Afrosoricida, which includes golden moles and tenrecs, or an extinct branch of Afrotheria that is closely related. Following the colonization of Madagascar by early afrotheres, Plesiorycteropus evolved there. As a result, it was most likely a distinct Madagascar lineage that had no close living counterparts.

Plesiorycteropus was probably a digging animal that fed on insects such as termites and ants. It also shows Plesiorycteropus' adaptations for climbing and sitting. Plesiorycteropus was foraging; its long nose indicates a keen sense of smell and the capacity to search the earth for prey. Given that many tenrecs are proficient swimmers, Plesiorycteropus may have been able to swim. Although it is still theoretical, its musculature and build do not rule it out.

The forelimbs of Plesiorycteropus show specializations for scratch-digging, in which the forefeet are placed against the substrate, the claws are entered into the substrate, and the forefeet are then drawn back against the body. Other parts of the body also show such specializations, including large hindlimbs and a broad tail. Some aspects of the vertebral column and the pelvis suggest that the animal often assumed an erect, or sitting, posture.

The animal may also have been capable of climbing, perhaps in a manner similar to gymnures and shrew tenrecs, which are small-eyed like Plesiorycteropus. It was probably myrmecophagous, eating insects such as ants and termites, but may also have eaten other soft food, and because of its small size, probably did not forage in termite mounds, as the aardvark does.

In captivity, Plesiorycteropus do very poorly. It has been observed that captive specimens have rapid health decline and only survive 5 days.

Their primary defense mechanism is a fast underground escape. Plesiorycteropus, however, has a reputation for being quite hostile toward these bigger creatures. In addition to tail-whipping and kicking the menacing animal with its strong rear legs, Plesiorycteropus tries to harm its adversary with their strong, sharp claws.

Ross MacPhee had material on Plesiorycteropus from twelve sites in central, western, and southern Madagascar. It and other recently extinct Madagascar mammals may have lived in and near wetlands. Plesiorycteropus madagascariensis is known from sites throughout this range, but Plesiorycteropus germainepetterae has only been definitely recorded from the center; small bones from southern sites may also belong to it. Thus, the two species apparently had widely overlapping ranges.

• Movement Pattern: Not a Migrant

• Individual Type: Solo

• Population Trend: Stable

• Population: 0

• Locomotion: Amphibious

• Habitat: Taiga; Montane Grasslands and Shrublands; Temperate Coniferous Forests; Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests; Temperate Deciduous Forests, Temperate Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands; Subtropical Coniferous Forests; Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests; Subtropical Dry Broadleaf Forests; Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands; Stone Forest; Tropical Coniferous Forests; Tropical Moist Broadleaf Forests; Tropical Dry Broadleaf Forests; Tropical Grasslands; Tropical Savannas and Shrublands; Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands, and Scrub; Mushroom Forests; Mushroom Fields; Deserts and Xeric Shrublands; Badlands; Flooded Grasslands and Savannas; Swamp; Bayous/Billabongs; Riparian; Wetland; Mangrove Forest; Cold Bamboo Forests; Tropical Bamboo Forests; Air-breathing Coral Reefs; Graveyard Vale; Mountain.

• Earth: 

  • Extinct: Madagascar

• Berbania: ???

• Reinachos: ???

• Delphia: none

• Sawintir: none

• Agarathos: none

Coming soon

Coming soon

• Coming soon

See also: none

Coming soon

• Coming soon

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plesiorycteropus

• https://animals.fandom.com/wiki/Malagasy_Aardvark

• https://www.deviantart.com/ognimdo2002/art/Bibymalagasy-Plesiorycteropus-madagascariensis-876661578

• https://www.deviantart.com/ognimdo2002/art/Plesiorycteropus-germainepetterae-952976920