ama

[ama]

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Submitting the forked fungus beetle, Bolitotherus cornutus! Profoundly uncharismatic. Even I, who spent six years studying them for a PhD, sometimes struggle to tell them from pieces of bark. Once you have one, it can even be hard to tell when they are alive or dead, since their defensive reaction to mammalian breath is to roll over and stay perfectly still.

But they have surprisingly complex social lives. We’ve mapped their social networks and found that individuals have personalities, meaning that they are consistent in whether they tend to interact with lots of others or stay by themselves: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8923822/

They can also tell a lot about each other from chemical cues. Females can tell whether a scent was left by a male who just won or lost a fight! https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8093714/

Male competition reverses female preference for male chemical cues

Females must choose among potential mates with different phenotypes in a variety of social contexts. Many male traits are inherent and uncha

PubMed Central (PMC)

Group composition of individual personalities alters social network structure in experimental populations of forked fungus beetles

Social network structure is a critical group character that mediates the flow of information, pathogens and resources among individuals in a

PubMed Central (PMC)

-Jack's note: Wow, that is so cool! What an interesting little critter!

[ama]

[lindagoesmushrooming]

A shy snail and a russula mushroom.

[theraphos]

@onenicebugperday :3

[ama]

[fullcravings]

Banana Poppy Seed Cake with Vanilla Buttercream

[ama]

[foodffs]

Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower Gratin

Really nice recipes. Every hour.

[ama]

[academicssay]

[ama]

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Uncharismatic Fact of the Day

It might be easy to overlook the least shrew mole-- they're the smallest species of mole in the world! Also known as the American shrew mole, these tiny critters are 10 cm (3.9 in) in length including the tail and weigh only 10 g (0.35 oz). That's lighter than a handful of jelly beans!

(Image: An American shrew mole (Neurotrichus gibbsii) by Bob Brett)

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[ama]

[alphynix]

Spectember 2023 #02: Carnivorous Ungulates

An anonymous submitter asked for a "derived carnivorous, pack-hunting agriochoerid":

ALT

Felichoerus ochlos is fairly similar-looking to its herbivorous relatives, but this cat-sized agriochoerid comes from a lineage that initially specialized in eating fleshy fruits – and then shifted towards eating actual flesh.

With its long cat-like body, forward-facing eyes, clawed digits, and flexible limbs, it's a capable tree climber. Groups of this animal practice cooperative hunting, with one member chasing arboreal prey down to the ground for the rest to mob.

———

And another anon wanted to see an "obligate carnivore bovine":

(I see what you did there. A literal carnotaurus!)

ALT

The bulltcher (Carnovitulus grassator) is a sheep-sized descendant of small buffalo that gradually took up more and more omnivorous diets, eventually becoming somewhat entelodont-like opportunists. This particular species has shifted over into hypercarnivory, occupying a predator niche in an ecosystem lacking other types of carnivorous mammal.

Like their ancestors they still lack upper front teeth, and instead have modified their dental pad into an almost beak-like tough keratinized structure that their sharp lower teeth can slice and self-sharpen against.

These animals live in small matriarchal herds, with bulls usually hanging around on the edges of the group to protect from threats. Bulls have larger backwards-pointing horns, used to compete with each other for mates – but the size of these structures on their skulls results in them having slightly less powerful jaw muscles than cows.

Herds hunt cooperatively, pursuing and harassing larger prey until it can be brought down and torn apart.

[ama]

[academicssay]

[ama]

[typhlonectes]

The Ringtail (Bassariscus astutus)

AKA “Ringtail Cat”

If there’s one thing you should know about the Ringtail cat, it’s that they are not a cat! In fact, they are a member of the raccoon family. 

Their similar features to a feline earn them a few other names including miner’s cat and civet cat. Despite these misconceptions, the Ringtail is named for its tail, which is long, ringed and bushy.

Native to the southwest US and Mexico, these mysterious mammals are nocturnal and have many adaptations to help them survive at night. Their large, round eyes help them see in complete darkness and their big ears allow them to hear the slightest sounds. They can also maneuver along cliffs and between small openings and cracks, while descending headfirst by rotating their hind feet 180 degrees. With the help of their tail, they’re able to balance and climb.

When they’re not active and out hunting, they are most likely sleeping in their den which can include hollow trees, rock crevices and abandoned burrows from other animals. 

They may also be hiding from predators like coyotes, bobcats, and great horned owls.  As an omnivore, they eat a variety of foods, though they tend to prefer meat.  Insects, mice, lizards, snakes, scorpions, fruit and plants make up a typical diet.  As a result, they play an important role in the ecosystem by maintaining balance in these prey populations and aiding in seed dispersal.

via: Zion National Park - Utah, USA

[ama]

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Uncharismatic Fact of the Day

Like its namesake, the bat-eared fox is almost completely insectivorous. Up to 90% of its diet are harvester termites, which it locates using its oversized ears! When termites aren't available, this species will forage for a number of other insects including ants, beetles, crickets, and scorpions.

(Image: A bat-eared fox (Otocyon megalotis) by Yathin Krishnappa via Wikimedia)

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