Meet the newest member of the mammal family tree
By gewcew23
@gewcew23 (8007)
United States
October 12, 2010 11:33am CST
It's name is the Durrell's vontsira (Salanoia durrelli) pronounced voontseera and it is the first carnivorous mammal found in 24 years. They are not pretty but they are family. Kind of looks like a mongoose and they live in the central eastern part of Madagascar. It does have a cousin that lives in the rainforest but the difference between the two of them is Durrell's vontsira is a carnivore where as the brown-tailed vontsira is a omnivore. Only problem is they are endanger do to agricultural expansion, burning and invasive plants and fish to the marshes that the Durrell's vontsira inhabit.
The Durrell's vontsira gets it's name from the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust which was the first to discover the new species.
http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-10/newly-discovered-meat-eating-mammal-surprise-already-endangered
4 responses
@dark_joev (3034)
• United States
13 Oct 10
I have to say very cool and well it is always nice to know we are finding some new species of mammals before they die off ie we kill them off being the dominate species on the planet.
@redyellowblackdog (10629)
• United States
12 Oct 10
Hillbillies everywhere want to know:
"Is them's good eatin'?".
"Are there any delicious recipes for them?"
"Is it best to hunt them with #4, #6, or #8 shot?"
"12 or 20 gauge?"
"Is .22 better?"
"Do they taste like chicken?"
Seriously, just joking. This is a wonderful scientific discovery and I tip my hat to whoever made the discovery.
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
22 Oct 10
Oh that's very cool. I hope they manage to save off enough habitat for the critter.
@unique16 (1531)
• United States
12 Oct 10
Hello gewcew23,
It almost looks like our ground hogs but half the size. It has huge teeth. Does it burrough in wood like a beaver? Interesting write up on this mammal. That it is extent already. That is pretty cool living in Mafagascar too. I take it usually pretty hot there? It like our otters here in the United States... it seem that way since it like fish if I am not mistaken.
Thanks for the share.
Have a great day!
Sincerely Unique16
