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AFGHAN ARABIA WILD
WILDLIFE OF AFGHANISTAN WILDLIFE OF SAUDI ARABIA NORTHWEST WILDLIFE ONLINE
Not the most lovable looking animal in the world but certainly a fascinating one. This Mountain Beaver was found during the day after a heavy rain; its burrow had probably been flooded and it was out and about, perhaps searching for a new abode. Note the exceptionally long claws.
The Mountain Beaver, also called a
boomer or giant mole, is a stout 12 – 14 inches long, and possesses a short,
stubby tail. The tail, not much
more than an inch long and tucked against the body,
is pretty much invisible except on close
inspection. Most are brownish in
color, but that varies to black with silvery tips.
A pair of tiny black eyes rest above a large blunt snout and below a pair
of quarter sized, mouse like ears.
Perhaps its most distinctive feature, however, are the long clawed feet in front
and back. If you have ever seen one
of these guys those claws are probably the main thing that sticks in mind.
Aplodontias are complete vegetarians and consume a wide variety of plants.
Their extensive burrows are well organized affairs with specific chambers
for food storage, raising baby Mountain Beavers, and waste.
This predilection for succulent plants and large burrows sometimes causes
problems with their human neighbors especially in regard to their taste for
coniferous tree bark and seedlings.
This feeding preference is most likely the source of their odd name, too.
Sitting upright on its haunches an Aplondontia very much resembles a
beaver and when you consider that most are found in high, moist areas of the
Northwest the confusing name is understandable.
Outside of their burrows
Aplodontias are relatively slow.
This is not a rodent that moves with the rapid lunges of a squirrel or bolts of
rabbit speed. They sort of shuffle
along in an almost comic fashion; it is quite easy to overtake one at a normal
walking speed. At first sight an
observer might even conclude that something is physically wrong with the
creature and it may be in need of assistance.
Don’t be fooled. That
amiable gate is normal - and it absolutely does not match their personality.
Mountain Beavers have a disposition more in synch with their forbidding
appearance. And one look at those
beady eyes, giant mole like body, and exceptional claws should be a more than
adequate signal that this is not an animal that desires cuddling.
Come too close and they will spit, hiss, lunge vigorously, and back up
this display with an equally vigorous bite.
Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of this animal is its evolutionary
history. These guys have been
around, relatively unchanged, for forty million years.
But our oldest rodent, this “living fossil” has retained some drawbacks
along with this ancient physiology.
Aplondontia kidneys cannot concentrate
uric acid or store water efficiently among other associated problems.
The animal does not pant or sweat; cooling the body is a problematic.
The animal must therefore consume a large quantity of water daily and
live in a cool environment. The
Pacific Northwest meets those requirements nicely, thank you very much, hence
Mountain Beavers prefer this area immensely.
Although they do range from British Columbia and into California, the
rain drenched Cascade Mountains of Washington and Oregon contain the bulk of
their population.
Observing these interesting animals is more a matter of good fortune than
is the case with other species, but you can increase your chances by scouting
out the right habitat at the right time.
The rainy foothills of the Cascade Mountains is a good place to start and
although they do occasionally prowl the ground during the day, nighttime is your
best bet.
HOOAH
Jack
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AFGHAN ARABIA WILD
WILDLIFE OF AFGHANISTAN WILDLIFE OF SAUDI ARABIA NORTHWEST WILDLIFE ONLINE
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