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We love other animals, too.
- Thread starter Khassy
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The turtle moves!
Hope this hasn't been posted already.
The tanuki or raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) is a species of Canid native to East Asia including Japan where they are surrounded by copious amounts of folklore, with a significant introduced population in Europe. They are basal Canids, having branched off earlier than other dogs. Despite this, tanukis have distinctly dog-like behaviors with a few additional quirks.
Raccoon dogs do not bark, but whine and growl. They even have a vocalization that has been compared to the meow of a cat. Tanukis are the only dogs to hibernate in the cold winter months, though in their introduced range, hibernation only occurs during severe snow storms. They are also monogamous, forming mating pairs. They breed from late February to late April. Gestation lasts 61-70 days, resulting in 6 or 7 pups, typically, though 15 to 16 is possible. Pups mature quickly, sampling solid food as early as three weeks, thought they will nurse for around two months. They are fully grown at about 4.5 months, and will find mates at around 5. It won’t be until around 8-10 months before the pair is able to mate, however.
Oddly for a dog, tanukis are omnivores, feeding on insects, small mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, grains, nuts, fruits, and berries. They use their claws, which are uniquely curved, in order to climb trees and forage for many of the fruits in their diet. In the fall and winter, small mammals dominate their diet, while they switch to mostly berries, amphibians, and insects in the warmer months.
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O M G. I just squeed about crow chicks. How adorable can you get?
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From what I hear, they can make excellent pets, smart too
Awwww, how cool!!!!!
A monk and his elephant. Here is the source. Credit to the photographer, Sasin Tipchai, who took this on Oct 24, 2015.
This is truly a blessed image.
