Spotlight On…
Check out this week’s featured specimen!
(Pictured below, really close up!)
Photo: N. Sincero 2011
Can you guess what it is?
Here are some hints:
- This animal has a tactile sense 10 times as sensitive as a human’s.
- This animal can reach speeds of up to 15 miles per hour.
Leave us a comment with your answer! Then come see us outside the Project Lab on Friday, August 19th at 11:30 AM for Specimen Spotlight in order to find out if you’re right.
My guess is an anteater!
Comment by Daniel — August 16, 2011 @ 2:32 pm
I’m guessing it’s a flea.
Comment by Sharon E. Cathcart — August 16, 2011 @ 3:14 pm
Raccoon!
Comment by Rebecca R. — August 16, 2011 @ 3:15 pm
Elephant!!
Comment by Jillian — August 16, 2011 @ 3:16 pm
Procyon lotor, to be precise.
Comment by Rebecca R. — August 16, 2011 @ 3:19 pm
Its a Raccoon! Procyon lotor
Comment by Adam — August 16, 2011 @ 4:12 pm
Hmm tactile speed I’m thinking star nosed mole but can reach up to speeds of 15 mph??? Meerkat??
Comment by Robin — August 16, 2011 @ 5:19 pm
I guess it is a type of squirrel.
Comment by Jamie Lant — August 17, 2011 @ 1:20 am
Meerkat is my guess too. If I have to make a 2nd guess then I’ll say it’s a mongoose.
Comment by george — August 17, 2011 @ 12:12 pm
Sure looks like a meercat, especially after looking at “Meercat Manor” pictures.
Comment by Barbara — August 18, 2011 @ 11:37 am
Each week we’ve been so impressed by your deductive skills! Special congratulations to Rebecca R. and Adam, who gave us the correct scientific name. It is a picture of the forepaws of Procyon lotor, the Northern Raccoon.
Animal Diversity Web has a nice entry on them here.
We’ll put another guess the specimen up on Tuesday, but in the meantime, won’t you tell us Who Pooped?
Comment by nature — August 19, 2011 @ 9:24 am