For the Palestine mole rat, which lives almost entirely underground, finding other members of their species. Fortunately, this species has a special way of attracting potential mates: when the breeding season starts, males and females drum their heads against the roof of their tunnels. This sends vibrations through the ground that lets other mole rats know exactly where they are.
(Image: A Palestine mole rat (Nannospalax ehrenbergi) by Zuhair Amr et al.)
If you send me proof that you’ve made a donation to UNRWA or another organization benefiting Palestinians, I’ll make art of any animal of your choosing.
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The only known mammal to date, at least that we know of, that co-opts toxins from a plant to make itself venomous. The maned rat chews on the bark from Acokanthera schimperi trees, mixes it with its saliva and coats itself in the toxins, just a few milligrams is deadly enough to kill a human.
sleeping squirrel studies from my watercolor sketchbook 🤎🐿💤 I used terra cotta pencil, a dark brown water-soluble pencil, and a watercolor kit. Image in the link goes to a patreon post more info and more squirrels....click if u dare
Although adult crested porcupines aren't anything to mess with, they don't start out that way! Baby porcupines, also known as porcupettes, are born with soft quills. These quills harden over the next several hours, and by the time they're a day old each porcupette is well equipped to defend themself against predators-- though they won't venture out of their den for another week or so.
Image: A mother cape porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis) along with her two porcupettes, by the London Zoo)