Phylogeny Of Weasels In Martin The Warrior And Salamandastron: An Exercise In Systematics

Phylogeny of weasels in Martin the Warrior and Salamandastron: An Exercise in Systematics

I am taking an introductory biological anthropology class this term and recently had a "fake evolutionary tree" assignment. Instead of the cartoon cats provided, I wanted to talk about Redwall. I chose five characters off the "weasel" page on the wiki, which I will share with you now.

So, this is obviously ridiculous and hilarious, and I would love if my readers would read through all the characters.

Allow me to elaborate. Theodosius Dobzhansky said that "nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution." The goal here was to recreate a false evolution of individuals who truly have little to do with the matter. Therefore, I kind of had to work backward.... I said to myself "I know that Ferahgo and Klitch are related, so I have to place them like this and come up with a trait that justifies it... aha! Ferahgo is allegedly from the southwest, and so I can say that Klitch is as well." This is my fourth (?) iteration, and what I'm saying is that it's all fake and wrong and I do really enjoy it.

My favorite of these genetic traits is "leader," and I was going to put "Scottish" for Klitch's hat (and therefore probably also Ferahgo) and Fleabane's cloak-kilt-shirt-thing, but I couldn't make it fit in the diagram. Also, notice that "leader" evolved independently at two points!

It is fiendishly delightful (I a full of adjectives) to make a scientific "tree" of these characters, it is scientific, and thus I must follow rules. It may have been a lot more fun if I had been able to use traits like "hat," "stupid," "ponytail," and "Scottish." Alas, they were not the result I came up with when placing the weasels (and rat). I did try to use these traits, but I just couldn't make it work. Maybe I am missing something and I could do it a more fun way the second time around- possibly through choosing more characters, or maybe it is just a result of the whole project being a complete fabrication.

Nevertheless, the cladogram is pretending to be a scientific hypothesis, and I will treat it as such. The nature of cladograms is that they employ a theoretical common ancestor at each branching point. For example, The crossroads after "weasel" shows that all of the following characters are weasels, but Ferahgo and Klitch branched off into their own line and did not follow the evolutionary lineage of the rest of the taxa after "weasel." So, there must be an ancestor of Ferahgo and Klitch that wandered away from the main line and began the speciation process.

The multiple-greats-grandparents of Ferahgo and therefore Klitch can be assumed to be the start of that line. For the rest of my fake taxa, though, I ask who the common ancestor might be? Who was the original Fleabane-and-Rotnose? Great question, genuinely, I know.

My second question is, if these are taxonomic groups, then they need Linnean names! What is the scientific name for Hisk, or Cheesethief? I propose Ferahgous something for Ferahgo and Ferahgous annoyingus or something for Klitch. There seems to be a general consensus on his poor character.

Lastly, if these are the groups at hand, where do we place other characters? What new groups would need to be created? Moreover, what cladogram could be made for goodbeasts or mice? Where would I place myself?! If this was the only tree for the whole series, I'd like to be a Fleabane or a Rotnose, but I'd prefer to be grouped with something more like mice.

Anyway, thank you all for entertaining my phylogeny. My ears are open for elaborative (and for that matter, normal unelaborative) thoughts, and happy Halloween!

I am usually mad when people compare Redwall to Watership Down (Redwall is anthro and adorable and Watership Down is, albeit also cute, just normal rabbits- I am pretentious and think it demonstrates a misunderstanding of what Redwall Is™), but I am also feeling less professional and more personal about this blog, and this art is too good to let slip by.

Bookmark design, perhaps?

[AGGRESSIVE SCOTTISH SQUIRREL NOISES]

AHHHH YOOOOO

I love it so much

cluny :>

Of all I know of badger lords and their research of the land, this can definitely be one of them

Inktober #5: map

(Definitely my favorite:))

Gonff: We should get married Columbine: We've been dating for less than a month Gonff: And I think I've shown incredible restraint waiting this long