Desmanes exhibit a very different way of life, of which there are two species. The Pyrenean desman Galemys pyrenaicus is confined to the fast-moving, permanent streams of the Pyrenees mountain range and parts of northern Iberia, the Russian desman Desmana moschata is found only in the slower-moving waters and lakes of western and central Iberia. Soviet Union. they are superbly adapted for a fossorial form of life, as are the excesses for water.
The streamlined body of the Pyrenean muskrat allows it to glide quickly through the water, propelled by powerful webbed hind legs and directed, to some extent, by a long. wide tail
For any animal living in snow-fed mountain streams, feeding and retaining body heat are top priorities. Unlike hedgehogs or tenrecs, desmans do not go through periods of hibernation or torpor and therefore must live in optimal habitats to ensure their survival during the winter months when prey is scarcer.
What do the desmans eat?
Desmans feed on the larvae of aquatic insects such as the stone fly Y caddis flymore in small crustaceans, which they locate by probing their proboscis-like snouts under small rocks and clearing debris from the streambed with their sharp, elongated claws. The prey is consumed on the surface where, after each dive, a rigorous body wash is carried out. This is an essential activity, as it ensures that the coat is not only kept clean and in good condition, but also maintains its water-repellent properties as fat spreads throughout the body from the sebaceous glands.
How do they build nests?
The desmanes build their nests on the banks of streams. The Russian desman actually excavates a complex burrow, which it may share with other desmans, while the smaller species of the Pyrenees occupy a strictly solitary nest, usually created by enlarging an existing tunnel or crevice. The nests are made of dry leaves and grasses and are always located above the water level.
Breeding season
Little is known about the reproductive behavior of desmans. In the Pyrenean muskrat, mating takes place in spring (March to April) and, as these animals usually form a stable pair bond, competition for mates between solitary males is often quite severe. An interesting phenomenon occurs for each pair of animals at this time of year: the males become much more protective, spending most of their active time in the upper and lower reaches of their riparian territory. The energy is thus spent on protecting the food resources of that territory and, more importantly, the female. Females, by contrast, spend most of their active time foraging, searching for a suitable nest site, and collecting nesting materials.
The young are born after a gestation period of about four weeks and are cared for solely by the female. The juveniles first leave the nest at around seven weeks, by which time they are good swimmers. Juveniles remain within the parental territory until they are about two and a half months old, at which point they leave to secure a breeding and mate territory for the next year.