Why animals of southern latitudes have longer paws. The most amazing paws in the animal kingdom

In this post there will be scary, nasty, cute, kind, beautiful, incomprehensible animals.
Plus a short commentary on each one. They all really exist
Look and be surprised

SLAPTOOTH- a mammal from the order of insectivores, divided into two main types: the Cuban cracker and the Haitian. A relatively large animal, relative to other types of insectivores: its length is 32 centimeters, and its tail is, on average, 25 cm, the weight of the animal is about 1 kilogram, and the physique is dense.


MANE WOLF... Lives in South America. The long legs of the wolf are the result of evolution in terms of adaptation to the habitat, they help the animal overcome obstacles in the form of tall grass growing on the plains.


AFRICAN CITY- the only representative of the same genus. These animals live in Africa in open areas with high grass cover from Senegal to Somalia, southern Namibia and eastern regions of South Africa. The size of the animal can visually increase quite strongly when, when excited, the civet raises its hair. And her fur is thick and long, especially on the back, closer to the tail. Paws, muzzle and tail end are absolutely black, most of the body is spotted.


MUSKRAT... The animal is quite famous due to its sonorous name. It's just a good photo.


PROEHIDNA... This natural wonder usually weighs up to 10 kg, although larger individuals have been noted. By the way, the length of the prochidna's body reaches 77 cm, and this is not counting their cute five to seven centimeter tail. Any description of this animal is based on comparison with the echidna: the legs of the prochidna are higher, the claws are more powerful. Another feature of the prochidna's appearance is the spurs on the hind legs of the males and the five-toed hind limbs and the three-toed front.


CAPIBARA... Semi-aquatic mammal, the largest of modern rodents. It is the only member of the capybara family (Hydrochoeridae). There is a dwarf variety Hydrochoerus isthmius, sometimes it is considered as a separate species (lesser capybara).


SEA CUCUMBER. Goloturia... Sea capsules, sea cucumbers (Holothuroidea), a class of invertebrates such as echinoderms. The species used for food are collectively called trepang.


PANGOLIN... This post simply could not do without it.


Hellish Vampire... Clam. Despite its obvious similarity with octopus and squid, scientists have singled out this mollusk into a separate order Vampyromorphida (lat.), Because only retractable sensitive whip-like filaments are inherent in it.


AARDVARK... In Africa, these mammals are called aardvark, which means "earth pig" in Russian. In fact, the aardvark looks very much like a pig in appearance, only with an elongated muzzle. The ears of this amazing animal are very similar in structure to a hare. There is also a muscular tail, which is very similar to the tail of an animal such as a kangaroo.

JAPANESE GOPOLIN SALAMANDRA... Today it is the largest amphibian, which can reach 160 cm in length, weigh up to 180 kg and can live up to 150 years, although the officially registered maximum age of a giant salamander is 55 years.


BEARDED PIG... In different sources, the species Bearded pig is subdivided into two or three subspecies. These are the curly bearded pig (Sus barbatus oi), which lives in the Malacca Peninsula and the island of Sumatra, the Bornean bearded pig (Sus barbatus barbatus) and the Palawan bearded pig, which, as the name suggests, live on the islands of Borneo and Palawan, as well as in Java. , Kalimantan and the small islands of the Indonesian archipelago in Southeast Asia.




SUMATRAN RHINOCOS... They belong to the equid-hoofed animals of the rhinoceros family. This type of rhinoceros is the smallest of the entire family. The body length of an adult Sumatran rhinoceros can reach 200 - 280 cm, and the height at the withers can range from 100 to 150 cm. Such rhinos can weigh up to 1000 kg.


SULAWAN BEAR CUSKUS... Arboreal marsupial living in the upper tier of lowland rainforests. The coat of bear couscous consists of a soft undercoat and coarse guard hairs. The color ranges from gray to brown, with a lighter colored belly and limbs, and varies depending on the geographic subspecies and age of the animal. The grasping, non-furred tail is about half the length of the animal and serves as a fifth limb, which facilitates progress in the dense rainforest. Bear couscous is the most primitive of all couscous, retaining primitive tooth growth and skull structure.


GALAGO... Its large fluffy tail is clearly comparable to that of a squirrel. A charming little face and graceful movements, flexibility and ingenuity, vividly reflect his feline trait. Amazing jumping ability, agility, strength and incredible agility of this animal clearly show its nature as a funny cat and elusive squirrel. Of course, there would be where to use their talents, because a cramped cage is very poorly suited for this. But, if you give this little animal a little freedom and sometimes allow him to walk around the apartment, then all his quirks and talents will come true. Many even compare it to a kangaroo.


WOMBAT... Without a photo of a wombat, you can't talk about strange and rare animals at all.


AMAZON DOLPHIN... It is the largest river dolphin. Inia geoffrensis, as scientists call it, reaches 2.5 meters in length and a mass of 2 centners. Light gray juveniles brighten with age. The body of the Amazonian dolphin is full, with a thin tail and a narrow muzzle. A round forehead, a slightly curved beak and small eyes are the features of this dolphin species. The Amazonian dolphin is found in the rivers and lakes of Latin America.


FISH-LUNA or MOLA-MOLA... This fish can be more than three meters long and weigh about one and a half tons. The largest specimen of the moonfish was caught in New Hampshire, USA. Its length was five and a half meters, there are no data on weight. In shape, the body of the fish resembles a disk, it was this feature that gave rise to the Latin name. In the moon fish, the skin is very thick. It is elastic, and its surface is covered with small bony protrusions. Larvae of this species and juveniles swim in the usual way. Adult large fish swim on their sides, quietly moving their fins. They seem to lie on the surface of the water, where they are very easy to spot and catch. However, many experts believe that only sick fish swim in this way. As an argument, they cite the fact that the stomach of fish caught on the surface is usually empty.


TASMANIAN DEVIL... Being the largest of the modern predatory marsupials, this animal is black in color with white spots on the chest and rump, with a huge mouth and sharp teeth, it has a dense physique and a stern disposition, for which, in fact, it was called the devil. Emitting ominous screams at night, the massive and clumsy Tasmanian devil outwardly resembles a small bear: the front legs are slightly longer than the hind legs, a large head, and a dull muzzle.


LORI... A characteristic feature of lorises is their large eyes, which can be bordered by dark circles, there is a white dividing line between the eyes. Lori's muzzle can be compared to a clown mask. This, most likely, explains the name of the animal: Loeris means "clown" in translation.


GAVIAL... Of course, one of the representatives of the crocodile squad. With age, the muzzle of the gavial becomes even narrower and longer. Due to the fact that gavial feeds on fish, its teeth are long and sharp, located with a slight slope for ease of eating.


OKAPI. FOREST GIRAFFE... Traveling through Central Africa, African journalist and explorer Henry Morton Stanley (1841-1904) came across the local aborigines more than once. Having met once an expedition equipped with horses, the natives of the Congo told the famous traveler that they have wild animals in the jungle, very similar to his horses. The Englishman who had seen a lot was somewhat puzzled by this fact. After some negotiations in 1900, the British were finally able to purchase parts of the hide of the mysterious animal from the local population and send them to the Royal Zoological Society in London, where the unknown animal was given the name "Johnston's Horse" (Equus johnstoni), that is, identified it to the horse family ... But what was their surprise when a year later they managed to get a whole skin and two skulls of an unknown animal, and find that It looks more like a pygmy giraffe from the Ice Age. It was only in 1909 that a live specimen of Okapi was caught.

WALABI. WOODEN KANGAROOS... The genus Woody kangaroos - wallaby (Dendrolagus) include 6 species. Of these, D. Inustus or bear wallaby, D. Matschiei or Matchish wallaby, which has subspecies D. Goodfellowi (Goodfellowi wallaby), D. Dorianus, Doria wallaby, live in New Guinea. In Australian Queensland, there are D. Lumholtzi - Lumholtz wallabies (Bungari), D. Bennettianus - Bennett wallaby, or tharibina. Their original habitat was New Guinea, but now wallabies are found in Australia. Arboreal kangaroos live in the rainforests of mountainous regions, at an altitude of 450 to 3000m. above sea level. The body size of the animal is 52-81 cm, the tail is 42 to 93 cm long. Wallaby weigh, depending on the species, from 7.7 to 10 kg for males and from 6.7 to 8.9 kg. females.


WOLVERINE... Moves quickly and dexterously. The animal has an elongated muzzle, a large head, with rounded ears. The jaws are powerful, the teeth are sharp. The wolverine is a "big-legged" animal, the feet are disproportionate to the body, but their size allows them to move freely over the deep snow cover. Each paw has huge and curved claws. The wolverine is excellent at climbing trees, has keen eyesight. The voice is like a fox.


FOSSA... On the island of Madagascar, animals have survived that are not present not only in Africa itself, but in the rest of the world. One of the rarest animals is Fossa, the only member of the genus Cryptoprocta and the largest carnivorous mammal that lives on the island of Madagascar. The appearance of the fossa is a bit unusual: it is a cross between a civet and a small cougar. Sometimes fossa is also called the Madagascar lion, since the ancestors of this animal were much larger and reached the size of a lion. Fossa has a squat, massive and slightly elongated body, the length of which can reach 80 cm (on average, it is 65-70 cm). The fossa's legs are long, but rather thick, with the hind legs higher than the front ones. The tail is often equal to the length of the body and reaches 65 cm.


MANUL approves of this post and is only present here because he must be present. Everyone knows him.


FENEK. STEPPE FOX... Supports the manulu and is present here insofar as. After all, everyone saw him.


NAKED DIGGER puts Pallas' and Fenech's plus signs in karma and invites them to organize a club of the most fearful animals in Runet.


PALM THIEF... Representative of decapod crustaceans. The habitat of which is the western part of the Pacific Ocean and the tropical islands of the Indian Ocean. This animal from the land crayfish family is large enough for its species. The body of an adult individual reaches a size of up to 32 cm and a weight of up to 3-4 kg. For a long time, it was mistakenly believed that with his claws he can even crack coconuts, which he then eats. To date, scientists have proven that cancer can only feed on chopped coconuts. They, being its main source of food, gave the name to the palm thief. Although he is not averse to feasting on other types of food - the fruits of Pandanus plants, organic matter from the soil, and even those of his own kind.

Herbivores living in the north are larger than their southern counterparts, because the northern grass is more nutritious, scientists say. An unexpected explanation of the Bergman rule was confirmed experimentally.

Karl Georg Lucas Christian Bergman is a German biologist, physiologist and anatomist with a long history of comparative anatomy. But it was the description of the ecogeographic pattern that brought him fame, which was later named after him. The famous phrase from Bergman's book "On the connection of heat saving in animals with their size", which was published in 1847, sounds like this: "If there is a genus whose species differ only in size, then smaller species of this genus will tend to a warmer climate, and in strict accordance with their mass. "

How does Bergman's rule work?

Many scientists, indeed, confirm that such a pattern exists. True, the question "why" remained unanswered for a long time. Now scientists explain this pattern by the peculiarities of thermoregulation of warm-blooded animals. The fact is that heat production is proportional to the volume of the body, and heat transfer is proportional to its surface area. Accordingly, the ratio of surface area to volume is lower in larger animals. Therefore, in cold northern latitudes, it is more profitable to be large in order to produce more heat and give less of it, and vice versa in southern latitudes.

Dr. Chuan-Kai Ho of the University of Houston, along with his colleagues, proposed a completely new and unexpected explanation of Bergman's rule, which, however, will undoubtedly raise many more questions for scientists. Dr. Ho, not excluding, however, the traditional explanation, suggested that the size of the body of animals largely depends on what food they eat. According to the hypothesis of Dr. Ho, the vegetation of the northern latitudes has great nutritional value, therefore the herbivorous animals that eat these plants are distinguished by larger body sizes.

Northern plants are more nutritious

Scientists decided to test Dr. Ho's hypothesis experimentally. Experimental samples were widespread insects Prokelisia from the suborder chest-lobe ( Archaeorrhyncha) and the mollusk aplysia ( Aplysia) (sea hare) According to scientists, although these species are cold-blooded, Bergman's rule also works for them - the largest specimens are found in more northern latitudes, and the smallest ones in southern latitudes.

Insects and molluscs were grown in laboratory conditions, and fed exclusively on plants Spartina anglica... The scientists themselves collected the plants in different latitudes of North America (in the tundra and forest zones). After a certain time, when the molluscs and insects reached maturity, Dr. Ho measured their body size. According to the authors of the work, the insects fed on grass grown in the tundra were 8% more than their counterparts fed on grass from the temperate zone. As for the molluscs, the size of the individuals feeding on northern grasses turned out to be as much as 27% larger. This may be the only explanation - the different nutritional value of herbs growing in different conditions, says Dr. Ho.

“We do not believe that this is the only possible explanation for the Bergman rule. But our research shows that to explain the mechanism of its work, it is not enough just to know the features of physiological reactions to different ambient temperatures. It is also important to take into account the ecological relationship of animals with their habitat, ”says Dr. Ho.

Why plants growing in high latitudes are more nutritious, scientists still find it difficult to answer, and only make an assumption. One of the authors of the study, Dr. Stephen Pennings, in his previous works showed that plants in northern latitudes are less susceptible to attacks from insects. Perhaps that is why, the authors of the work suggest, southern plants spend more energy on chemical protection from insects, and their lower nutritional value is also a kind of defense mechanism against voracious insects.

Dr. Ho's article "Is Diet Quality an Overlooked Mechanism for Bergman's Rule" can be found in the February issue of The American Naturalist.

Since heat transfer in the body occurs through the body surface, the thermoregulation of animals depends to a large extent on the ratio of the surface area and body weight. Larger organisms have a relatively smaller surface area per unit mass. Then it becomes clear why in closely related species of the same genus or in subspecies of the same species, larger animals are found in the colder parts of the range.

In the northern hemisphere, an increase in the size of animals is observed as we move to the north, in the southern - to the south. This generalization, made back in 1847 by K. Bergmann, was called the Bergmann rule. There are many examples illustrating Bergmann's rule. So, the length of the skull in subspecies of wild boar from southern Spain is about 32 cm, from Poland - about 41 cm, from Belarus - 46 cm, from Siberia - up to 56 cm. The same is observed in wolves, bears, foxes, roe deer, hare and other animals. The largest brown bears live in northeastern Siberia and Alaska. The smallest European hares live in Spain, and the largest live in the central zone of the USSR, near the northern border of their range. This rule also applies to birds. For example, the wing length (an indicator of overall size) in horned larks from Canada is 111 cm, from California - only 97 cm; the European Oriole is much larger than its counterparts from Afghanistan and India. The example with penguins is very typical. The smallest is the Galapagos penguin, living in the tropical zone, only about 50 cm tall.In the temperate climate of Tierra del Fuego, there is a crested penguin reaching 65 cm.On the Antarctic coast, the largest of the penguins, the emperor, lives - its height is 120 cm or more. However, there are exceptions to Bergmann's rule that are often explicable. First, these are migratory birds. In winter, they migrate to warmer regions and do not experience very low temperatures. Secondly, there are small animals (rodents, insectivores) living in burrows, where the microclimate is comparatively milder. Finally, these are island animals that obey specific laws.

It should be said that V.G. Geptner (1936) drew attention to a very interesting regularity that develops Bergmann's rule: on the continents there are centers of maximum and minimum size of species. In the Palaearctic, the center of the maximum size of animals is Chukotka, and the minimum is Algeria. In the Nearctic - Alaska and Florida, respectively. Developing and complementing Bergmann's rule is a feature noticed by zoologists in the structure of animals living in cold regions of the globe. It turned out that in homeothermic animals, subspecies of the same species or closely related species of the same genus have shorter tails, ears, and limbs than their closest relatives from warm regions. The paws and necks of northerners are thinner and narrower. This phenomenon is called Allen's rule. Its biological meaning is the same: a reduction in the surface of a body relative to its mass and, consequently, a decrease in heat transfer. Allen's Rule is convincingly illustrated by the size of the ears and legs of hares. Central Asian sandstone hares have long legs and ears, while European hares and, moreover, northern hares are comparatively short-legged and short-eared. The example with foxes is even more revealing. In the hot climate of North Africa, the smallest and at the same time the longest-eared fox, the fennec fox, lives; in our tundra there lives a short polar fox with short ears and a snout. The European fox is a cross between the two.

Of course, all adaptations cannot be reduced to a reaction only to temperature. In this sense, the influence of the climate as a whole is significant, which is confirmed by the so-called Gloger's rule. According to this rule, the subspecies of the same species or the closest species of the same genus of homeothermic animals living in areas with different climates have different colors. In forms from warm and humid parts of the globe, it is darker and more saturated. This is due to the accumulation of eumelanin pigments in the body. In forms from dry and hot areas, a light (red, yellow-brown) color predominates, since in those climatic conditions other pigments, pheomelanins, are concentrated in the integuments of animals. That is why desert animals have a special coloration in harmony with the substrate, the so-called desert coloration. There are a lot of examples illustrating Gloger's rule. In fact, the entire desert fauna of our Central Asia and Kazakhstan obeys this rule.

The dependence of the size, size of the protruding parts of the body and the color of animals on the geographical distribution is a phenomenon of geographical isomorphism. It is expressed in the fact that animals of certain countries have a general character of constitution and color. This is best illustrated by the desert inhabitants of Asia, Africa and Australia, which, with all the differences in their systematic position, have a similar appearance.

Let us emphasize once again that the listed patterns are manifested within a species, less often within a genus, but among closely related species.

In addition to these environmental factors, light plays an important role in the life of terrestrial animals. However, there is no direct dependence here, as is observed in plants. However, it is there. This is expressed at least in the existence of day and night forms. It should be noted that it is not the lighting itself that plays a role, but the amount of light. In the tropical zone, this factor is not of particular importance due to its constancy, but in the temperate and near-polar latitudes, the situation changes. As you know, the length of daylight hours there depends on the season. Only a long polar day (its duration is several weeks) can explain the fact that migratory birds of the Far North manage to breed and feed their chicks in a short time, since insects serve as food for them, and they are active around the clock.

The abundance of light pushes the boundaries of life for many species northward. A short winter day does not allow even cold-loving birds to get enough food to compensate for energy costs, and they are forced to migrate to the south.

Day length is a powerful factor regulating the life cycle of a number of animals. The phenomenon of photoperiodism, to the explanation of which the Soviet zoologist A.S. Danilevsky made a significant contribution, determines the development of a certain number of generations in insects during the year, as well as the possibility of expanding the ranges of animals to other latitudinal belts.

The photophilicity or photophobicity of animals can be an indicator of their attitude to the climate. Thus, many desert forms openly appear only at dusk or at night, not because they are "convinced photophobes", but, apparently, because there is more water vapor in the air at night. In other words, in hot and dry regions, the "day" and "night" climate is different. This allows both real xerophiles and animals that require higher moisture to live there.

Wind must also be attributed to significant climatic factors. There are places on the globe where it blows constantly and with great force. This is especially true for the seaside and islands. Here, as a rule, there are no flying insects - butterflies, flies, small bees, wasps, while they live on the closely located continent. The absence of these insects also entails the absence of bats feeding on them. Wingless insects are typical of oceanic islands, which reduces their risk of being at sea. Thus, the wind to a certain extent determines the composition of the fauna.

In turn, pipe-nosed birds - albatrosses, petrels, frigates - are confined to areas with constant winds. These birds are able to hover over water using air currents and without wasting muscular effort to move.

The nature of the substrate, that is, the soil, also plays an important role in the life of land animals. In this case, not only the chemistry of the soil is important, but also its physical properties. There is a dependence of the distribution of animals on the presence of salts in the soil. Arthropods are most sensitive to soil salinity. For example, beetles of the genus Bledius like many ground beetles, they are usually found only on saline soils. Such animals are halophilic. Many animals are also sensitive to the type of rocks. On limestone rocks, for example, live molluscs whose shells are built of lime.

However, more often soil chemistry has an indirect effect on animals, in particular, through fodder plants. The role of the food factor in the life of animals is well known. None of the organisms can do without food, because at the expense of nutrients they receive energy and material to build their own body. As already mentioned, animals in general subsist on plants. Heterotrophs use only ready-made organic compounds. It should be noted that the species diversity of plants and animals on land creates a number of differences that are characteristic of terrestrial ecosystems.

Pinnipeds Are very, special and interesting animals that can live both on land and in water. Their paws have turned into flippers, which is why these sea animals are called pinnipeds. They eat fish, squid and crustaceans.

How do fur seals differ from seals?

Fur seals and seals are close relatives and very similar. But seals have ears, and seals don't. In addition, seals jump very dexterously on their flippers, and seals crawl on their belly.

Seals

Seals (Odobenidae) Are wonderful hunters. They have well developed eyesight, because most of the time they are under water, where the lighting is very poor. These animals are able to find food even in the dark. The body of pinnipeds, with the exception of the head, is covered with a layer of fat 10 cm thick, and in some even more. Pinnipeds have the fattest milk among all mammals. The seals do not chew the fish at all, but swallow it whole. If the fish is very large, then pinnipeds tear it to pieces. Seals can withstand temperatures down to -80C °.

Why does a seal need flippers?

If fleas are on the skin, the fur seal itches with its hind flippers, and the seal with its front flippers. In the water, the seal paddles mainly with its front flippers, and the common seal - with its hind flippers.

Sea hare

photo: Már Höskuldsson's

The most baleen among pinnipeds is the sea hare (Erignathus barbatus). His mustache is thick and curly. But in the water they become straight and very long and help the seal find food on the seabed.

Elephant seals

photo by Jim Frazee

Elephant seals (Mirounga)- giants from the seal family. Their length is about 6 m, and their weight is more than 3 tons. These animals were named so not only because of their size, but also through the nose, similar to the trunk, which hangs from the elephant seals at the end of the muzzle. Elephant seals use their long trunk, up to 80 cm long, as a means of intimidation. In time of danger, the male raises his trunk up and his formidable roar spreads over the sea. The sea giant is very clumsy on land, but it swims well and dives deeply. He is capable of diving for food to a depth of 1400 meters.

Harp seal

photo by Steve Arena

The claws of the harp seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus) provide reliable protection against enemies. They are very sharp. The wounds inflicted by this animal do not heal for a long time.

Walrus

photo Allan Hopkins

Walruses (Odobenus rosmarus) found in the arctic regions of the world. Today there are three subspecies. Pacific walruses(Odobenus roasmarus divergens) live mainly in the Bering Sea. During the warm summer months, they can travel to the Beaufort Sea and the East Siberian Sea. Atlantic walruses(Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus) are found in the eastern and western Atlantic Ocean. Laptev walruses(Odobenus rosmarus laptevi) are found in the Laptev Sea. Walruses inhabit areas of the Arctic that are mostly composed of ice. Walruses prefer areas with shallow water so they can easily access food. This slow-moving marine mammal spends most of its time in or around the water.

The walrus is one of the largest pinnipeds. This animal is known for its massive tusks, which are actually just enlarged teeth. These fangs can break through 20 cm of ice. They can grow up to 90 cm, but the average size is about 50 cm. Males are larger than females, weighing up to 1200-1500 kg, and females are from 600 to 850 kg.

Sea leopard

photo by V Maxi Rocchi

Leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx)- the most bloodthirsty predator among pinnipeds has a reputation as the most fierce and formidable seal, as it feeds not only on large fish and penguins, but also attacks other seals.

Hooded seal

At the male hooded (Cystophora cristata) there is a huge skin sac on the head. He knows how to inflate his crested bag so much that sometimes even the head of an animal is not visible behind him.

Seals

Found in the oceans eight different species of fur seals (Arctocephalinae)... Only one of these fur seal species is found in the northern hemisphere, while the other seven are found in the southern. They spend most of their time swimming in the open ocean and hunting for food. Seals feed on fish and plankton, but are also prone to hunting squid and eels. These pinnipeds are often prey to large aquatic animals such as sharks, killer whales, sea lions, and sometimes adult leopard seals.

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Ecology

Hands for a person are one of the most important parts of the body... With the help of our hands, we do almost everything, even communicate. However, humans are not the only creature on the planet with dexterous hands and fingers. The limbs of animals, which are usually called paws, can surprise you a lot. We invite you to find out about the most unusual paws in the animal world.

Amazing animals

Threatening Ay-Ay

Ay-ay- an amazing creature that lives in Madagascar, which knows how to "show the middle finger" like no one else in the world. Ay-ay or aye- a small primate that can be called the strangest of all primates... He has ugly bony paws with long fingers and claws, which reminds the heroes of fairy tales about vampires and werewolves.

Moreover, the middle finger of the aye is slightly larger than the others and protrudes noticeably. With his help, the beast knocks on trees looking for holes in the bark where the tasty insects that it feeds on can hide. If the aye-aye finds a treat, he bites through the wood and uses his ominous long finger to catch the prey.

Hands, despite their menacing appearance, completely harmless for everyone except insects, however, the inhabitants of Madagascar are very unfriendly to these animals, considering meeting them a bad sign. If ay-ay is seen near the village, they will immediately kill him, since it is believed that otherwise misfortune will fall on the village.

Flying Frog Helen

In 2009, while traveling through a forest near the Vietnamese city of Ho Chi Minh City, biologists stumbled upon an amazing frog. This frog is long about 9 centimeters, as it turned out, belonged to a new species of flying frogs unknown to science, which are known for their ability to jump from one tree to another and float in the air with the help of special paws with membranes.

Biologist Judy Rowley who discovered this frog in Vietnam, gave it its name flying frog helen in honor of his mother Helen Rowley.

The most amazing animals

Multi-fingered mole

Moles- very cute animals, except, perhaps, star-nosed mole that lives in the USA and Canada. Moles have amazing limbs that they just need in order to travel underground.

The large, flat front feet work like shovels, and the long toe nails allow dig underground holes and tunnels where moles find refuge and food.

In 2011, researchers University of Zurich suggested why the mole's paws dig the ground so well: moles have one extra finger- a sickle-shaped spare thumb.

This thumb has no motor joint, mole relies on him while digging, which gives his shovel paws extra strength. Studies have shown that the bone of this finger develops from the bones of the wrist at the embryonic stage somewhat later than the bones of the rest of the fingers. Moles really have not 5, but 6 fingers on your paws!

Sticky gecko

Geckos boast amazing paws that allow them to grip practically for any surface... The lines on the soles of their feet are covered with hairs called bristles, which are also covered with bristles.

The latter structures are so small that they allow geckos to stick to the surface on which they move. They allow you to enhance van der Waals force, a weak electrical force that holds many things together, including most organics.