iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Lennie Ghiottona @weaselbonez.bsky.social · 25/10/2025

🩸 Vampire Goth Mongoose Adopt 🧛 BTA to help pay for my dog’s recent vet visit! bid here or on toyhouse toyhou.se/35844587.vam... #adopt #adoptable #furry #furryadopt #furryadoptable #furrybta #anthro #anthroadopt #anthroadoptable

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Lennie Ghiottona @weaselbonez.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

🦴 Cowboy Gila Monster BTA 🏜️ BTA to help pay for my dog’s recent vet visit! bid here or on toyhouse toyhou.se/35794674.cow... #adopt #adoptable #furry #furryadopt #furryadoptable #furrybta #anthro #anthroadopt #anthroadoptable

traditional cowboy/vaquero purple and orange gila monster with a skeleton horse

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Lennie Ghiottona @weaselbonez.bsky.social · 20/10/2025

⚡️ Lightning Tenrec Adopt ⚡️ BTA to help pay for my dog’s recent vet visit! bid here or on toyhouse toyhou.se/35766870.lig... #adopt #adoptable #furry #furryadopt #furryadoptable #furrybta #anthro #anthroadopt #anthroadoptable

a lightning-themed lowland streaked tenrec which channels electricity through their quills, wearing a tank top, leather pants and boots, and fingerless gloves

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Lennie Ghiottona @weaselbonez.bsky.social · 19/10/2025

long time no see! bluesky was broken for me for a while :p new adopt to help pay for my dog’s recent vet visit! bid here or on toyhouse toyhou.se/35731730.erm... #adopt #adoptable #furry #furryadopt #furryadoptable #furrybta #anthro #anthroadopt #anthroadoptable

long-tailed weasel spirit in white ermine coat with red accents, has wings and antlers, and is wearing a gothic white cloak, holly berries, and chains

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Lennie Ghiottona @weaselbonez.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

FINISHED! Barbourofelis fricki, polymer clay sculpture. 13+ hours of work… fully hand-made! this sculpture is for sale here! ko-fi.com/s/0f5a3e3e75... #barbourofelis #sabertooth #paleoart #paleontology #animalart #wildlifeart #extinct #prehistoric

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Lennie Ghiottona @weaselbonez.bsky.social · 29/08/2025

wip, got some things to do so i may or may not finish this in the next few days. chapalmalania altaefrontis, giant “raccoon!” #chapalmalania #procyonidae #cenozoic #paleoart #paleontology #animalart #wildlifeart

work-in-progress chapalmalania altaefrontis, a very large, bear-like extinct relative of raccoons. lined but yet to be colored

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Lennie Ghiottona @weaselbonez.bsky.social · 28/08/2025

Colombian Weasel (Neogale felipei) photos.google.com/share/AF1Qip... #colombianweasel #weasel #mustelid #mustelidae #animal #wildlife

a very rare, fairly large weasel. very similar to closely related amazon weasel but slightly darker. it has dark brown, nearly black fur, with a buff yellowish-orange underside. down the middle of the underside is often a stripe or irregular splotches of the same color as the dorsal fur. like other weasels, it has a long body and short ears and legs. the tail is very slightly bushy.

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Lennie Ghiottona @weaselbonez.bsky.social · 28/08/2025

Amazon Weasel (Neogale africana) photos.google.com/share/AF1Qip... #amazonweasel #weasel #mustelid #mustelidae #animal #wildlife

a very rare weasel; only one live specimen has been recorded so far. it is a fairly large weasel with dark reddish-brown fur and a buff-yellowish underside. the chin may be whitish. down the middle of the underside is a thick stripe the same color as the dorsal fur. it is very similar in appearance to the closely related colombian weasel, but slightly lighter in color.

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Lennie Ghiottona @weaselbonez.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

Back-striped Weasel (Mustela strigidorsa) photos.google.com/share/AF1Qip... #backstripedweasel #weasel #mustelid #mustelidae #animal #wildlife

back-striped weasel, a small brown weasel with a thin white stripe down its back. the chin and underside are yellowish, sometimes whitish. like other weasels, it has a long body and short legs and ears. its tail is somewhat bushy.

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Lennie Ghiottona @weaselbonez.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

Haida Ermine (Mustela haidarum) (warning, contains photos of dead animals) photos.google.com/share/AF1Qip... #haidaermine #haidastoat #stoat #ermine #weasel #mustelid #mustelidae #animal #wildlife

haida ermine in winter coat; pure white except for a black tail tip. during the summer, it is brown with a white underside and same black tail tip. all three stoat species have this same general coloration including seasonal color change, but the haida ermine appears to have a slightly darker summer coat, and comparatively slightly shorter tail. the three species are morphologically very similar; the haida ermine is officially distinguished mostly by the elongated skull in its morphology. it is thought to be a result of hybrid speciation between the eurasian and american ermines. like other weasels, it has a long body and short legs. photographs of its summer coat seem to currently only be of deceased specimens.

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Lennie Ghiottona @weaselbonez.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

Hairy-nosed Otter (Lutra sumatrana) photos.google.com/share/AF1Qip... #hairynosedotter #otter #mustelid #mustelidae #animal #wildlife

hairy-nosed otter, a rare otter species known for lacking a nose pad; the area is instead covered with very short fur. like other otters, it has a long body, short legs, small ears, webbed feet, muscular tail, and short, dense fur. it is brown with a slightly lighter chin and throat and usually a white patch on the throat, as well as white lips.

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Lennie Ghiottona @weaselbonez.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

Bornean Ferret-badger (Melogale everetti) photos.google.com/share/AF1Qip... #borneanferretbadger #ferretbadger #mustelid #mustelidae #animal #wildlife

bornean ferret-badger, a species of mustelid of the genus melogale known for their elongated snouts and bushy tails. this species has extensive white or yellowish markings and underside, and a whitish fade at the tip of the tail. the rest of its fur is greyish-brown. like other ferret-badgers, it has a long body and short legs. aside from the vietnam ferret-badger, the ferret-badger species look very similar and are difficult to distinguish by appearance alone.

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Lennie Ghiottona @weaselbonez.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

Vietnam Ferret-badger (Melogale cucphuongensis) (warning, contains photos of dead animals) photos.google.com/share/AF1Qip... #vietnamferretbadger #ferretbadger #mustelid #mustelidae #animal #wildlife

vietnam ferret-badger, a unique species of ferret-badger with little to almost no white patches on the face and a mostly uniform brown color. the underside may be slightly yellowish. like other ferret-badgers, it has a long snout and bushy tail, and a long body with short legs. this animal is extremely rare; only two deceased specimens are known

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Lennie Ghiottona @weaselbonez.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

Patagonian Weasel (Lyncodon patagonicus) photos.google.com/share/AF1Qip... #patagonianweasel #weasel #mustelid #mustelidae #animal #wildlife

patagonian weasel, a small weasel with a grey or brown back and black underside. a thick white band runs across the forehead and down the neck. the top of the head is dark. the ears are very small and the tail is somewhat short for a weasel. like other weasels, its body is long and its legs are short

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Lennie Ghiottona @weaselbonez.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

African Striped Weasel (Poecilogale albinucha) photos.google.com/share/AF1Qip... #africanstripedweasel #mustelid #mustelidae #animal #wildlife #weasel

african striped weasel, a small weasel with a black base coat and white stripes resembling a skunk. the tail is long, white, and somewhat bushy. like other weasels, it has a long body and short ears and legs

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Lennie Ghiottona @weaselbonez.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

(thread) if it interests anyone i compiled a few photo albums of the rarer mustelids that are currently lacking in photos. mostly tried to keep it to color photos of live animals but a few do have mostly or only dead specimens. if you have more images please send them to me! #mustelid #mustelidae

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Lennie Ghiottona @weaselbonez.bsky.social · 22/08/2025

i remembered i can post sketches and wips. paleogale sp., i do plan to line and color soon #paleontology #paleoart #animalart #wildlifeart #paleogale #feliformia #carnivora

a reddish-tinted sketch of a paleogale sp., a small, genet-like animal and early feliform carnivoran

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Lennie Ghiottona @weaselbonez.bsky.social · 18/08/2025

Mammal of the Day 211: Greater False Vampire Bat (Lyroderma lyra) Family: Megadermatidae Order: Chiroptera Infraclass: Placental Conservation Status: Least Concern

a small bat with large ears and a tall, prominent nose leaf. its eyes are fairly large and snout round and blunt. it is shiny brownish-grey with a lighter underside. like all bats, it has arms and fingers elongated and modified into wings with thin skin stretched between the digits and connecting to the legs. the feet are positioned backward to allow the bat to hang from surfaces. it is nocturnal and hypercarnivorous, preying on various small animals, including other bats. it hunts both by actively searching for prey and waiting in ambush. it tends to fly low to the ground or water in search of prey. it may or may not use echolocation to find prey. despite its name, it is not a true vampire bat (subfamily desmodontinae of family phyllostomidae), and does not suck or actively seek blood so much as meat. they are solitary, though females will bring small pups on their hunting trips to keep them supervised.

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Lennie Ghiottona @weaselbonez.bsky.social · 18/08/2025

big cat adopts! $10-$15 each, offer here or on toyhouse :) toyhou.se/34733952.big... #furryadopt #furryadoptable #bigcat #snowleopard #jaguar #furryart

two big cat character designs, a blue snow leopard and a red jaguar

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Lennie Ghiottona @weaselbonez.bsky.social · 17/08/2025

Mammal of the Day 210: Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) Family: Manidae Order: Pholidota Infraclass: Placental Conservation Status: Critically Endangered

though it resembles an anteater, the chinese pangolin and other pangolins are not closely related to anteaters; instead their closest living relatives are the carnivorans (dogs, cats, bears, seals, weasels, etc.) it has an elongated snout, very small ears, a long semi-prehensile tail, and large digging claws. like other pangolins, it is covered in keratin “scales,” modified, hardened and flattened hairs which serve as protection against predators. the chinese pangolin can typically be distinguished by its dark scales and pale skin. when threatened, it may roll into a ball, covering its soft underside and leaving predators only with hard scales that are difficult to penetrate. it may also release an unpleasant odor from its anal scent glands, similar to carnivorans such as skunks and various other animals. it is semi-arboreal, and uses its excellent sense of smell to locate ants and termites, which comprise its diet almost exclusively. it digs them from mounds and rotting logs, and while it does not have teeth, it has a long, sticky tongue used to collect its prey. when the claws are not in use, the animal walks on its knuckles to avoid self-injury. as with all pangolins, the chinese pangolin is threatened with extinction due to illegal poaching for the scales, used in traditional medicines. this has led them to become the world’s currently most trafficked mammals. while conservation efforts are adamant, pangolins are difficult to breed and sustain in captivity and the chinese pangolin currently remains critically endangered. the newly recognized indo-burmese pangolin, previously considered a subspecies of the chinese pangolin, is now elevated to distinct species status, which further reduces the number of known living chinese pangolins.

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Lennie Ghiottona @weaselbonez.bsky.social · 16/08/2025

Mammal of the Day 209: Spotted Linsang (Prionodon pardicolor) Family: Prionodontidae Order: Carnivora Infraclass: Placental Conservation Status: Least Concern

a small, elusive animal resembling a genet, or somewhat of a cross between a cat and a weasel. while linsangs were formerly considered part of the family viverridae, which includes civets, genets, and oyans, and were considered close relatives of the oyans, recent research now considers them a separate family and most closely related to cats. the spotted linsang is small, slender, and has a very elongated neck, body, and tail. the eyes and ears are fairly large. the claws are retractable, although while the forefeet have bony claw sheaths, the hind feet sheath the claws simply with folds of skin. unlike cats, they are plantigrade and walk flat on their soles, rather than on the toes. it is yellowish in color with many large, solid dark spots and a ringed tail. it is similar to the closely related banded linsang, but the spots on the back do not connect to form bands, and it generally lacks the dark “mask” marking on the face, although “tear marks” are present. it is a solitary, semi-arboreal, typically nocturnal predator of small prey such as rodents, frogs, and snakes, and may also feed on carrion.

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Lennie Ghiottona @weaselbonez.bsky.social · 16/08/2025

Mammal of the Day 208: Brown-eared Woolly Opossum (Caluromys lanatus) Family: Didelphidae Order: Didelphimorphia Infraclass: Marsupial Conservation Status: Least Concern

a fairly small opossum, recognizable by the striking orange-copper tone of its dense fur. it is named for its hairless brown inner ears. its eyes are large and orange-brown. the tail is bare at the distal third, and black and white in splotches that vary by individual. the fur is primarily orange-copper dorsally, and grey ventrally. orange stripes run from the snout across the eyes to the ears on each side of the head, separated by grey on each side. the middle grey section is further divided by a thin, dark dorsal stripe. coloration of subspecies may vary; some may be paler or greyer, and some have darker brown eye stripes and lack tail splotches. like other opossums, it is semi-arboreal, omnivorous, and typically nocturnal. it wraps its long, prehensile tail around branches to prevent falls. it feeds primarily on fruits, nectar, and small animals. like most marsupials, females birth premature young that continue their development inside her pouch until they are too large to fit, however, this pouch only develops when the female becomes pregnant.

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Lennie Ghiottona @weaselbonez.bsky.social · 16/08/2025

Mammal of the Day 207: Eastern Barred Bandicoot (Perameles gunnii) Family: Peramelidae Order: Peramelemorphia Infraclass: Marsupial Conservation Status: Vulnerable

a fairly small marsupial somewhat resembling a long-nosed rat. it has an elongated snout, erect ears, a hairless tail, and digits reduced in a hoof-like manner, though retaining long, sharp claws rather than actual hooves. it is recognizable by its namesake “barred” pattern, alternating light and dark bands on each side of the rump. this is similar to the western barred bandicoot, but typically clearer in the eastern species, which may also have an extra band. the pattern is most prominent in juveniles. it is otherwise light brown with a darker back, greyish face, and white underside. like other bandicoots, it is nocturnal and omnivorous, feeding primarily on invertebrates and occasionally on small vertebrates and roots and tubers opportunistically. like most other marsupials, females birth premature young which continue their development inside her pouch until they are too large to fit. the pouch is backward-opening; as a digging animal, this helps to prevent dirt from entering the pouch. it has one of the shortest gestation periods of any mammal, at only 12 days. it is solitary and adults only briefly associate to mate.

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Lennie Ghiottona @weaselbonez.bsky.social · 16/08/2025

Mammal of the Day 206: Dusky Antechinus (Antechinus swainsonii) Family: Dasyuridae Order: Dasyuromorphia Infraclass: Marsupial Conservation Status: Least Concern

a small, shrew-like, carnivorous marsupial. it has an elongated snout, fairly small ears, and a long, nearly bare tail. its fur is grizzled brown. it is the largest member of its genus. it primarily feeds on invertebrates, but will also occasionally prey on small reptiles. it is nocturnal, but may also occasionally be active during the day. it appears to be more vocal than other antechinuses. like all antechinuses, females are only fertile for a short period of time, in which the males mate with as many as they can. as the males devote all their energy to mating during this time, the body becomes overworked, and nearly all of the males die. the species is not endangered; many young are birthed to ensure the species’ survival. unlike most other marsupials, the female does not bear a complete pouch, only a fold of skin that covers the young while they suckle. the joeys are still born in an underdeveloped state as in most other marsupials.

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Lennie Ghiottona @weaselbonez.bsky.social · 16/08/2025

Mammal of the Day 205: Plush-coated Ringtail Possum (Pseudochirops corinnae) Family: Pseudocheiridae Order: Diprotodontia Infraclass: Marsupial Conservation Status: Near Threatened

a marsupial with a short, round head, stout body, and namesake long, prehensile tail that often curls into a ring. this species is named for its particularly soft, dense fur. its head is greyish, chin white, body brown, and underside yellowish. a dark dorsal stripe runs from the top of the head down the back. its ears are fairly small, and eyes large and brown. like its close relatives, it feeds almost exclusively on leaves. it is nocturnal and arboreal, using its prehensile tail to remain stable while climbing. it is among the minority of marsupial species not solely endemic to oceania, although it is found in papua new guinea. it is also found in indonesia and the solomon islands.

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Lennie Ghiottona @weaselbonez.bsky.social · 15/08/2025

Mammal of the Day 204: Southern Tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla) Family: Myrmecophagidae Order: Pilosa Infraclass: Placental Conservation Status: Least Concern

a fairly small anteater, very similar to its close relative, the northern tamandua. while the southern tamandua can be distinguished by its more varied prominence of the black “vest” marking on the chest and back, some southern tamanduas do have a full dark marking covering the back and chest and are very difficult to physically distinguish from northern tamanduas. the rest of the fur is pale yellowish or beige. the ears and face are dark. like other anteaters, it has an elongated snout and lacks teeth, but has a very long, sticky tongue used to collect its prey, almost exclusively ants and termites. it has large, sharp claws which it uses to dig its prey out of mounds and rotting logs. it walks on its knuckles to avoid injuring itself with the claws. it is semi-arboreal, and uses its semi-prehensile tail to grip tree branches to prevent itself from falling. when threatened, it rears onto its hind legs and splays its arms, clearly displaying its sharp claws that can slash at and severely injure or even kill predators. it may also release a pungent odor like that of a skunk, but apparently up to 7 times stronger. they are not typically aggressive, but are solitary, although in captivity they seem to do best in pairs. in the wild they are able to live alongside giant anteaters, avoiding competition likely by feeding on insects in trees and other vegetation as well as ground insects, while the giant anteater feeds only on ground insects.

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Lennie Ghiottona @weaselbonez.bsky.social · 15/08/2025

not sure if the gifs will stay working when i post this but if not view them (and all other info) here: toyhou.se/19692587.com... $28 each! comment here or on toyhouse with the form filled to claim #furryart #furrycommissions #commissionsopen #ych

pixel glitter gif of a brown striped skunk. character belongs to thetrickster on toyhouse

pixel glitter gif of a pink golden-crowned sifaka. character belongs to poprawk on toyhouse

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Lennie Ghiottona @weaselbonez.bsky.social · 12/08/2025

thylacosmilus atrox (thylacosmilidae, sparassodonta) the weirdest sabertooth! #thylacosmilus #sparassodonta #paleoart #paleontology #animalart #sabertooth

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Lennie Ghiottona @weaselbonez.bsky.social · 10/08/2025

all the extinct mustelids i could find decent enough skeletal reference for #mustelidae #paleoart #paleontology #animalart

7 extinct species of mustelid:

1. Megalictis ferox
2. Ekorus ekakeran
3. Eomellivora wimani
4. Sthenictis sp. (based on an unassigned specimen)
5. Enhydritherium terraenovae
6. Plesiogulo brachygnathus
7. Teruelictis riparius

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Lennie Ghiottona @weaselbonez.bsky.social · 10/08/2025

Mammal of the Day 203: Southern Long-nosed Armadillo (Dasypus hybridus) Family: Dasypodidae Order: Cingulata Infraclass: Placental Conservation Status: Near Threatened

a long-nosed armadillo, typical of its genus, though among the smallest; about rat-sized. it has an elongated snout, erect ears, a long tail, large, sharp digging claws, and a protective bony carapace on the back and scutes on its face, legs and tail. 6-7, sometimes 8 bands are present in the center of the carapace. it has little fur; only some sparse brown hairs are found on the underside. it is often dark or beige with discoloration on the scutes. the “hog-nosed” snout allows it to root for small animal and invertebrate prey in the soil. it cannot completely roll itself into a ball like three-banded armadillos, but its carapace serves as defense against predators by being too hard and thick to penetrate. it tucks the underside of its body under itself to protect the softer, vulnerable underside. it rests in burrows to avoid heat and predators, and lines it with vegetation, as well as creating a nest inside. some authorities consider it a subspecies of the seven-banded armadillo.

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Lennie Ghiottona @weaselbonez.bsky.social · 10/08/2025

Mammal of the Day 202: Rufous Elephant Shrew (Galegeeska rufescens) Family: Macroscelididae Order: Macroscelidea Infraclass: Placental Conservation Status: Least Concern

a small animal resembling a mouse with an elongated snout, but is instead more closely related to afrotherians such as tenrecs, aardvarks, and even actual elephants and manatees. the ears are erect and hairless, and the eyes large. the snout is long and flexible for foraging. the hind feet are elongated and allow the animal to hop bipedally for short distances. the fur is brown with a white underside and legs; young have brown legs. the eyes are surrounded by white rings and a rufous stripe cutting through the middle. the back fur has a rufous fade. it is fairly monogamous and females dominant, but it is also mostly solitary and mated pairs interact little. it does not create or live in burrows, but carries out daily activities in trails made in leaf litter. only foraging takes place outside these trails, and mated pairs defend the territory. mothers do not spend much time with their young, though they will occasionally exchange scent marks for identification. this species feeds primarily on insects during the dry season and seeds during the wet season. it is skittish and quick to flee at the slightest possibility of danger.

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Lennie Ghiottona @weaselbonez.bsky.social · 08/08/2025

Mammal of the Day 201: Rough-haired Golden Mole (Chrysospalax villosus) Family: Chrysochloridae Order: Afrosoricida Infraclass: Placental Conservation Status: Vulnerable

a species of golden mole with dense, coarse, shiny brown fur. lighter patches are present on the cheeks. like other golden moles, its appearance is strikingly similar to the true moles of family talpidae, but it is far from closely related; golden moles are most closely related to tenrecs and otter shrews, and even elephants and manatees. they have a rotund body without external eyes, ears, and tail, a large round nose, and large feet equipped with massive digging claws. as blind fossorial animals, they have convergently evolved a similar appearance to true moles. they are rarely found above ground. this species presumably feeds mainly on invertebrates such as worms, like its closest relatives, tunneling after them. they also burrow to avoid heat and predators.

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Lennie Ghiottona @weaselbonez.bsky.social · 08/08/2025

Mammal of the Day 200: Nicobar Treeshrew (Tupaia nicobarica) Family: Tupaiidae Order: Scandentia Infraclass: Placental Conservation Status: Endangered

a treeshrew with a dark back and brownish head and tail. its face is paler beige. like all tupaiids, it resembles a sort of cross between a squirrel and anteater, but instead treeshrews are the closest living relatives of primates along with colugos. they have elongated snouts, long bushy tails, small human-like ears, and sharp front teeth. they are typically at least semi-arboreal. presumably this species feeds on insects, fruits and nectar like its closest relatives.

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Lennie Ghiottona @weaselbonez.bsky.social · 07/08/2025

Mammal of the Day 199: Red-tailed Sportive Lemur (Lepilemur ruficaudatus) Family: Lepilemuridae Order: Primates Infraclass: Placental Conservation Status: Critically Endangered

a small, primarily nocturnal strepsirrhine primate named for its long, copper-reddish tail. this color is also present on the forelimbs. it has large eyes, a blunt snout, somewhat large ears on the sides of the head, and dexterous limbs and feet as an arboreal species. its eyes are brown, and its fur greyish-brown with a darker face and back and reddish forelimbs. the underside is light grey. it mates in pairs; presumably for life, as a relatively inactive species, likely due to the low-nutritional-content diet of leaves. it has developed strong escape mechanisms when faced with danger, but does not typically communicate danger calls to conspecifics.

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Lennie Ghiottona @weaselbonez.bsky.social · 07/08/2025

Mammal of the Day 198: Ladak Pika (Ochotona ladacensis) Family: Ochotonidae Order: Lagomorpha Infraclass: Placental Conservation Status: Least Concern

a small, rabbit-like animal. while not part of the true rabbit family, pikas are closely related under the same order. they have shorter, rounder ears than rabbits, and no externally visible tail. this species has light reddish-tan fur, and the skull has a high arch. its large eyes protrude from raised sockets in the skull. like all lagomorphs, it has two pairs of continuously growing incisors, distinguishing them from rodents, which have only one pair. it is herbivorous and feeds on grasses, leaves, flowers, etc., and presumably primarily roots during winter. it digs burrows and lives in territorial family groups; they are occasionally seen fighting over territory by rearing onto their hind legs and pushing the opponent with their forelimbs.

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Lennie Ghiottona @weaselbonez.bsky.social · 06/08/2025

Mammal of the Day 197: Mongolian Three-toed Jerboa (Stylodipus sungorus) Family: Dipodidae Order: Rodentia Infraclass: Placental Conservation Status: Least Concern

illustrated by toni llobet, from “handbook of the mammals of the world, volume 7: rodents II” there are few, if any live photos of this species available online. it is a small, mouse-like animal with significantly elongated hind legs that allow it to move by hopping bipedally. the nose is a “hog-nose” and situated on a blunt snout. the eyes are large. the ears are short but rabbit-like. the tail is very long and tufted at the end. the fur is sandy tan with a white underside. while jerboas do not drink, they get all of their water content from their food. they cannot eat hard seeds, but may eat soft seeds. some species consume small animals and sometimes even other jerboas, but the majority of the diet is plant matter. they prefer wet plants, but if the plant is dry, they will dig up the roots to access the most water content. they are typically nocturnal. they are preyed upon by most predators in the area.

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Lennie Ghiottona @weaselbonez.bsky.social · 06/08/2025

Mammal of the Day 196: White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) Family: Rhinocerotidae Order: Perissodactyla Infraclass: Placental Conservation Status: Near Threatened

a very large, bulky animal; one of the few megafaunal land mammals left on earth, the largest of the living rhinoceros species, and among the largest of living land mammals. it has broad lips which leads it to also be known as the square-lipped rhinoceros. its feet have three large, blunt hooves, the ears small and erect, the tail short and tufted, and two keratin nasal horns present. the furthest horn is larger than the other. the skin, not actually white as the name might suggest, is light grey, typically lighter than that of the black rhinoceros. it is hairless and leathery and in some places, mostly the legs, folds into “plates” to increase surface area for heat dissipation, though some individuals nearly lack these folds. its skull is very large and tall. a herbivore, it grazes primarily on grasses and spends up to half its day doing so. about a third of the day is spent resting and the rest on other activities. often, when available, the rhinos will wallow in mud to cool and therefore the skin often appears to be the color of the local mud and soil. when water is available, they will typically drink twice a day, but can survive four to five days without it. they are social and often form herds of about 14 individuals, mostly mothers and calves. bulls are territorial and often mark territory with urine spraying, horn scraping, etc. and show aggression toward rival males. while they are generally safe from predation due to their size, thick skin, and formidable horns, large groups of lions and hyenas may occasionally attempt to kill weaker or young rhinos. the northern subspecies is critically endangered, possibly extinct in the wild, due to human activity, especially poaching for horns. the southern subspecies also faces some threats; conservation efforts for this species are very active.

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Lennie Ghiottona @weaselbonez.bsky.social · 06/08/2025

Mammal of the Day 195: Wild Bactrian Camel (Camelus ferus) Family: Camelidae Order: Artiodactyla Infraclass: Placental Conservation Status: Critically Endangered

one of three living species of camel; it is distinct from the domestic bactrian camel and not ancestral. it is typically smaller with proportionally smaller humps and a flatter skull. its fur is sandy brown, and very shaggy on the long neck and short tail. it has two humps. the ears are small, and as in all artiodactyls, the feet are hoofed. contrary to popular belief, the humps of camels do not store liquid water, but fat reserves which are used for energy when resources are scarce. nonetheless, it is efficient at conserving water and surviving on very little. it is likely the only mammal in the world that can survive on water saltier than seawater. it is a migratory animal moving in herds of typically 6-20, up to 30, led by an adult male. their habitat consists of arid hills and plains with little water or vegetation, and widely varying temperatures, from 40 to 50 °C (104–122 °F) during summer and as low as −30 °C (−22 °F) during winter. they are well-adapted for this harsh environment, and are also one of the few mammals known to eat snow to gain water. they primarily feed on shrubs, with little else available to eat. the only extant natural predator that regularly hunts these camels is wolves, but humans and climate change pose a significant threat and have caused this species to become critically endangered through poaching and encroachment onto their habitat. some conservation programs have been activated to protect the camel population.

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Lennie Ghiottona @weaselbonez.bsky.social · 04/08/2025

i think these two are fairly simple? rook doesn’t have a good ref yet and merle’s is old (still accurate though) but hopefully their designs are simple enough 👍 thank you for the chance!

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Lennie Ghiottona @weaselbonez.bsky.social · 03/08/2025

headshot/bust commissions OPEN! but only one slot for now! toyhou.se/~bulletins/2... #furry #furryart #furrycommission #commissionsopen

character belongs to mistymel on toyhouse

character belongs to thetrickster on toyhouse

character belongs to timetodance on toyhouse

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Lennie Ghiottona @weaselbonez.bsky.social · 02/08/2025

harpagolestes immanis (mesonychidae, mesonychia) the coloring was a challenge. and i think i made the tail too long, might have preferred a different ear shape too. but i tried, i think it’s okay! #paleoart #paleontology #mesonychia #animalart

two drawings of harpagolestes immanis, a prehistoric hoofed carnivore/scavenger. its appearance is somewhat between a pig, a bull, and a dog. it has greyish-brown mottled fur. one drawing is a full body, the other is a bust, against an abstract greenish shape in the background

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Lennie Ghiottona @weaselbonez.bsky.social · 01/08/2025

Mammal of the Day 194: Star-nosed Mole (Condylura cristata) Family: Talpidae Order: Eulipotyphla Infraclass: Placental Conservation Status: Least Concern

a member of the true mole family talpidae, but unique among moles. like other moles, it is a small, hamster-sized animal with a cylindrical body, extremely small eyes, no external ears, large feet and digging claws, extremely reduced limbs, and an elongated snout. it has a long, sparsely-furred tail. the fur is uniformly brown or grey. the feet are bare and scaley. unlike other moles, its feet are fairly small in comparison, and most strikingly, 22 sensitive, flexible appendages radiate from the nose. while the mole is very much fossorial like its relatives, it is also semi-aquatic, and its unusual nose is adapted to this lifestyle. practically blind, the tendrils are so sensitive that they are nearly the equivalent of the sense of sight in the mole by smell and touch. signals from the tendril allow the mole to gain a clear mental image of its surroundings. under water it is especially useful in navigation and hunting, allowing it even to smell underwater by exhaling and re-inhaling air bubbles emitted onto objects. it is particularly adapted for hunting extremely small prey. the mole can identify and completely consume prey in as little as 120 milliseconds, the world’s fastest eater. it preys primarily on insect larvae and other invertebrates, but will also opportunistically consume small amphibians and fish as well. it itself is preyed upon by most larger predators; it will flee underground or to water when threatened.

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Lennie Ghiottona @weaselbonez.bsky.social · 01/08/2025

Mammal of the Day 193: Peters’s Disk-winged Bat (Thyroptera discifera) Family: Thyropteridae Order: Chiroptera Infraclass: Placental Conservation Status: Least Concern

a very small bat, the smallest in its family. all thyropterids have namesake suction cup-like “disks” on the thumbs, allowing them to easily cling to nearly any surface. t. discifera has thick, light brown fur on the body, but otherwise is bare, like most bats. the skin is deep brown. it has small eyes and fairly large ears. it is very similar to t. tricolor, but t. tricolor has a paler ventrum than dorsum; t. discifera is fairly uniform in color, and also has two cartilaginous projections on the calcar, which t. discifera lacks. like most small bats, it is nocturnal and insectivorous, using echolocation to detect flying insect prey. it roosts in large leaves.

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Lennie Ghiottona @weaselbonez.bsky.social · 01/08/2025

ART FIGHT OVER!! i miss it already… some more attacks i was happy with! first for @coyotesick.bsky.social last for @avanii.bsky.social #artfight #artfight2025 #artfightteamfossils #furryart

bust shot attack on coyote-sick, of Thomas, a vampire red kangaroo with brownish fur and long black hair. blood drips from his fangs as he grimaces. an outline of his skull is overlayed over his face in red. the background is black with a red glow behind him. drawn in a cartoony style with effects reminiscent of 80s cartoons.

full-body revenge on citielights of Laine, a spotted skunk with black and white fur and hair. she is smiling with her tongue out, and holding her hand in a peace sign over her eye. she is wearing a black sweatshirt over a white blouse and a black pleated skirt, and a black and white baseball cap, as well as a crystal necklace. the background is grey with a lighter splatter behind her and darker grey and pink stars. drawn in a cartoony style with effects reminiscent of 80s cartoons.

bust shot revenge on magicdance of Jupiter, a ringtail dressed reminiscent of David Bowie. he has a pink and white striped mullet, and is wearing a blue and orange striped vest and a necklace. he has small hoop earrings and wears an eyepatch over his left eye, which also has a scar over it. he has a snaggle tooth. drawn in an abstract style with bright colors, various shapes, and colorful, contrasting shading. blue and yellow shapes behind him frame him, while the rest of the background is orange and pink radiating lines. drawn in a cartoony style with effects reminiscent of 80s cartoons.

full body attack on Avanii of Pahoehoe Lava, a giant otter made of the same type of lava. she is made of cooled lava rock dorsally, while her underside and eyes are glowing, flowing lava. drawn in a circular ouroboros-like pose, with a flame in the center, on a solid black background. more lava drips from her mouth. drawn in a cartoony style with effects reminiscent of 80s cartoons.

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Lennie Ghiottona @weaselbonez.bsky.social · 01/08/2025

plesiogulo brachygnathus (mustelidae, carnivora) one of several of the world’s former wolverine-like beasts, but larger… imagine living in a time with these! #paleoart #paleontology #plesiogulo #mustelidae #animalart

plesiogulo brachygnathus, a very wolverine-like mustelid. it was formerly thought to be an ancestor to the modern wolverine, but its classification is now less certain. it may still be part of the subfamily guloninae but further from wolverines than previously thought, or may belong to a different, entirely extinct subfamily. its anatomy was strikingly similar to the wolverine, but it was at least twice as large. it lived in a wider range of habitats, generally in warmer climates than the wolverine, and so i decided to give it shorter fur. it is depicted here with a brown base color and lighter yellowish markings; a yellowish face, neck, and crescent-shaped marking along the sides of the torso. the tail is yellowish in the middle, and tipped with dark brown. the feet are also dark brown, as well as a mask-like marking surrounding the eyes and snout. it is holding a giant, bloody bone in its mouth, still with some fur attached. drawn in a cartoony style on a beige background, framed by a messy greenish circle in the center.

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Lennie Ghiottona @weaselbonez.bsky.social · 01/08/2025

deinotherium giganteum (deinotheriidae, proboscidea) i was a little lazy with the background but oh well. i’ve been wanting to draw deinotherium for a while and now i figured it out! #paleoart #paleontology #deinotherium #elephant #animalart

deinotherium giganteum, a giant elephant-like animal, one of the largest mammals to ever live. it did not belong to the modern elephant family elephantidae, but it was closely related. it had longer, more slender limbs than modern elephants, as well as a slightly longer, more flexible neck. it also had a longer snout, which modern elephants lack entirely. instead of tusks on the upper mandible like elephantidae, its tusks were on the lower mandible and curved downward due to the mandible itself curving downward. presumably, these tusks were used mostly to tear branches and scrape plants or soil. its longer snout meant likely a thicker or more muscular trunk at the base. a giant, hot-climate animal related to elephants, it was clearly a pachyderm and would have had similarly hairless, leathery skin. i depicted it with larger ears and loose, saggy skin to increase surface area for heat dissipation. drawn in a cartoony style against a simple background of a tree and sunset.

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