The most numerous order of mammals are rodents. A total of 2,277 species have been described. They can be found almost everywhere, anywhere on our planet, with the exception of Antarctica and some islands.
Typically, all rodents are small in size, from 5 to 130 cm, but on average do not exceed 50 cm. Many of them have a particularly long tail, which is significantly larger than their body size, but some have it completely absent, such as sea pigs.
The smallest rodent is only 3 cm in length (plus 2 cm for the tail), it weighs only 7 g. Some rodents are impressive in their size. Thus, the average weight of a capybara is 65 kg, and individual specimens weigh up to 91 kg.
The largest are rodents, which have long since become extinct. The remains of giant representatives of this group were found, the largest of which weighed from 1 to 1.5 tons, it is possible that it reached a size of 2.5 tons. Nowadays it is impossible to meet such giants.
But still, the largest rodents in the world amaze with their size, despite the fact that in our society there has long been a stereotype that if it is a rodent, then it is a tiny animal that fits in the palm of your hand.
Indian giant squirrel
It is also called Indian ratufa . This is a tree squirrel that can be found in India. Prefers mixed or deciduous forests. These animals usually live in groups.
In each individual habitat they have their own fur color, so you can easily determine where this or that animal was caught. Usually the color scheme consists of 2-3 colors, from beige to brown in different shades, and yellow is also found. Indian giant squirrels have a white patch between their ears
The length of the squirrel, if you count the head and body, is 36 cm (adult), but they also have a long tail, which grows up to 61 cm. An adult squirrel weighs about 2 kg. They prefer to live in the upper layer of the forest. These are very cautious animals, they are active in the early morning and late afternoon.
Justified and unfounded fears
More recently, about 3 decades ago, articles appeared in Moscow newspapers about giant rats found in the Moscow metro. The articles claimed that the rats appeared on the surface, where they attacked passersby.
These rats were comparable in size to dogs, and they had red eyes, yellow plaque on their teeth and a wolfish smile. In other words, disgusting and rather aggressive monsters.
With the advent of the Internet, terrifying videos of rodents are increasingly appearing on social media. The Chinese presented a photo of a mouse holding its tail. It is believed to have been the largest mammal of its species, weighing several kilograms.
Thanks to the Internet, many people began to develop phobias, both justified and unfounded, towards this type of rodent. Who wants to meet a giant rat on their way, and a hungry one at that. In fact, not everything is so simple and ambiguous, because there are different types of rats, and there are animals similar to rats.
Soviet chinchilla
Despite the name, we are not talking about a chinchilla at all, but about a breed of rabbits that are bred for their fur. It was bred in the USSR. Our specialists crossed American chinchillas with different breeds and were able to increase the live weight of the animal to 5 kg.
In 1963, a new breed, the Soviet chinchilla, . Its representatives are distinguished by thick fur, high-quality skin, large size, good endurance and early ripening.
Their body is 60-70 cm long, they are silver or dark silver, the belly and part of the paws are black, and there is a border of the same color on the ears. An adult rabbit weighs from 3 to 5 kg, among them there are record holders who gained up to 7-8 kg.
Interaction with people
For humans, rodents can be both extremely useful and dangerous animals. They carry leptospirosis, salmonellosis, toxoplasmosis and other infections. Their exposure to the plague was a real disaster for the inhabitants of medieval cities.
Despite this, various types of rodents often served as a source of food and materials for clothing. So, squirrels, badgers, chipmunks, and chinchillas have always been hunted for their fur. Due to their small size, unpretentiousness and ability to reproduce quickly, the animals are used for scientific research and experiments.
Some rodents have also learned to benefit from human presence. Mice and rats became synanthropes - species that accompany people. They settle near human settlements, taking advantage of all the advantages of such proximity.
Some representatives of the detachment captivated us with their appearance so much that we decided to shelter them. This is how domestic rodents appeared: mice, hamsters, rats, degus, chinchillas, pigs, gerbils. Some even tame squirrels and jerboas. Most of these animals do not live long - from 2 to 7 years. A real long-liver among domestic rodents is the chinchilla. She lives up to 20 years.
Nutria
Its other names are swamp beaver or koipu . " Nutria " is translated from Greek as "mouse-beaver". In appearance it resembles a rat of enormous size: the body grows up to 60 cm, the tail is 45 cm, it weighs from 5 to 12 kg. Males are usually larger than females.
She has a huge head with small ears and eyes, and a blunt muzzle. The tail is hairless, it is a kind of rudder that is used when swimming. The fur of this animal is waterproof and brown.
Nutria lives in South America, but it has been able to acclimatize in many countries. It is active at night. Lives in groups of 2-13 individuals.
Nutrition
Podenco Ibicenco breed (Ibizan Greyhound)
A powerful and muscular dog requires a lot of energy. Therefore, due attention should be paid to creating a daily diet. Recommendations for nutrition are as follows:
- Dry food with a balanced composition is best suited. They contain the proper amount of carbohydrates, microelements and vitamins.
- A strange superstition concerns that a dog should be fed exclusively meat. Experts recommend including 20% cereals and 20% vegetables in your diet.
- Most often, beef and chicken are chosen as the main food. In some cases, it is possible to add sea fish fillets. You can add cottage cheese and sour cream.
The puppy is given his own daily diet. In most cases, it is represented by special food that is rich in useful microelements.
Bull Terrier nutrition
Baybak
Another name is common marmot . It lives in the virgin steppes of Eurasia. The English name “Bobak marmot” comes from the Turkic word “ baibak ”, which also means “marmot”.
It is similar to other marmots, but stands out for its yellow coloring and short tail, which does not exceed 15 cm in length. The bobak also stands out for its size: its body length is from 50 to 70 cm, a fattened male can weigh up to 10 kg.
Once upon a time it was a common animal that lived in the steppe zone from Hungary to the Irtysh. But due to the plowing of virgin lands, the amount of area it occupied was significantly reduced, because they cannot live in vegetable and grain crops. Baibaks form perennial colonies and make many burrows for themselves. They feed on plant foods.
Disadvantages of keeping rodents
Smell. This is the most important factor to consider when choosing a rodent. It’s good when a rodent relieves itself in one place, but this is done by rare species of the rodent class. The rest do their business on the go. Rodents are really very clean, they themselves are unhappy with this smell, and try to protect themselves from it - they wash, bathe. But the smell appears due to the acrid secretions of urine, while feces have almost no odor.
To reduce the strength of this “aroma”, it is necessary to periodically change the sawdust or other type of bedding in your pet’s cage. Maximum - once every three days. Also in pet stores there are various products that reduce the level of this stench. If you haven’t found a product to kill the odor from hamsters, purchase a special powder for cat litter boxes. He helps a lot too.
Another way to reduce odor is to neuter the animal. In this way, the animal will become more affectionate, will stop marking its territory if you let it run around the apartment, and will become a calm, gentle creature that is not averse to playing and learning new things by crawling into secluded corners.
Rodents are most often nocturnal, so the cage with the pet must either be kept in another room, or choose one that is active during the day.
Remember that you consciously made your choice when buying a rodent for yourself or your child. Therefore, try to get maximum pleasure from communicating with the animal.
Pacarana
Another name for it is false pack . The pacarana looks like a guinea pig, but is a fairly large rodent. Her body length is from 73 to 79 cm, she weighs 10-15 kg.
This is a massive, heavy animal. The tail is about a third of the body in size. She has a wide head, on which there are round ears and unusually large eyes.
Pacarana is black or dark brown, has white spots, and has coarse and sparse fur. You can meet her in the forests of the Amazon. These are slow animals. Not much is known about their life.
Josephoartigasia
An extinct species of South American rodents that lived during the early and late Pliocene. The rodent received its name in honor of a man named Jose Gervasio Artigas, who became the national hero of Uruguay. It was there that the remains of Josephoartigasia were found in 1981. In Montevideo, scientists discovered a 21-inch skull that was larger than that of a cow. Being the largest rodent of all time, Josephoartigasia lived in the forests of South America. The length of the body reached eight meters, and the weight was 2000 pounds. Most likely, the animals were herbivores, although it is possible that Josephoartigasia could not kill other animals in order to survive. Of the living rodents, Josephoartigasia resembles a large capybara in appearance.
Mara
They are also called Patagonian hares or Patagonian pigs . Mara can grow up to 69-75 cm, large individuals gain weight up to 9-16 kg. Their tail is only 4.5 cm long.
The upper part of their body is grayish, the lower part is whitish, and there are white or yellow stripes on the sides. This rodent has thick fur.
You can meet mara in South America. They prefer to go out in search of food during the day, gather for communal feeding, and feed on plants.
Aye-Aye
Photo: Elias Neideck//CC BY-SA 4.0
The aya aya is perhaps one of the least attractive lemur species found in Madagascar thanks to its rodent-like teeth that continually grow throughout the animal's life. They have a number of advanced features, including a special thin middle finger, but their ears make one of their most prominent facial features. Compared to other primates, the Aye-Aye's ears are unusual and more cat-like in appearance, although they work well for finding food. Because of the unique way they find larvae, they fill an ecological niche more similar to a woodpecker than a lemur. They touch trees and use their hearing to find the larvae inside. They then drill a small hole with their large incisors and insert their specialized middle finger inside to extract their prey. The only other animals that seem to do this are the banded possum and the woodpecker, which makes Aye-Aye one of the strangest primates on the planet. Scientific name : Daubentonia madagascariensis Type : Daubentonia
Flanders
This is the name of one of the rabbit breeds. She was bred in Belgium. Flanders is one of the most famous and widespread breeds; exactly how it was obtained is not known exactly.
These rabbits are bred in many countries, and in each of them Flanders have their own characteristics. There are German, English, Spanish, etc. representatives of this breed. They did not take root in the USSR due to the harsh climate, but were used to breed the “gray giant” breed.
Flanders amazes with its size. They have a long body - up to 67 cm, high, thick and dense fur, color - gray or yellow-gray. Adult rabbits weigh 7 kg, some of them grow up to 10-12 kg, there are record holders weighing 25 kg.
How to keep and care for a Bull Terrier
A dog with a hooked nose, like other pets, requires proper care. In spring and autumn there is heavy molting. At this time, you need to pay more attention to combing, which requires a special brush and a rubber mitten. During other periods, the frequency of combing is 2-3 times a week. The pig-faced fighting baby needs to eat regularly to gain energy.
Northern Inuit dog (direwolf breed)
Hygiene procedures should be carried out regularly. They are as follows:
- you need to clean your ears every week;
- trim nails regularly;
- wash your dog with special shampoo as needed;
- Rinse your eyes daily, otherwise inflammation may develop.
The Bull Terrier needs active walks, games with a ball and sticks. Due to its short fur, the dog cannot tolerate extreme cold. Therefore, you need to wear special clothes. In summer, it is recommended to spend more time in the shade.
Note! Bull Terriers extremely rarely suffer from ear diseases, but problems with hearing can occur, especially in white individuals. Many are born completely deaf.
Summer walks should be active. Therefore, it is recommended to lengthen the leash when your pet is walking in the park. You need to purchase a sufficient number of toys: balls, rubber bones, flying saucers. If the walk is less active, the dog will be nervous and take out its energy on things in the house.
This dog must be trained using only humane methods. If you use physical force, there is a possibility of provoking aggression. Do not forget that the dog has a fighting spirit. At the same time, training takes a lot of time and effort, and it is often carried out exclusively by a specialist. The pet must understand that the owner must be in charge, only in this case will he unquestioningly fulfill all requirements.
Crested porcupine
It is often called the porcupine . The thick and stocky body of the animal is covered with dark and white needles. He has 2 types. There are long and flexible ones, growing up to 40 cm, and there are short and hard ones, 15-30 cm each, but differing in significant thickness.
The crested porcupine has a rounded muzzle with round eyes. He has short legs, he moves slowly, but he can also run. He uses his voice very rarely, only in moments of danger or irritation.
This is a very large rodent, growing up to 90 cm, plus a tail of 10-15 cm. Average weight is 8-12 kg, but some well-fed males weigh up to 27 kg.
How much does a bull terrier cost?
Puppies of this breed are very cute. If you have decided to get one, then you need to contact a good nursery. It is not recommended to purchase through an ad or on the market. Improper breeding causes the development of various genetic diseases.
The baby can be picked up at the age of two and a half months. At this age, all necessary vaccinations are given. At the time of choosing a puppy, the condition of the teeth is checked; there should be six of them on the bottom and top.
Your hearing status must be checked. This is due to the fact that bull terriers are often born deaf. To check, just clap your hands, to which the baby must respond. It is advisable to pay attention to the parents or familiarize yourself with the pedigree. This information is provided by all good nurseries.
Bull Terrier puppy
The price of a puppy depends on a variety of factors. Title and pedigree drive up the value. Therefore, the cost of a bull terrier can vary from 15,000 to 70,000 rubles. If we consider a puppy without a pedigree, then the price drops from 10,000 to 15,000 rubles. Many people associate the name of the breed with fighting matches, but this is not entirely true. Most puppies become just loyal friends.
Beaver
A semi-aquatic mammal with beautiful fur, consisting of coarse hair and very thick silky underfur. It is light chestnut or dark brown in color, the tail and paws are black.
The beaver is one of the largest rodents, its body length is from 1 to 1.3 m, and its weight is from 30 to 32 kg. It was once common throughout Europe and Asia, but by the beginning of the twentieth century it was almost exterminated, but now it can be found almost everywhere. Beavers settle near rivers, lakes, and ponds, living in their huts located under water or in burrows in steep and steep banks.
Black and gray rat
The black rat is called a roof rat, an attic rat, or a ship rat. Activity at night. This is a less aggressive species than gray rats. The second name is gray barn.
This is the largest and most vicious species. She is able to displace the black one. Distinguished by strength, cunning, audacity, dexterity.
In the wild, rodents live near water. They fight rats using various methods:
- biological - cats and dogs are assistants;
- physical - with the help of rat traps, traps, traps;
- chemical - poisonous drugs;
- ultrasonic
Who do you meet more often?
RatsMice
Capybara
It is also called capybara. This is a herbivorous mammal, its name consists of 8 letters ( capybara ), and is often asked in crosswords and scanwords. Its body length is 1-1.35 m, height - 50-60 cm. Males can weigh from 34 to 63 kg, females - even more, from 36 to 65.5 kg. Externally, the capybara is somewhat similar to a guinea pig; it has an elongated body and hard fur.
It can be seen in Central and South America. Lives near water, rarely goes more than 1 thousand meters from it. They are active during the day, but can also become nocturnal.
They can swim and dive, feed on aquatic plants, grass and hay, and tubers. Capybaras are calm, friendly, and are often kept as pets.
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Serval
Photo: San Diego Shooter/
/CC-BY-NC-ND 2.0
The serval is a species of wild cat found in sub-Saharan Africa, although some have been seen in North Africa and the Sahel.
The Serval is a medium-sized cat, reaching between 10 and 20 kilograms. They usually have black markings on their bodies, but their most noticeable feature has to be their oversized ears. Interestingly, their ears are not much larger than those of typical domestic cats, but compared to their head size, they stand out noticeably.
Serval ears are not for fun, but are used primarily for hunting their typical prey, which includes rodents, birds, insects, frogs and small reptiles. They use their keen sense of hearing to locate their prey. They then stalk their prey like most cats and pounce on them from over six feet away so they can bite and snap the neck of their prey. Its ears are not the only enlarged feature found in the Serval, as they are also characterized by the longest leg-to-body ratio of any cat species. Scientific name : Leptailurus serval Type: Leptailurus
Basset Hound
Photo: donjd2/
/CC-BY 2.0
There are many dog breeds in the world, but the one with the largest ears is the Basset Hound. Technically, the Basset Hound is not an example of evolution that produced an animal with enlarged ears. Basset Hounds and all dog breeds are the result of specialized selective breeding by humans from the gray wolf, Canis Lupus. All dogs come from this wolf breed, but as you know, they look significantly different in size, shape, specialization and temperament.
Basset hounds were specifically bred to hunt hares. Their ears may be one of their most noticeable features, along with their short legs, but it is their powerful nose, which is capable of detecting scents from miles away, that truly deserves fame.
They have been bred from bloodhounds for centuries and originated in Britain back in the late 1800s. Their long ears help them track a scent, both focus it towards their nose, and catch some of the smells to help them remember the smell they are following. Catching some smells to help them remember the smell they are following.
Scientific name: Canis lupus familiaris Type: Dog
Big-eared leaf-nosed bats
Photo: alanterra/flickr/CC-BY-NC 2.0
There is a common misconception that bats are either blind or have relatively poor vision, but this is only because their ears play such a large role in their lives. The truth is, bats can see very well, but their hearing puts us to shame. Bats use a special hunting technique called echolocation, which allows them to find prey in low-light conditions thanks to the sounds of their movement and their ability to discern speed and direction thanks to their amazing hearing.
Of all the many species of bats, the ones with the greatest ear-to-body relationship are the bats. These little bats have huge ears compared to the rest of their bodies, and they use them to pick up the slightest flickering sound that an insect's wing makes in flight. They fly quickly and easily collect prey in their habitat, which extends through southern California into Mexico.
Scientific name: Macrotus californicus Type: Macrotus
Mule Deer
Photo: Metaweb (FB)/GNU Free Documentation License
All deer species have relatively large ears, but the Mule Deer has the largest ears compared to other members of the deer family. They are found primarily in the lands west of the Missouri River in the Rocky Mountain regions of North America, but they have also been seen in places such as Kauai, Hawaii and Argentina.
Like all deer species, the Mule Deer's ears have evolved to detect the slightest sound over long distances. They can immediately detect sounds in several directions and alert animals if a potential predator is nearby. This adaptation helps deer survive in climates filled with wolves, coyotes, humans and other animals that are eager to prey on mule deer.
Scientific name: Odocoileus hemionus Type: Odocoileus
Long Ward-Jerboa
Photo: Syt55//Public Domain
The aptly named Longhaired Jerboa is a nocturnal mouse rodent found in the Palearctic ecozone of Mongolia and Western China. They are well known for their oversized ears, which makes it clear where their name comes from. Their ears are more than a third longer than their heads and have tufts of bristly hair.
Another important feature is the Long-Ware Jerboa's legs, which are especially large in comparison to their body to enable the animal to jump long distances as it hunts for its primary prey, which includes numerous species of flying insects. Its ears are used primarily for protection, as they allow the long-haired Jerbois to hear predators from a great distance. They will also likely help locate local prey nearby and repel their exact location.
Scientific name: Euchoreutes naso Type: rodent
African bush elephant
Photo: brainstorm1984/flickr/CC-BY-ND 2.0
Elephants are well known for their enlarged ears and were even featured in a Disney film, but among the two extant species of elephants in Africa, the African Bush elephant holds the record because it has the largest ear-to-body ratio. The African Bush Elephant's ears are not just for fun, but also help the elephants survive in the hot, dry climate they find themselves in.
Because their ears are large and flat, they can move them in a way that creates air currents that help remove their excess body heat, allowing them to cool down during the hottest parts of the year. They constantly flare their ears to ward off insects and pests that might otherwise irritate them. Their ears are also very sensitive and can be used to communicate at frequencies that humans cannot hear, but elephants can discern great distances. Elephants also stick out their ears as a show of strength when confronted, which helps make their already massive size even more menacing.
Scientific name : Loxodonta africana
Type: Loxodonta
