Animals you didn't know about. Philippine tarsier, or maomag
Woolly wings, flying lemurs, kaguans (lat. Dermoptera) is a detachment and family of arboreal mammals found in southeast Asia. There are only two species in the order.
On the ground, woolly wings move slowly. The most adapted to planning, but they cannot fly. When jumping, the maximum gliding range is up to 140 m.
A more perfect membrane that connects the neck, fingertips and tail helps the woolly wing to soar in the air, and, flying from tree to tree, the woolly wing looks like a small flying carpet.
Being much larger than most flying squirrels, this animal is still no larger than a cat.
Colleopterans feed on fruits, leaves, seeds, and nights. They feed, like other flying mammals, at night, and during the day they sleep off, hanging somewhere on a branch upside down, like bats.
The female winged wing bears only one cub. During the flight, the baby hangs on the mother's chest, tightly clinging to the fur.
The body length of the winged wing is 36-43 cm, weight up to 2 kg. The head is small, with large eyes, perfectly adapted for binocular vision. On the bare soles of the paws, there are flat areas that form suction discs.
The females have gray fur, while the males have chocolate. Photos below, it looks like a male :)
Some experts say that the winged wings are flying lemurs. Others argue that they are insectivorous animals, something like flying shrews. In fact, the amazing woolly wing, or as it is also called, the kaguan, is a gliding mammal that belongs to a separate order of Dermoptera. The order includes one currently known family, Cynocephalidae.
Woolly wings live in Southeast Asia.
To date, 2 two species of these animals are known: the Malay and the slightly smaller Philippine.
The Malayan woolly wing is found in tropical rainforests and rubber plantations in Thailand, Malaysia, Borneo, Sumatra, Java and adjacent islands.
Malayan kaguan
The Philippine inhabits the forests of the islands of Mindanao, Basilan, Samar, Leith, Bohol.
Philippine kaguan External Features
The sizes of woolly wings do not exceed the domestic cat. The body length of the animals is 33-42 cm, weight -1-1.7 kg. Females are slightly larger than males.
The broad head with short, rounded ears and a blunt muzzle looks like the head of a Greyhound dog. The eyes of the kaguan, like those of all nocturnal animals, are large. Stereoscopic vision promotes precise landing during jumps.
The most characteristic sign of the colewing is the flying membrane. Covered with fur, and not naked, as in bats, it stretches from the side of the neck to the fingers of the fore and hind limbs, continuing to the very tip of the tail. No other gliding mammal has such a large flying membrane. When it is straightened, the woolly wing resembles a kite and can hover directionally, covering distances of up to 70 meters or more.
The limbs of equal length are equipped with strong sharp claws, thanks to which the animal, like a sloth, can hang on a trunk or branch.
Both the body and the membrane of the woolly wings are covered with soft thick fur. The fur on the body is gray, brown or reddish. The membrane is grayish-brown above with white spots, the lower surface is paler. The Philippine species is darker in color and less mottled than the Malay counterpart.
Kaguan teeth are completely different from the teeth of other animals. The second upper incisor has two roots - this is a unique case among mammals. But even more interesting is the fact that the two pairs of lower incisors resemble a comb with 20 teeth growing from one root. The function of these ridges is not entirely clear. Perhaps they are used by animals to filter juice or when cleaning wool.
Lifestyle
Wormwings are predominantly nocturnal. They spend the day in the hollows of trees or hanging on branches, while their membrane is unfolded like a cloak.
The woolly wing is so adapted to the arboreal way of life that when it finds itself on the ground, it becomes completely clumsy and crawling in a hurry to quickly find itself again in its native tree element.
Caguans prefer to live alone. They are territorial, each animal is assigned a certain area of \u200b\u200bthe forest.
Woolly wings make sounds reminiscent of the cries of ducks, but most often babies “talk” like this, adults rarely do this.
What do kaguanas eat?
The menu of kaguans mainly consists of leaves, buds, shoots, flowers, and sometimes soft fruits. In addition, they often lick the sap from tree trunks. During feeding, the animal pulls a branch with leaves towards itself until it reaches them with its front paws, and then cuts off the foliage with a strong tongue and lower incisors.
reproduction
Kaguans do not have a specific breeding season. Pregnancy lasts about 60 days, after which a tiny cub weighing only about 35 grams is born. The mother feeds the baby with milk for up to six months. Lactating females can be pregnant at the same time; generations follow one after another. Cubs are born underdeveloped, like marsupials, and during the feeding period they are on their mother's stomach. The membrane near the tail can be folded into a soft warm pocket, in which the mother carries the baby. When the female is resting, hanging from a branch with a straightened membrane, a small woolly wing crawls out of this “hammock”. The cub reaches the size of an adult individual no earlier than 2-3 years of age.
Enemies
The amazing aircraft of the kaguana is suitable for traveling long distances. But he also has a drawback - he makes the animals vulnerable to birds of prey. Among the natural enemies of the colewing is one of the rarest birds in the world - the Philippine monkey-eating harpy (woolwings make up more than 90% of its diet).
Conservation of woolly wings in nature
Wormwings are listed in the IUCN Red List with the status of "vulnerable species". They mainly suffer from deforestation for agricultural land. The Philippine kaguan is also still hunted for its soft fur and meat, which is a delicacy for the local population.
It is believed that the Malay winged wing harms coconut plantations, because it eats the buds of the coconut palm, which is why farmers do not like the animal too much.
There is no reliable data on the life expectancy of kaguans in nature. It is likely that their age is short - 6-7 years. In captivity, an animal is known that has lived for more than 17 years.
In contact with
1. Wild dog
The wild dog is a type of canine native to South and Southeast Asia. Wild dogs are social animals that live in large packs that sometimes break into small groups to hunt. They primarily prey on medium-sized ungulates, which they overtake in tiring long chases and kill. Although wild dogs are afraid of humans, their groups are brave enough to attack large and dangerous animals such as wild boar, buffalo and even tiger.
2. Babirussa
Babirussa, which means "hog deer", is a member of the pig family found in Vallacea, specifically the Indonesian islands of Sulawesi, Togin, Sula and Buru. If the babirussa does not grind down its tusks (through regular activity), then they will eventually grow to grow into its skull.
3. Pink armadillo
The pink armadillo comes in pale pink or pink in color and reaches approximately 9-11 centimeters in length without a tail. He is able to fully burrow in seconds if frightened. It is a nocturnal animal that digs small burrows near ant colonies in dry soil and feeds mainly on ants and ant larvae near its burrow. It uses large front claws to stir sand, allowing it to almost float through the ground as if it were water. It is shaped like a torpedo and has a shell on its head and back.
4. Fossa
Fossa belongs to the cat family, they are carnivorous mammals that originate from Madagascar. Fossa is the largest of the mammalian predators on the island of Madagascar and is comparable in size to a small cougar. It has semi-retractable claws and flexible ankles that allow it to climb and descend trees head first, as well as support when jumping from tree to tree.
6. Gerenuk
Gerenuk, also known as Waller's gazelle, is a long-necked species of antelope found in the dry thorn bushes and deserts of East Africa. The word "Gerenuk" comes from the Somali language, which means "with the neck of a giraffe." Gerenuks have a comparatively small head for their body, but their eyes and ears are proportionately large. Gerenuks rarely graze, instead they pluck thorny bushes and trees such as acacias. They can reach higher branches and limbs than other gazelles and antelopes by standing upright on their hind legs and stretching out their elongated necks.
8. Naked digger
This creature has many characteristics that make it very important to humans. First, they are resistant to cancer. And they live up to 28 years, which is unheard of in mammals their size. They don't even seem to age in those 28 years. They stay young, healthy, and fertile almost daily, which for an older animal is equivalent to our perception of an 80-year-old woman wearing biological make-up 50 years younger. The naked mole rat is used in cancer research and the study of aging. What makes this creature not only strange, but also useful.
9. Irrawaddy Dolphin
The Irrawaddy dolphin is a species of oceanic dolphin found near sea coasts and in estuaries in parts of the Bay of Bengal and Southeast Asia. Genetically, the Irrawaddy dolphin is closely related to the killer whale.
11. Markhor
Markhor is a type of mountain goat that is found in the northeast of Afghanistan and Pakistan. The species is classified as critically endangered as fewer than 2,500 adults remain. Markhor is the national animal of Pakistan. While the markhor is chewing the cud, a foamy substance comes out of its mouth, falls to the ground and dries up. This foamy substance is sought after by locals who believe it is useful in extracting snake venom from a snakebite wound.
13. Crab Yeti
Also known as Kiwaidae, this crab is a species of marine decapod living in deep sea hydrothermal vents and cold springs. These animals are commonly referred to as "yeti crabs" because their claws and feet are white and appear to be furry like the mythical yeti.
14. Snub-nosed monkey
Snub-nosed monkeys live in various parts of Asia and get their name from the short nose on their round muzzle. Snub-nosed monkeys inhabit mountain forests, moving to deep, quiet areas in winter. They spend most of their lives in the trees and live together in very large groups of up to 600 members. They have a large vocal repertoire, their singing can be both solo and choral.
15. Maned wolf
The maned wolf is the largest canine in South America, it looks like a large fox with reddish fur. This animal is found in open and semi-open areas, especially grasslands with scattered bushes and trees throughout South America. The maned wolf is the tallest of the wild canids and, due to its long legs, is most likely best adapted to the tall grass in the grasslands of its native habitat.
17. Southern right whale dolphin
The southern right whale dolphin is a small species of mammal that lives in the cool waters of the southern hemisphere. They are fast active swimmers and have no visible teeth or dorsal fin. They are very graceful and often move by constantly jumping out of the water.
18. Indian muntjac
Found in South Asia, it has soft, short brown or greyish fur, is omnivorous, and feeds on grass, fruit, shoots, seeds, bird eggs, and small animals. Sometimes it feeds on carrion. Emits a bark-like scream when a predator is detected. The males are extremely territorial and, despite their small size, can be quite ferocious. They may fight each other for territory using horns or fangs, and may even defend themselves against certain predators such as dogs.
20. Humpbacked cyphon clavate
It is one of the species of humpbacks called Cyphonia Clavata, which literally translates as "an ant growing from her head." In fact, what appears to be an ant is actually an appendage that hides the humpbackback's real body from predators.
21. Malayan woolly wing
Also known as the Sunda Flying Lemur, it is not actually a lemur and does not fly. Instead, he glides and jumps among the trees. It lives exclusively on trees, active at night, feeding on soft parts of plants, such as leaves, shoots, flowers and fruits. The Sunda flying lemur can be found throughout Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.
22. Crested deer
The crested deer is a species of small deer characterized by a tuft of black hair on its forehead. This is a close relative of the muntjac, living a little further north, in a vast area of central China. This timid animal lives mostly alone or in pairs, preferring areas with good vegetation in which it is easy to hide.
23. Lamprey
Lampreys are a type of jawless fish that live mainly in coastal and fresh waters, adults are characterized by a toothed, sucker-like mouth. They attach themselves to fish and suck its blood. Lampreys have inhabited the earth for almost 300 million years, and their structure has remained relatively unchanged.
27. Patagonian Mara
The Patagonian Mara is a relatively large rodent found in parts of Argentina. This herbivore, rabbit-like animal has distinctive long ears and long limbs, with its hind limbs being longer and more muscular than its forelegs.
28. Amazonian royal flycatcher
The Amazonian king flycatcher is found in forests and woodlands throughout most of the Amazon basin. They are about 16 centimeters long and like to emerge from branches to catch flying insects or pluck them from leaves. They build very large nests (sometimes up to 180 centimeters long) on branches next to water. The nest hangs above the water, which thus protects from predators.
30. Zebra duiker
The zebra duiker is a small antelope found in Ivory Coast and other parts of Africa. They are golden or red-brown in color with characteristic zebra-like stripes (hence the name). Their horns reach a length of about 4.5 cm in males, and half as much in females. They live in lowland rainforests and mainly feed on leaves and fruits.
31. Starship
The Starnosed Mole is a small mole found in the humid lowlands of eastern Canada and the northeastern United States. It is easily recognizable by its 11 pairs of pink, fleshy, star-shaped appendages on its muzzle, which are used as a sensory organ, signals from which are received at a frequency of more than 25,000 times per minute. These organs are known as the organs of the Emir, with the help of which this hamster-sized mole senses everything around him.
In addition to the name “flying lemur”, this animal is called kaguan and woolly wing. Whether it belongs to lemurs or not, there is no consensus. In any case, he is very similar to the lemur. This funny animal lives in the Philippine Islands.
Its wonderful property is the ability to fly due to the membrane. The membrane has a woolen cover, stretches from the chin to the fingertips and tail. No other flying animal can boast such an extensive membrane.
Having stretched the membrane-parachute, the kaguan is able to catch the ascending air currents. Flights from tree to tree are known for distances up to 70 meters.
On the ground, the animals move rather clumsily, it is not surprising that they descend from the trees only in extreme cases.
It feeds on leaves and fruits.
Females give birth to one baby, who lives with her mother until almost sexually mature, clings to her mother's belly during her soaring jumps.
The structure of the kaguan's teeth is interesting - long, slightly advanced, with their help it is easy not only to bite into the pulp of juicy fruits, but also to comb the fur like a comb.
There are few mammals in the world that can “fly”, or, to be more precise, plan. The most famous of them are flying squirrels, marsupial flying squirrels, spiny tails and woolly wings. The latter will be discussed today.
Wormwings are a genus of arboreal mammals native to the humid rain forests of Southeast Asia. In total, 2 species of these animals are distinguished: the Philippine woolly winged kaguan and the Malayan woolly winged ( Cynocephalus variegatus).
Malayan woolly wing (Cynocephalus variegatus) Judging by the name, the habitat of the first species is the Philippine Islands, and more precisely, the islands of Bohol, Leyte, Mindanao, Basilan and Samar.
At first glance, this animal is somewhat reminiscent of a cat. Its parameters are small: the length of the body together with the tail reaches 53-63 centimeters, and the weight is about 1.7-2 kg. A small pretty muzzle is decorated with large black eyes, a wide forehead and slightly rounded ears.
Small limbs are designed for climbing trees and hanging from branches, so they are equipped with sharp claws. For better traction on smooth surfaces, the bare sole has small suction discs.
A dense membrane that connects all the limbs, neck and tail of the animal helps to make flights from tree to tree. Its flying membrane is considered the largest compared to other "flying" mammals. From above, it, like the whole body of the animal, is covered with thick and soft fur. In addition to this, small webs are also located on the paws between the fingers.
The color of the Philippine woolly wing can be different: from brown-red to grayish-brown with small light spots on the sides. The belly is most often much lighter than the back - light brown or yellowish.
Wormwings are nocturnal animals. They spend most of their lives in trees. They rarely descend to the ground, since here they can only move by crawling, which makes them very clumsy and helpless.
On the trees, they feel like a fish in water. Thanks to clawed paws, the animal climbs trunks well and can hang on a branch for a long time. During the day, he tries to hide in his shelter - a hollow.
With a cub Their activity peaks after sunset and before dawn. It is at this time that you can watch their free and silent planning from tree to tree.
During the jump, they spread their limbs widely, as a result of which the membrane is stretched, and the tail is extended.
Woolly wings can easily "fly" a distance of 130-140 meters. In this case, the height loss will be only 10-12 meters. And they cover a distance of 20-30 meters almost in a straight line, losing very little in height. By changing the tension of the membrane, the kaguan can change the direction of flight.
During the flight Landing occurs in the same way as in other flying animals. A few meters before the target, they take a vertical position of the body and land on the trunk with all 4 paws.
Wormwings are vegetarians. The basis of their nutrition is leaves, fruits, flowers and buds of trees.
As for reproduction, the female brings one, very rarely two, cubs. The duration of pregnancy is 2 months. After that, a small, naked and blind woolly wing is born. For the first six months, he lives with his mother, or rather, on his mother, clinging tightly to her abdomen. Sitting on a tree or hovering on a branch, the female tucks her tail to her abdomen and thus creates a kind of bag for the cub. They grow slowly. Only by the age of 2-3 years do they become adults.
Flying female with a baby on her belly The Philippine coleoptera is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. In some areas, the locals hunt the colewing for its soft fur and delicious meat. In addition, they are the main diet for the Philippine monkey-eater, which is now itself on the verge of extinction. The main reasons for the decline in their numbers are the reduction in the territory of their natural habitat, which goes under agricultural land.
