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WillemSvdMerwe — Maned Rat

#maned #rat #imhausi #lophiomys
Published: 2016-12-14 20:59:14 +0000 UTC; Views: 3461; Favourites: 156; Downloads: 28
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Description The Maned Rat, Lophiomys imhausi, is quite large, reaching a body weight of 900 g/2 lbs.  It looks even bigger for its long fur.  It has a tract of hairs along each side that it can open up, when threatened, to expose a glandular area which apparently exudes a pungent odour.  It might even be toxic - dogs have been reported as dying after biting these.  A possibility is that these rats rub themselves against toxic sap from Acokanthera-bushes, which they eat with apparent impunity.  Maned rats at present only occur in northeast Africa, in fairly dry and rocky terrain.  Watercolour.
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Comments: 42

MisterBug [2017-05-31 17:04:01 +0000 UTC]

Interesting - this species was completely unknown to me!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

WillemSvdMerwe In reply to MisterBug [2017-05-31 20:11:21 +0000 UTC]

Glad to have informed you, thanks!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

diebruder [2017-05-12 03:31:53 +0000 UTC]

bonito

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

WillemSvdMerwe In reply to diebruder [2017-05-12 19:45:55 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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Maria-Schreuders [2016-12-21 05:38:54 +0000 UTC]

Fantastic work, great painting, well done 

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

WillemSvdMerwe In reply to Maria-Schreuders [2016-12-23 18:06:11 +0000 UTC]

Thanks very much, glad you like!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Maria-Schreuders In reply to WillemSvdMerwe [2016-12-24 05:34:37 +0000 UTC]

You´re so welcome   

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Viergacht [2016-12-19 19:03:12 +0000 UTC]

I love these things - they have a specimen at the Smithsonian. I'd love to see one in real life. 

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WillemSvdMerwe In reply to Viergacht [2016-12-20 18:03:42 +0000 UTC]

Me too!  Glad you could at least see the museum piece.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Viergacht In reply to WillemSvdMerwe [2016-12-22 08:25:14 +0000 UTC]

I should make a stuffed one. 

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WillemSvdMerwe In reply to Viergacht [2016-12-22 18:08:48 +0000 UTC]

Yes!  That would be very cute and cuddly!

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namu-the-orca [2016-12-17 17:30:00 +0000 UTC]

Once again I learn about a new species I didn't know existed before from you What cool looking critters, they certainly have fantastic hairdos. Do they always look this big, with hairs bristled up, or do the hairs on their back lay flat when they are feeling relaxed?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

WillemSvdMerwe In reply to namu-the-orca [2016-12-18 18:05:32 +0000 UTC]

Hello again!  Thanks very much ... we have many more African critters with weird 'do's!  The photos I've seen of this, all show it with a pretty 'big-haired' look, though not always quite as much as in the pic.  So I would say it is generally shaggy-looking, not lean and sleek, and just raises the hairs to make it look even bigger when threatened. 

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Ursumeles [2016-12-16 15:06:36 +0000 UTC]

How cute and epic!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

WillemSvdMerwe In reply to Ursumeles [2016-12-16 19:59:33 +0000 UTC]

Thanks, glad you think so! 

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jellybush [2016-12-16 11:39:17 +0000 UTC]

Wow, what a fella! I always look at your work Willem, even if I don't comment much. Ever think of producing a book of your paintings?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

WillemSvdMerwe In reply to jellybush [2016-12-16 20:00:06 +0000 UTC]

Hello!  Thanks a lot.  Yes indeed, I would love to make my work into a book!  Just don't know how to go about it ...

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jellybush In reply to WillemSvdMerwe [2016-12-21 12:21:10 +0000 UTC]

You and me both, unless you go digital print, vanity style. Amazon and Lulu.com come to mind. I think even an ebook of your artworks would be worth it.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

CyberCorn-Entropic [2016-12-16 10:13:04 +0000 UTC]

Looks like he mugged a zorilla for its pelt.

Interesting how so many different severely malodorous-on-cue mammals across the world share a similar warning coloration.  I wonder if it's an ancestral mammal thing, dating from before placentals evolved.  Might dinosaurs have been leery of some sort of Ur-skunkrat?

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WillemSvdMerwe In reply to CyberCorn-Entropic [2016-12-16 20:00:52 +0000 UTC]

Maybe!  It's a difficult thing to try and track down from fossils ... but perhaps some day we might do it!  Thanks for the comment!

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rplrodrigo [2016-12-16 01:37:27 +0000 UTC]

oh, didn't know about this dude, loved the stripes

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WillemSvdMerwe In reply to rplrodrigo [2016-12-16 20:01:05 +0000 UTC]

Glad to inform you, thanks!

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MaresaSinclair [2016-12-15 21:40:57 +0000 UTC]

Lovely work, as always!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

WillemSvdMerwe In reply to MaresaSinclair [2016-12-16 20:01:13 +0000 UTC]

Thanks very much!

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nekonotaishou [2016-12-15 21:19:15 +0000 UTC]

These are such cool animals!

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WillemSvdMerwe In reply to nekonotaishou [2016-12-16 20:01:25 +0000 UTC]

Hi and thanks, I agree!

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angelahedderick [2016-12-15 14:53:30 +0000 UTC]

Amazing how much it resembles the striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) here in the USA - and it's also stinky! Being toxic sound like a great way to deal with all those awesome African carnivores. Great job on its feet!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

WillemSvdMerwe In reply to angelahedderick [2016-12-16 20:01:39 +0000 UTC]

Thanks!  Glad you noticed the feet!

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herofan135 [2016-12-15 11:13:46 +0000 UTC]

This is so cool, great job on the fur!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

WillemSvdMerwe In reply to herofan135 [2016-12-16 20:01:45 +0000 UTC]

Thanks a lot!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

SpiderMilkshake [2016-12-14 23:04:34 +0000 UTC]

So many amazing African mammals... and hardly anyone knows they exist.

I love the look of this fella. He looks very spry and alert.

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WillemSvdMerwe In reply to SpiderMilkshake [2016-12-16 20:01:58 +0000 UTC]

Thanks!  I hope to remedy the situation ...

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VioletWhirlwind [2016-12-14 22:54:38 +0000 UTC]

Wow!  What a cool critter that I never even knew existed!

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WillemSvdMerwe In reply to VioletWhirlwind [2016-12-16 20:02:13 +0000 UTC]

Thanks, happy to have informed you!

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Albertonykus [2016-12-14 21:44:08 +0000 UTC]

One of my favorite mammals. Got to love a rodent that eats and weaponizes toxins that would kill almost anything else (a behavior that has been strongly supported by field observations and microscopic analysis of the hairs).

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WillemSvdMerwe In reply to Albertonykus [2016-12-16 20:02:31 +0000 UTC]

Wow thanks for that info!  It is truly an amazing thingy!

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bhut [2016-12-14 21:34:24 +0000 UTC]

Wow!

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WillemSvdMerwe In reply to bhut [2016-12-16 20:02:49 +0000 UTC]

Thanks, glad you appreciate!

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bhut In reply to WillemSvdMerwe [2016-12-16 20:06:39 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome.

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InkGink [2016-12-14 21:06:30 +0000 UTC]

Wow what an interesting specimen!

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WillemSvdMerwe In reply to InkGink [2016-12-16 20:02:57 +0000 UTC]

Glad you think so, thanks!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

InkGink In reply to WillemSvdMerwe [2016-12-17 04:16:52 +0000 UTC]

You're very welcome

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