Tuesday 30 October 2012 The Tailless Tenrec: Surprise, I do have a tail!

The Tailless Tenrec (Tenrec ecaudatus), also known as the Common Tenrec, is a species of mammal in the Tenrecidae family. The tenrec itself resembles a shrews or hedgehog. The tailless tenrec is most commonly found making its home in the islands near Madagascar, Mauritius, Réunion, and Seychelles. The natural habitat of the tailless tenrec is anywhere that is a little humid and warm. tailless tenrecs make there home in subtropical or tropical dry forests, lakesides, humid savanna, moist savanna, shrubland, high-altitude shrubland, subtropical or tropical lowlands and grassland, arable lands, domestic gardens, and urban areas. It is unique to the Madagascar and Indian Ocean area.

The Tailless Tenrec is also the largest of the land dwelling species that make up the many types of tenrec. At a typical length of 26 to 39 centimeters (10 to 15½ inches) in length and a weight of about 1.5 to 2.5 kg (3¼ to 5½ lb), the tailless tenrec is also one of the world's largest insectivores-- that is, an animal whose primary diet is insects. With its round, beady eyes and medium-length, soft gray to reddish-brown fur, it is also one of the most adorable insectivores. However, petting the tailless tenrec might not be a good idea, as it also has sharp spines along its body for protection. When it feels threatened, the tailless tenrec will shriek, make its spines puff up into a crest, jump out the way, and if it's cornered even buck and bite. While the tenrec mainly eats small insects hiding among leaves, it will occasionally eat any hiding frogs it its main food source is scarce enough.

The tailless tenrec will make a home out of nearby grass and leaves, sheltering its nest by building it underneath a rock, log or bush. It also has a large family-- the typical female tailless tenrec gives birth to a litter of about 15 to 20 babies at a time, though the highest recorded tenrec litter was 32 young. When the tailless tenrec is first born, they will usually have a fur coat that has black and white stripes, and may look almost mouse-like in appearance. The most curious fact of all is that despite being commonly known as the tailless tenrec, most tailless tenrec actually do have a tail! However, this tail is very small- only about 1 to 1.5 centimeters (⅜ to ½ inches) in length.

Picture of the tailless tencrec by Markus Fink, licensed under GFDL You can help spreading the word about this animal by liking it on facebook

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Monday 22 October 2012 The Eastern Spadefoot, the Toad Wielding a Shovel

The Eastern Spadefoot (Scaphiopus holbrookii) is a burrowing toad found east of the Mississippi river. From the southern part of New England to the Florida Keys and as far west as Louisiana, these frogs can be found in forested lowlands with sandy or loose soil. They are commonly found on the banks of rivers prone to flooding, but seem to be absent form the higher altitudes of the Appalachians and the Everglades.

To blend in with the leafy forest floor, the Eastern Spadefoot is usually olive green, brown, gray, or black in color. It is about two to three inches (42 - 72 mm) long with two yellowish lines, which are more prominent in the males, starting from behind the eyes and running down the back. The underside of the body is usually white or grayish in color.

Although they are considered toads, they lack certain toad-like qualities. Their eyes are large and bulging, and unlike other toads, the pupils are vertical instead of horizontal. Their softer bodies and smoother skin is unusual for a toad, and they lack the paratoid glands on each side of the head.

The long, sharp, sickle-shaped shade on each hind foot is responsible for the Eastern Spadefoot's common name. Since these toads spend most of their time underground, these spades are used to dig burrows.

Quite secretive, the Eastern Spadefoot will usually only emerge to feed or during mating season which usually lasts from March to September. They will come out their burrows at sundown during warm, heavy rains and begin their mating ritual in shallow, temporary pools created by flooding or rain. Eggs will be laid in these pools and hatch within a week. Tadpoles will then transform within a few weeks to a couple of months.

Although the Eastern Spadefoot, like most toads, is threatened by other toads and snakes, the toxin secreted by their skin usually protects them from predators. Since the eggs are laid in temporary pools, the tadpoles don't have to worry much about being eaten by fish, but there is still a threat of other frogs and toads looking for a snack.

Tadpoles usually feed on plankton, and the adult Eastern Spadefoot will feed on many insects, including beetles, flies, and crickets; the occasional meal of earthworms, or small vertebrates such as salamanders is not unheard of.
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