Russian desman
Quick Summary
The Russian desman (Desmana moschata) is an amphibious mammal native to Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan. It resembles a muskrat and is characterized by a flexible, grooved snout, tiny eyes, and no external ears. Its fur is dense and water-repellent, and its tail is flattened horizontally with scent glands at the base that emit a strong musky odor.1
These nocturnal animals inhabit unpolluted lakes, ponds, and slow-moving streams. They swim using their hind feet and tail, probing the bottom with their snouts for insects, crustaceans, mollusks, fish, and amphibians. Dens are built in stream banks or lake margins with underwater entrances leading to nest chambers above water level. Populations have declined due to trapping, water pollution, and competition from introduced species.1
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