A sun bear stands on a tree trunk in its exterior enclosure in Muenster, Germany, 21 February 2013. Sun bears are good climbers due to their light weight and sharp claws. Photo: Kevin Kurek
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Scientists Discover New Naked Mole Rat in Africa
by Jeremy Hance
Although the term “giant mole rat” may not immediately inspire love, the mole rats of Africa are a fascinating bunch. They spend practically their entire lives underground building elaborate tunnel systems and feeding on plant stems. This underground lifestyle has led them to evolve small ears, tiny eyes, forward-pointing teeth for digging, and nostrils they can shut at will while digging.
Some species are quite social, such as the most famous, the naked mole rat (Heterocephalus glaber), while others live largely solitary lives. If that’s not enough, the family of mole rats, dubbed Blesmols…
In 2002, Paul Van Daele, an expert on Blesmols with the University of Ghent, and his team noticed a distinct-looking mole rat in Zambia, although similar to giant mole rat (Fukomys mechowii) it was noticeably smaller. It took several years to confirm their hypothesis that they had uncovered a new species, but a recent study by Van Daele and his team in Zootaxa describes the world’s newest mole rat: Caroline’s mole rat (Fukomys vandewoestijneae), distinguished by a distinct skull shape and confirmed by DNA and chromosome tests…
(read more: MongaBay) (photo: Daele, P.A.A.G. van et al.)
ハダカじゃないデバネズミさん、こんにちは。
(via son-pereda)
Loveable: Poitou foals Charlie and Cadeau at the farm in Hampshire, where the farmer made a home for rescued donkeys that had been bound for the abbatoir in France
Click through for video goodness!
(via son-pereda)
12![はい、ヒロキです。
今日はきてくれてどうもありがとう。
greetings of HIROKI are always fun!
wombat [HIROKI] at kanazawa zoo in yokohama, japan.
he is 27 years old.
2013.3 撮影](http://24.media.tumblr.com/09f7c31c69610f57acb112d5749cbc2a/tumblr_mn5hddeNTS1rm2r6wo1_500.jpg)
はい、ヒロキです。
今日はきてくれてどうもありがとう。
greetings of HIROKI are always fun!
wombat [HIROKI] at kanazawa zoo in yokohama, japan.
he is 27 years old.
2013.3 撮影
4![my yawn is gooood yawn.
wombat [HIROKI] at kanazawa zoo in yokohama, japan.
he is 27 years old.
2013.3 撮影](http://24.media.tumblr.com/e8f2124d141e7a2329fa410f61188ab3/tumblr_mn5gxsDrOh1rm2r6wo1_500.jpg)
my yawn is gooood yawn.
wombat [HIROKI] at kanazawa zoo in yokohama, japan.
he is 27 years old.
2013.3 撮影
5![it’s my fun!
wombat [HIROKI] at kanazawa zoo in yokohama, japan.
he is 27 years old.
2013.2 撮影](http://25.media.tumblr.com/e6fe349dcc1a4f91f7577b551ad52706/tumblr_mn5g6vuCzM1rm2r6wo1_500.jpg)
it’s my fun!
wombat [HIROKI] at kanazawa zoo in yokohama, japan.
he is 27 years old.
2013.2 撮影
14![scratch is happy!
wombat [HIROKI] at kanazawa zoo in yokohama, japan.
he is 27 years old.
2013.4 撮影](http://25.media.tumblr.com/1431d8699a49e3c53c0f788e2c702995/tumblr_mn5fs7K8zi1rm2r6wo1_500.jpg)
scratch is happy!
wombat [HIROKI] at kanazawa zoo in yokohama, japan.
he is 27 years old.
2013.4 撮影
9 8![wombat [hiroki] at the kanazawa zoo in yokohama, japan.
he is 27 years old.
2013.5撮影](http://25.media.tumblr.com/9c17d8943adce0eb2c8313cbff7e3e89/tumblr_mmxikbS4SX1rm2r6wo1_500.jpg)
wombat [hiroki] at the kanazawa zoo in yokohama, japan. he is 27 years old.
2013.5撮影
9Welcome to Koalafornia
Our new exhibit opens Friday! Woohoo!! Can you tell we’re excited?
(Source: youtube.com)
23![おいしいね、この草、おいしいね。
it’s yummy, yummy……
common wombat [HIROKI] at the kanazawa zoo in yokohama, japan.
he is 27 years old.
2013.5 撮影](http://25.media.tumblr.com/225b22ef460fcf06f3e7af6639b4e892/tumblr_mn3na2029X1rm2r6wo1_500.jpg)
おいしいね、この草、おいしいね。
it’s yummy, yummy……
common wombat [HIROKI] at the kanazawa zoo in yokohama, japan.
he is 27 years old.
2013.5 撮影
8
Peek-a-Boo, Little Porcupette!
Switzerland’s Zoo Basel welcomed a male porcupette (baby Porcupine) on April 6. Porcupettes are born with soft, flexible spines, which harden after a few days. The new baby lives with seven other Porcupines in the zoo’s exhibit.
Learn more about the zoo’s Porcupines and see more photos of the spiny baby at ZooBorns!
(Source: zooborns.com)
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