Spangled Condylure

The spangled condylure ( Condylura cristata ) is a small species of North-American Taupe , the only one of the Condylura . He lives in the east of the Canada and with the extreme North-East of the the United States, until the north of the Baie James. Its length reaches approximately 20 centimetres, the tail adding up a third. It owes its epithet d'" étoilé" with the form very characteristic of sound Muzzle.

The muzzle

The muzzle, which measures 1 cm of width, with the shape of a stripped disc provided with 22 symmetrical Tentacule S, which are not bodies of Odorat, but of rather tactile bodies which are used to explore the environment or to seek food. The muzzle is equipped of more than 100 ' 000 nervous fibers and 30 ' 000 bodies of Eimer. Certain tentacles are longer than others; they are the first to come into contact with the prey; others are not useful that to direct it towards the mouth. Others still can be electro-sensor S which emit magnetic fields.

Habitat and mode

He lives on ground wet and marshy where he nourishes small Invertébré S, of watery Insecte S, Crustacé S and Mollusque S. He has few natural enemies because of his nauseous odor and his defensive practices, but sometimes becomes the prey with the Large-duke of America, the Hibou means-duke, the Effraie bell-towers, the Buse with russet-red tail, with the Buse with shoulder pads or also some large fish, like the Brochet or the Achigan.

The activity under water

When it digs its galleries, the tentacles are folded up on the Narine S in order to protect these last from dust. Its galleries often emerge under water. However, unlike the other moles, it is not large digger; it is adapted more to the life of surface and can even run on short distances. Its nest spherical, is built with bits of snap rings, grasses and sheets dried (possibly of the compost, Fumier), and is always located in a place on dry ground of its galleries.

The animal is active all the year, the day as well as the night. Being good swimmer and good plunger, it often leaves to research food at the bottom the Ruisseau X or the pond S, excavating the Sédiment. It can even plunge under the ice the winter. In water, it uses its forefeet like oars and its tail like rudder, its posterior legs doing nothing but propel it in an independent way. The animal once moves back as its tentacles on its nostrils in water, in order to prevent as water does not return in its nostrils.

Reproduction

The tail of the animal thickens and increases by 3 to 4 times its volume as of the end of the winter until the beginning of spring, that is to say for the reproductive season. It is about a reserve of subcutaneous grease. At the period of Rut, glands sudoripares of various areas of the body modify their activity so as to deteriorate the Pelage.

The period of the rut lasts from January to June for the male. At the beginning of the period, the Testicule S swell in a marginal way. On the other hand, as of May, the bodies reproductive regress before taking again their normal size about September-October.

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