Happy Thought for 22 July 2022

Have a Happy Thought: 

Australian mammals are even weirder and more wonderful than you thought.

(Like, it feels like I learn about yet another stupefyingly cute or incredible marsupial once a week)

 

There are so many of these, that there is an annual “Australian Mammal of the Year” competition (similar to New Zealand’s Bird of the Year competition).

 

But let’s be honest, this week you’re mostly here for cute pictures. So here you go. (If you’re here for facts not just fur, click the links beneath each photo for a whole article about each animal, this is also where I got the photos and Superpower information)

 

Numbats (Myrmecobius fasciatus). Superpower: Numbats are true sun-loving West Aussies! They have specialised fur that traps heat from the sun, giving them the highest solar heat gain of any mammal.


https://cosmosmagazine.com/nature/numbat-iconic-sun-seeker-termite-eater/

 

Torresian striped possum (Dactylopsila trivirgata). Superpower: Where to start on fun facts about this amazing little possum?? Well, it has the largest brain for its body size of any marsupial! It also has an elongated fourth finger that it uses to extract juicy grubs out of rotting timber – very handy!


https://cosmosmagazine.com/nature/striped-possum-stripes-are-in/

 

Eastern bettong (Bettongia gaimardi). Superpower: Expert truffle hunter and soil engineer


https://cosmosmagazine.com/nature/eastern-bettong-the-ultimate-native-truffle-hunter/

 

 Eastern quoll (Dasyurus viverrinus). Superpower: Eastern quolls come in two different flavours*, caramel and dark chocolate, both of which can occur within the same litter!

* This is an analogy. Do not eat under any circumstances!


https://cosmosmagazine.com/nature/eastern-quoll-the-two-flavoured-treat/

 

Kowari (Dasyuroides byrnei). Superpower: Oddly enough, the kowari carries a distinctive smell, which has been likened to that of a mop!


https://cosmosmagazine.com/nature/kowari-a-deceptively-vicious-predator/

 

 And of course, the pygmy possum – so teeny! There isn’t a whole article about these but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to share a photo.


Photo Ashlee Benc from KI Land for Wildlife.

https://www.theislanderonline.com.au/story/7044574/first-little-pygmy-possum-found-after-kangaroo-island-bushfires/


This ISN’T EVEN ALL OF THEM!!!

If you like Twitter threads, here’s a thread with all of the links above, and more

https://twitter.com/EuanRitchie1/status/1540482644328476672?s=20&t=eLaeyxPkIHXMT_hs16EDbg

 

Or you can go straight to the voting website.

https://cosmosmagazine.com/nature/aus-mammal-of-the-year-vote/

 

Thanks so much to Professor Euan Ritchie (https://twitter.com/EuanRitchie1) for bringing this to us.

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