Every now and then, scientists across the world are discovering new animals. Lately, scientists have discovered a new animal which is extremely bizarre. It looks like a mouse, but has a small snout like elephant’s trunk!
The scientists have named the animal Macroscelides micus. They have found this animal in a remote area of northwest Namibia. It weighs up to an ounce (28 grams) and measures about 7.5 inches from snout to tail. Apparently, the body shape of this animal is similar to mouse, but its nose is different from noses that mice normally have. So scientists are calling this animal “Elephant Shrews.”
The creature has long, spindly legs relative to its body size, and hunkers down next to bushes to sleep rather than burrowing. It uses its extended nose to sweep the ground in search of ants and other insects. Besides, scientists have found that in terms of genetics, these creatures have similarity to elephants, sea cows, hyraxes and aardvarks. In addition, these creatures have some other bizarre features — they typically give birth to twins “which hit the ground running like the calves of some types of African antelope.”
Scientists have published their study about the creature in the Journal of Mammalogy. For more details about the animal, hit the source link below.
Source: Journal Of Mammalogy
Thanks To: Reuters
[ttjad keyword=”sony-ericsson”]
