ANIMAL FACTS

Did you know...?

Have you met the world’s only poisonous rodent?

Lophiomys imhausi, otherwise known as the maned or African crested rat, hides a deadly defence in its very own hair.

The hairs in its mane have a spongy texture that absorb toxins from the bark of poison arrow trees Acokanthera schimperi – the rat chews on these casually, being somehow immune, and smears the toxins onto its mane. It’s the only mammal known to sequester toxins from and external source for its own use.

The mane bristles when under threat, risking predators with a mouthful of the toxins – cardiotonic glycosides - that can make them very sick, or even cause heart failure.

Citation: Sara B Weinstein, Katrina

Nyawira Malanga, Bernard

Agwanda, Jesús E Maldonado, M Denise Dearing, The secret social lives of African crested rats, Lophiomys imhausi, Journal of Mammalogy, gyaa127

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Aquarium Fish Foods with Insect Meal

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