What is an animal speaker? What does it look like and where does it live? What lifestyle does the animal lead? What does it eat? The answers to these and other questions can be found in our material.
Appearance
We begin the description of animal columns with its appearance. Adults reach sizes of about 50 cm in length. About a third of the body is the tail. The weight of the column can reach 800 grams or more.
The animal has an elongated body, which is characterized by extreme mobility and flexibility. The column has short paws, on the fingers of which are underdeveloped membranous folds. Small black eyes glisten on the sharp muzzle. This genus of affection and ferret has tiny rounded ears.
The real pride of the animal is its magnificent, soft coat. The fur column has a hint of ocher in the winter. With the onset of summer, saturated red tint gives way to a fawn color. The muzzle is decorated with white spots and a blackish mask near the eyes.
Habitat
The column, a photo of which can be seen in our publication, is most common in the Far East. Vast populations of such animals are found in the Ural forests, in Yakutia, Siberia, and Primorye. Representatives of the species are rarely seen in the European part of Russia. Siberian columns often wander into the territory of neighboring states, in particular China.
The development of new habitats for animals depends on the density of forests, the abundance of prey, the presence of terrain with deadwood and windbreaks. Representatives of the species try to avoid open spaces. Such animals most like mountain slopes, overgrown with dense vegetation, which are located near rivers and streams. In the taiga, a column can occasionally be found on higher elevations of more than one and a half kilometers above sea level.
Representatives of the species often wander into places inhabited by humans. This column attracts the presence of small rodents, as well as the opportunity to feast on poultry. Meeting with a beast nearby settlements is far from rare. A similar phenomenon is due to the migration of the animal due to a lack of food.
Lifestyle
A speaker whose photos are presented in the article prefers a sedentary lifestyle. Forcing the representatives of the species to get out of a certain territory can only be the danger of proximity to natural enemies and an extreme lack of food. Such animals can also migrate over short distances during the search for a mating partner.
Animal speakers must have a main dwelling and some additional ones in the nearby territories. These animals usually occupy the abandoned minks of other rodents. Also, the massive roots of old trees become shelters for them.
Speakers are extremely agile. The animals show increased activity at dusk. It was at this time that representatives of the species went hunting. Active animal speakers, in terms of food, can be in the daytime. However, this happens most often in the winter, when hunger is observed. In pursuit of prey, the columns are capable of moving deep in the thickness of snow.
Representatives of the species climb trees perfectly. But this behavior is extremely rare. The animals swim pretty well. When changing the habitat, they are able to cross small mountain rivers.
Food
Column is an omnivorous predator. The basis of the ration of the animal are small rodents, such as field mice and hamsters. In the highlands, the columns prey on the pika. Representatives of the species do not disdain small birds, if such an opportunity occurs.
The largest columns are capable of hunting hares. If there are numerous ponds in the habitat inhabited by a large number of muskrats, such animals can catch and eat their cubs.
Sometimes small fish and frogs are considered as a source of food for the column. In the most hungry periods, representatives of the species are able to feed on insects and even carrion.
Breeding
Animal columns actively multiply with the onset of warm spring days. During this period, sexually mature representatives of the species become extremely restless and aggressive. Males spend all their time chasing females and almost forget about the need to find food.
Column pregnancy lasts a little over a month. At this time, the females pick up safe minks for themselves, where they hatched the offspring. Animals produce, on average, 6-10 cubs. In cases where the brood dies, the female column necessarily mates for the second time and gives birth to babies in the same year.
Animals are born naked, blind and helpless. The mass of the cubs at the time of birth is only a few grams. Females do not leave their babies until they open their eyes and gain weight.
Mothers stop caring for offspring after a few months have passed. By autumn, young individuals reach sizes that practically correspond to the parameters of adult animals. During this period, they gradually move away from relatives, leave their mother and begin to lead a solitary lifestyle.
Natural enemies
Column is an animal that large hawks and eagle owls like to hunt. The number of animals that live nearby human settlements can reduce stray dogs. Speakers often serve as prey for foxes and sables.
The animals lead real feud with minks. Usually they settle in the same area. Representatives of species often participate in battles for territory. Moreover, minks and columns fight to the last. The winner is the one who managed to stay alive.
Life span
Columns live in their natural habitat for no more than 4 years. However, when the animal is kept in captivity, this period may increase several times. True, only those representatives of the species that were born in the cell differ in the accommodating character and harmlessness. Animals that were captured in habitats often turn out to be aggressive and dangerous to others.
