He and some colleagues are working to sequence the entire genome of African crested rats, to try to understand what it is about their biological make up that lets them casually gnaw on such a super-toxic plant. The crested rat, Lophiomys imhausi, is the only mammal known to sequester plant toxins.Found in eastern Africa, this large rodent is thought to defend against predation by coating specialized hairs along its sides with cardenolide toxins from the poison arrow tree, Acokanthera schimperi. By. A study has shed new light on a mysterious and rare rodent, confirming a long-held suspicion that the tiny creature's fur is laced with poison. When their cages were next to each other, though, "they started making these really interesting purring vocalizations that we'd never heard before," says Weinstein. A porcupine-like rat turns its quills into lethal weapons by coating them with a plant toxin, a new study says. (Like all other rodents, they are incapable of vomiting.). An African crested rat, Lophiomys imhausi, chews the poisonous Acokanthera tree and applies it to its fur So that information has been sort of circulating around for a very long time," says Sara Weinstein, a researcher with the Smithsonian Institution and the University of Utah who has worked with colleagues in Kenya to trap and study the rats. The African crested rat is the only mammal known to sequester plant toxins for chemical defense. "If a dog tried to attack them, the dogs would get sick and die. "As mammologists and biologists, and humans in general, we're obsessed with rare things. A porcupine-like rat turns its quills into lethal weapons by coating them with a plant toxin, a new study says. The New York Times SEPTEMBER 12, 2019 For Poison Dart Frogs, Markings Matter When It Comes to Survival An experiment found that white-striped frogs were less effective at scaring off predators than frogs with yellow stripes. But these creatures are real, and scientists now say they are also unexpectedly affectionate—at least with their own kind. Pinterest. A new study discovered an unexpectedly rich social life. Ashok Singh - November 25, 2020. The African crested rat is a rabbit-sized rodent that is the only known mammal to sequester plant toxins as a chemical defense. The African crested rat's fuzzy fur has hairs loaded with a poison that can purportedly fell an elephant. About sharing. The African crested rat's fuzzy fur has hairs loaded with a poison that can purportedly fell an elephant. A study has shed new light on a mysterious and rare rodent, confirming a long-held suspicion that the tiny creature's fur is laced with poison.The study of the The African crested rat sequesters poisons from Acokanthera schimperi into specialized hairs, shown here alongside typical hairs. But these rats turn out to be social, affectionate creatures. The African crested rat gnaws on poisonous tree branches, then grooms its noxious spittle into its fur. To would-be predators, the African crested rat, Lophiomys imhausi, is trouble. The rodents chew on the bark and leaves of the highly toxic poison arrow tree (Acokanthera schimperi) before transferring a mixture of toxins and saliva specifically to the lateral lines of fur on their flanks. The African crested rat (Lophiomys imhausi) slathers its fur in a deadly toxin. Stephanie Higgins Share. Credit: Sara B. Weinstein. Scientists still aren’t sure how often the rats anoint, or even how they tolerate the toxins themselves, especially if some of it ends up going down their gullets. When ripe they are sweet but also slightly bitter. A giant rodent known as the African crested rat is, despite its adorable appearance, deadly. It’s not for nutrition. The African crested rat - also known as the maned rat - is normally a rather unassuming and sluggish creature. They dwell in forested areas on the eastern side of the continent, and people there have long known … It’s not for nutrition. "This latest paper is a very nice piece of work," says Jonathan Kingdon, a zoologist at the University of Oxford who led the team that first observed a rat chewing bark and applying poison. Abstract. Give them a chance and African crested rats will take nibbles from the branch of a poison arrow tree. hide caption. ", The African crested rat sequesters poisons from Acokanthera schimperi into specialized hairs, shown here alongside typical hairs. It's felled more than a few hungry dogs over the years. Twitter. First documented in the scientific literature in 1867, the rarely-glimpsed African crested rat “has captured so much interest for so long,” said Kwasi Wrensford, a behavioral ecologist at the University of California, Berkeley who wasn’t involved in the study. The crested rat actively transfers poison onto its fur in the form of cardiac glycosides. Abstract. Published. The ritual transforms the rats into the world’s only known toxic rodents, and ranks them among the few mammals that borrow poisons from plants. The African crested rat's fuzzy fur has hairs loaded with a poison that can purportedly fell an elephant. But these creatures are real, and scientists now say they are also unexpectedly affectionate—at least with their own kind. To would-be predators, the African crested rat, Lophiomys imhausi, is trouble. But these rats turn out to be social, affectionate creatures. Research collaboration confirms that African crested rats, L. imhausi, not only store poison as a protective mechanism, but appear to be resistant to the toxins themselves. Give them an opportunity, and African crested rats will take nibbles from the department of a poison arrow tree. A poisonous rat that licks deadly toxins onto its own fur sounds like some kind of made-up nightmare species. That's been known since 2011, when a team of researchers reported that they had captured a crested rat and offered it a branch from the local Acokanthera schimperi tree, which is also known as the "poison arrow tree." Crested rats do not produce their own poison like the duck billed platypus, which has a poisonous spur on its hind foot, or Solenodon shrews which make poisonous saliva. ", Sara Weinstein/Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. Like a skunk, these creatures have black and white markings that may serve as a warning. In various parts of East Africa lives a black-and-white striped rodent, the African crested rat, Lophiomys imhausi. The African crested rat sequesters poisons from Acokanthera schimperi into specialized hairs, shown here alongside typical hairs. That structure appears to let the hairs act like a sponge for absorbing poison, which the rat obtains from a plant and deliberately applies to its own body. The African crested rat is the only mammal known to sequester plant toxins for chemical defense. For a rodent that resembles a child who loves skunk and steel wool brushes. ", Ferguson says this rat has long been almost "mythical, in that it's eluded our understanding, and there's been speculation. People in East Africa have long known about the crested rat’s poisonous punch, which has felled many an overcurious dog. But these creatures are real, and scientists now say they are also unexpectedly affectionate—at least with their own kind. The maned rat or (African) crested rat (Lophiomys imhausi) is a nocturnal, long-haired and bushy-tailed East African rodent that superficially resembles a porcupine. In 2011, a team of researchers described the heart-stopping toxins that the rats milked from Acokanthera schimperi, a tree traditionally harvested by hunters who would use its juices to lace their arrows. "A lot of that is fluff. The animals don't look at all like a typical city rat. A pair of African crested rats. A poisonous rat that licks deadly toxins onto its own fur sounds like some kind of made-up nightmare species. The African crested rat (Lophiomys imhaus i) is hardly the continent’s most fearsome-looking creature—the rabbit-sized rodent resembles a gray puffball crossed with a skunk—yet its fur is packed with a poison so lethal it can fell an elephant, and just a few milligrams can kill a human. "This thing is unique," notes Ferguson. Rat-shaped little cows. The research team eventually managed to trap and observe 25 rats. These spongy hairs include a poison highly effective sufficient to deliver an elephant to its knees, and are central to Dr. Weinstein’s latest analysis, which confirmed concepts about how this rat makes itself so lethal. “The monkeys, I think, were equally disappointed,” Dr. Weinstein said. A poisonous rat that licks deadly toxins onto its own fur sounds like some kind of made-up nightmare species. They dwell in forested areas on the eastern side of the continent, and people there have long known to steer clear of these elusive black and white rodents. But only one crested rat, held in captivity, was observed engaging in these slathering shenanigans in the 2011 paper, raising the possibility that the behavior had been a fluke. 3 August 2011. The African crested rat (Lophiomys imhausi) is hardly the continent’s most fearsome-looking creature—the rabbit-sized rodent resembles a gray puffball crossed with a skunk—yet its fur is packed with a poison so lethal it can fell an elephant and just a few milligrams can kill a human. As if the idea of giant rats wasn’t freaky enough, a group of scientists have confirmed that the African crested rat, a rabbit-sized rodent, can lace its fur with poison … It’s not for nutrition. A new study discovered an unexpectedly rich social life. WhatsApp. The discovery thrilled mammologists. While doing field work in Kenya, Dr. Weinstein was horrified when a gang of monkeys broke into her lab and absconded with some of the team’s crested rat fecal samples. Facebook. By Rebecca Morelle Science reporter, BBC News . They're much thicker than normal hairs, says Weinstein, "and they've got this really interesting honeycomb structure. They dwell in forested areas on the eastern side of the continent, and people there have long known to steer clear of these elusive black and white rodents. When cornered, they fluff up the fur along their backs into a tip-frosted mohawk, revealing rows of black-and-white bands that run like racing stripes down their flanks — and, at their center, a thicket of specialized brown hairs with a honeycomb-like texture. By. close. A 2011 paper proposed these large rodents sequester toxins from the poison arrow tree (Acokanthera schimperi). The scientists watched as the rat chewed on the bark, mixing it with saliva. The crested rat, Lophiomys imhausi, is the only mammal known to sequester plant toxins.Found in eastern Africa, this large rodent is thought to defend against predation by coating specialized hairs along its sides with cardenolide toxins from the poison arrow tree, Acokanthera schimperi. It contains a toxin purportedly potent enough to kill an elephant, when applied to an arrow head. The African crested rat may look adorable, but its fur is packed with enough poison to fell an elephant and just a few milligrams can kill a human. Lophiomys data is apparently precious to simians other than humans as well. The scientists had assumed these rats lived solitary lives, since they're rarely seen and usually seen alone. In the Journal of Mammalogy, they say about half of them chewed on the tree branches and applied poison to their hair. For a rodent that resembles the love child of a skunk and a steel wool brush, the African crested rat carries itself with a surprising amount of swagger. “If a dog tried to attack them, the dogs would get sick and die. By talking with locals that still use the poison arrow tree sap on their arrows, researchers learned that the compounds are extremely stable. From that point forward, if they trapped an animal in one location, they'd set up other traps to try to trap more—and they often did. But now we're finally trying to get at what really goes on with this rat.". For all their toxic toughness, though, the rats seem to enjoy surprisingly heartwarming private lives. African crested rat uses poison trick to foil predators. The African crested rat was long thought to be solitary. Photo by Sara B. Weinstein. Give them a chance and African crested rats will take nibbles from the branch of a poison arrow tree. If it applies to these rats, “that could be very exciting.” But more research will be needed to confirm the rats’ familial fidelity, he said. Give them an opportunity, and African crested rats will take nibbles from the department of a poison arrow tree. Give them a chance and African crested rats will take nibbles from the branch of a poison arrow tree. In sharp contrast to most of their skittish rodent kin, Lophiomys imhausi lumber about with the languidness of porcupines. They also wanted to check to see if this rat's health really was unaffected by this poison. The African crested rat gnaws on poisonous tree branches, then grooms its noxious spittle into its fur. Weinstein and her colleagues wanted to confirm that this unusual behavior seen in a single rat was, in fact, widespread in this species. To would-be predators, the African crested rat, Lophiomys imhausi, is trouble. For a rodent that resembles a … It’s not for vitamin. Microscopic image of the specialized hairs that the African crested rat anoints with poison from Acokanthera schimperi. Stephanie Higgins Instead, the African crested rat will gnaw on branches of poison arrow trees, and then coat its fur with the poison, becoming truly toxic in the process. Intriguingly, those flanks have rows of weird hairs. Instead, they will chew chunks of the plants and spit them back out into their fur, anointing themselves with a form of chemical armor that most likely protects them from predators like hyenas and wild dogs. The African crested rat (Lophiomys imhausi) slathers its fur in a deadly toxin. The African crested rat (Lophiomys imhaus i) is hardly the continent’s most fearsome-looking creature—the rabbit-sized rodent resembles a gray puffball crossed with a skunk—yet its fur is packed with a poison so lethal it can fell an elephant, and just a few milligrams can kill a human. The African crested rat (Lophiomys imhausi) is hardly the continent's most fearsome-looking creature—the rabbit-sized rodent resembles a gray puffball crossed with a … The African crested rat is the only mammal known to sequester lethal plant toxins. An undated photo provided by Stephanie Higgins shows an African crested rat. It is the only known rodent species to do this, and one of the very few mammals that use poison found in plants for defensive purposes. 1. “That’s not what they were hoping was in there.”, This Rat Covers Itself With Poison That Can Take Out an Elephant. To would-be predators, the African crested rat, Lophiomys imhausi, is trouble. Twitter. Then they happened to trap a male and a female rat living in the same area. “We’re now just starting to unpack what makes this animal tick.”. Copy link. 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