GERMAN
MAMMAL POLYCHRUS ACUTIROSTRIS
spread: From northeastern Brazil to the province of Patagonia in Argentina.
habitat: Its preferred places are bushes, tree hollows, fallen tree trunks, bird nests, small caves between rocks and generally dark, enclosed spaces such as garbage dumps.
Description: Its general appearance is reminiscent of a small pig, a fox or a large mouse.
Mouse. The species has survived numerous changes on the continent over millions of years, but without major evolutionary changes, so it could be considered a living fossil. The lifespan of the weasel or opossum is short. Gestation lasts 14 days, sexual maturity occurs at 10 months, and death occurs a few months later.
Behave: It is solitary except during the breeding season. It stays in its shelter for only short periods, being a nomadic animal that moves to other places to find more food sources. It prefers to go out at night. When threatened or frightened, it opens its mouth, bares its teeth, and lets out a loud growl similar to the sound of a chainsaw. If the danger becomes greater, it "plays dead" and falls into a state of unconsciousness with its mouth open, a slow heartbeat, and a foul-smelling fluid leaking from its body. It can remain in this state for hours, then regain consciousness and escape. It learns this skill from an early age. It has amazingly hygienic habits. It can swim.
NutritionOmnivore. It feeds on meat: birds, small mammals, toads, and occasionally snakes. Lizards, various insects, cockroaches, scorpions, and worms. It also eats fruit, including bananas, passion fruit, and apples. It loves eggs.
Role in the ecosystem: Environmentalists emphasize that this species is fundamental for the ecological balance of ecosystems, as it controls the populations of the animals that are its prey, and that it is also a great consumer of rats,
Rats, cockroaches and other pathogenic pests, so that it can be used as a natural ally of humans in the fight against pests.
Pests.
ENGLISH
MAMMAL POLYCHRUS ACUTIROSTRIS
Distribution: From northeastern Brazil to the Patagonian province of Argentina.
Habitat: Its preferred places are bushes, hollows in trees, fallen trunks, birds' nests, small caves between rocks and in generally closed and dark spaces such as garbage deposits.
Description: Its general appearance is reminiscent of a small pig, a fox or a large mouse.
mouse. The species has survived numerous changes in the continent over millions of years, but without varying much evolutionarily, so it could be considered a living fossil. The life span of the weasel or opossum is short. Gestation lasts 14 days, sexual maturity comes at 10 months, and death, a few months later.
Behavior: It is solitary, except during the breeding season. It keeps its shelter for a short period of time, since it is a nomadic animal and will go elsewhere to get more food sources. It prefers to go out at night. If it is threatened or afraid, it opens its mouth showing its teeth and emitting a loud growl similar to the noise of a chainsaw. When the danger becomes stronger, it “plays dead” and enters an unconscious state, with its mouth open, its heart slowed and a foul-smelling liquid emitting from its body. She may remain in this state for hours, after which she regains consciousness and escapes. It learns this resource well from an early age. It has surprisingly hygienic habits. It can swim.
Diet: Omnivorous. It feeds on meat: birds, small mammals, toads, and occasionally, it may eat snakes. Lizards, various insects, cockroaches, scorpions and worms. They also eat fruits, including bananas, passion fruit and apples. It loves eggs.
Role in the ecosystem: Environmentalists emphasize that this species is fundamental to the ecological balance of ecosystems, controlling the populations of animals that are its prey, and also that it is a great consumer of rats,
cockroaches and other disease-causing pests, so it can be used as a natural ally of humans in the fight against pests.
pests.
