Category: Mammals
The Eastern cottontail is one of the most common and widespread species of rabbit in North America. They prefer to live in meadows and shrubby areas with abundant green grasses and herbs. They do not dig their own burrows, but may use the underground dens of other animals. They are most active during times of limited visibility, such as foggy or rainy nights.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_cottontail
The age-defying Brandt’s bat
In most mammals, larger size correlates with longer lifespan, but that is not the case with the Brandt’s bat, who can live up to 41 years and weigh less than 0.28 ounces! These bats resemble larger, longer-lived mammals in that they mature slowly and have fewer offspring – but the size difference is dramatic: a female Bonobo lives for approximately 40 years as well, but she outweighs the Brandt’s bat by a factor of 3,771! Oddly enough, it is suspected that the mutated gene that causes the bat’s dwarfish size is the same one that leads to its long lifespan. Studying animals with unusual longevity like the Brandt’s bat does more than just satisfy our curiosity, it could lead to longer, healthier lifespans for humans and other animals!
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Discover Animals is a web-based educational resource offered by the NAIA
