Small that often chasing voles. Vole mouse. Vole lifestyle and habitat. Wood vole survival tools

Species: Clethrionomys (= Myodes) glareolus = Red (forest) vole, European bank vole

Description. Relatively small appearance. Body length up to 120 mm, tail - up to 60 mm., Feet -15-20 mm, ear - 11-14 mm. Weight up to 35 gr. Eye 3 mm. The color of the fur of the back (mantle) is rusty-brown in various shades. The belly is grayish-whitish (sometimes the white tone is quite pure. The tail is usually sharply bicolored. The color of the legs is silvery-whitish, sometimes with a faint brownish tint. The winter fur on the back of bank voles is clearly lighter and redder than in summer. The coloration brightens and turns yellow to the south and reddens to the east The dimensions increase towards the northeast, decreasing with height (in the mountains of Western Europe, the ratio, apparently, is reversed. On the plains Western Siberia from cohabiting other species of bank voles, it most reliably differs in the length of the tail (up to 45 mm). The hind limb has 6 foot calluses.

The skull is relatively small, with moderate cheekbones. The condylobasal length of the skull in fully mature and old specimens is 21.7–26 mm; The roots of molars are formed early, which allows their size growth to be used to determine age. In most cases, M3 has inside 4 protruding corners.

There is no distinct sexual dimorphism either in the size of the body or in the structure of the skull. In ethological observations in nature, adult females show greater elegance in appearance and in movement. Soskov: r. 2-2; i. 2-2 (=8).

Spreading. The bank vole is common in the forest zone of the mountains (up to 1900 m, and in the Alps even up to 2400 m) and plains from Scotland to Turkey in the west and the lower reaches of the river. Yenisei and Sayan in the east. In the north of Europe to the border of the distribution of forests in the central part of Lapland and the lower reaches of the river. Pechora, in the Trans-Urals up to 65o N In Siberia, the northern limit of distribution has not been clarified. In the south of Western Siberia, the distribution coincides with the northern border of the forest-steppe. It penetrates into the tundra and steppe through floodplain forests of rivers.

Biotopes. The bank vole inhabits all types of forests, and penetrates into residential buildings located in the middle of the forest. The range optimum is mixed and broadleaf forests Europe. During periods of rise and high abundance, this vole is found almost everywhere in various biotopes, inhabiting them more or less evenly. Avoids open stations.

Ecology. Almost throughout the range - a common and numerous species. In the European part of the range, it dominates among forest rodents. The density of settlements in optimal habitat conditions during the breeding season reaches 200 individuals/ha. To assess the resource and social capacity of habitats, the most indicative is the number of breeding females. In Central Europe this value reaches 20-25 females/ha. In the northern and eastern parts of the range, 5-7 females/ha participate in reproduction. Population dynamics is cyclical. The bank vole is characterized by a relatively short duration of peaks (1-2 years), a rapid recovery of numbers after depressions and a gradual decrease in numbers after upsurges. A more or less pronounced cyclicity of fluctuations with a period of 2-5 years is characteristic.

The bank vole is characterized by a mixed type of nutrition. The range of feed is wide and varied. It feeds on both the ground parts of plants and their root parts. Readily eaten seeds of various herbs and trees (spruce, oak, linden, ash, maple), wild berries. Voles, even during daily feeding, alternate types of food: with a sufficient abundance of them, after 5 minutes of feeding on an acorn, it is sure to seize it with some kind of green food and vice versa. The vole hides the half-eaten acorn and quite confidently finds it when visiting this place again. With a seasonal abundance of one or another type of food, storage is characteristic. IN winter period the daily diet often includes random types of food (ballast): the bark of trees and shrubs, forest litter. I willingly drink dew and rainwater, eat snow.

The bank vole builds a simple burrow structure. Natural voids under the forest floor, elements of other types of burrows are used. Nest chambers are preferably arranged under old stumps, in a cluster of stones overgrown with moss. The variety of nesting places is determined by the possibility of arranging a chamber with a diameter of 10-15 cm and two or three short approaches to it. A spherical nest is built from dry grass and leaves of the forest litter (litter). The entrance hole with a diameter of 3 cm of a vole is often closed with two or three specially placed dry leaves. An adult female changes 2-3 brood burrows during the breeding season (Mironov, 1979). Before the next birth, the nest lining is updated. The subsnow system of tunnels is much more diverse and complex. The direction of undersnow communications is formed according to the stereotype of movements in the snowless period, and the location layer in the snow thickness depends on the intensity of movements of voles during the formation of this snow layer. Long passages in the snow do not gnaw through. In dry snow, voles simply pierce it, while making quick head movements from side to side. Voles dig wet snow with their front paws, making alternating digging movements in front of them. Under the snow, various kinds of niches are readily used under the branches of trees, along the lying tree trunks. The network of snow passages is formed due to the connection of individual communications.

Behavior. Activity in the bank vole is polyphasic (European bank vole, 1981). During the day there are 5-8 periods of activity. The activity phase lasts about 60 minutes, after which the vole goes to rest in the nesting hole and sleeps for 60-90 minutes. In optimal habitats, the daily rhythm of activity is uniform: the vole is equally active in the daytime and in the dark. In the zone of taiga forests, the rhythm of daily activity shifts towards the dark part of the day. In the budget of the activity phase, up to 80% of the activity is occupied by feeding behavior. The size of the used territory in adult females is 400-1000 m2, in males 1000-8000 m2. The shape of the plots is amoeboid. Plot sizes increase from south to north and east. The main determining factor in their change is the ecological capacity of the habitat (food supply, density of the adult population). The structure of the habitat area is represented by a network of trails connecting the nesting hole with 3-5 feeding areas. When moving, voles run between trees and stumps. During one period of activity, the vole runs 50-370 m. The paths are stereotyped. The sites of adult females are strictly isolated. Females will actively expel any visitor. In bank voles, a ritual manifestation of feelings is described (after fights, when someone else's traces are found): the animal spins in one place, throwing forest floor and alternately scratching the sides of the body with the hind legs. The male visits several neighboring females, i.e. areas overlap. Without conflicts, the male is allowed to enter the territory of the female only during the spring rut or prenatal estrus (2-3 days). During the breeding season, bank voles lead a solitary lifestyle. In winter, they can join groups. In nature, voles live 1-1.5 years. The maximum life expectancy is 750 days (the Les na Vorskla nature reserve) and 1120 days (in the laboratory).

Reproduction. The breeding season begins in March-April and ends in August-September. The beginning of the spring rut is associated with the complete melting of snow. In some years, under-snow breeding is noted, which depends on a complex of favorable factors that have developed in a particular population. The female brings more than three broods. In a broad-leaved oak forest ("Forest on Vorskla") in 1974, by the middle of July, the female had successfully reared 6 broods.

Pregnancy lasts 20 days. The female alone raises the brood. The cubs are born blind and naked. The size of the broods increases with the age of the females and the number of births. Usually there are 5-6 cubs in a brood, the maximum known number is 13. They begin to see clearly for 10-12 days. On their own, the cubs begin to eat green food even in the nest - the female brings sluggish leaves there. On the 14-15th day, they begin to emerge from the hole. In most breeding females, the lactation period coincides with the next pregnancy. A few days before giving birth, the female leaves the brood to another prepared hole (20-50 m from the previous one). After 5 days, the brood is divided into two or three groups and moves to neighboring holes. At the age of one month, the composition of the groups mixes with the cubs of other females or completely breaks up. Teenagers begin to lead independent lives. Young females mature early - at the age of a month there may be first pregnancies. Young males mature at the age of 3 months.

The bank vole changes its fur several times during its life. The first juvenile molt begins at the age of 5 weeks. Shortly after it, a post-juvenile molt takes place, during which the sparse and short grayish-brown fur is replaced by summer fur for those born in spring and early summer, or winter fur for those born in late summer and autumn. In the future, a regular change of fur occurs in spring and autumn. It is closely related to environmental and internal factors: sexual activity, pregnancy, lactation.

The top is rusty brown in various shades. The tail is two-tone, dark in the upper part, whitish in the lower part. The surface of the tail is covered with short hairs, arranged sparsely, so that skin scales are visible between them.

Skull with a juvenile appearance: a rounded brain capsule with a slight flattening in the fronto-parietal region and a shortened, drooping facial region and nasal bones narrowed in the middle. The cheekbones are low. Auditory drums are medium in size. In the mandibular bone, the angular section is not shortened. The roots of the molars are formed earlier than in other species. The chewing surfaces of the triangular loops and the loops themselves have pointed corners and a relatively thin enamel lining.

Biology

Lifestyle. Bulk view linden-oak biotopes deciduous forests. In the taiga zone, it prefers berry spruce forests and clearings adjacent to them. It avoids dense forests and inhabits forest edges and light forests.

In the east of the range, preference is given to light secondary forests and edges of conifers, preferably overgrown with shrubs. The species is common in floodplain stands.

In the south it is found in island forests, shelterbelts. It leaves the forest belts to feed on the fields, but does not move further than 100 - 150 m from the edge.

In the European north, the bank vole often inhabits outbuildings and human housing. IN winter time animals are found in haystacks and stacks. In the Ural Mountains, together with other forest voles, it inhabits placers of stones.

The species lives in pairs or families. Activity is year-round, round-the-clock, polyphasic. In the light part of the day, up to 17 phases of activity are observed.

It usually does not dig real holes, if they exist, they are very short and shallow. Mines the forest floor and turf layer. Widely uses voids in the roots of stump trees, in dead trunks, under eversion, in heaps of brushwood. For the species, winter and summer ground and subsurface nests are common, located in natural shelters.

Animals climb trees better than other species forest voles, are able to climb to a height of up to 12 m. There are cases of nesting and the birth of juveniles in bird houses - hollows.

reproduction and the abundance of the species is closely related to the abundance of complete food. Under favorable conditions, 50% of the animals are able to breed at the age of 26 - 30 days, and by 46 - 50 days, all 100% of the individuals reach sexual maturity. One female brings up to 4 litters per year, more often 2 - 3 litters. There are 5 to 13 cubs in a litter. Pregnancy lasts 17 - 24 days.

The cubs are born naked and blind, weighing from 1 to 10 g, and begin to see for 10-12 days. On the 14th - 15th day they leave the hole, but they switch to green food even earlier.

Spring-summer voles breed and die before the onset of winter. Animals born in August - September give birth in the spring, and do not participate in summer breeding.

In winter, reproduction is observed during snowy winters without sudden changes in temperature.

Nutrition. In all seasons, seeds of herbaceous and woody plants of deciduous forests predominate in the diet of the species. Prefers seeds of acorns and linden, in the east - cedar and berry shrubs. The green parts of plants are present in food throughout the growing season. Animal feed, mainly larvae of various insects, are present in the diet in summer months. In winter, the main food is shoots of berry bushes, bark, and buds. In case of crop failure of the main feed, it switches to any substitutes, including fungi and plant roots. Stocks are small.

Morphologically related species

In morphology (appearance), the described pest is close to ( Clethrionomysrutilus). Main differences: weakly two-tone tail, the skin does not show through the hairs of the tail, the length of the tail is less than 40 mm, the color of the dorsal part is dominated by bright rusty-brown tones in summer and light, yellowish-brown in winter.

In addition, the Tien Shan forest vole is often found, which is also similar in morphology to the bank vole ( Clethrionomys glareolus).

At the same time, the following geographical variability is observed: the development of brighter tones of red in color in the direction from west to east and a general lightening of color to the south; an increase in size is observed eastward in the plain zones and with height (in Western Europe). In the east of the range, the mountain inhabitants are smaller than the plains and have a darker color. The relative length of the dentition becomes smaller in the direction from north to south.

15 subspecies are described, of which 5-6 are in Russia.

Geographic distribution

bank vole distributed from the Kola Peninsula and the Arkhangelsk region to the Middle Urals in the east and the borders of the insular forests of Ukraine and Southern Urals on South.

In addition, the range of the species extends north to Scotland and Scandinavia, to the Pyrenees in the south, southern Italy, Yugoslavia and Turkey.

Maliciousness

bank vole- the most dangerous hemisynanthropic species, actively introduced into urban environment, and populating at the same time not quite favorable biotopes - upland meadows. This increases the possibility of transmission of various kinds of infections to humans and requires constant monitoring of the abundance of the species in order to regulate it.

In the taiga zone of the European part of Russia, this species is the main pest of forest and plantation crops. During a periodic (once every 4 - 5 years) increase in the number of animals, they significantly damage young forest plantations and gardens adjacent to forests. Due to the ability to climb trees well, it deals damage above ground level.

In residential areas, warehouses and storage facilities, the bank vole damages and contaminates food and animal feed.

In European foci of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), this species is the main carrier of hantaviruses. At the same time, he is an active participant in the circulation of pathogens of various infectious diseases: tularemia, tick-borne encephalitis, lymphocytic choriomeningitis, salmonellosis, pseudotuberculosis and many others.

Pesticides

Chemical pesticides

Manual entry into burrows, other shelters, tubes, bait boxes:

Layout of ready-made baits at food enterprises and at home:

Control measures: deratization measures

Sanitary and epidemiological well-being is due to the successful implementation of the entire range of deratization measures, including organizational, preventive, extermination and sanitary and educational measures to combat rodents.

Organizational events include complex next steps:

• administrative;
• financial and economic;
• scientific and methodological;
• material.

Preventive actions designed to eliminate favorable living conditions for rodents and exterminate them through the following measures:

• engineering and technical, including the use of various devices that automatically prevent rodents from accessing premises and communications;
• sanitary and hygienic, including the observance of cleanliness in rooms, basements, on the territories of objects;
• agro- and forestry, including measures to cultivate the forests of recreational areas to the state of forest parks and maintain these territories in a state free from weeds, fallen leaves, dead and drying trees; the same group of activities includes deep plowing of land in the fields;
• preventive deratization, including measures to prevent the restoration of the number of rodents with the help of chemical and mechanical means.

The task of carrying out this group of activities lies with legal entities and individual entrepreneurs operating specific facilities and the adjacent territory.

These activities are carried out by legal entities and individual entrepreneurs with special training.

The forest vole is a small mouse-like rodent that is a relative of the hamster.

Forest voles are an important link the food chain, as they feed on a huge number of predators.

Description of the forest vole

The body length of the forest vole is 8-11 centimeters, the weight ranges from 17 to 35 grams. The length of the tail is 2.5-6 centimeters. The auricles of forest voles are practically invisible. Their eyes are small.

The color of the back is red-orange or rusty-orange. And the belly is white or gray color. In winter, the hair becomes thicker and redder. A distinctive feature of forest voles from other species is that their molars have roots. They have 56 chromosomes.

Lifestyle of forest voles

The presence of a huge number of enemies in forest voles made these animals very secretive. During the day they hide in their burrows, under snags, between roots, under fallen leaves. And at night they come out in search of food. They live from 5 months to 1 year. They are active throughout the year.

Forest voles are difficult to spot, but there are many of these animals. Forest voles live in North America and Eurasia. In North America, they live in the Carolinas, Colorado, British Columbia, Labrador, Alaska.

They are ubiquitous in deciduous forests, in the taiga, in the fields. Even in a city park, you can hear the rustling of leaves and quiet fuss at night, these are forest voles. They also live in swampy areas of the forest-tundra. They can climb mountains to a height of up to 3 thousand meters.

Wood vole survival tools

Nature did not equip voles with sharp teeth, large claws, or muscular legs, but these animals have found a way to survive - they are extremely prolific.

Annually forest voles produce 3-4 offspring.

At one time, a vole brings about 11 babies. Already at 1.5 months, young voles are also ready for breeding.

One pair of these rodents reproduces up to 1000 times during its life, giving birth to an entire army. This is one of the best means of survival.

The diet of forest voles

The diet of forest voles consists of plant food. Seeds, tree buds, grass, berries, nuts, mushrooms are used. And in winter they eat bark and lichens. Forest voles crush rough food with large front teeth, which wear down rather quickly. However, the front teeth grow throughout life.

Voles, like other rodents, are voracious. They do not hibernate, so they have to stock up for the winter.

Each vole collects up to 500 grams of seeds.

They crawl into barns and visit grain fields, causing significant damage to agriculture.

But without forest voles, they would die of hunger predator birds. And birds destroy harmful insects. Therefore, by giving part of the harvest to the voles, people save a large share from insect pests.

Types of forest voles

In the genus of forest voles, 13 species are distinguished, among them bank voles, red-gray, red-backed voles and Tien Shan voles.

The bank vole or European forest vole does not exceed 11.5 centimeters in length, its weight is 17-35 centimeters. Her back is rusty-brown in color, and her belly is grayish. The tail is two-tone - dark above, and whitish below.

Red voles live in the mountain forests of Europe, in Siberia and Asia Minor. They settle in broad-leaved and mixed forests, giving preference to linden-oak plantations. They live alone, but in winter they can gather in groups. The bank vole is a numerous species.

The red-gray vole reaches a length of approximately 13.5 millimeters, and its weight ranges from 20 to 50 grams. The upper body of this vole is red-brown, the belly is light gray, and the sides are gray-blue. These rodents live in China, Japan, Finland, Mongolia, Sweden, Norway and Russia. They settle in birch and coniferous forests.

In this post there will be scary, nasty, cute, kind, beautiful, incomprehensible animals.
Plus a short comment about each. They all really exist.
Watch and be amazed

SCHELEZUB- a mammal from the order of insectivores, divided into two main species: the Cuban flint tooth and the Haitian. Relatively large, relative to other types of insectivores, the beast: its length is 32 centimeters, and the tail, on average, 25 cm, the weight of the animal is about 1 kilogram, the physique is dense.


MANED WOLF. Lives in South America. Long legs wolves are the result of evolution in matters of adaptation to the habitat, they help the animal overcome obstacles in the form of tall grass growing on the plains.


AFRICAN CIVETA- the only representative of the same genus. These animals live in Africa in open spaces with high grass from Senegal to Somalia, southern Namibia and eastern South Africa. The dimensions of the animal can visually increase quite strongly when the civet raises its hair when excited. And her fur is thick and long, especially on the back closer to the tail. The paws, muzzle and end of the tail are completely black, most of the body is spotty-striped.


MUSKRAT. The animal is quite famous, thanks to its sonorous name. It's just a good photo.


PROEKHIDNA. This miracle of nature usually weighs up to 10 kg, although larger specimens have also been noted. By the way, the length of the body of the prochidna reaches 77 cm, and this is not counting their cute five to seven centimeter tail. Any description of this animal is based on comparison with the echidna: the paws of the echidna are higher, the claws are more powerful. Another feature of the appearance of the prochidna is the spurs on the hind legs of males and the five-fingered hind limbs and the three-fingered forelimbs.


CAPIBARA. Semi-aquatic mammal, the largest of modern rodents. It is the only representative of the capybara family (Hydrochoeridae). There is a dwarf variety of Hydrochoerus isthmius, sometimes considered as a separate species (capybara).


SEA CUCUMBER. Holothuria. sea ​​pods, sea ​​cucumbers(Holothuroidea), a class of invertebrates of the echinoderm type. Species eaten are common name"trepang".


PANGOLIN. This post just couldn't do without it.


HELL VAMPIRE. Mollusk. Despite its obvious similarity with the octopus and squid, scientists have identified this mollusk in a separate order Vampyromorphida (Latin), because as soon as it has retractable sensitive bee-shaped filaments.


AARDVARK. In Africa, these mammals are called aardvark, which means "earth pig" in Russian. In fact, the aardvark in appearance very much resembles a pig, only with an elongated muzzle. The ears of this amazing animal are very similar in structure to those of a hare. There is also a muscular tail, which is very similar to the tail of such an animal as a kangaroo.

JAPANESE GIANT SALAMANDRA. To date, this is the largest amphibian that can reach 160 cm in length, weigh up to 180 kg and can live up to 150 years, although the officially registered maximum age of a giant salamander is 55 years.


BEARDED PIG. In different sources, the bearded pig species is divided into two or three subspecies. These are the curly-haired bearded pig (Sus barbatus oi), which lives on the Malacca Peninsula and the island of Sumatra, the Bornean bearded pig (Sus barbatus barbatus) and the Palawan bearded pig, which live, judging by the name, on Borneo island and Palawan, as well as Java, Kalimantan and the small islands of the Indonesian archipelago in South-East Asia.




SUMATRAN RHINO. They belong to the equine-hoofed animals of the rhinoceros family. This species of rhinoceros is the smallest of the entire family. The body length of an adult Sumatran rhinoceros can reach 200 - 280 cm, and the height at the withers can vary from 100 to 150 cm. Such rhinos can weigh up to 1000 kg.


SULAWESI BEAR CUSCOUS. Arboreal marsupial living in upper tier lowland rainforest. The coat of the bear couscous consists of a soft undercoat and coarse guard hairs. Color ranges from gray to brown, with a lighter belly and limbs, and varies by geographic subspecies and age of the animal. The prehensile, hairless tail is about half the length of the animal and acts as a fifth limb, which makes it easier to move through the dense rainforest. Bear couscous is the most primitive of all couscous, retaining primitive tooth growth and skull features.


GALAGO. Its large fluffy tail is clearly comparable to that of a squirrel. And the charming muzzle and graceful movements, flexibility and insinuation, clearly reflect his feline trait. The amazing jumping ability, mobility, strength and incredible agility of this animal clearly show its nature as a funny cat and elusive squirrel. Of course, it would be where to use their talents, because a cramped cage is very poorly suited for this. But, if you give this little animal a little freedom and sometimes allow him to walk around the apartment, then all his quirks and talents will come true. Many even compare it to a kangaroo.


WOMBAT. Without a photograph of a wombat, it is generally impossible to talk about strange and rare animals.


AMAZONIAN DOLPHIN. It is the largest river dolphin. Inia geoffrensis, as scientists call it, reaches 2.5 meters in length and weighs 2 centners. Light gray juveniles lighten with age. The body of the Amazonian dolphin is full, with a thin tail and a narrow muzzle. A round forehead, a slightly curved beak and small eyes are the features of this species of dolphins. There is an Amazonian dolphin in the rivers and lakes of Latin America.


FISH-MOON or MOLA-MOLA. This fish can be over three meters long and weigh about one and a half tons. The largest specimen of the moonfish was caught in New Hampshire, USA. Its length was five and a half meters, data on weight are not available. In shape, the body of the fish resembles a disk; it was this feature that served as the reason for Latin name. The moonfish has thicker skin. It is elastic, and its surface is covered with small bony protrusions. Fish larvae of this species and juveniles swim in the usual way. Adult large fish swim on their side, quietly moving their fins. They seem to lie on the surface of the water, where they are very easy to notice and catch. However, many experts believe that only sick fish swim in this way. As an argument, they cite the fact that the stomach of fish caught on the surface is usually empty.


TASMANIAN DEVIL. Being the largest of modern predatory marsupials, this animal is black in color with white spots on the chest and sacrum, with a huge mouth and sharp teeth, has a dense physique and a severe disposition, for which, in fact, it was called the devil. Emitting ominous cries at night, the massive and clumsy Tasmanian devil outwardly resembles a small bear: the front legs are slightly longer than the hind legs, the head is large, and the muzzle is blunted.


LORI. Feature lori - big size eyes, which may be bordered by dark circles, between the eyes there is a white dividing strip. The muzzle of a lory can be compared to a clown mask. This most likely explains the name of the animal: Loeris means "clown" in translation.


GAVIAL. Of course, one of the representatives of the detachment of crocodiles. With age, the muzzle of the gharial becomes even narrower and longer. Due to the fact that the gharial feeds on fish, its teeth are long and sharp, located with a slight inclination for the convenience of eating.


OKAPI. FOREST GIRAFFE. Traveling through Central Africa, journalist and explorer of Africa Henry Morton Stanley (1841-1904) more than once encountered local natives. Having once met an expedition equipped with horses, the natives of the Congo told the famous traveler that they had wild animals in the jungle, very similar to his horses. The Englishman, who had seen a lot, was somewhat puzzled by this fact. After some negotiations in 1900, the British were finally able to acquire parts of the hide. mysterious beast from the local population and send them to the Royal Zoological Society in London, where the unknown animal was given the name "Johnston's Horse" (Equus johnstoni), that is, it was assigned to the horse family. But what was their surprise when, a year later, they managed to get a whole skin and two skulls of an unknown animal, and discover that It looked more like pygmy giraffe times of the ice age. Only in 1909 was it possible to catch a live specimen of Okapi.

VALABY. WOOD KANGAROO. To the genus Tree kangaroos - wallabies (Dendrolagus) include 6 species. Of these, D. Inustus or bear wallaby, D. Matschiei or Matchish wallaby, which has a subspecies D. Goodfellowi (Goodfellow wallaby), D. Dorianus - Doria wallaby, live in New Guinea. In Australian Queensland, there are D. Lumholtzi - Lumholtz's wallaby (bungari), D. Bennettianus - Bennett's wallaby, or tharibina. Their original habitat was New Guinea, but now wallabies are also found in Australia. tree kangaroos live in tropical forests mountainous areas, at an altitude of 450 to 3000m. above sea level. The body size of the animal is 52-81 cm, the tail is from 42 to 93 cm long. Wallabies weigh, depending on the species, from 7.7 to 10 kg males and from 6.7 to 8.9 kg. females.


WOLVERINE. Moves quickly and dexterously. The animal has an elongated muzzle, a large head, with rounded ears. The jaws are powerful, the teeth are sharp. Wolverine is a “big-legged” beast, the feet are disproportionate to the body, but their size allows them to move freely through the deep snow cover. Each paw has huge and curved claws. Wolverine climbs trees perfectly, has sharp eyesight. The voice is like a fox.


FOSS. On the island of Madagascar, such animals have been preserved that are not found not only in Africa itself, but throughout the rest of the world. One of the rarest animals is Fossa - the only representative of the genus Cryptoprocta and the largest predatory mammal living on the island of Madagascar. Appearance fossa is a little unusual: it is a cross between a civet and a small cougar. Sometimes the fossa is also called the Madagascar lion, since the ancestors of this animal were much larger and reached the size of a lion. Fossa has a squat, massive and slightly elongated body, the length of which can reach up to 80 cm (on average it is 65-70 cm). The legs of the fossa are long, but thick enough, with the hind legs higher than the front ones. The tail is often equal to the length of the body and reaches 65 cm.


MANUL approves of this post and is only here because it should be. Everyone knows him.


FENEC. STEPPE FOX. He agrees with the manula and is present here in so far as. After all, everyone saw him.


THE NAKED DIGGER puts the manula and the fennec fox in karma and invites them to organize a club of the most feared animals in Runet.


PALM THIEF. A representative of the decapod crustaceans. Which habitat is the western part of the Pacific Ocean and the tropical islands of the Indian Ocean. This animal from the family of land crayfish is quite large for its species. The body of an adult individual reaches a size of up to 32 cm and a weight of up to 3-4 kg. For a long time it was mistakenly believed that with its claws it could even split coconuts, which it then eats. To date, scientists have proven that cancer can only eat already split coconuts. They, being its main source of nutrition, gave the name palm thief. Although he is not averse to eating other types of food - the fruits of Pandanus plants, organic matter from the soil, and even their own kind.

Mice are rarely talked about in a respectful tone. Usually they are described as poor, shy, but very harmful rodents. mouse vole- that is no exception.

This little animal can significantly spoil the crop in the garden, and gnaw a hole in the floor at home. Judging by photo, voles outwardly resembles ordinary mice and. At the same time, the muzzle of the inhabitants of the fields is smaller, and the ears and tail are shorter.

Features and habitat of the vole

The animals themselves belong to big family rodents and subfamily. There are more than 140 field species. Almost all have their own differences, but there are common features:

• small size (body length from 7 centimeters);
• short tail (from 2 centimeters);
• little weight(from 15 g);
• 16 teeth without roots (a new one will grow in place of the fallen tooth).

At the same time, roots were found in fossil rodents, but in the process of evolution, field animals lost them. A typical representative is common vole. This small rodent(up to 14 centimeters) with a brownish back and a gray belly. Lives near marshes, near rivers and in meadows. In winter, it prefers to move into people's houses.

Some species of field mice live underground (for example, mole voles). On the contrary, they lead a semi-aquatic lifestyle. In this case, terrestrial representatives are most often found. For example, among forest rodents, the most popular are:

• red-backed vole;
• red-gray field mouse;
• bank vole.

All three species are distinguished by mobility, they can climb bushes and small trees. In the tundra, you can “get acquainted” with pied and, which also belong to this subfamily.

About 20 species of field rodents live in Russia. All of them are small. Residents of Mongolia, East China, Korea and the Far East were less fortunate. Their economy is harmed big vole.

Pictured is a large vole

Pictured is a red vole mouse

Rodents prepare in advance for the cold. Field mice do not hibernate and are active all year round. voles in winter feed on supplies from their pantries. It can be seeds, grains, nuts. Most often, the animals do not have enough of their own blanks, which is why they run to people's houses.

However, they do not always enter the house by accident. Sometimes rodents are kept as decorative pets. animal vole can live in a small cage with a metal grate filled with sawdust.

There are usually 2-3 females per male. In winter, it is recommended to transfer to larger cages and leave them in unheated rooms.

Pictured is a red-backed vole

Also, these rodents are used for scientific purposes. Biological and medical experiments are most often carried out on red and steppe vole. If mice are wound up in the apartment “illegally”, you should contact the sanitary and epidemiological station. Voles breed very actively and can significantly damage property.

Nutrition

The owners of such an unusual pet as vole mouse you should know that pet needs a balanced diet. The daily diet should include:

• vegetables;
• corn;
• cottage cheese;
• meat;
• eggs;
• fresh raw water.

For those who only dream buy vole, it should be understood that these are very voracious rodents, they are able to eat food more than their weight per day.

Many believe that in nature field mice omnivorous. However, this is not quite true. "Menu" directly depends on the habitat. For example, steppe animals feed on grasses and plant roots. In the meadow, rodents choose juicy stems and all kinds of berries. forest voles feast on young shoots and buds, mushrooms, berries and nuts.

Almost all types of mice will not refuse small insects and larvae. water vole, for unknown reasons, likes potatoes and root vegetables. In general, vegetables and fruits from gardens are the favorite food of almost all field mice.

Rodents in in large numbers can cause irreparable damage to the economy. In apartments and houses, mice eat everything they can steal: bread, straw, cheese, sausage, vegetables.

Pictured is a water vole

Reproduction and lifespan

It cannot be said that these are exclusively harmful creatures. In nature, they are an important link in the food chain. Without mice, many predators would starve, including martens and.

However, it is better not to let wild voles near the houses. These are very prolific rodents. IN natural environment in one year, a female can bring from 1 to 7 litters. And each will have 4-6 little mice. In greenhouse conditions, the animals breed even more actively.

The pregnancy itself lasts no more than a month. Mice become independent after 1-3 weeks. Captive gray voles become sexually mature at the age of 2-3 months. Pets - a little earlier.

Pictured is a gray vole

The age of these rodents is short, and rarely the mouse survives to the age of two. However, during this short period, vole can give birth to about 100 cubs. That is, a flock of one mouse can completely destroy stocks of root crops for the winter and other products.

Despite the fact that field mice are so prolific, some species are listed in the "Red". Vinogradov's Lemmings are in critical condition, and the Alai Slepushonka is endangered. There are also vulnerable species and voles that are in a state close to threatened.