Venomous shrew slaughtered by cat
The following is a photo of the head and upper body of what appears to be a Northern Short-tailed Shrew (Blarina brevicauda). Where did I find this deceased and otherwise tough to spot and secretive mammal? In its natural habitat, of course – the floor of a closed garage! The half of the body you cannot see has been devoured by a cat who does not leave a locked garage and the connected basement and is never permitted to even see an open door, let alone venture outside it. It would seem this shrew decided to come inside…looking for a snack? After taking a wrong turn with its poor...
Read MoreMelanin deposit – Timber Rattlesnake
Do you see the perceptible streak of blue along the right side of the head of this Timber Rattlesnake? That is a special shield for its venom and venom glands that can be found in both pit vipers like Crotalus horridus as well as true vipers. This melanin deposit helps to block visible and ultraviolet light from harming the internal systems and prevents detoxification of the venom itself. That is some advanced evolution!
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