Fennec Fox vs Rat-kangaroo

INTRODUCTION

The desert rat-kangaroo (Caloprymnus campestris), also called the buff-nosed rat-kangaroo, plains rat-kangaroo or oolacunta, is an extinct small hopping marsupial endemic to desert regions of Central Australia.

INTRODUCTION

It was discovered in the early 1840s and described by John Gould in London in 1843, on the basis of three specimens sent to him by George Grey, the governor of South Australia at the time.

SHAPE

It was formed like a kangaroo, but

had the bulk of a small rabbit, and was described as having a delicate and slender form.

The length of the head and body combined is estimated to be about 254–282 mm in addition to a 307 to 377 mm long tail.

Its head was short, blunt, and wide, different from that of any kangaroo or wallaby with a naked nose, short and rounded ears.

SHAPE

COLOR

The color of its dense, straight, soft fur was appropriate for its desert surroundings.

It was very pale yellowish brown, the hairs tipped with sooty brown; interspersed with the under fur were many long brownish white hairs.

Its underbelly was described as white with very pale yellowish-brown feet and tail.

COLOR

UNIQUE FEATURES

A distinguishing feature of this species was the difference in size between the fore and hind limbs.

Its fore limbs were quite delicate with bones weighing 1 gram, while its hind limbs are large with bones weighing 12 grams.

This difference is related to saltation. Other characteristics related to hopping locomotion include a long, but rather thin tail.

LIFE

LIFE

Caloprymnus campestris was solitary except for mothers with young offspring. It lived in nests built over shallow depressions in the ground. These nests were excavated or found and are crucial in the desert, where temperatures can be high, while relatively little brush or foliage is available for cover.

The "pits" were lined with grass, which females carried to the nest with their tails. The nest would then be covered with twigs to provide cover from the scorching sun.

Often, the desert rat kangaroo was found peeking out of the top of the nest to observe its surroundings. This species would spend most of the day taking cover in the nest, and emerge at dusk to feed. Thus, it was at least partially nocturnal.

DIET

The desert rat-kangaroo was mainly herbivorous, feeding on foliage and stems of desert vegetation, but has also been found to eat insects such as beetles and weevils.

It was so independent of water, it even shunned the succulent plants of the sand hills. It was able to survive without any surface water while feeding on green plants.

LOCOMOTION

LOCOMOTION

It had a distinct method of hopping. Its posture was forward and the long tail was extended when it moved at high speeds.

Unlike other marsupials, Caloprymnus would land with the right foot in front of the left foot.

It showed great endurance while being chased on horseback at high speeds (Finlayson reported chasing an individual over 12 miles), and "paused only to die".

REPRODUCTION

REPRODUCTION

Females reached sexual maturity at about 11 months, while males reached maturity some two months later.

Marked sexual dimorphism was apparent, with females being larger. Females went through estrus at three-week intervals and could mate throughout the year.

Although able to mate all year, they had an irregular breeding season when most mating took place.

Females with pouched joeys had been found between June and December. Young were born very undeveloped, as is typical of marsupials.

GESTATION

GESTATION

Gestation was probably around one to two months, with a pouch period of two to three months.

All females were found with only one young at a time. Young remained dependent for over a month after leaving the pouch and soon after would leave permanently.

INTRODUCTION

The fennec fox is the smallest of all the world's foxes, but its large ears, measuring 6 inches, appear to be on loan from a bigger relative.

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Vulpes zerda

INTRODUCTION

TYPE: Mammals

DIET: Omnivore

SIZE: Head and body: 9.5 to 16 inches;

tail: 7 to 12.2 inches

WEIGHT: 2.2 to 3.3 pounds

CURRENT POPULATION TREND: Stable

DESERT ADAPTATIONS

DESERT

ADAPTATIONS

Fennec foxes dwell in the sandy Sahara and in North Africa. Their nocturnal habits help them deal with the searing heat of the desert environment, and some physical adaptations help as well.

Their distinctive, batlike ears radiate body heat and help keep the foxes cool. They also have long, thick hair that insulates them during cold nights and protects them from hot sun during the day.

Even the fox's feet are hairy, which helps them perform like snowshoes and protects them from extremely hot sand. The fox's feet are also effective shovels for frequent digging—fennec foxes live in underground dens.

DIET

DIET

Fennec foxes are opportunistic eaters. They forage for plants but also eat rodents, eggs, reptiles, and insects.

Like most desert dwellers, the fennec fox has developed the ability to go for long periods without water.

BEHAVIOR

These foxes dwell in small communities, each inhabited by perhaps ten individuals.

Like other canids, male fennecs mark their territory with urine and become aggressive competitors when mating season arrives each year.

These foxes are cream-colored with black-tipped tails. Their adorable appearance makes them favorites of the captive pet trade, and local peoples also hunt the fennec fox for its fur. Little is known about the status of wild fennec fox populations.

EXTINCTION

DESERT RAT-KANGAROO

Caloprymnus campestris was well adapted to the extremely barren and arid regions it inhabited; these traits saved it from competition by introduced species like the rabbit or sheep. However, as early as the 1930s, the red fox had spread to the areas inhabited by the desert rat kangaroo. Thus, the rapid decline of the desert rat-kangaroo began shortly after its recovery in 1931 correlates with the invasion of its habitat by the fox. Predation by the red fox and cats, as well as variable seasonal patterns and overhunting by indigenous Australians, were blamed for the extinction of this species.

No reliable reports of the species have been made since 1935, but unconfirmed sightings in Queensland followed periods of rain in 1956-1957 and 1974-1975. Also, recent remains of this species have been found in the mid-1980s inside caves.

The desert rat-kangaroo was declared extinct in 1994, making it the only mammal species to be recovered and then lost again.

FURTHER INFO ABOUT THE RAT-KANGAROO EXTINCTION

The reasons for the decline and extinction of the Desert Rat-kangaroo are unknown. However, major threats were probably related to habitat destruction by changed fire regimes and introduced herbivores such as Cattle (Bos taurus) and Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), and predation by Cats (Felis catus) and Foxes (Vulpes vulpes)

ADAPTATION

FENNEC FOX

FEATURES

Large ears (measuring 6 inches): Radiate body heat which helps it stay cool in burning temperatures.

Long, thick hair for fur: Helps them stay warm on freezing cold nights and protects them from the sun during very hot days.

Very hairy feet: Protect it from the burning hot sand.

Live in underground dens: Protect them from the sun and help them stay cool in very hot temperatures.

Can go long periods of time without water: Helps them a lot because of the lack of water in the desert.

Nocturnal: helps them deal with the extremely high temperatures.

ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES & FENNEC FOX DEVELOPING NEW TRAITS

AFRICAN EAGLE OWL: faster and stronger, hunts the fennec fox.

NEW TRAIT: Developed stronger legs and bodies: Run away faster.

Stronger bodies: fight off the bird if it wasn't able to run to safety in time.

BLUE-TAIL FOX: Eats the same food, larger and stronger.

NEW TRAIT: Grew larger noses: Smelling out food from far away.

Developed wings: Flying and hunting food faster than the Blue-tailed fox.

Developed talons on their feet: Grabbing food off the ground while they are flying.

HOTTER WEATHER: Hotter than the already burning temperature.

NEW TRAIT: Larger ears: Radiate more body heat and stay cool in the higher temperatures.

MORE ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES & MORE NEW TRAITS

HUMANS OVERHUNTING: The fennec fox's fur became popular, so humans started developing new weapons' technologies to hunt the half-flying fox.

NEW TRAIT: Living completely in the air: Flying away from humans and built nests if they found any trees.

Losing front legs and smaller ears: Lighter and could fly faster away from humans.

The new fennec fox after all this evolution was no longer called the fennec fox. It was known as:

THE FENNEC FOWL

GOAL

PREVENTING THE EXTINCTION OF THE DESERT RAT-KANGAROO

The Rat-Kangaroo was subjected to extinction because of over-hunting whether by animals or humans, meaning he couldn't escape quickly enough.

So, this animal could be provided by a trait or a mechanism to allow him to predict hunters or predators sooner than it already does.

PLAN

INSERTING GENES TO PREVENT THIS ANIMAL'S EXTINCTION

Echolocation is used by both bats and dolphins, allowing them to navigate the world with the use of sound. Now, scientists have learned a bit more about this particular ability. They’ve found that prestin, a key gene responsible for hearing in mammals, independently evolved to play a critical role in the ultrasonic hearing range of animal sonar.

Previous studies have investigated the role of prestin in mammal hearing. This gene creates a protein found in the hair cells of the inner ear that contracts and expands rapidly to transmit signals that help the cochlea amplify sound waves to make hearing more sensitive.

INTRODUCTION

As we already knew, the reason behind the extinction of desert rat kangaroo or Caloprymnus campestris was the spread of the red fox in the inhabitant area where the rat-kangaroo lived.

However, The Desert rat-kangaroo was well adapted to the extremely barren and arid regions it inhabited, before the appearance of the red fox. Its disability to escape from its predators is the main reason behind its extinction.

After our genetic modification on the Desert-Rat-Kangaroo, it would be aware of its predators presence long before they even spot him with its highly sensitive ears that mimics the ability of bats to echolocate stuff without seeing them.

After the genetic modification done, this animal would have a better chance in life.

ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES

Rat-Kangaroo effect on the ecosystem and other animals and plants.

The effects of the presence of Desert-Rat-Kangaroo on the food chain:

1) Their presence in their habitat without external threats, makes them interact strongly with other species.

2) The vegetative cover will decrease or will exist in its normal rate.

3) The annual grass areas that filled with plants like Aristida adscensionis or Eragrostis lehmanniana, will decrease or will be found in its normal rate.

4) The main food for the rodent species and foraging birds, will be specified in danger, as they will have new competitor.

5) The soil disturbance increases.

The effects of the exclusion of Desert-Rat-Kangaroo on the food chain:

1) The Significant increases in abundance of a tall annual grass (Aristida adscensionis) and a perennial bunch grass (Eragrostis lehmanniana).

2) This increase in the vegetative cover affected the use of these plots by several other rodent species and by foraging birds.

3) The soil disturbance decreases.

4) The predation on large-sized seeds is reduced.