So Squee! Friday: The Fossa

http://hecklinghyena.deviantart.com

The fossa is a catlike, carnivorous mammal from the forests of Madagascar. Photos can be deceptive regarding their size; while they look similar in size to a small cougar, they actually only grow to be about thirty inches in length (not including their tail, which can be just as long as their body!), and weight between twelve and nineteen pounds. Like cats, they also have retractable claws, and love to climb trees.

http://thefabweb.com

While they are found in most forested areas throughout Madagascar, they prefer more humid areas. Their diet consists of lemurs  tofu shaped like lemurs  ok it really is lemurs  oh god how could you eat something so cute, rodents, lizards, birds, and small primates. Unlike many mammals we've covered on So Squee!, these adorable kitty-like carnivores are active both day and night.

Each litter can have up to six kittens pups that are born blind and toothless. These babies will reach adulthood after three or four years.

http://www.zooborns.com/

The fossa is currently an vulnerable species due to the ongoing destruction of Madagascar's native forests, as well as dwindling lemur populations, which make up a main part of their diet (sniff). While there are protected areas, it has currently been reported via a conservation risk assessment that most of these areas do not have enough fossas to maintain a viable population, meaning the species could disappear in the next hundred years.

So Squee! Friday: The Dumbo Octopus

http://www.stanleysubmarines.com

The Dumbo Octopus (aka Grimpoteuthis) was named after the flying elephant, due to the ear-like fins that stick out from the tops of their bodies. They live at extreme depths, from 9,800 to 13,000 feet below sea level - deeper than any known octopus species! Some even live up to 23,000 feet below sea level. They thrive in very cold water.

http://www.aquariumofpacific.org

The Dumbo octopus ranges widely in physical characteristics. Some, like the one above, are squat and yellowish. Others are pink, white or bluish in hue, but all have eight webbed tentacles and big "ears".

Source unknown.

They float above the sea floor using their umbrella-like mantle, looking for food such as snails and bristle worms, which they swallow whole - also different from any other octopus. They flap their fins to get moving, sometimes shooting water through their funnel for unexpected bursts of speed.

These octopi have no breeding season. Females can lay eggs whenever they wish. Scientists believe females can also take sperm from a male and hold onto it in their mantle for a long time, using it as needed.

Source unknown.

So Squee! Friday presents the Axolotl

If you've never heard of the Mexican salamander the Axolotl before (pronounced ack-suh-lah-tuhl), you're in for a treat! Clearly the inspiration for the water type Pokemon Wooper, the Axolotl is an unique amphibian in that it never undergoes any stages of metamorphosis during it's transition into adulthood (a trait called neoteny).

An amazing feature among these little guys is their ability to regrow lost limbs! (Cute and resourceful!) They are also, unfortunately, endangered in their natural wild habitat (lake Xochimilco in Mexico).

Pet Axolotls are popular pets among humans, and can survive for a very long time provided they are given proper care. They require cooler temperatures to maintain their slow metabolism and specific substrate with fine sand because they sometimes eat tiny bits of stone or gravel. Okay, so they're not the brightest of amphibians, but look at how cute they are!

If you ever plan on keeping Axolotls, be careful not to pair them with fish that like to nip - they can nibble on the Axolotl's exposed frilly gills! And there's always a good chance your Axolotl will eat anything smaller than itself. They can also grow up to a foot long, so they require a large aquarium!

Axolotls are usually black or mottled brown, but the white/albino varieties (pictured here) are very popular. Axolotls also live quite a long time - up to 15 years - so if you ever decide to get one, be sure you're ready for a long-term pet!

So Squee! Friday presents the Pygmy Possum

Pygmy possums (not to be confused with the unfortunately non-cute opossums) are a family of very tiny marsupials. There are five different species of pygmy possum: Mountain, Long-tailed, Western, Tasmanian, and Eastern (the first found mainly in southern Victoria and Wales, the latter four from Australia).

They are nocturnal, sleeping in tree hollows, boulder fields, or abandoned birds' nests during the day. Despite being solitary, there are a few reports of pygmy possums sharing communal nests during the day. Each species' diet is very similar despite their locations, ranging from nectar, pollen, seeds, insects, and soft fruits.

When they sleep, they curl their long tails against or around their bodies. So cute!

So Squee! Friday presents: The Hedgehog

 

These spiny little cuties are native to parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa. They are also found in New Zealand and Scotland via introduction to the wild. Most of them are nocturnal, but you will find many of the species awake during the day as well.

Surprisingly enough, hedgehogs are actually quite vocal. Depending on the type (there are seventeen species of hedgehog!) they can squeak, grunt, and snuffle.

 

Have you ever seen a frightened or startled hedgehog raise its quills or disappear into a spiny ball? A hedgehog’s back is made up of two large muscles, which control the positioning of the quills. They can use these muscles to fully cover themselves with spines and pulling exposed parts of their body, like their heads and feet, inside.

Some species of hedgehog, typically the African pygmy, make very cute pets! They can live up to ten years if properly cared for, but they don’t like too many other pets and prefer to live alone. Even though the African pygmy is only about six to nine inches long, it requires a very large cage because it is so active. They’re not stinky like some unique pets, and are described by pet owners as quiet, clean, and sweet-tempered. 

So Squee! Friday presents… the Araripe Manakin!

The Araripe is a gorgeous bird with a very striking pattern of black, white, and red. Only males display this vivid coloring - the ladies are olive-green with smaller frontal tufts.

 

This species is very rare, and are only known to live one one location in on Earth - Brazil. Unfortunately, a recreational park and banana plantation were built in the early 2000’s, which destroyed a large portion of their habitat, as well as fires and human diversion of springs and streams.

  

Due to their rarity, not much is known about the lives of this species, although they are often sited in pairs and have been reportedly seen eating fruit. In 2008, Sir David Attenborough lectured at the BirdLife International and announced he would be raising funds for these amazing birds.

If you’d like to learn more about extinction prevention programs, or would like to become a Species Champion, you can read more here.

So Squee! Friday presents: The Numbat

If you’re not from Australia, it’s likely you’ve never heard of an adorable little marsupial called the numbat. Some refer to them as the “marsupial anteater” because they live exclusively on a diet of termites.

Photo courtesy of Australian Geographic. 

Numbats are quite small; including the bushy tail, they grow to be between fourteen and eighteen inches long. Unlike most of our previous So Squee! guest stars, these little guys aren’t nocturnal. They are the only marsupial that are fully active by day, spending most of their days digging up termites, which they snatch up with their long tongues. They are also one of the few marsupials whose females do not have a pouch to carry their babies in.

Hand-raised baby numbats at Perth Zoo.

Although these little guys used to live all across southern Australia and in several areas of Europe, many of their numbers were wiped out by the European red fox. By the 1970’s, only under a thousand of them remained. Luckily, conservation efforts began in 1980 and have managed to increase the population. While numbat sightings are highly increased, they are still classified as endangered.

Image courtesy of Wikipedia.

 

So Squee! Friday presents the Slow Loris!

The Slow Loris is one of the few mammals in the world that is also venomous (the platypus also shares this dangerous trait). It can be difficult to remember that fact, though, once you glimpse their adorable faces!


Photo from internationalanimalrescue.blogspot.com

These nocturnal cuties have the ability to stay completely motionless for hours, blending into their habitats. They have a special system of capillaries that keep their limbs from falling asleep! Although they do tend to move slowly and have a slow metabolism, they are able to move quickly if they are startled or scared.


This slow loris doesn’t quite know what to make of this tiny rice ball!

Do you think he’s decided that it tastes good?

The slow loris has an omnivorous diet that, in the wild, is typically about 50% fruit, 30% animal protein, and 10% bark and sap exuded from Gluta trees. Their animal protein come from birds’ eggs and insects.


Being tempted with some fruit!


This little guy enjoys a tasty banana!

The slow loris is a vulnerable species, threatened by the illegal wildlife trade, the exotic pet trade, and habitat loss. Some hunters and villagers in Southeast Asia believe that the slow loris has supernatural powers and can ward off evil spirits and cure illness, which causes many to be killed and sold for traditional medicine. These villagers also believe that certain parts of a slow loris can be used to curse enemies.

If you’d like to learn more or help save the slow loris, please visit the International Animal Rescue. This rescue rehabilitates slow lorises that have been surrendered by their owners or rescued from the illegal exotic pet trade. You can even help sponsor a slow loris named Cepat, who is unable to be returned to the wild due to his owners removing his teeth.

To see Cepat and learn more about his rescue, check out this video:

So Squee! Friday presents... the Japanese dwarf flying squirrel!

This tiny little cutie, also called a momonga, lives in the sub-alpine forests of Japan! They live in tree trunk cavities. Inside, they build nests of moss and lichen. They are also nocturnal animals; their huge, anime-like eyes help them see in the dark.

They can leap between trees using a membrane called the patagium that allows it to glide through the air.

They are also very popular pets in Japan, similar to their cousins, the sugar glider (which we will probably end up covering eventually on SS!F due to their insane cuteness).

Momongas eat buds, bark, and leaves from trees as well as fruit and fruit seeds. Check out this little dwarf eating noms at the Ueno Zoo in Tokyo:

Want to see more of this little cutie? Visit the Momonga subreddit forum on reddit here.

So Squee! Friday presents: The Chinchilla!

Chinchillas are tubby little bundles of joy gentle rodents that come from the Andes Mountains in South America. They live together in what I can only imagine to be downright adorable little herds. They’re named after the Chincha people who live in the Andes.

 

OMG that face. I can’t even omg so cute.

Have you ever seen a chinchilla rolling around in dust? That’s how they bathe! Because their fur is so dense, it cannot air-dry, which can lead to fur rot or fungus growth. So unless your chinchilla likes hair dryers (set on no heat, of course), don’t get him wet! Their fur also protects them from fleas, and they rarely release dander, so they are hypoallergenic. Good news for allergy sufferers who would love to have one of these cuties as a pet!

This little dude is about to get clean!

In the wild, chinchillas live in burrows or crevices. Because the gestation period is 111 days, baby chinchillas are born with a full body of fur and open eyes.

Babies that are bottle-fed and handled often at a very young age become much more gentle and comfortable with humans as they age.

They are incredibly popular as pets. However, since their teeth never stop growing, it’s vital for them to be worn down. Wooden sticks and chew toys are necessary to keep their teeth from overgrowing. But remember, no matter how many toys they have, that’s no substitution for daily human cuddles and attention!

"So Squee! Friday" edition… the fennec fox!

It’s almost the weekend! And to help you hang in there, we’re introducing our new So Squee! Fridays to the Something Positive For Your Day blog! Each Friday, we will educate you on a different, ridiculously adorable animal to help you make it through the day until the weekend starts!

Today’s So Squee! animal is the fennec fox, the national animal of Algeria! Aw, such a cutie! Look at those adorable ears!!!

Fennec foxes are nocturnal foxes that live in the Sahara of North Africa. Those ears aren’t just for looking ridiculously cute… they’re used to help dissipate heat! As you can imagine, they also hear exceptionally well with these huge ears, listening for small, tasty insects moving underground. If you see one staring at the ground and turning its head from side to side, he is pinpointing the location of a sound! Their fur, which is creamy colored and delightfully fluffy, also helps deflect heat during the day (while keeping them toasty warm at night).

Awww, fennec kissies!

These foxes live for about 14 squee-inducing years in captivity, and are sometimes kept as exotic pets. And unlike the poor red pandas, they aren’t endangered! Yay! They’re too small to bother livestock, which keeps them from being harmed by farmers. 

Photo by Francisco Mingorance.

Fennec foxes are very social with one another, remaining with their family even after bearing and raising their young. They mate for life, with each family living in its own territory.  They breed and make more adorable squee-inducing foxes about once per year in litters of 1-4 kits.