Southern wolverine (SciiFii)

The southern wolverine (Gulo gulo meridianus) is a subspecies of wolverine (Gulo gulo) that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the subboreal, temperate, and subtropical wetlands, forests, and open woodlands across North America to help boost biodiversity. About the size of the northern wolverine subspecies, the northern wolverine is an elongated animal that is low to the ground. Like the northern subspecies, with strong limbs, broad and rounded head, small eyes and short rounded ears, it most closely resembles a large fisher (Pekania pennanti). Though its legs are short, its large, five-toed paws with crampon-like claws and plantigrade posture enable it to climb up and over steep cliffs, trees and snow-covered peaks with relative ease. Southern wolverines are considered to be primarily scavengers. A majority of the southern wolverine's sustenance is derived from carrion, on which it depends almost exclusively in winter and early spring. Southern solverines may find carrion themselves, feed on it after the predator (often, a pack of hyenas, dholes, dire wolves, or gray wolves) has finished, or simply take it from another predator. Southern wolverines are also known to follow wolf, bobcat, and lynx trails, purportedly with the intent of scavenging the remains of their kills. Whether eating live prey or carrion, the southern wolverine's feeding style appears voracious, leading to the nickname of "glutton" (also the basis of the scientific name). However, this feeding style is an adaptation to food scarcity, especially in winter. The southern wolverine is also a powerful and versatile predator. Its prey mainly consists of small to medium-sized mammals, but the southern wolverine has been recorded killing prey such as adult deer that are many times larger than itself. Prey species include porcupines, squirrels, chipmunks, beavers, marmots, prarie dogs, cavies, maras, capybaras, voles, lemmings, mice, rats, plesiadapiforms, adapiform primates, monkeys, gibbons, bigfoot newborns, shrews, moles, gophers, rabbits, caribou, roe deer, white-tailed deer, mule deer, American spotted deer, elk, moose, camelids, peccaries, wild boars, pronghorns, tapirs, horses, chalicotheres, sheep, goats, domestic cattle, aurochs, bison, mastodon calves, mammoth calves, American elephant calves, gomphothere calves, brontothere calves, uintathere calves, American kangaroos, flightless birds, and baby non-avian dinosaurs. Smaller predators are occasionally preyed on, including martens, mink, foxes, Canadian lynx, weasels, and dhole, North American highland dog, coyote, gray wolf, and dire wolf pups. Southern wolverines often pursue live prey that are relatively easy to obtain, including animals caught in traps, newborn mammals, and deer (including adult moose and elk) when they are weakened by winter or immobilized by heavy snow. Their diets are sometimes supplemented by birds' eggs, ground-dwelling flying birds (especially geese), roots, seeds, insect larvae, and berries. Successful males will form lifetime relationships with two or three females, which they will visit occasionally, while other males are left without a mate. Mating season is in the summer, but the actual implantation of the embryo (blastocyst) in the uterus is stayed until early winter, delaying the development of the fetus. Females will often not produce young if food is scarce. The gestation period is 30–50 days, and litters of typically two or three young ("kits") are born in the spring. Kits develop rapidly, reaching adult size within the first year. The typical longevity of a southern wolverine in captivity is around 17 to 19 years, but in the wild the average lifespan is more likely between 10 and 12 years. Fathers make visits to their offspring until they are weaned at 10 weeks of age; also, once the young are about six months old, some reconnect with their fathers and travel together for a time. The conservation status of the southern wolverine is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts, the southern wolverine's wide range and, compared with the northern subspecies, its greater tolerance to many of the human activities.
Category:Animals
Category:Species
Category:SciiFii