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Q: Zoology: What is a zorus? ( No Answer,   5 Comments )
Question  
Subject: Zoology: What is a zorus?
Category: Science > Biology
Asked by: taische-ga
List Price: $5.00
Posted: 20 Oct 2002 17:35 PDT
Expires: 19 Nov 2002 16:35 PST
Question ID: 85645
I would like to know exactly what a zorus (the animal) is and have
someone provide one or more pictures of one (or links to the same). 
What I do know is that the zorus seems to be indigenous to Madagascar,
and that a green zorus is present in a nature recording entitled
"Madagascar: The Fragile Land" that was produced by Douglas Quin.
Answer  
There is no answer at this time.

Comments  
Subject: Re: Zoology: What is a zorus?
From: omniscientbeing-ga on 21 Oct 2002 09:29 PDT
 
I searched various zoology databases, and cryptozoology databases, and
could find no reference to a zorus or green zorus other than the one
you mentioned, in the recording. It is possible they fabricated this
name for entertainment purposes. there are some mythological
references to Zorus and to Zaurus.

I would guess this animal does not really exist, but I will do some
more research before posting an Answer.

~omniscientbeing-ga
Subject: Re: Zoology: What is a zorus?
From: arcadesdude-ga on 21 Oct 2002 10:22 PDT
 
Hello taische,

I have contacted the Ranomafana (great name) Park of Madagascar where
this animal is said to exist.

[ http://www.parcs-madagascar.com/ranomafana/ranomafana.htm ]

The site is in french so I got a chance to use my language abilities
and sent an email to them at their 'contact us' form on their website
asking about this [apparently] rare animal.

If I get a reply from them then I will post back here.
Subject: Re: Zoology: What is a zorus?
From: tehuti-ga on 24 Oct 2002 02:55 PDT
 
The Ranomafana web site lists all the species in the park, giving both
the Latin and the Madagascan names, but "zorus" does not feature on
the list, nor anything remotely like it.  There is a "sora", but this
is the common tenrec, an insectivorous mammal
(http://www.sunysb.edu/doit/icte/Mammals/Tenrec-ecaudatus/).  There
are also two species of Zonosaurus, a long, lizard-like reptile
(http://bibliofile.mc.duke.edu/gww/Reptiles/Zonosaurus.html).  These
are obviously not what you are looking for, but they are the nearest
"sound-alikes" to the word you give.
Subject: Re: Zoology: What is a zorus?
From: dannidin-ga on 24 Oct 2002 03:11 PDT
 
The zonosaurus do have a greenish tinge to them, don't they? Could one
of them not be the elusive "green zorus"?

-dannidin
Subject: Re: Zoology: What is a zorus?
From: willie-ga on 24 Oct 2002 03:11 PDT
 
Hi

I've found two possible answers, given that Zorus may be a corruption
or shortened form of the Latin name Xerus, a genus of African
squirrels

Most likely to be close given it's distribution is 
Paraxerus poensis - the green bush squirrel
details here ( http://nmnhwww.si.edu/cgi-bin/wdb/msw/names/query/16115
)

Another possibility is 
Paraxerus cooperi - Coopers Mountain Squirrel
details here ( http://nmnhwww.si.edu/cgi-bin/wdb/msw/names/query/16110
)

Both are rare, and both are green!

There is an article on green mammals at the Biofortean Files site
( http://www.strangeark.com/biofortean/green.html )

Let me know if this is what you were looking for, and I'll post it as
an answer.

Willie-ga

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