Post by Peter on Dec 31, 2005 14:43:04 GMT
Malta and Sicily has the same species, not each one a different one! Here a text on the Ghar Dalam cave in Malta:
Source: www.geocities.com/diomedea.geo/GharDalam.html.
In the second layer, known as the "hippopotamus layer", thousands of molars, and other skeletal parts had been discovered. Two species of hippopotamus have been identified; Hippopotamus pentlandi and Hippopotamus melitensis. But, bone remains were not restricted only to Hippos. Two species of elephants were also discovered; Palaeoloxodon mnaidriensis and Palaeoloxodon falconeri. Also, an array of micro mammals including dormice and bats were also discovered. What made all these animals special was the fact that while some become stunted in form others turned to giants. During the 'Ice Age' most of Europe was covered by ice and snow, (in the Mediterranean there were no ice formations but there was a lot of rainfall), in consequence the sea-level dropped by some 250m, uncovering the submarine banks between Malta and Sicily. These in turn acted as land bridges to these south-bound migrating herds. When the Mediterranean rose to its former level, Malta again became an island and on it, large herds of hippopotami and elephants were trapped. Forced to live on an island with limited moving space and food, the trapped animals had to adapt in order to survive. Gradually they started to evolve into smaller forms, as less bulk requires less food. The absence of predators like wild cats, helped when they evolved into dwarfs, as there was no danger of being predated. Remains of other species of animals such as; otters (Lutra sp.), Giant tortoise (Testudo sp.), Giant dormice Leithia sp. and Myoxus sp., several species of bats (chiroptera) and birds (aves) were also found.
Source: www.geocities.com/diomedea.geo/GharDalam.html.
