Desmans exhibit a very different way of life, of which there are two species. The Pyrenean desman Galemys pyrenaicus is confined to the permanent fast-flowing 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 the Soviet Union. western and central. they are superbly adapted for a fossil life form, as are desmans for water.

The streamlined body of the Pyrenean desman allows it to glide rapidly through the water, propelled by powerful webbed hind legs and directed, to some extent, by a length. wide tail.

For any animal that lives in snow-fed mountain streams, feeding and retaining body heat are top priorities. Unlike hedgehogs or tenrecs, the excesses do not go through periods of hibernation or lethargy and, therefore, must live in optimal habitats to ensure their survival during the winter months, when prey is scarcer.

What do desmans eat?

Desmans feed on the larvae of aquatic insects such as the stone fly and caddis fly, as well as in small crustaceans, which they locate by probing their proboscis snouts under small rocks and clearing debris from the stream bed with their sharp elongated claws. The prey is consumed on the surface where, after each dive, a rigorous body cleaning 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 from oil throughout the body from the spread of sebaceous glands.

How do they build nests?

Desmans build their nests on the banks of streams, the Russian desman actually digs a complex burrow, which it can share with other desmans, while the smaller Pyrenean species occupy a strictly solitary nest, usually created by widening a tunnel. or existing crack. Nests are made up of dry grass and leaves and are always above the water level.

Breeding season

Little is known about the reproductive behavior of desmans. In the Pyrenean desman, the mating takes place in spring (March to April) and, as these animals usually form a stable pair bond, the competition for pairs of solitary males is usually quite intense. At this time of year, an interesting phenomenon occurs for each pair of animals: the males become much more protective, spending most of their active time in the upper and lower reaches of their riparian territory. Therefore, energy is expended in protecting the food resources of that territory and, more importantly, the female. Females, by contrast, spend most of their active time foraging, looking for a suitable nest site, and gathering materials for nesting.

The young are born after a gestation period of approximately four weeks and are cared for only by the female. Juveniles leave the nest at approximately seven weeks, at which stage they are already good swimmers. Juveniles remain within the parents’ territory until they are about two and a half months old, at which point they leave to secure a mate and breeding territory for the next year.