Page 13 - World of Animals - Deadly Predators

Surprising predators

Mongoose Some mongoose species live

in packs, setting lookouts
for predators
Feisty fox-faced hunters

Primarily found across Africa and India, these little
burrow-digging, foxy-looking mammals may look quite
cute and cuddly, but they’re feisty hunters. They’re not
too fussy about what to eat, and will make meals out
of reptiles, insects, worms and rodents. Also, like their
cousin the honey badger, they’re totally happy to take
on venomous snakes.
Immune to cobra venom in small doses, the
mongoose and the king cobra are each other’s prey.
Mongooses are super agile and wily, able to easily
avoid the lightning-fast strike of a snake. They have
sharp teeth and quick wits – essential tools for making
snakes into supper.
Mongooses are also one of the first animals to
show social learning. They are creative hunters and
will smash eggs on rocks to get the good stuff within.
Adolescent mongooses are known to show pups how
this is done, one of the first examples of ‘knowledge
sharing’ in its rawest form in the animal kingdom.

Northern short-tailed shrew

These little rodents have a surprising trick up their sleeves when it comes to the hunt

At first glance, it wouldn’t appear that these venomous saliva. These tiny animals lack to sense their environment and track down
little fluffy rodents are at all predatory. the hollow teeth that snakes use to deliver some tasty morsels.
Looking much like moles with velvety venom, and so a toxin is mixed with their This species of shrew is a particularly
fur but with a long, pointed snout, this saliva that means a shrew bite can take voracious predator thanks to its almost
particular species is thought to be the most down an animal much larger than itself. insatiable appetite. This little critter feeds
numerous mammal in North America. They With poor eyesight but the next meal on birds, lizards, other rodents and snakes
live in damp, woody habitats and use their always on the horizon, the short-tailed shew and needs to devour and metabolise up to
large front claws for burrowing through must use its other senses to seek out prey three-times their body weight each day.
leaves. So far, so normal. But a quick trip for its meal. They have a highly developed In winter when pickings are slim, the
to YouTube will show you a whole host of sense of touch, and some experts believe shrew can stockpile prey thanks to its
contrary evidence. A sort of David-and- that shrews may also be able to use toxicity. Delivering a bite to prey can
Goliath phenomenon, there’s clip upon another super-sense with which to hunt: paralyse it and yet keep it alive, which
clip of these tiny rodents facing off against echolocation. Similar to bats, shrews may let provides the short-tailed shrew with a
all kinds of larger, scarier opponents and out a series of vocalisations that allow them macabre larder full of petrified ready meals.
emerging victorious.
Shrews don’t prey on most of these
creatures, but when they encounter their
own predators in the wild they
stand an excellent chance of
survival thanks to their

The northern short-
tailed shrew is a
solitary creature and
will mark boundaries to
its home range

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