Aparallactinae is the 'Mole Vipers' subfamily of reptiles of the typical snakes family, Colubridae, suborder Serpentes (Snakes). The subfamily contains about ten genera and about 45 species native to Africa and the Middle East. All the members are venomous, with the fangs set forward in the jaw, in some species the fangs are hinged and lie flat against the jaw until required to be erected. Research Aparallactinae
Aplacental is a term applied to those mammals in which the young are destitute of a placenta. The aplacental mammals comprise the Monotremata and Marsupialia, the two lowest orders of mammals, including the duck-mole (ornithorhynchus), the porcupine, anteater, kangaroo, etc. Research Aplacental
The blind mole (Talpa caeca) is a smaller mole, with a longer, slender nose, and whitish hair on the lips, legs, tail and particularly the forelegs found in the Iberian peninsula, northern Italy, the Adriatic coast and Greece. The eyes are permanently closed by a thin membrane which cannot be opened without damage. The upper incisor teeth form a V-shape with the largest, central (first) incisors being more than twice the size of the smallest, peripheral (third) ones. The blind mole is confined to mountainous areas, in contrast to the Roman and Common Moles which are both found in various habitats from the Appenine Mountains and Alps through to coastal areas. In contrast to the Roman Mole (which does not overlap with the Common Mole), the Blind Mole is generally thought to overlap in distribution the Common Mole. Like the common mole, the blind mole eats primarily earthworms, plus beetles and fly larvae, slugs, centipedes and millipedes. Research Blind Mole
Chlamydophorus is a genus of small quadrupeds of the order Edentata. The only species, Chlamydophorus truncdtus, or pichiciago, resembles the mole in its habits; it is about five inches long, and its back is covered over with a coat of mail, consisting of twenty-four rows of tough leathery plates. Its internal skeleton in several respects resembles that of birds. It is a native of South America, and nearly allied to the armadillo. Research Chlamydophorus
The common mole or northern mole (Talpa europaea) is a short, black, velvety furred mammal with a broad cylindrical body and heavily clawed feet, a tail carried erect and a generally bright pink nose. The common mole is abundant in deciduous woodland, arable fields and permanent pasture, avoiding stony, sandy, waterlogged soil because it cannot construct a proper burrow system, and acidsoil because of a lack of suitable earthworm species. The common mole builds semi-permanent burrows (ranging from shallow to more than 100 cm deep) plus one or more sleeping chamber which is lined with moss, grass and leaves, woven into a tight ball in which the animal climbs in and re-seals the entrance. The nest may form the hub from which burrows radiate - sometimes creating a large fortress built over the nest. The hills often contain a large supply of the mole's food - earthworms Research Common Mole
The duck-billed platypus or duck-mole or duck-bill (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) is a curious mammal of the order Ornithorhynchidae, confined to south and east Australia and Tasmania. The animals are aquatic in their habits, forming their burrows in the banks of the creeks they inhabit. The burrows usually have two entrances, one above and one below the water level, and of great length, sometimes as much as 15 metres. They end in a small chamber in which the eggs are hatched and the young reared. The adult male reaches a length of about 45 cm, and is distinguished from the female by the presence of a horny spur on the hind foot, which is connected with a poison gland. In both sexes the body is oval and flattened, and covered with dense short fur. There is no visible external ear and the eyes are small. The muzzle is flat and broad and is covered by a dark-coloured beak, which is hairless and closely resembles the bill of a duck. The limbs are short and are webbed at the extremities, but the web can be folded back to reveal five powerful
claws used for burrowing. The tail is short, but flat and broad. Teeth are present in both jaws of the young, but soon disappear and are replaced by a series of horny plates which are used to masticate the food which is obtained by sifting through the mud with the bill. Research Duck-billed Platypus
The grasshopper or cricket are various leaping insects of the genusGryllus or Acheta, of the order Orthoptera nearly akin to the locusts. They are characterized by long and slender legs, the thighs of the hind legs are large and adapted for leaping; by large and delicate wings and by the wing covers extending far beyond the extremity of the abdomen. They are generally of a greenish colour.
There are several species. The house-grasshopper is the Acheta (Gryllus) domestica; the field-grasshopper is the Acheta (Gryllus) campestris; the mole-grasshopper is the Gryllotalpa vulgaris. The house-grasshopper of Europe is about 25 mm long, with antennae of about 38 mm long, of a pale yellowish colour mixed with brown. By the friction of the peculiarly-formed wing-covers the males produce that stridulous sound by which these insects are so well known, and which has become associated with ideas of cheerful domestic comfort.
They live in holes and crevices near fire places or in other warm situations, whence they come out at night to feed on crumbs and other fragments of food. The field-grasshopper makes a similar noise. The house-grasshopper was introduced into the United States, and there are several species of field-grasshopper there also. Research Grasshopper More pictures of Grasshopper
The mole-rat (Spalax typhlus) is a rodent of the genus Spalax, family Spalacidae. They are dumpish, stout-bodied rodents with short strong limbs and a very short tail. They resemble moles in their burrowing habits, but eat bulbs and roots in place of worms. Research Mole-rat
The mole (Talpa) is a genus of burrowing mammal of the Talpidae family. The body is long and narrow, the tail short, the fore limbs placed far forward, while the hand is broad and powerful, and armed with five strong claws. They have no external ear, and the eyes are minute. Moles catch worms which they paralyse by damaging their nerve cord with a bite. These worms are then stored alive in the mole hills for future use when food is short. The typical and most widespread European mole is the common mole, but there are also the blind mole and Roman mole found in some parts of Europe. Research Mole
The water shrew (Neomys fodiens) has a fringe of bristly silvery-white hairs on the hind feet, a double row of hairs act as a keel on the tail for swimming. It is very dark in colour above, but the underside varies from white to grey. Sometimes it occurs as a very dark morph. The ear openings can be closed, and there are four uni-cuspid teeth. The water shrew moults in spring and autumn. Water shrews live generally close to water, that is mostly on the banks of swiftly flowing streams and weirs, and are especially abundant in watercress beds, and are also occasionally found near ditches, ponds and the seashore. They may be found as a temporary visitor in woodlands and grasslands. The nest is a ball of vegetation in an extensive burrow system, excavated by the shrew, using its front feet and nose. The entrance may be above or below water level, and the shrew may re-use mole tunnels. Water shrews eat mostly aquatic crustaceans and insect larvae, and terrestrial beetles, molluscs, worms, occasionally small fish, amphibia and mammals, which are caught both under water and on land. The water shrew produces a venom in its saliva which is effective against small mammals, and is a fast, adept swimmer, a good diver and floats like a cork due to the air caught in its very water-repellent coat. The breeding season is from April to September, with two litters a year possible, each of about six young, but maybe as few as three or as many as fifteen. The animals becoming sexually mature in their second year. Research Water Shrew
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Aparallactinae
