Desmans and how they live (7 photos)

Desmans are mysterious creatures living in the taiga and forests. They have long, fluffy coats that protect them from severe cold. They also have a long tail and short legs, which makes them incredibly cute and unusual.





Desmans have a very keen sense of smell, which allows them to find food. over long distances. And they also know how to move silently, which helps them to be invisible to predators.



According to legend, desmans are considered the spirits of the forest and are friends of people who respect nature. They never attack a person and do not harm trees and animals in the forest.

In addition, desmans are very fond of berries and mushrooms. They can live for several days on a diet of berries and mushrooms found in the forest. But in their diet also includes insects and small rodents.





Fun fact about desmans - they love to dance! In their rituals, you can see many dance movements that make them very funny.



Desmans are one of the few creatures on Earth that can cover their ears. They do it to protect them from clogging. and sand when they dig their minks. And they can dig them to a depth of six meters and up to seventy meters long.



They live in large families and communicate with each other with using a diverse palette of sounds: from whistling to crackling. And if necessary go for a run, then the muskrat can reach speeds of up to 4.5 km/ h. And muskrat can safely tolerate temperatures much higher than most mammals thanks to a special cooling system.



Don't let the cute appearance of the muskrat fool you. At animals have very sharp teeth with which they can defend themselves from predators like cats and foxes.

So, desmans are mysterious, sweet and kind creatures, who live in the forests. Sadly, the muskrat was hunted before late 19th century for its musky glands (for perfumery) and fur. The population also suffered from habitat destruction, pollution water. This species is now endangered and legally protected.