animals!!!

learn about animals, new and old!

[kitanima]

Hog-nosed Skunk (Conepatus)

american hog-nosed skunks in specific are one of the biggest skunks in the world, able to grow up to 2.7 feet in length, and the eastern hog-nosed skunks are the biggest in north america. the ones living more north generally have a single, large white stripe, while the more southern ones have the typical double stripe

[kitanima]

Okapi (Okapia johnstoni)

despite looking almost nothing like them, the okapi is the giraffe’s only living relative! it’s striped legs were developed in order to look like streaks of sunlight through the trees, helping it blend in. okapi’s are endangered, with only an estimated 10,000 to 35,000 left in the world

[kitanima]

Cross Fox (Vulpes vulpes)

a cross fox is simply a color variation of the red fox! they are partially melanistic, which is the opposite of albinism, causing the animal to be all black. unlike many red fox variants, cross foxes can be found occurring naturally in the wild.

[kitanima]

Dumbo Octopus (Grimpoteuthis)

the dumbo octopus name actually goes to thirteen or more different species! they are the deepest living of all known octopuses, living at depths of at least 13,100 feet! unlike many of their octopus friends, they do not have an ink sac

bonus:

[kitanima]

Fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox)

despite its catlike appearance, the fossa is most closely related to the mongoose! despite this, it has retractable claws similar to a cat. they aren’t too tall, but they’re very long, able to reach up to six feet long including their tail. this helps make them the biggest and top predator of madagascar.

[kitanima]

Bat-Eared Fox (Otocyon megalotis)

insects make up the majority of this strange canine’s diet, with termites alone making up 70% of it! many other things set them apart from their other canine friends, including the fact that they have several more teeth than most of them, and also that they actually don’t mind sharing their territory with fellow bat-eared foxes!

bonus blep:

[kitanima]

Lowland Streaked Tenrec (Hemicentetes semispinosus)

tenrecs are said to resemble a cross between a shrew and a hedgehog! while for the most part they take on the appearance of a shrew, they have long, sharp spines used for defense just like a hedgehog does. they inhabit the eastern parts of madigascar, and are the only sociable tenrec species, living in family groups of up to 20 members. the streaked tenrec are also the only mammals who practice stridulation (rubbing body parts together to create sound), using their spines to talk to others of their species!

[kitanima]

Venezuelan Poodle Moth (unknown)

recently discovered in only 2009, people speculate if this moth is even real! it’s genetic origin is unknown due to being so rare and so little being known about it. they’re estimated to be about 1 inch in length. I think they look like a friend :]

[kitanima]

Pink Fairy Armadillo (Chlamyphorus truncatus)

the smallest species of armadillo at only 3.5-4.5 inches! they’re very elusive creatures, rarely being seen. their carapace gets its color from the underlying blood vessels being shown through, resulting in a rosy shade, and it’s suggested that instead of being used for protection like other armadillos, the pink fairy armadillo uses it to thermoregulate! some people try to keep them as pets, but they’re shown to almost always die soon after being taken from their habitat :[

[kitanima]

Indian Purple Frog (Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis)

also known as the pignose frog or simply the purple frog, these fellows live in the western ghats in india and were only recently formally described in 2003. they have been evolving independently for 100 million years, which is why they appear so different! they’re a burrowing species, and only come up once a year to breed. they’re currently listed as endangered due to being overeaten by locals :[

[kitanima]

Maned Wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus)

a canid who stands at an average of 3 feet at the shoulder (that’s taller than a great dane)! they live in south america, and are the only species in the genus chrysocyon! they are not closely related to neither foxes nor wolves despite their looks and name.

bonus:

[kitanima]

Günther’s dik-dik (Madoqua guentheri)

a small antelope that live in arid zones of east africa! they weigh an average of only 6-10 pounds as an adult, and are only about 2 feet long. their long snout (called a proboscis) serves as a chamber for rapid nasal panting, causing minimal water loss that allows them to survive in waterless areas! a snouty lad