Editing 1338: Land Mammals
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | + | {{incomplete|Clean up Grammar}} | |
− | + | This comic may be a [[Nerd Sniping|nerd snipe]] from [[Randall]], challenging his readers to figure out the missing parts. | |
− | The | + | The comic shows the total weight of mankind and all other land mammals. Only a few centuries ago humans, and their pets and livestock, come to occupy such a great proportion of the earth's land mammal mass. Note that only land dwelling mammals are taken into account, and thus no whales are included. |
− | This | + | The design of the blocks resembles a cell. This could be a reference to how these animals support humans; much like a cell supports a central nucleus. Because of this it can be assumed that all the animals in this diagram (wild or domestic), in some way support human activity. |
− | + | The title text states that bacteria outweigh us thousands to one. And that is without counting the several pounds of bacteria in our body that are counted as part of our weight. The cell could also be a bacterium, and therefore this could be a reference to the title text. A little more than a thousand blocks has been used to sketch this bacterium and bacteria outweighs us on this order. | |
+ | Grammar | ||
===Weight=== | ===Weight=== | ||
− | + | Per the diagram, there are 358 million tons of humans, 864 million tons of pets and livestock, of which 520 million tons comes from cattle, and 34 million tons of wild animals; for a total of 1.3 billion tons. | |
The number of blocks represents the weight of the group in millions of tons = billions of kg. Note that some entries have the same number of blocks, and thus have the same rank. | The number of blocks represents the weight of the group in millions of tons = billions of kg. Note that some entries have the same number of blocks, and thus have the same rank. | ||
====Humans==== | ====Humans==== | ||
− | Cattle, in aggregate, are much heavier than the human population. Humans outweigh both | + | Cattle, in aggregate, are much heavier than the human population. |
− | + | Humans outweigh both sheep and put together pigs. This is surprising as these animals outweigh the population in the countries that produce the majority of meat from such animals. | |
====Our pets and livestock==== | ====Our pets and livestock==== | ||
− | There are 13 distinct blocks of pets and live stock; only the top 5 are labeled - in order of weight they are: Cattle, Sheep, Pigs, | + | There are 8 distinct blocks of wild animal (elephants and 7 others). There are 13 distinct blocks of pets and live stock; only the top 5 are labeled - in order of weight they are: Cattle, Sheep, Pigs, Goats and Horses. |
+ | Cattle, in aggregate, are much heavier than the human population. | ||
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: auto; text-align: center; font-size: 95%; table-layout: fixed; line-height:1.25" | {| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: auto; text-align: center; font-size: 95%; table-layout: fixed; line-height:1.25" | ||
|- | |- | ||
! Total Rank | ! Total Rank | ||
− | ! Weight ( | + | ! Weight (Billion kg) |
! Name | ! Name | ||
|- | |- | ||
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| {{sort|00520|520}} | | {{sort|00520|520}} | ||
| Cattle | | Cattle | ||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
|- | |- | ||
| {{sort|00003|3}} | | {{sort|00003|3}} | ||
| {{sort|00135|135}} | | {{sort|00135|135}} | ||
| Sheep | | Sheep | ||
+ | |||
|- | |- | ||
| {{sort|00004|4}} | | {{sort|00004|4}} | ||
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====Wild Animals==== | ====Wild Animals==== | ||
− | + | The elephant is the only type of wild animal to be singled out in the comic. This may possibly be due to elephants being the largest land mammal. It is interesting to note that the world's heaviest land dwelling animal, only takes up one square. | |
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: auto; text-align: center; font-size: 95%; table-layout: fixed; line-height:1.25" | {| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: auto; text-align: center; font-size: 95%; table-layout: fixed; line-height:1.25" | ||
|- | |- | ||
! Rank | ! Rank | ||
− | ! Weight ( | + | ! Weight (Billion kg) |
! Name | ! Name | ||
|- | |- | ||
| {{sort|00008|8}} | | {{sort|00008|8}} | ||
| {{sort|00010|10}} | | {{sort|00010|10}} | ||
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
| {{sort|00010|10}} | | {{sort|00010|10}} | ||
| {{sort|00007|7}} | | {{sort|00007|7}} | ||
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
| {{sort|00014|14}} | | {{sort|00014|14}} | ||
| {{sort|00005|5}} | | {{sort|00005|5}} | ||
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
| {{sort|00016|16}} | | {{sort|00016|16}} | ||
| {{sort|00004|4}} | | {{sort|00004|4}} | ||
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
| {{sort|00017|17}} | | {{sort|00017|17}} | ||
| {{sort|00003|3}} | | {{sort|00003|3}} | ||
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
| {{sort|00019|19}} | | {{sort|00019|19}} | ||
| {{sort|00002|2}} | | {{sort|00002|2}} | ||
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
| {{sort|00019|19}} | | {{sort|00019|19}} | ||
| {{sort|00002|2}} | | {{sort|00002|2}} | ||
− | | | + | | |
|- | |- | ||
| {{sort|00022|22}} | | {{sort|00022|22}} | ||
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|- | |- | ||
|} | |} | ||
− | |||
====References==== | ====References==== | ||
− | The comic references the book | + | The comic references the book [http://vaclavsmil.com/the-earths-biosphere-evolution-dynamics-and-change/ The Earth's Biosphere: Evolution, Dynamics, and Change] by {{W|Vaclav Smil}} as the source for most of the data - although a few other sources has also been used. These other sources are not referenced. |
− | On page 186 of Smil's book, there is a bar chart with the following values: | + | On page 186 of Smil's referenced book, there is a bar chart with the following values: |
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: auto; text-align: center; font-size: 95%; table-layout: fixed; line-height:1.25" | {| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: auto; text-align: center; font-size: 95%; table-layout: fixed; line-height:1.25" | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | ! | + | ! millions of tons |
! Name | ! Name | ||
|- | |- | ||
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|- | |- | ||
| {{sort|00300|30}} | | {{sort|00300|30}} | ||
− | | all wild | + | | all wild vertebrates |
|- | |- | ||
| {{sort|06500|650}} | | {{sort|06500|650}} | ||
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|- | |- | ||
|} | |} | ||
− | Note that all | + | Note that all labled non human animals are referenced in this table. Likely this is the table that was reffrenced for this comic. Only land dwelling mammals are taken into account, and thus whales, all wild vertebrates, and all domesticated vertebrates are not included in the comic. |
====Unlabeled Animals==== | ====Unlabeled Animals==== | ||
− | These are guesses about the identity of the | + | These are guesses about the identity of the unlabled anamals |
− | {| class="wikitable" style="width: auto; text-align: center; font-size: 95%; table-layout: fixed; line-height:1.25" | + | {| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: auto; text-align: center; font-size: 95%; table-layout: fixed; line-height:1.25" |
|- | |- | ||
! Rank | ! Rank | ||
− | ! Comic weight ( | + | ! Comic weight (Billion kg) |
! Type | ! Type | ||
! Guess | ! Guess | ||
− | ! Actual Population ( | + | ! Actual Population (millions) |
! Average Weight (kg) | ! Average Weight (kg) | ||
− | ! | + | ! Estimated total weight (Billion kg) |
! Explanation | ! Explanation | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="1" |7 | + | | rowspan="1" |{{sort|00007|7}} |
− | | rowspan="1" |13 | + | | rowspan="1" |{{sort|00013|13}} |
| rowspan="1" |Pets/Livestock | | rowspan="1" |Pets/Livestock | ||
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|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="1" |8 | + | | rowspan="1" |{{sort|00008|8}} |
− | | rowspan="1" |10 | + | | rowspan="1" |{{sort|00010|10}} |
| rowspan="1" |Wild animals | | rowspan="1" |Wild animals | ||
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− | | | + | | The largest grouping of wild animals, less than 1/50 of the weight of cattle - although representing almost a third of all the wild land mammals. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="1" |9 | + | | rowspan="1" |{{sort|00009|9}} |
− | | rowspan="1" |8 | + | | rowspan="1" |{{sort|00008|8}} |
| rowspan="1" |Pets/Livestock | | rowspan="1" |Pets/Livestock | ||
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− | |||
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|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="2" |10 | + | | rowspan="2" |{{sort|00010|10}} |
− | | rowspan="2" |7 | + | | rowspan="2" |{{sort|00007|7}} |
| rowspan="2" |Pets/Livestock | | rowspan="2" |Pets/Livestock | ||
− | | {{ | + | | Camel |
− | | | + | | {{sort|00170|17}} |
− | | 412 | + | | {{sort|04120|412}} |
− | | | + | | |
− | | Wikipedia lists the number of camels as 17 million. An average weight, based on Wikipedia's numbers for male and female, is about 500 kg. So, including the non-adult camels, an average around 400 | + | | Wikipedia lists the number of camels as 17 million. An average weight, based on Wikipedia's numbers for male and female, is about 500 kg. So, including the non-adult camels, an average around 400 kg seems to be a realistic estimate. |
|- | |- | ||
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− | | | + | | |
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|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="1" |10 | + | | rowspan="1" |{{sort|00010|10}} |
− | | rowspan="1" |7 | + | | rowspan="1" |{{sort|00007|7}} |
| rowspan="1" |Pets/Livestock | | rowspan="1" |Pets/Livestock | ||
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− | |||
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|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="1" |10 | + | | rowspan="1" |{{sort|00010|10}} |
− | | rowspan="1" |7 | + | | rowspan="1" |{{sort|00007|7}} |
| rowspan="1" |Wild animals | | rowspan="1" |Wild animals | ||
− | |||
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− | | rowspan="2" |13 | + | | rowspan="2" |{{sort|00013|13}} |
− | | rowspan="2" |6 | + | | rowspan="2" |{{sort|00006|6}} |
| rowspan="2" |Pets/Livestock | | rowspan="2" |Pets/Livestock | ||
− | | {{ | + | | Dogs |
− | | | + | | {{sort|04000|400}} |
− | | 15 | + | | {{sort|00150|15}} |
− | | | + | | |
− | |According to Wikipedia, there are 400 million dogs worldwide. | + | |According to Wikipedia, there are 400 million dogs worldwide. Assuming their average weight is 15 kg there should be 6 blocks.<!-- Small dog=2 kg large dog = 100 kg the log average is about 15 kg. --> |
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− | | rowspan="2" |14 | + | | rowspan="2" |{{sort|00014|14}} |
− | | rowspan="2" |5 | + | | rowspan="2" |{{sort|00005|5}} |
| rowspan="2" |Pets/Livestock | | rowspan="2" |Pets/Livestock | ||
− | | {{ | + | | Donkeys |
− | | | + | | {{sort|00410|41}} |
− | | 122 | + | | {{sort|01220|122}} |
− | | | + | | |
− | | There are roughly 41 million {{w|Donkey#Present status|donkeys on Earth | + | | There are roughly 41 million {{w|Donkey#Present status|donkeys}} on Earth, with an average weight of about 125 kg. |
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|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="1" |14 | + | | rowspan="1" |{{sort|00014|14}} |
− | | rowspan="1" |5 | + | | rowspan="1" |{{sort|00005|5}} |
| rowspan="1" |Wild animals | | rowspan="1" |Wild animals | ||
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|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="1" |16 | + | | rowspan="1" |{{sort|00016|16}} |
− | | rowspan="1" |4 | + | | rowspan="1" |{{sort|00004|4}} |
| rowspan="1" |Wild animals | | rowspan="1" |Wild animals | ||
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|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="1" |17 | + | | rowspan="1" |{{sort|00017|17}} |
− | | rowspan="1" |3 | + | | rowspan="1" |{{sort|00003|3}} |
| rowspan="1" |Pets/Livestock | | rowspan="1" |Pets/Livestock | ||
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|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="1" |17 | + | | rowspan="1" |{{sort|00017|17}} |
− | | rowspan="1" |3 | + | | rowspan="1" |{{sort|00003|3}} |
| rowspan="1" |Wild animals | | rowspan="1" |Wild animals | ||
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|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="2" |19 | + | | rowspan="2" |{{sort|00019|19}} |
− | | rowspan="2" |2 | + | | rowspan="2" |{{sort|00002|2}} |
| rowspan="2" |Pets/Livestock | | rowspan="2" |Pets/Livestock | ||
− | | {{ | + | | Cats |
− | | | + | | {{sort|05000|500}} |
− | | 4 | + | | {{sort|00040|4}} |
− | | | + | | |
− | | | + | | According to Wikipedia, there are 500 million domestic cats worldwide, with an average weight of 4.5 kg. So, counting kittens, 4kg is realistic. |
|- | |- | ||
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+ | | | ||
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− | |||
|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="1" |19 | + | | rowspan="1" |{{sort|00019|19}} |
− | | rowspan="1" |2 | + | | rowspan="1" |{{sort|00002|2}} |
| rowspan="1" |Wild animals | | rowspan="1" |Wild animals | ||
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|- | |- | ||
− | | rowspan="2" |19 | + | | rowspan="2" |{{sort|00019|19}} |
− | | rowspan="2" |2 | + | | rowspan="2" |{{sort|00002|2}} |
| rowspan="2" |Wild animals | | rowspan="2" |Wild animals | ||
− | | {{ | + | | Rats |
− | | | + | | {{sort|04000|4000}} |
− | | 0.5 | + | | {{sort|00005|0.5}} |
− | | | + | | |
− | |The {{W|World Health Organization}} estimates 4 billion rats{{ | + | |A rat in the wild {{W|Rat#Species and description|seldom weighs over 500 g}}. The {{W|World Health Organization}} estimates 4 billion rats (citation needed) and a comparable number of mice. The {{W|House mouse#Characteristics|house mouse}} weighs only about 20 g on average and mice would thus only fill 8 hundredths of a block. |
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− | | | + | | |
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|} | |} | ||
==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
− | : | + | :'''Earth's LAND MAMMALS by weight''' |
− | |||
− | :[ | + | :[A block indicating the value of each block:] = 1,000,000 tons |
− | |||
− | :[ | + | :[Dark gray block:] Humans |
− | : | + | :[Light gray block:] Our pets and livestock |
− | : | + | :[Green block:] Wild animals |
− | : | ||
− | :[The rest of the comic consist of | + | :[The rest of the comic consist of blocks representing the weight of mammals. Some of the blocks are labeled:] |
− | : | + | :*Cattle |
− | : | + | :*Pigs |
− | : | + | :*Goats |
− | : | + | :*Sheep |
− | : | + | :*Elephants |
− | : | + | :*Horses |
− | : | + | :Data from Vaclav Smil's ''The Earth's Biosphere: Evolution, Dynamics, and Change'', plus a few other sources. |
− | |||
{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
− | + | [[Category:Animals]] | |
[[Category:Charts]] | [[Category:Charts]] | ||
− |