Herbivorous animals list with examples and names

Common long-tailed shrew (house shrew)

Another mouse with a long nose is the long-tailed common shrew. It is an animal with a body length of 7-8 cm, and a tail of 4-5 cm. The fur is brown at the top and sides, and light gray on the belly. On paws brown-white pile. The upper part of the tail is dark gray, the lower part is gray. The animal has 28 teeth.
From Africa, this species gradually spread throughout Europe, including the north of Russia. The long-tailed shrew also lives in Siberia and Asian countries. This animal comes across in groves and forests extremely rarely, as it prefers fields, orchards and vegetable gardens more.

It is not for nothing that the long-tailed shrew has a second name “house shrew”. No other species will ever walk quietly in a human dwelling. She is successfully attached to basements, cellars, closets, settling in some dark corner, which is more or less safe. He can go hunting at any time of the day or night. In the wild, he prefers mammals, and in houses he arranges a “belly feast” for himself, choosing which is tastier and fatter - lard, meat, butter, sour cream. Other habits and customs of the house shrew are no different from other species.

An interesting behavior of her brood was noticed - small animals move after their mother in an even link, holding the tip of the tail going in front with tenacious teeth. This trait is almost never manifested in other shrews.

Taxonomy [edit | edit code]

There are more than 350 species of shrews belonging to 24 genera, grouped into 3 subfamilies: shrew, shrew, and murine shrew. In terms of the number of species, the family of shrews ranks fourth among mammals - after mouse, hamster and smooth-nosed bats.

Shrew subfamily - Crocidurinae. Their teeth are completely white. They are found mainly in Africa, southern Europe and Asia. The genus of the shrew is the most numerous among the genera of mammals. 9 genera.

Shrew subfamily - Soricinae. In these shrews, the tips of the teeth are colored brown. They are found mainly in North America, Europe and northern Asia. About 14 genera.

The subfamily of murine shrew - Myosoricinae. They live in Africa. 3 kinds.

In the fauna of Russia, there are about 25 species of shrews belonging to 4 genera: shrews (Crocidura

), shrews (
Diplomesodon pulchellum
), shrews (
Sorex
) and kutors (
Neomys
).

Do you know the little mouse with a long nose? If not, then we'll tell you about it now. Such an animal really exists in nature. What is the name of a mouse with a long nose? The people call it a shrew. What is this animal? Shrews are mammals, insectivores. This family includes more than 20 genera and 300 species. Let's consider its most common types.

type of drive

One of the criteria by which mice can be divided into separate varieties is the type of sensor used to control the cursor. At the moment, several varieties of manipulators for a computer have been invented:

Mechanical.

In the oldest models, to control the movement of the cursor across the screen, transverse and longitudinal wheels were used, which controlled, respectively, the movement of the vertical and horizontal.

Over time, a more advanced design appeared - a plastic ball that drives the rollers. Today, mechanical mice are no longer on sale.

Optical.

The main component is a sensor with a lens system that records the movement of the manipulator along the working plane, using continuously following images.

Can be used on any flat surface except glass and mirrors. Today it is the most common type of computer mouse on the market.

Laser.

Instead of a sensor, a narrowly focused laser beam is used. Compared to the previous version, it provides more accurate positioning, however, it costs significantly more. Works on mirrors and glass surfaces.

Trackball.

A variety of mice that neither in form nor in principle of action resembles the progenitor. A sphere located at the top of the device is used to control the movement of the cursor.

Induction.

They work only in conjunction with a special rug. Provides precise positioning and does not require additional batteries.

Gyroscopic.

Such a device is equipped with a gyroscope, therefore, it detects movement in all three planes. Management requires a certain skill, and so far there is no software adapted for such mice. This is rather a groundwork for the future - for example, for virtual reality systems.

Sensory.

The brainchild of Apple. The mouse does not need to be moved across the mat. In addition, it is completely devoid of buttons - everything is replaced by the touch surface. Quite an unusual solution, but you can get used to it over time.

Population and status of the species

Since the beginning of the third millennium, the populations of black rats have significantly decreased and fragmented. According to experts, black rats began to be replaced by more fertile gray rats (Pasyuk). And yet, despite the high fertility, the rat populations do not go beyond the "Red Line", since their numbers are controlled by a number of important factors.

First, the number of these animals is directly dependent on the availability of food and places for shelter. Lack of food immediately leads to a decrease in the population. In addition, there are special rat control services. The number of these animals is constantly decreasing as a result of some diseases, as well as the hunt for them by many predators. Therefore, despite their high fertility, which leads to constant surges in their numbers, natural factors, as well as services to combat rats, are doing their job.

To date, most rat species have not even come close to the risk zone, although there are very rare species that are under protection. As a rule, the number of rare species largely depends on the vital activity of people who are developing more and more territories that are related to the natural habitat of these species.

Franklin Island is home to a very rare species of "Housebuilder Rats". Due to the fact that the species lives in a limited area, it is classified as an endangered species. Currently, only about 2 thousand individuals live in this territory. Annual deforestation and fires can reduce kangaroo rat populations.

Pregnancy, cubs

The pregnant shrew is carefully preparing for the offspring. She lines her burrow with dry leaves and grass so that she gets a rather soft litter. In May-July, about 6-10 calves appear. At first, the mother takes care of them with trepidation and care, but very quickly her love passes. Then the cubs themselves go in search of food.

Read also Flower care instructions

The shrew is very active and agile - it runs very fast, jumps far and even swims, if necessary. She makes whistling sounds. He has a highly developed sense of smell, and is most likely never guided by sight and hearing.

Classification, representatives of the order Rodents

A total of 2277 rodent species have been described for 2005. In the past, they were divided into three suborders based on the structure of the jaw muscles.Today there are 5 suborders and more than 28 families.

Suborder Mouse-like (Myomorpha)

Consists of eight families:

• mouse;
• muscular;
• jerboa;
• mole rats;
• prickly;
• hamsters;
• hare hare;
• mouse hamster.

Almost 2/3 of all rodent species belong to one and only mouse family (Muridae). This family includes 1303 known species, and this number is constantly increasing as a result of new discoveries. Mice are distributed throughout the world, including Australia and New Guinea, where they are the only terrestrial placental mammals (not counting the recently introduced rabbits). They represent a family mainly of mice and rats.

Field mouse (Apodemus agranius)

Representatives of the mole rat family (Spalacidae) are most adapted to life underground. Their eyes are completely hidden under the skin, and the ears and tail are missing.

Common mole rat (Spalax microphthalmus)

To a greater or lesser extent, all members of the jerboa family (Dipodidae) are adapted for jumping or recocheting running.

Long-eared jerboa (Euchoreutes naso)

Suborder Squirrel-like (Sciuromorpha)

Consists of three families:

• squirrel;
• applause;
• sleepy.

The squirrel family (Sciuridae) is the second most diverse family after the mouse family (includes 273 species). Squirrels are found throughout Europe, Africa, North and South America. The common squirrel is its most famous representative. This also includes gophers, chipmunks and marmots.

Common squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)

Sonya (Gliridae) in appearance are a cross between mice and squirrels. They are the only rodents that do not have a cecum, which indicates a low amount of cellulose in their diet.

The only species of the family Aplodontiidae is aplodontia (mountain beaver).

Suborder Beaver (Castorimorpha)

It is represented by three families:

• beaver;
• gofer;
• sacshoppers.

Beavers (Castoridae) are large rodents with cheek pouches and strong limbs. The best known, of course, is the beaver. He is famous primarily for the fact that he can change the landscape in his habitats. With the help of powerful incisors, he knocks down trees, building dams and huts from this material (more about beavers in this article).

Representatives of the Gopher family (Geomyidae) spend most of their lives underground in their own burrow system. Outwardly, they look like moles.

Plain gopher (Geomys bursarius)

Meshhopper rodents (Heteromyidae) are nocturnal burrows that inhabit various landscapes of America.

Suborder Porcupines (Hystricomorpha)

This suborder unites about 300 species in 18 families (agoutiaceae, porcupines, mumps, mole rats, chinchillas, rock rats, etc.).

Most of them are large rodents that live within South and Central America. Among them, the most famous are porcupines, guinea pigs, mole rats, nutria, chinchillas, etc.

North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum)

Suborder Thorn-tail (Anomaluromorpha)

Includes 2 families:

• long-legged;
• spiny-tailed.

The first family (Pedetidae) is represented by one species - the long-legged, inhabiting the African plains. This animal looks like a miniature kangaroo.

Long-legged (Pedetes capensis)

Ridge tails (Anomaluridae) from the rain forests of Africa are outwardly similar to squirrels, but have a very distant relationship with them.

Squirrel Ridgeback (Zenkerella insignis)

What does it look like

The mouse shrew is one of the smallest mammals. The weight of the smallest animal reaches 2 grams and does not exceed 3 centimeters. Newborn cubs of this shrew weigh less than one gram. But some are mouse-sized. Their weight reaches 200 g, and their height is 12 cm.

The body structure of a shrew has the following features:

1. Its head is large, ending in a small curved proboscis.
2. The fur is dense, short, velvety.
3. In some species, the tail is short, while in others it exceeds the length of the body.
4. The ends of small teeth are covered with strong enamel, which wears off by the end of life.
5. There is a secret near the tail that gives off a pungent odor.

An animal with a long nose, similar to a mouse, has lost its sharp eyesight in the course of evolution. He orients himself in space thanks to his keen sense of smell.

The mammalian skull has an enlarged cerebral section. The weight of the brain is 1/10 of body weight, which exceeds the size of a human and a dolphin.

Lifestyle

The mouse shrew tries to stay away from human possessions, forcing the need to relocate - premature frosts, floods, fires, lack of food.

In the wild, shrews feed on insects, worms, and small mammals. They willingly eat plant foods. For a person, they do more good than harm - they eat harmful insects. However, in the event of a strong infestation, action must be taken as the shrew damages the crops in the fields.

The animal lives no more than 2 years, often becomes a victim of attacks by wild animals, its large relatives, birds, lizards, snakes. Leads a nocturnal lifestyle, builds burrows underground.

The shrew has an excellent sense of smell. This feeling helps her to live, since the animal's eyesight is extremely weak. In this, the mouse resembles another underground inhabitant - the mole.

The elongated nose of the mouse can be curved upward in an interesting way to catch the scent of food, or the smell of the enemy. The nasal passage serves as both the eyes and the respiratory organ.

Types of wild mice

Mouse shrew or shrew

This species lives in Africa, Australia, South America and Russia. The shrew feels great in places with high humidity and tall grass. She cannot live without food for more than 10 hours, so the shrew's menu is very diverse. In addition to the food usual for mice, it eats small frogs, lizards and cubs of other rodents.

The shrew has two main types of color: gray and dirty red. The body length is 6-10 cm, the tail is usually one and a half times longer. The shrew has a rather long nose, which is called the proboscis, which gave the name to this species. The life span of shrews is 18 months.

Japanese mouse

An insular mouse species that lives in the South Kuriles and the islands of Japan. The color of the animal has different shades of red brick, the length of the body (about 12 cm) is almost identical to the length of the tail (about 10 cm).

This mouse species lives in mixed forests with dense undergrowth, as well as in meadows and fields. Closer to winter, rodents move closer to the human dwelling. The diet of mice consists of cereals, grasses, seeds of conifers and broadleaf trees. Life expectancy up to 30 months.

Gerbil mouse

The habitat of these rodents is the steppes in Eastern Europe, the deserts of Africa and Asia. Gerbils are more active during daylight hours, become lethargic in winter, but do not hibernate.

These animals are quite large, can reach 20 cm in length and weigh about 0.25 kg. The rodent's tail is covered with thick hair, its length can be twice the body of the animal. The coat on the back is of a dark brown color, and on the chest is a lighter shade. Gerbils live for about 2 children.

Wood mouse

This rodent lives in deciduous forests of Siberia, Western Asia and Altai. The animal has a distinctive feature - a yellow speck on the chest. The rest of the fur is gray-brown.

They dig holes or occupy empty ones. Also, the wood mouse settles in the niches of dead trees, stumps, roots and under stones. The length of the body of the mouse is 12 cm, the tail is 7-10 cm. The lifespan of the rodent is 18-25 months.

Little mouse

The maximum length of the rodent's body is 7 cm, and the tail is 5 cm, hence the name of this variety. The coat has a red color, which appears only after the first molt. Up to this point, the skin of the animal is brown.

The mouse lives in forests, steppes, fields and meadows, and in the place of minks it weaves nests from dry grass and plant stems. The rodent feeds on plant foods and small invertebrates. Lives for about 2 years. The baby mouse easily adapts to the new environment, so it's easy to tame.

Have you ever tried to tame a wild animal? Poll Options are limited because JavaScript is disabled in your browser.

Grass mouse

Grass mice love high humidity, so they live in river floodplains and tropical rainforests in Southeast Africa. A fairly large species of rodent, the length of the body and tail of which can be 30 cm. The coat has a gray-brown color. Unlike most of its relatives, this species prefers to lead a diurnal lifestyle. Life expectancy is 2-3 years.

White mouse

Another name for this rodent is the house mouse, since it lives in human housing. Rodents live in large flocks in barns, storerooms and other living quarters, creating long burrows with a large number of passages. The length of the body is 8-10 cm, the length of the tail is 4-7 cm.

The color of the skin depends on the subspecies of the rodent, but the shade of the back will always be darker than on the belly and chest. The habitat of the animal is quite extensive; the white mouse can be found in human homes on almost all continents. Life expectancy is 2-3 years.

Are Gerbils Big or Small?

This mouse, kept at home in our country, in most cases is a descendant of Native American women. The first gerbils were brought from the United States in the last century as laboratory material, an alternative to the classic whites. In natural conditions in Russia, you can find dwarf or Mongolian gerbils. In total, more than a hundred varieties of mice of this type, both small and large, live in the world.

Gerbils are of various sizes and colors, but all species have the following in common:

• tail brush;
• small, in comparison with the head, ears;
• pink or almost white nose;
• dull shape of the muzzle;
• large eyes that make the animal look like a cartoon character drawn in an anime style.

The main distinguishing feature of gerbils is the absence of their characteristic mouse smell. These animals are ideal pets for people prone to allergies. The size of gerbils depends on their immediate appearance - from babies 6-7 cm to large mice 12-13 cm in length, excluding the tail.

Wild mice - description and living conditions

Rodent habitat

Mice can be found all over the planet. They live in tropical thickets, coniferous and ordinary forests, in steppes and deserts, in mountains and swamps. Some types of rodents dig holes, the depth of which can reach 70 cm, and the duration is 20 m. Other species of mice build their nests in thickets of tall grass, tree roots and stumps.

Mice can dig winter and summer burrows, and sometimes occupy abandoned ones. In summer dwellings, rodents breed offspring, creating for this special bedding of fluff, dry and fresh grass and feathers. In winter burrows, animals store food supplies.

What rodents eat in the wild

The basis of the diet of wild mice is plant food. But rodents also love protein foods, so they gladly eat worms and insects.

Mice living in the forest feed on and store hazel and acorn nuts for the winter, maple and beech seeds, do not hesitate to eat small beetles and grasshoppers.

Rodents that live near a human dwelling, or right in it, can eat potatoes, bread, meat and other food that they find in the house.

How mice behave in their natural habitat

The mice are constantly in motion. This is the basis for their survival, because only in this way can rodents maintain a comfortable body temperature. In summer, mice are active in the dark, and during the day they prefer to rest. They spend winter underground, so the connection to daylight disappears, and activity is smoothly distributed throughout the day. In spring and autumn, mice breed, and at the end of summer and throughout autumn they prepare supplies for wintering.

Mice live only in flocks. This makes it easier to equip a home, raise offspring and search for food. A group of mice is controlled by one leader. Sometimes young males begin to claim his place.Not infrequently, such actions lead to the disintegration of the rodent community.

Breeding in wild mice

Mice reach puberty 1.5 months after birth. But the readiness to produce the first offspring comes only by two or three months. Estrus (estrus) lasts for 9 days in females. During this time, males use ultrasound to attract them. After fertilization, pregnancy occurs, which lasts from 17 to 24 days.

After the mother begins to feed the offspring, a new estrus can come only after a month, when the mice grow up and become independent. After the first birth, the second pregnancy occurs quickly enough, and within a year the female can bring 10-14 offspring, each of which will have 5-10 mice.

Enemies of mice

Many predators hunt mice. In the forest, foxes, martens, arctic foxes, ferrets, ermines, weasels, lynxes and even wolves lie in wait for rodents. These animals easily dig up mouse holes, and eat up to 30 animals at a time.

Birds of prey also prey on small rodents. The main enemies of mice are owls, buzzards, hawks, eagles, owls and kites.

How many mice live

The average lifespan of wild mice is 2-3 years. This is influenced by many factors. For example, the quality of food, the number of predators living in the neighborhood, weather conditions, especially winter cold and summer droughts.

Reproduction [edit | edit code]

Shrews breed 1-2, at least 3 times a year. Pregnancy lasts 13-28 days. There are 4-14 cubs in a litter. They will be born naked, blind, with an undeveloped proboscis (snub-nosed), but they develop very quickly and become independent already at 4 weeks of age. In white-toothed shrews, the mother and her offspring move in a chain or "caravan", holding each other's tails with their teeth. In young shrews, an amazing ability has been found, which is called the "Dehnel phenomenon". In autumn, they have a decrease in body size and flattening of the cranium. Then, from April to June, there is an increase in the volume of the skull, an increase in the mass and volume of the brain.

Bat - description, structure. What does a bat look like?

The order of bats, to which bats actually belong, is especially remarkable in that they are, in fact, the only mammals capable of flying. Here, however, the bats squad includes not only flying mice, but also other no less flying brothers: flying dogs, flying foxes, as well as fruit flying mice, which differ from their counterparts - ordinary bats, both in their habits and in body structure ...

As we mentioned, bats are small in size. The weight of the smallest representative of this species, the pig-nosed flying mouse, does not exceed 2 grams, and the body length reaches a maximum of 3.3 cm. In fact, it is one of the smallest representatives of the animal kingdom.

The largest representative of the bat family is a giant false vampire, weighing 150-200 g, and a wingspan of up to 75 cm.

Different types of bats have different skull structures, the number of teeth also varies and depends a lot on the nutrition of a particular species. For example, a tailless long-lingual leaf-nose that feeds on nectar has an elongated facial part. Nature so wisely did so that he had where to accommodate his long tongue, which in turn is necessary for getting food.

But predatory bats that feed on insects already have the so-called heterodont dental system, which includes incisors, canines and molars. Small bats that eat even smaller insects have up to 38 small teeth, while large vampire bats have only up to 20. The fact is that vampires do not need many teeth, since they do not chew food. But they have sharp fangs that make a bleeding wound on the victim's body.

Traditionally, bats, and of almost all species, have large ears, which are responsible, among other things, for their amazing echolocation abilities.

The forelimbs in bats have been transformed into wings in the course of a long evolution. The elongated fingers began to serve as the frame of the wing. But the first finger with a claw remains free. With its help, flying mice can even eat and perform various other actions, although in some of them, such as smoky bats, it is not functional.

The speed of a bat depends on the shape and structure of its wing. They, in turn, can be very long, or vice versa with a slight elongation. Wings with a lower aspect ratio do not allow you to develop high speed, but you can perfectly maneuver with them, which is very useful for bats living in the forest, and which often have to fly among the crowns of trees. In general, the flight speed of a bat ranges from 11 to 54 km per hour. But the Brazilian fold-lip, from the genus of bulldog bats, is the absolute record holder for flight speed - it can reach speeds of up to 160 km per hour!

The hind limbs of bats have a characteristic difference - they are turned to the sides by the knee joints back. With the help of well-developed hind legs, bats hang upside down, in this seemingly (as for us) such an inconvenient position they sleep.

Bats, like all decent mammals, have a tail, which also comes in different lengths depending on the species. They also have bodies (and sometimes limbs) covered with wool. The coat can be flat, shaggy, short or thick, again depending on the species. The color also varies, usually whitish and yellowish shades prevail.

Honduran white bat with a very unusual coloring - the white coat contrasts with the yellow ears and nose.

However, there are also representatives of bats, with a body completely without hair - these are two bare-skinned bats from Southeast Asia.

Vision in bats leaves much to be desired, eyes are poorly developed. In addition, they do not distinguish colors at all. But poor eyesight is more than compensated for by excellent hearing, which, in fact, is the main sense organ in these animals. For example, some of the bats can catch the rustle of insects swarming in the grass.

Their charm is also well developed. For example, females of the Brazilian foldlip by smell are able to find their cubs. Some bats smell their prey by smell, as well as by hearing, and can also distinguish between "their" and "alien" bats.

Rodent in the house: is it worth having a pet

If a child asks for a pet, and a cat or dog is too troublesome a friend, a rodent is a great alternative.

Benefits

Among the positive aspects of keeping rodents at home are:

1. The main advantage of rodents is their hypoallergenicity, because most of them do not cause allergies at all. For example, the chinchilla is one of the few animals that sheds, but the coat does not cause allergic reactions even in the most severe allergy sufferers.
2. The rodent takes up little space and does not require round-the-clock care.
3. All animals choose a place for themselves "under the toilet" and do not shit anywhere.
4. Pets will quickly become tame if you give them as much free time as possible for the first few days.
5. It is a pleasure to watch these adorable babies play.

Did you know? The largest rodent in the world is the capybara. Her weight can reach 91 kilograms.

disadvantages

There are also some unpleasant moments:

1. The main disadvantage of the rodent is its natural reflex to gnaw everything. When releasing a pet, you need to make sure that wires and other important items are not available to him.
2. Not all cell dwellers can boast of high intelligence.
3. These mammals have a very short life.

Rodent lifestyle: what does it eat, how does it reproduce, does it hibernate in winter?

In nature, the field mouse eats seeds, berries, fruits, cones, tree bark, insects and their larvae, roots, plant stems, bird eggs, chicks.When rodents settle near humans, they feed on whatever they find. Grain, vegetables, peas, fruits, bread, cheese, meat products are used.

The mouse consumes at least 5 g of food per day and 20 ml of water. In the absence of food and drink, dies within a week. Life expectancy in nature is 1–1.5 g. In favorable conditions, the animal can live longer, up to 2–3 years. The longevity record was set by a laboratory mouse in 2005 - 1819 days (about 5 years).

Rodents are very fertile, the active phase of reproduction begins in spring, with the onset of cold weather, the reproduction process slows down. At the same time, 5–8 bald blind cubs are born. The weight of the mouse is only 1-2 g. The female eats the weak and unviable. The same fate awaits mice born in times of famine, when there is no way to feed them. Bearing offspring takes about 20 days. Mice are born 3-5 times a year with a 2-month interval. They become sexually mature at the age of 2-3 months.

Rodents live in colonies consisting of females and several generations of offspring. Males prefer to lead a solitary lifestyle. Field mice usually make burrows underground at a depth of about 10–20 cm (sometimes deeper - up to half a meter). They consist of branched passages leading to water, sleeping places and storage of supplies. Burrows have several exits to the surface. Mice can also nest under straw, a pile of foliage, between stones, and they often hibernate right there. In swampy areas, animals equip spherical nests of grass and branches.

The peak activity of mice occurs at night. They need a lot of food to provide the body with energy, as they are extremely active. Animals are constantly gnawing something. In addition to ordinary food, various solid objects and materials are used - wood, brick, concrete, plastic, rubber. This helps voles to grind down teeth that grow throughout their lives.

The mice are very careful, they do not move further than 1 meter from the burrow. Hearing a sharp sound, they immediately run for cover. If the rodent is very frightened by something, a special secret with a specific smell is secreted with urine, warning relatives of the danger.

With the onset of winter, the activity of animals decreases, but they do not hibernate, equipping shelters in snow or straw. To survive in the winter, mice have been stockpiling from the middle of summer. Mice living next to a person do not store food, because usually they do not have problems with food.

Other [edit | edit code]

Shrews bring significant benefits, exterminating soil insects and their larvae - pests of agriculture and forestry. They destroy a huge number of insects all year round and in places that are inaccessible for many other insectivorous mammals and birds: under the snow, under dead wood, stones, in the thickness of the leaf litter, in the depths of burrows, etc.

Foxes, domestic cats and dogs sometimes kill shrews, mistaking them for mice, but very often leave them uneaten due to the strong smell. However, owls and diurnal birds of prey, as well as small predators such as weasels or ferrets, feed on shrews without any disgust.

Beavers

Capybaras, although very large, are found only in the Southern Hemisphere. But in the Northern Hemisphere, the largest rodent is the beaver. The animal reaches 1-1.3 meters in length and about 35 centimeters in height. His body is massive and stocky, his eyes and ears are small, not too expressive.

For swimming, the paws are equipped with membranes. During the dive, the ears and nostrils close tightly and the eyes become covered with blinking membranes. The tail is paddle-shaped - flat and widening towards the end. He serves as a steering wheel. In case of danger, the rodent strongly knocks on the water with it, scaring off enemies.

Beavers live near rivers and lakes. In places with steep and steep banks, animals dig deep holes with a lot of passages and labyrinths. If the coast is shallow or the area is swampy, then the rodent builds a hut - a floating house from silt and brushwood. There they live and store food.

The entrance to the house is always in the water, and a dam is built around it. It is a reliable protection from predators, and in winter it simplifies the process of finding food. Beavers have no equal in construction. The dams are equipped with rodent passages and a water drainage system. Their shape is different, depending on the nature of the flow in the reservoir. Dams sometimes reach several hundred meters, one of the largest (850 meters) was found in the Canadian Wood Buffalo Park.

Beavers feed exclusively on plants. They prefer bark, herbs, acorns. Hard teeth allow them to grind down trees. During the night, a rodent can knock down a tree with a diameter of 40-50 cm. Their activity begins at dusk and ends in the early morning. In winter, they do not hibernate, but they are in no hurry to leave their homes, eating the supplies prepared in the fall.

Reproduction

The mating season for shrews lasts about 5 days. The female mates with several males. The offspring grows independently, sometimes experienced individuals help young females. Pregnancy lasts 24 days.

Mice are born naked, blind, deaf, with undeveloped limbs. For a week, they become overgrown with thick wool, after 14 days, eyes cut through, hearing appears, the development of limbs is completed by 20 days of life. At 30 days, the mice become completely independent. They are expelled from the nest, but live in the same colony.

Shrews have one interesting feature of mass movement by the whole family. The mouse mother gives the tail to the most active baby, he substitutes the tail for his brother or sister. So everyone in turn forms a "train". Together they move from one place to another.

In one litter, about 5 cubs are born. The female gives birth about 3 times a year. With the onset of cold weather, activity decreases. An adult lives for 2 years, the male always dies 1 month earlier. Cubs often die in late autumn, the fittest survive, and breed in the spring.

Amphibians (all from the Red Book):

1. The Caucasian cross is a medium-sized frog.

2. Caucasian toad, Colchis toad, one of the largest amphibians, the largest in Russia.

3. Asia Minor frog or Caucasian frog, body length up to 9 cm, variable color, most often the top is brown and spotted, the belly is pink.

4. Newts Karelin, Asia Minor and Lanza - these amphibians were close to extinction.

5. Snakes and snakes: Thracian yellow snake is a rare species of snake, not venomous.

6. Yellow-bellied snake, Caspian large snake from snakes, up to 2-2.5 m long, small diameter - up to 5 cm. The color is fine-mesh, in olive-gray with yellow tones. They say that he can be aggressive and even rushes at the offender.

7. The olive snake is the rarest, possibly extinct species.

8. Aesculapian snake - a snake from snakes, a prototype of a reptile on a medical emblem.

9. Poloz Palasov (Sarmatian snake) is a very beautiful non-venomous snake, brownish-yellow with rows of longitudinal spots and edging. Climbs trees well, throwing the front part of the body from branch to branch. Prey strangles with rings. Size up to 1.5 m.

10. Colchis snake is a non-venomous reptile up to 1.5 m long with a thick massive black body. The scales are ribbed, the belly can be black and white, checkerboard. On the dorsal side, there are yellow spots in the form of stars.

11. Lizards (nimble Georgian, medium, striped, Alpine, Artvin, Shcherbaka, multicolored lizard). They all live in different places, from foothills and mountains to humid plains. Different color and size, one thing in common - these reptiles are in the Red Book of the Krasnodar Territory.

12. Vipers (Dinnik, Kaznakova, Lotieva, Orlova, steppe) - these five types of dangerous poisonous snakes can disappear from the fauna of the Kuban. The most characteristic features of the viper's appearance are a zigzag stripe on the back and a flat head on a pronounced neck.

13. Turtles, marsh and Nikolsky (Mediterranean) sluggish amphibians are not very large. They appeared in the Red Book as species with a steadily decreasing number.And here it was not without the human factor, environmental pollution and capture.