The most poisonous rat on Earth can even kill an elephant. What's the secret?
An unusual rodent lives in Africa — the crested rat, which uses plant poison as a means of defense. It is the only known mammal capable of accumulating toxic substances from plants and applying them to its own fur, writes Discoverwildlife.
An adult crested rat, including its tail, can reach 36-53 centimeters in length. Its body is covered with thick grey-white fur, and along its back grows a distinctive mane of long black and white hairs. It is this mane that plays the main role in its defense system.
When the rat senses danger, it fluffs up its fur, displaying a contrasting pattern to the predator. But underneath the mane are skin areas with glands, and the hairs above them can absorb toxic substances.
The rat obtains its poison itself. It gnaws on the bark of the African tree Acokanthera schimperi, which contains cardenolides. These substances affect heart function and can be very dangerous in large quantities.
After eating the bark, the rat licks special hairs on the sides of its body. Along with saliva, toxins from the plant get onto its fur. The structure of the hairs allows them to retain the poison.
If a predator tries to bite the rat, the toxic substance gets into its mouth and can cause severe poisoning. Among the natural enemies of the crested rat are honey badgers, caracals, servals, hyenas, and leopards. There have been known cases where dogs, after attacking such rats, died from the effect of the toxin. Those who survived later tried to avoid these rodents.
Scientists believe that such a defense system gives the rat a significant evolutionary advantage. However, it remains a mystery why the rodent itself does not die from the poison it consumes.
There are several hypotheses. According to one of them, the unique biochemical characteristics of this species may provide it with increased resistance to cardenolides. According to another, certain bacteria in its unusual multi-chambered stomach may break down toxic substances. However, scientists do not yet have a definitive answer.
In addition, the crested rat has very thick skin and an unusually flexible spine, which also helps it survive predator attacks.
Crested rats are found in Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Tanzania, Kenya, Djibouti, and Eritrea. They live in forests, savannas, and shrub thickets, making their shelters in tree hollows, burrows, and other suitable places.
They feed mainly on plant-based food — leaves and fruits, but can also eat insects, root vegetables, and meat.
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Comments
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Tradycyjnie L. imhausii umieszczany był w rodzinie Cricatidae[13], jednak badania przeprowadzone w 2015 wykazały, że L. imhausii jest taksonem bazalnym kladu obejmującego Deomyinae + Gerbillinae[15] które razem tworzą grupę siostrzaną z Murinae[16]. Autorzy Illustrated Checklist of the Mammals of the World uznają ten takson za gatunek monotypowy[12].
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А ўсе астатнія вікі, уключна з ангельскаю, дагэтуль пішуць што ён хамяк з Cricatidae.
Дарэчы каля палякі яго завуць Grzywak afrykański то і мы можам называць яго Грывач афрыканскі - цалкам нармальная назва як на мой густ. А "калматы хамяк" ужо не пасуе, бо ён ніякі не хамяк...